location_on190 Halpine Rd., Rockville
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The all-you-can-eat buffet at Armand’s Chicago Pizzeria was super-popular, and also one of the worst deals in town: Could anyone manage to ingest more than three slices of those gut-bomb pies? But in reasonable quantities, the deep-dish pizza was irresistible, which is why fans used to line up outside the original Tenleytown location. The local chain was a longtime staple of Washingtonian readers’ polls, and it was my favorite as a kid, whether I was hitting that buffet on a half school day (okay, fine, I often managed four slices) or hungrily peering out the window of my house in anticipation of one of their ubiquitous white delivery trucks (it was one of the first local pizzerias to offer the service).
The original Armand’s closed in 2012, and plenty of fans think the brand—which once had 14 locations—is kaput. That’s not true, actually: There’s still one Armand’s going, in a strip mall in Rockville, and it’s worth the trip for anyone with fond memories and a big appetite. Visitors are greeted by a painting of the late founder Lew Newmyer, with “est. 1975” written underneath. Otherwise, there isn’t a lot that nods to its past, but the vibe is warm and the place remains popular. Does the deep-dish taste the same as I remember from the 1980s? Not exactly, though whether the food has changed or I have is hard to say. Still, it’s close enough, with that tangy tomato sauce, fat crust, and heavy blanket of cheese. The first bite always gives me a nostalgic jolt. It’s not the greatest pizza I’ve ever encountered—my adult preferences run more toward 2 Amys. But at the cost of a whole lot of calories and a trek out Rockville Pike, it offers a taste of my childhood. How many restaurants have that on the menu?
This article appears in the May 2026 issue of Washingtonian.
Rob Brunner grew up in DC and moved back in 2017 to join Washingtonian. Previously, he was an editor and writer at Fast Company and other publications. He lives with his family in Chevy Chase DC.
