Why doesn't DC have a real NY-style pizza place?

I grew up in a small town in upstate New York. We had tons of pizza places and no matter where you ordered from the pizza was good. Thin crust with a nice sauce, gooey cheese and whatever toppings you liked. Nothing fancy, but solid NY-style. While the DC area has many great ethnic restaurants, it sorely lacks a good NY-style pizza place. The Neopolitan style pies at 2Amys or Pizzeria Paradiso and the New Haven style at Pete's are fine, but I still miss the pies from Little Italy.

(One of the best things I ate in Las Vegas was a slice of plain cheese at New York New York. It tasted like home.)

***

Searching for a decent pie and a little taste of nostalgia, I tried a place my better half enjoys, Valentino's in Alexandria http://valentinosnystylepizzeria.com/.

The garlic knots ($2.75) were good and the marinara sauce had a nice, robust flavor.

Nice light olive salad ($8.95). Shrimp Fra Diavolo with fettucini ($15.95). The sauce could be a little spicier, but the pasta and shrimp were good.Tomato sauce, cheese, mushrooms and fresh garlic pie (Small = 14 inches $16.95).

***

Valentino's is a nice little family place you'd take your kids after a soccer game, or when you want a giant pizza and some Italian-American favorites. It's not quite Little Italy or Ianelli's, but it was a satisfying pie and I'd gladly go back to try a few others.