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Brandoni Pepperoni
Master Critic Review
Brandoni Pepperoni
8.7
Former Providence chef Brandon Gray's pop-up serves 30-hour fermented Neapolitan-style pies named after LA hip-hop tracks inside Bar & Garden wine shop. The Thursday-Friday residency draws serious pizza enthusiasts for perfectly balanced pies like the FRIDAY pepperoni and creative seasonal specials.
Must-Try Dishes:
FRIDAY Pizza, Colors Pizza, Regulate Pizza
Scores:
Value: 8.3
Service: 8.5
Consistency: 8.6
Food Quality: 9.2
Atmosphere: 7.9
Cultural Relevance: 8.9
What makes it special: Fine-dining pedigree meets street-food format with hip-hop themed pies
Who should go: Pizza aficionados and wine lovers seeking elevated pop-up experience
When to visit: Thursday or Friday evenings before selling out around 7:30pm
What to order: FRIDAY for pepperoni perfection, try Test Kitchen specials for innovation
Insider tip: Order ahead through Instagram and grab wine from Bar & Garden
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Street parking on Washington Blvd and side streets - moderately easy Thursday evenings, tighter on Fridays. Small public lot behind bar accessible from Keystone Ave
Dress code: Culver City casual - jeans and sneakers perfectly fine, it's a pop-up inside a wine shop
Noise level: Lively but conversational - wine bar setting with music playing, can easily talk without raising voice
Weekend wait: Friday 6-7:30pm expect 15-25 min for pizza (pop-up only Thu-Fri), often sells out by 7:30pm
Weekday lunch: Not available - Thursday-Friday dinner only starting around 5pm
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Yes - always have 1-2 veggie options like seasonal mushroom or margherita variations
Vegan options: Limited - can do marinara-based pies without cheese, ask about weekly specials
Gluten-free options: No - Neapolitan dough is the whole concept, no GF crust available
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Great casual first date - wine bar setting feels intimate without being stuffy, impressive chef pedigree shows you know cool spots, and hip-hop pizza names are natural conversation starters. Just order ahead on Instagram to avoid sold-out disappointment
Can I get a table without a reservation? It's a pop-up inside Bar & Garden wine shop - no traditional reservations, but smart move is pre-ordering pizza through their Instagram DMs Thursday morning. Walk-ins work early (5-6pm) but they sell out most Fridays by 7:30pm. You can hang at the wine bar while waiting
Is it kid-friendly? Surprisingly yes for a wine bar pop-up - kids welcome before 8pm, pizzas are crowd-pleasing, and the casual vibe works. Just know it's counter-service without high chairs, and the hip-hop theme might go over younger heads. Better for 8+ who can appreciate good pizza
How does it compare to Pizzana or Milo & Olive nearby? Brandoni is more exclusive/insider - limited hours, sells out, has cult following. Pizza quality rivals Pizzana's but with more creative specials. If you want guaranteed seating and full restaurant experience, hit Pizzana. For adventure and bragging rights about finding the chef's pop-up, come here Thursday or Friday
Is it worth the hype or just Instagram buzz? Legitimately worth it - Brandon Gray's Providence pedigree shows in the technique (30-hour fermentation, perfect leoparding). This isn't influencer bait, it's serious pizza people who happen to make it Instagrammable with hip-hop names. The FRIDAY pepperoni holds its own against any LA pizzeria
Best For
Better for: Elevated pizza craftsmanship in unpretentious setting - you get Michelin-trained technique without white tablecloths or $20+ pies. Perfect for wine bar hopping combined with exceptional pizza, plus the limited hours create genuine scarcity (not manufactured FOMO). Hip-hop theme and Test Kitchen specials offer more personality than standard pizzerias
Skip if: You need weekend availability (only Thu-Fri), want gluten-free options, prefer full-service dining with servers, or like planning ahead (the pop-up schedule and sell-outs require flexibility). Also skip if you want Detroit/NY/Roman styles - this is strictly Neapolitan. For reliable anytime pizza, Milo & Olive or Pizzana are better bets