Okay, pizza night in Vegas is not a one answer question. It is a crust question, and this city does every crust seriously, from certified Neapolitan to a hidden New York slice at 3 a.m.
Here is the fresh part most rankings miss. The best order at the top spot is capped at 73 pies a day, on purpose. Work down this list by style, not by hype.
The Two Downtown Heavyweights
1. Pizza Rock, Downtown: Ten style sections on one menu, and no weak lane. That covers a 900 degree wood fired Margherita, Romana, Detroit, Sicilian, Grandma, California, and Chicago cracker thin.
Order the Margherita first. Pizza Rock says it won the World Pizza Cup in Naples, it is built on San Marzano tomato, mozzarella fior di latte, basil, olive oil, and sea salt, and the kitchen makes only 73 a day at $25.50. Find it at 201 N 3rd St, Las Vegas, NV 89101.
2. Good Pie, Arts District: This is the locals pick, and the Grandma is why. Fabulous Nevada reports that the Grandma style put pizzaiolo Vincent Rotolo on the map and is still the most popular style leaving his kitchen.
First visit, get the Upside Down Grandma. It comes in a 12 by 18 inch square pan with extra cheese and double sauce on top, finished with oregano and romano, and the menu also spans Brooklyn round, Detroit, and Sicilian pies. Find it at 1212 S Main St, Las Vegas, NV 89104, open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The Purist and the Party Slice
3. Settebello Pizzeria Napoletana, west side: This is the purist pick. Settebello says it protects the designation granted by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, and it calls itself one of the first pizzerias ever certified by the VPN in the United States.
That means Pizza Napoletana the way Naples has made it for more than 200 years, in a wood fired oven that blisters dough in just over a minute. Order the Margherita at 9350 W Sahara Ave Suite 170, Las Vegas, NV 89117.
4. Evel Pie, Fremont East: This is the party slice. Visit Las Vegas notes it is named for stuntman Evel Knievel, famous here for his 1967 Caesars Palace fountain jump attempt, and the motto over the bar reads, Live Hard, Ride Fast, Eat Pizza.
Order a Cheesy Rider slice, or go Hog Heaven with pulled pork and candied bacon if your night needs that energy. It pours until late, too, open to 2 a.m. most nights and 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday at 508 Fremont St, Las Vegas, NV 89101.
The Hidden Strip Slice, and How to Choose
5. Secret Pizza, The Cosmopolitan: No sign, just an unmarked hallway lined with record jackets on Level 3 of the Boulevard Tower. The Cosmopolitan describes it as a small New York corner pizza shop, a hidden late night spot with high counters, classic video games, and a pinball machine.
Order a cheese, white, or pepperoni slice and eat it standing up, the way the room wants you to. It is open daily from 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. at 3708 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109.
Quick picker. First date or a group that cannot agree, Pizza Rock. A locals night, Good Pie. One true Neapolitan, Settebello. A Fremont night, Evel Pie. A Strip night that ends late, Secret Pizza.
Pick your crust first, your neighborhood second, and let the topping fight sort itself out.
