Dining

The Ultimate Vegas Pizza Guide

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All the Vegas pizza you can handle, all in one place. Dig in!

Is it too much to ask to have one great big list of all the notable slices and pies all around the Las Vegas Valley? We didn’t think so either. Work your way through this pantheon of pizza and let us know if we forgot your favorite local joint.

800 Degrees This modern take on Neapolitan pizza, created by chef Anthony Carron and backed by the guys behind Umami Burger, is a model of efficiency. You move down the line eyeballing fresh ingredients, creating your customized pie and even watching its short plunge into a seriously hot oven. 800 Degrees had already conquered LA by the time it landed on the Strip earlier this year, and its Vegas sequel is coming soon to SLS. Monte Carlo, 730-6800. Daily, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

A Slice of Chicago The dough and sauce are made daily at this long-popular spot, in business for more than 20 years. Homemade lasagna and meatballs and just-like-Chicago Italian beef and tamales round out the menu, but you won’t have stomach space after you attack the award-winning stuffed pizza. 2990 St. Rose Parkway, 702-567-0663. Daily, 7 a.m.-1 a.m.

Amore Taste of Chicago Possibly the Chicagoiest eatery in Las Vegas, Amore has the best deep dish and thin crust Chicago-style pizza in the Valley, according to the Weekly‘s Windy City-bred food writer Jim Begley. The menu is stacked with shrimp dinners, pastas and chicken parms galore, but we stick to the pies—the spinach, garlic and artichoke-topped white pizza on thin crust, or lots of pepperoni, sausage, tomatoes and cheese layered inside the dense, buttery crust of the classic deep dish. 3945 S. Durango Drive, 702-562-9000. Daily, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Angelina’s A one-topping special for $7.99 is practically theft at Angelina’s, where the delicious crust has a bit of crunch on the outside and plenty of chew on the inside. Our go-to order: spinach, artichoke hearts and minced garlic. Multiple locations, angelinaspizzalv.com.

Aurelio’s Thin, almost flaky crust topped with sweet tomato sauce, handfuls of melty mozzarella and slightly spicy sausage—this is the pizza most Chicagoans eat on a regular basis, not necessarily the deep-dish stuff Jon Stewart makes jokes about. Aurelio’s is the place to get this crispy real-deal goodness. 445 W. Craig Road #105, 702-399-3131. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

A medium-size, three-topping, deep-dish pizza at Amore Taste of Chicago, with pepperoni, mushrooms and green peppers over fresh crushed tomatoes.

Bambino’s East Coast Pizzeria Creamy, whole-milk mozzarella and durum flour creating a light, flavorful dough—these are hallmarks of Boston-style pizza. Super-fresh toppings are another factor that sets Bambino’s apart from the competition. Try the white pie, with Polly-O brand ricotta and lots of garlic and olive oil. 2555 S. Durango Drive, 702-242-2266. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Balboa Pizza Company Balboa is known as one of the rare 24-hour eateries in the Green Valley area, and also for some seriously solid chicken wings in creative sauce flavors. But the pizza is more than respectable, too. Check out the Napa Valley roasted veggie pizza, or chicken with roasted garlic, toppings that are particularly well suited for these flatbread-style pies. The District at Green Valley Ranch, 702-407-5273. 24/7.

Biaggio’s Pizzeria This is the essential neighborhood pizza shop, from supremely friendly service to big portions of cheesy, saucy goodness that will please the entire family. The chicken, artichoke and roasted tomato pie is a natural partner for Biaggio’s fresh, hand-tossed dough. Great calzones, too. 4235 S. Fort Apache Road #160, 702-207-4992. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Bonanno’s New York Pizzeria Along with the instantly recognizable Villa Pizza and the quickly declining Sbarro, Bonanno’s is the leader in Las Vegas food court pizza—and it’s totally solid stuff. There’s also a fancy version smack in the middle of the Strip, at Harmon Corner. Multiple locations, bonannosnewyorkpizzeria.com.

Boston Pizza A favorite for at least 15 years, this humble pizzeria is located between Downtown and the Strip and is known for delivering strombolis and subs to nearby hotels, not to mention chicken wings to the stars of Pawn Stars. Go Greek with the gyro pie, with onions, tomatoes and feta, or feast on the Boston meat lovers with extra pepperoni, ground beef and sausage. 1507 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 702-385-2595. Daily, 10 a.m.-4 a.m.

Chewy, cheesy, inescapably delicious: Grimaldi's coal-fired pizza.

Chewy, cheesy, inescapably delicious: Grimaldi's coal-fired pizza.

Broadway Pizzeria Also known as Anthony & Mario’s, this centrally located stalwart is exceedingly consistent, with the right amounts of cheese and sauce spread over each foldable slice. Great lunch specials, garlic knots and spumoni round out the offerings at another longtime neighborhood fave. 840 S. Rancho Drive, 702-259-9002. Daily, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Carmine’s Carmine Vento was one of the first to bring New York pizza to Las Vegas, opening the first Villa Pizza at Commercial Center in 1976. His family has operated several local restaurants over the years, and the current spots are simply called Carmine’s, where the pizza might remind you of your first slice. Try the shrimp scampi pizza, with a white wine, lemon and garlic sauce. 10430 S. Eastern Ave., 702-701-9500. 445 Marks St., 702-434-4848. Daily, 24/7.

Costco The food court pizza on the way out of Costco is far from fancy, but pizza is supposed to be simple. Also, it’s big, cheap, and good. Multiple locations, costco.com.

Cugino’s Originated across from UNLV and recently expanded to a second location, Cugino’s is a full-service Italian deli that just happens to serve excellent pizza, too. Specialties include red or white clam pizza, or the Melenzana, topped with breaded eggplant, fresh tomato, basil and plenty of garlic. 4550 S. Maryland Parkway #20, 702-895-7561. Daily, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. 6584 N. Decatur Blvd. #140, 702-631-4677. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.- 8 p.m.

D.O.C.G. Perhaps because it’s on Cosmo’s third floor with so many tremendous dining options (and the hip “Secret” Pizzeria), or maybe because it’s the overlooked sibling to big brother Scarpetta (celeb chef Scott Conant’s other Italian restaurant), D.O.C.G. is the best pizzeria in Las Vegas that never gets mentioned as such. It’s also a fun spot to drink wine with tasty small plates of grilled octopus or artisanal meats and cheeses, but don’t skip the wonderfully charred Neapolitan-style pies, particularly the combo of truffle, egg and fonduta, or spicy soppressata with smoked mozzarella and spinach. Cosmopolitan, 702-698-7920. Daily, 6-10:30 p.m.

Dom DeMarco’s Pizzeria & Bar When the legendary Italian-born, Brooklyn-based pizza maker Domenico DeMarco launched a Summerlin-area outpost three years ago, it brought a little more legitimacy to the Vegas pizza scene. It also expanded the menu: The round thin crust from New York’s Di Fara is here, but there’s also a cast-iron Sicilian pie layered with ripe tomatoes, hand-cut pepperoni, fresh basil and aged mozzarella with a bit of grana padano cheese for good measure. Try 'em both. 9785 W. Charleston Blvd., 702-570-7000. Sunday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

Due Forni Former Strip restaurant pros Alex Taylor and Carlos Buscaglia started with a unique “two ovens” concept, serving faithfully delicious versions of Neapolitan and Roman pizzas. Due Forni has evolved into one of Las Vegas’ overall best neighborhood restaurants, and expanded with a second location in Austin, Texas. Whether you prefer the more pliable Neapolitan or the cracker-crisp Roman, you won’t be disappointed in your pizza choice here, thanks to top-notch ingredients like San Marzano tomatoes, bufala mozzarella, house-made sausages and Calabrian chili peppers. 3555 S. Town Center Drive #105, 702-586-6500. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Enzo’s Pizza A Henderson favorite since 1987, Enzo’s does Neapolitan thin or Sicilian-style thicker crust, family-feeding meal deals at affordable prices, and all the pizza accessories you can imagine—wings, fingers, subs, pastas, seafood, salads, and then some. The house favorite, meat lovers pizza covered in meatballs, bacon, ham and pepperoni, is a greasy-delicious force to be reckoned with. 2724 N. Green Valley Parkway, 702-458-2166. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, 12-9 p.m.

Five50 Pizza Bar Fine dining chef Shawn McClain’s take on pizza incorporates a hybrid dough that takes the finer points of East Coast pie and traditional Neapolitan for firm, chewy results with tons of flavor. It doesn’t hurt that he’s topping pizzas with clams and smoked mozzarella (the North Beach), or three kinds of chilies plus salami embedded with ghost peppers (the Picante). You can also grab it by the slice, a casino convenience. Aria, 702-590-7550. Daily, 11 a.m.-midnight.

Flour & Barley's Calabrese pie (top) has meatball, sausage, prosciutto cotto, mozzarella, Calabrian chili and salsa verde; the Carbonara boasts mozzarella, pancetta, roasted cauliflower, black pepper, and fresh farm eggs.

Flour & Barley's Calabrese pie (top) has meatball, sausage, prosciutto cotto, mozzarella, Calabrian chili and salsa verde; the Carbonara boasts mozzarella, pancetta, roasted cauliflower, black pepper, and fresh farm eggs.

Flour & Barley Having thoroughly conquered burgers and upscale bar food with Holsteins and Public House, local restaurant company Block 16 made its pizza debut this year with Flour & Barley, a high-energy, sports-themed spot serving brick oven-fired pies and more. We love the Calabrese, meatball and Italian sausage plus prosciutto cotto, mozzarella, chilies and a swirl of salsa verde. The Linq, 702-430-4430. Daily, 11 a.m.-midnight.

Grimaldi’s The famous coal-fired pizzeria under the Brooklyn Bridge went the franchise route several years ago, and Las Vegas has reaped the benefits with locations all over town. These pies have a unique, slightly smoky flavor enriching crackly crust, and it’ll only ever be your favorite pizza because there are no specialties or signatures on the menu—pick the toppings you love and try not to drool while you wait. Multiple locations, grimaldispizzeria.com.

Mark Rich’s NY Pizza & Pasta Little-known Vegas pizza fact: the Guinea Pie that made Naked City Pizza Shop famous by seducing Guy Fieri on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives was created when chef Chris Palmeri started tinkering with the spinach-ricotta white pie he’d order from Mark Rich’s in northwest Las Vegas. This friendly joint has moved to Summerlin, but the menu’s the same, offering New York thin or Sicilian thick pizzas. Maybe you can invent something famous, too. 11710 W. Charleston Blvd., 702-363-7272. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Metro Pizza Metro is simply the standard-bearer, the consensus pick as favorite family grub spot and truly one of the most influential restaurants in the off-Strip dining scene. Cousins John Arena and Sam Facchini left New York and landed in Las Vegas in 1980, slowly but surely building a local institution with restaurants across the Valley. If you grew up here, there’s a good chance your childhood was fueled by the meat-stuffed Stockyard, the pepperoni-mushroom-sausage standard Gotham, or Metro’s namesake thicker crust pie, topped with extra cheese, of course. Multiple locations, metropizza.com.

Two slices of cheesy thin-crust goodness at New York Pizza & Pasta.

Montesano’s Italian Restaurant It’s moved all around town in its 20-plus years in business, and if you haven’t found the latest version of Montesano’s, head southeast. Just remember: As you’re devouring the house special white, the spinach-stuffed pizza or the broccoli rabe and sweet sausage masterpiece, you might want to save room for those terrific, fresh-baked desserts—cannolis, zeppole or ricotta-stuffed sfogliatelle. 9905 S. Eastern Ave., 702-870-3287. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Naked City Pizza Shop The problem with eating at Naked City is simple: Everything is too good. You might be craving true Buffalo wings or a meatball sub. You might be in the mood to sample one of chef Chris Palmeri’s creative daily specials. But once you lay eyes on the menu and starting visualizing these cheesy, rich, nap-inducing pies, it’s hard to order anything else. The Stinger has chicken fingers, sirloin steak, three cheeses, peppers and onions, and the Back Home has thicker tomato sauce, sausage, parmesan and those addictive little curly pepperoni slices. Actually, go ahead and order lots of stuff; This might be the best leftover pizza in the city. 3240 S. Arville St., 702-243-6277. Daily, 11 a.m.-3 a.m. 4608 Paradise Road, 702-722-2241. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 a.m.

Napoli Pizza With locations on the west side, in Henderson and on Nellis, you’re always within the slice-shaped perimeter of Napoli’s range. There are loads of specials, like a one-topping takeout pie for $7.99 or two 16-inchers for $24. They go as big as you want, with a 30-inch pizza available, and some of these topping options might surprise you. How about pesto with roasted red peppers, pastrami with green olives and cilantro, or maybe a Mexican meat lovers? Multiple locations, lasvegaspizzeria.com.

New York Pizza & Pasta Find your way into this old-school joint and you might think you’re on Bleecker Street, not Jones Boulevard. Think broad, thin, droopy slices, absolutely covered with all-natural Wisconsin cheese and tangy tomato sauce, the kind of pizza you could eat all day. Simple is best. 2400 S. Jones Blvd., 702-871-1159. Daily, 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.

The Plaza's Pop Up Pizza has fresh flavors for everyone.

Northside Nathan’s Las Vegas’ original Detroit-style pizzeria has been deep-dishing it up for 17 years. Go square and enjoy a crackly, buttery crust, or keep it crispy with a traditional round pie. For a different taste, try the Gangster’s Choice, combining capicola, garlic and jalapeño. Bet you didn’t see that one coming. 7531 W. Lake Mead Blvd. #300, 702-965-1033. 9320 W. Flamingo Road, 702-212-8032. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Novecento Local chef Marc Sgrizzi takes traditional Neapolitan pizza and makes it quick and accessible, assembling your personal pie with favorite toppings right in front of your eyes and firing it for just 90 seconds. The crust comes out gloriously chewy, the tomatoes are not too sweet, and you feel like a pizza genius if your new flavor combo (Pancetta and sundried tomato? Cherry peppers and artichokes?) comes out perfect. Spoiler alert: It does. Multiple locations, novecentopizza.com.

Old School Pizzeria For the past three years, Old School has been the Valley’s best-kept pizza secret. Now it’s time everyone gets in on the crunchy, supremely sturdy crust, monster-size slices and potentially wild flavor combos coming out of this small North Las Vegas kitchen. Start with the Vegas Meets Italy pie, with China Ranch dates, local pistachios, prosciutto, four cheeses, tomatoes and arugula. 2040 E. Craig Road, 702-990-0070. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday, 12-9 p.m.

Otto Pizzeria Mario Batali’s spot serves some of the most under-appreciated pizza on the Strip. The crust is crisp, not crunchy, the perfect canvas for some of the best toppings in the city—bel paese and fontina cheese, asparagus with preserved lemon, clams and Fresno chilies, mortadella with pistachio and many more drool-inducing options. Grand Canal Shoppes at Venetian, 702-677-3390. Daily, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Chef Jorge Torres pulls another freshly baked pie from the oven at Pin-Up Pizza.

Chef Jorge Torres pulls another freshly baked pie from the oven at Pin-Up Pizza.

Pin-Up Pizza It looks like a tourist-wrangling gimmick: 15-inch slices? You almost have to get one just for face-covering food Instagram potential. But Pin-Up’s pizza is mighty tasty, too, and not a bad bargain considering these mighty portions. Planet Hollywood, 702-785-5888. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 a.m.

Pizza Rock It’s an unfancy restaurant with totally fancy pizza, which makes it the kind of place where you can roll up with a bunch of friends and easily find something everyone can agree on. But you’ll forget about fun convenience when you discover how many different pie styles Pizza Rock can create, and how good each of them can be. Start with the award-winning margherita, since the kitchen makes only 73 each day. Graduate to thin-crust beauties like the Romans, which come with three different topping sets, the classic New York pizzas and the Chicago cracker-thins. And don’t forget about the seasonal Famers Market pie, using fresh veggies from the Downtown 3rd market, or the utterly unique, spicy-and-sweet California Honey Pie. It’ll take forever to try them all, which is why Pizza Rock is pizza mecca. 201 N. Third St., 702-385-0838. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight; Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 a.m.

Pop Up Pizza A cool and easy favorite of the Downtown crowd, Pop Up is the top spot for vegan pizza eaters. The Soho packs vegan mozzarella on nice crispy crust with spinach, mushrooms, artichokes and roasted bell peppers. But the other fresh ingredients are just as delicious, particularly the Harris Meatball Pie with olives and caramelized onions. Plaza, 702-366-0049. Daily, 11 a.m.-2 a.m.

A Roman-style pizza is shown at the new Pizza Rock restaurant at Third Street and Ogden Avenue in downtown Las Vegas Thursday, Oct. 17 2013.

Red Rock Pizza A solid choice in old Summerlin, Red Rock delivers by not going light with fresh ingredients and crafting a crust that satisfies old-school New York needs without getting greasy. Top picks include the garlic tomato pie, with juicy slices of tomato plus cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, and the Widowmaker, as dangerous as it sounds, loaded with salami, sausage, ham and pepperoni. 8455 W. Lake Mead Blvd., 702-304-0400. Daily, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Rocco’s NY Pizzeria There are a handful of Rocco’s around town, but different ownership leads to different pizza recipes. This is the original and the one you want, a straight-up New York-style Italian deli with big, bold, cheesy slices on lock. Rocco’s has its hoagie game down, too, and tasty Italian cookies. 10860 W. Charleston Blvd. #190, 702-796-0111. 6870 S. Rainbow Blvd., 702-979-9000. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Rosati’s Pizza This long-running Chicago-based chain serves much-better-than-chain pizza, including traditional Windy City styles such as deep dish, crispy thin and pan pizza. If that deep dish stuff isn’t hearty enough for you, try the double dough, a super-thick crust with a hand-rolled edge. Multiple locations, rosatispizza.com.

Sun-dried tomato pizza at Sammy's Restaurant, Bar & Grill.

Sun-dried tomato pizza at Sammy's Restaurant, Bar & Grill.

Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza Some of us think of this family-friendly favorite as a chain restaurant, some know it for its tasty tapas, and others skip to dessert to devour the infamous Messy Sundae. But after 25 years, Sammy’s is right behind Metro as one of the city’s best-known neighborhood pizza spots, probably because that diverse menu specializes in crispy, artisan thin-crust pies and more substantial wood-fired pizzas like barbecued chicken with smoked gouda or burrata and basil pesto with sweet, tangy house-made tomato sauce. Multiple locations, sammyspizza.com.

“Secret” Pizzeria It’s the secret everybody already knows. Would these piping hot, melty slices be as good if this nondescript pizzeria was in your neighborhood, and not hiding in this hip hotel? Take it from your friends at the Weekly, who’ve hit Secret Pizza at all hours and not just after a concert or tipsy Strip crawl: It’s legit. Cosmopolitan, 702-698-7860. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-4 a.m.; Friday-Monday, 11 a.m.-5 a.m.

Settebello Arguably the most important pizzeria in the Valley, Settebello introduced Henderson, and then Las Vegas, to old-world pizza Napoletana, the original pizza. Its soft, slightly chewy, char-blistered crust blew us away from the first bite, and nothing has changed, even as Neapolitan-style pizza has become massively popular nationwide and Settebello has expanded in town and elsewhere. The simple, sublime margherita—nothing but crushed tomatoes, mozzarella, parmigiano reggiano, basil and extra virgin olive oil—is still one of our all-time favorite things to eat. 140 S. Green Valley Parkway, 702-222-3556. 9350 W. Sahara Ave. #170, 702-901-4877. Daily, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Those Guys Pies These guys were initially known for helping open Cosmopolitan’s notoriously tasty “secret” pizzeria, but after moving on to this takeout and delivery-only spot in the Lakes, they deserve a delicious reputation of their own. Most toppings are made fresh in-house, adding extra dimension to the big, droopy, New York-style slices. Those Guys do killer chicken fingers and cheesesteaks, too. 2916 Lake East Drive, 702-629-2626. Daily, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Wolfgang Puck Pizzeria & Cucina's Yukon Gold potato pizza.

Verrazano Pizza Established in 1978, Verrazano joins with Villa and Metro to make up the holy trinity of pioneering New York-to-Vegas pizza makers. Today, there are three local shops with three different owners, but the menu is pretty much the same and all over, all about big foldable slices with that crispy dough edge. Some things don’t have to change to be exactly what we want. 4012 S. Rainbow Blvd., 702-362-7556. 240 S. Rainbow Blvd., 702-363-1090. 2381 E. Windmill Lane #20, 702-837-0606. Hours vary.

Wolfgang Puck Pizzeria & Cucina Surprise? One of the world’s most famous food figures operates one of the best and most overlooked restaurant gems on the Strip. Puck pioneered California-style pizza, and chef Dustin Lewandowski is unleashing all its potential at this comfy Crystals spot (which also serves great pasta and Italian-influenced cuisine). Don’t miss the wild mushroom pizza with béchamel and fontina, or the fresh combo of guanciale, roasted potato, goat cheese and wild ramps. The Shops at Crystals, 702-238-1000. Sunday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.

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