WEST SEATTLE

MOTO is one of those pizza places that opened to huge hype and had lines all around the block, down Fauntleroy, and extending all the way out onto the bridge. I knew there was just no way I was going to get to try it until they'd been open at least a year or three. Today, I happened upon it again and saw that they'd opened up for "same-day orders" and I tapped with such haste that I nearly shoved my finger straight through my phone.

I'm glad I got the chance to order and I'll very much be back. We had a Beef Adobo, a Root, and an All-In. The dinner-sized pizzas are cut into four good-sized slices. The website advises 1 pizza for 2 people. You might look at the pizzas (as I did) and think "there's no way", but I assure you, as someone who can really put away the pizza, two slices is plenty and you may end up with leftovers. The richness and thickness of each slice is very satisfying and filling. It is a little visually deceptive.

The All-in is your kind of standard pizza. It's super tasty, the pepperoni shines through, the sauce is rich and vibrant, and the cheese has the right amount of chew. The crust is soft all the way through, just on the other side of "floppy" but the browned cheese adds back some crunch. If you've got some folks that are a little hesitant, this pizza'll win them over.

The Root is a Mushroom pizza w/ black olives, and balsamic glaze. The mushroom mix has a good variety and the balsamic is fragrant. The restraint on ingredients gives you a better pie than the All-in as each ingredient stands out more prominently. Folks who would normally want an all-meat pizza preferred the Root over the All-in.

The Beef Adobo is in my opinion: where it's at! While it might not be for everyone, I loved it. The balance of salty/sweet/sour/savory just lit my hair on fire. The flavors meld and contrast in such a way that you can't stop eating it. Even now, I'm stuffed to the brim, but I want another taste. The kimchi is a good addition because it adds some crunch and reinforcing the sour notes, but it's very mild in both flavor and spice. The beef is salty (not overly so) and rich. The garlic sauce and the cane vinegar add a creamy and sweet/sour flavor respectively. It all comes together in a symphony that is more than the sum of it's parts.

I'll definitely be back to try the rest of their offerings.