Generally, I strive to avoid any and all single-guy clichés. I fall short in one area; I am a sucker for great pizza. My Chicago upbringing groomed me to believe Chicago-style pizza is the ultimate. As I navigate my new surroundings, one thing is certain: securing a favorite pizza in Las Vegas is a must.
While my above-average fondness for pizza plays into every single-white-male stereotype, I am no longer in college and can afford to pay a little more for a pie. This has resulted in my evolution from the days I deemed Dominoes king and Pizza Hut fancy. I’ve learned pizza from quality, fresh ingredients trumps any of the national pizza chains’ offerings, and part of the joy associated with appraising new pizza is trying to map out what’s in the sauce, especially when it’s remarkable sauce.
Searching for the best pizza in Las Vegas is going to be a pleasurable culinary endeavor, and my first sampling was literally a search as I endeavored to find the not-so-secret Secret Pizza inside the Cosmopolitan Hotel. This place is unofficially coined “Secret Pizza” as it lacks an official name. Adding to the mystique is the lack of an online presence or any signage inside the Cosmo directing would-be pizza consumers to their final destination.
Typically, an establishment with such a gimmick boasts lackluster offerings because customers are paying for the stratagem more than for food quality. Knowing this, I was quite surprised to read a plethora of excellent reviews for this undercover eatery. I decided to venture to the Cosmopolitan, purposely avoiding online spoilers regarding the coordinates of Las Vegas’ Secret Pizza. With respect to the ruse, readers will receive no spoilers here. For those with more concern about the cuisine than the chase, there are plenty of reveals found online regarding Secret Pizza’s location.
I’ll admit; my hunt was prolonged as the Cosmo hotel is an impressive space, and I found myself distracted as I maneuvered the casino floor. A couple of escalators and a vinyl album-covered hallway later, I’d arrived. I could smell Secret Pizza before it came into view. As I scanned the place, I was pleased to find a rather modest line. I’ve read the place is packed at lunch and after nearby clubs close, given Secret Pizza’s reputation for being one of the best late-night pizza places in Las Vegas.
An immediate observation one makes about Secret Pizza is its size. The place is small. There are four chairs and a counter with enough space for roughly a dozen people to stand at while munching their savory slices. Additional seating is available outside the place on couches in a large hallway. Despite its small size, the place is endowed with a cool, casual urban vibe. Employees are polite and engaging; one is spinning crust while another is pouring a draft IPA into a red Solo cup.
I assumed the obscure location would lend itself to pretentiousness, but that is not the case. Strangers in line were striking up a conversation while awaiting their ration as a gaggle of giggling girls attempted selfies in front of a vintage pinball machine. When my turn to order arrived, I opted for two slices, as the sizes are generous and set a person back about $5 per slice. A whole pie is right around $30, depending on toppings.
Secret Pizza’s white pizza is amazing. I’d gone with a slice of the white pizza with sausage and immediately made the determination this was going to be my go-to slice before giving time to my pepperoni and mushroom. Ricotta cheese with a hint of garlic lends to the unique, palatable taste of Secret Pizza’s white pizza.
With made-fresh-daily crust and a tasteful sauce, both slices I purchased were excellent. The hype is well-deserved as are the plethora of favorable online nods. The pizza is so exceptional, the place could probably survive sans the schtick, but this is Vegas, and every entity needs an angle. My final determination is this unnamed, poorly kept secret is a hidden gem in the sea of eateries on the Strip.
Where is Las Vegas Secret Pizza?
3708 S. Las Vegas Blvd. Hours: 7 days per week, 11 am to 4 am
P.S. I would really like to provide everyone a link to a site but I don’t think Secret Pizza has one, if any readers know of one please let me know so I can update this post, thanks!