All American Pizza in Ely Nevada

Ely is a small rural city located in eastern Nevada. The population is about 4300 and it is the county seat of White Pine County. It is not very often that I will review a pizzeria in such a small town but what the heck this place is worth mentioning.

All American Pizza is a small cozy family owned pizzeria that is located on the west end of Aultman Street just a few blocks from the historic Hotel Nevada. Like many places in Ely this business is not what I would call fancy but offers more like a down home feel. Inside you will find many patriotic pictures along with several dinning room tables and chairs.

Now as I mentioned previously Ely is a small town so you will no find a Pizza Hut, a Papa Johns’, a Dominoes or even a Little Caesars Pizza anywhere for close to 200 miles. In fact there are only a couple of others places in Ely that even offer pizza. So, with that said All American Pizza is really the only true pizzeria in town as all the other places in Ely do not offer as much selection.

When it comes to the pizza I found it to be pretty good as it was crispy and full of flavor. One thing that I really thought was nice is that you could substitute for gluten free crust and even non dairy Daiya vegan cheese. Many of the big corporate pizza chains do not offer this.

I had large 16” pizza half mushroom and half cheese and was quite satisfied with the taste, appearance and quality with my selection. Keep in mind this a simple pizzeria in a small town so my expectations were not as great as if I was in Las Vegas however I still would recommend this pizzeria to anyone that loves good pizza.

The prices were a little on the high side but eating out in Ely is not cheap as you must consider you are pretty much secluded from the much of the world. I would imagine that all of the food product must be trucked in either from Las Vegas or Salt Lake City which means you need to be organized.

My final thoughts about All American Pizza in Ely Nevada are that this is great place to get some good pizza. I am not a fan to snack bar pizza or frozen pizza so when I am in Ely, and I do go there every couple of months I will be dinning at All American Pizza as I find it to be worth the time and price.

Looking for some really good pizza for an affordable price on the Las Vegas Strip then Boston Pizza is your best bet. Located on the north end of the Las Vegas Strip, just north of the Stratosphere Tower sits Boston Pizza.

Here you will find Italian, American and Greek food that is tasty and does not cost an arm and a leg. Dine in, carry out or delivery you will find great pizza. Boston Pizza is open from 10 am to 4 am seven days a week.

Boston Pizza serves Boston style pizza which is very similar to New York style pizza however this pizza style originated in the Greek section of Boston in the 1950′s therefore you will find many traditional Greek toppings such as black and green olives. feta cheese and do not forget the gyros.

This is a simple pizzeria, nothing fancy as their dining area will not impress you much. This place is more about the food and reasonable prices. So if you are looking for some good pizza on the Las Vegas Strip and do not want to pay high prices only to dine in some overcrowded trendy restaurant I suggest you give Boston Pizza a try.

In addition to pizza you will find delicious chicken wings, gyros, hamburgers and Philly cheese steaks. Many pasta entrees are also available as well as strombolis and calzones. Take a look at their menu to see what I am talking about.

Finding pizza on the Las Vegas Strip is not that difficult but most of these pizzerias charge expensive prices and are located inside the big hotels which mean large crowds and long wait times. Boston Pizza is a stand alone pizzeria located on the north end of the Las Vegas Strip about 1.5 miles from historic downtown Las Vegas.

Place: Boston Pizza

Address: 1507 South Las Vegas Blvd (Just North of Stratosphere)

Phone: (702) 385-2595

Hours: 10 am to 4 am 7 days a week

Pros: Great pizza, affordable prices, easy to find, plenty of parking

Cons: Not the safest part the LV Strip, looks like a real dive in need of a makeover.

Pizza is a popular food item in many parts of the world. Nowadays you can find Pizza Hut in China. Since pizza is so popular and consumed at such high levels why not try to make this meal a little healthier than before.

When most people think of eating pizza, they assume that they are about to eat a food that is high in fat content and calories. Well traditionally that is true but many changes are taking place to make eating pizza not as fattening as it once was.

You may already beware that pepperoni is the most popular pizza topping. Pepperoni is made from cured pork or beef and is not what we would call a healthy food. This pizza topping is high in fat and to make matters worse the controversial preservative sodium nitrate is used as a curing agent to make pepperoni.

Avoid those Trendy Unhealthy Pizza Toppings

Sodium nitrate not only helps with the curing process but is serves as a color and flavor enhancer. However, if you wish to follow a heart healthy diet than one of the first things you need to do is avoid any foods that contain sodium nitrate. According the Mayo Clinic eating foods with sodium nitrate may lead to damaged blood vessels which in turn will make your arteries narrower and allowing them to harden. This is the beginning of heart disease.

So, what does a pizza lover do? Surely we can’t give up pizza; no we just need to be more selective about our pizza toppings. For instance many plant based foods make great pizza toppings. You know what I am talking about; toppings like peppers, onions, spinach, basil, and tomatoes, oh the list can go on and on.

Want to make your pizza healthier than forget about toppings like pepperoni, sausage, bacon and ground beef. Instead select some of the favorable plant based toppings as these items are low in fat and calories but best or all do not contain sodium nitrate.

Be Creative, Make Your Pizza Interesting

Personally, I sauté my plant based toppings with a little minced garlic and ground pepper before I place on the pizza. For me I love sautéed mushrooms mixed with spinach, onions and red pepper. Plus I do not feel as quite as bloated as if I had meat toppings.

There are many things you can do make your pizza not so fattening. Some will use a whole wheat pizza crust or a gluten free pizza crust. Others will substitute the pizza cheese for vegan Daiya mozzarella style cheese. You see that is the great thing with pizza is that you can customize this food item to your own personal preference.

You probably have seen some of those television commercials for those trendy weight loss plans which claim that you can still eat pizza and lose weight. Well now you can see how that is possible. You just need to change things up a little but the important thing is that you still are able to have a great tasting pizza without all the nasty fat and calories

When it comes to ordering pizza in Las Vegas most pizzerias will offer a New York style pizza or some type of variation.  This is because a New York pizza is quick to prepare and cook and does not cost a great deal. But what if you are in the mood for some traditional Chicago style pizza? Well there may not be many pizzerias in the Las Vegas Valley that serves Chicago deep dish pizza but there a handful that do. Listed below are some Las Vegas pizzerias that offer Chicago style pizza.

List of Chicago Pizza in Las Vegas

Rosati’s – This is a pizza chain out of Chicago that has numerous locations in Arizona, Illinois, Nevada, Wisconsin, Texas, Arkansas and North Carolina. Rosati’s offers an authentic Chicago deep pizza.

Metro Pizza – Metro Pizza is one of the most popular and well liked places for pizza in Las Vegas. Metro has a large menu of pasta, sandwiches, salads and pizza. They primarily make a New York style pizza but also offer a Chicago deep dish pizza. Read More

Amore Taste of Chicago– Located in the Spring Valley area on South Durango. Amore offers a true Chicago style pizza. Also available is a thin crust pizza, specialty pizzas and a gluten free pizza.

Pizza My Dear – Small pizzeria located near Warm Springs & Eastern that offers both New York and Chicago style pizza plus has Gourmet pizza.

South Chicago Deli and House of Pizza – A friendly pizzeria that is located near West Flamingo and 215. South Chicago Deli offers late night hours and Deep dish Chicago pizza.

Taste of Chi-Town Eatery – Located in Northwest Las Vegas- Centennial Hills area inside the Town Center Lounge. Salads, sandwiches, pasta, thin crust pizza and Chicago deep dish pizza are available.

Chicago Brewing Company – Large classy Chicago themed restaurant that serves many entrees that are associated with the Chicago food scene. Hamburgers, ribs, sandwiches and deep dish pizza are just some of the foods available. 

Chicago Brewing Company and Cigar Lounge – Located downtown Las Vegas inside the Four Queens is a full sized restaurant that offers award winning micro-brews, appetizers, entrees and pizza, both thin crust and deep dish.

Maciano’s – This is a small pizza chain that has 7 locations in the state of Illinois and 1 location in Las Vegas. Maciano’s is located in the southwest part of the Las Vegas Valley and offers delivery, carry out, dine in and catering. 

That is the short list of places that offer Chicago pizza in Las Vegas. If you are aware another restaurants or just want to share your opinion feel free to do so below

It appears these days that many of the big chain pizzerias now offer a gluten free pizza which they are happy to brag about. You probably have noticed as gluten free food products are now readily available. So what are glutens and what is the advantage to offering a gluten free pizza?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, flour comes from wheat and flour is the prime ingredient in pizza dough. In fact most pizza dough is made with high gluten flour as this dough rises better and has greater stretchability making hand toss pizza possible.

Why Eat Gluten Free Pizza?

The problem is some people have what is known as celiac disease. This is a condition in which the lining of the small intestine becomes damaged and is not able to absorb certain food nutrients to maintain proper health. Celiac disease is caused by eating foods containing glutens.

Typically about 1 out of 100 people have celiac disease which means about means about 3.1 million Americans have this disease. Celiac disease itself is not deadly but if ignored will lead to greater health problems one being malnourishment.

So with that said you can see how a pizzeria offering a gluten free pizza can increase their customer base and profits. People are becoming more health conscious and that explains why many new items such as whole wheat pasta, organic vegetables and meats are now common on some menus.

Can I Lose Weight Eating Gluten Free Pizza?

Now keep in mind that gluten free pizza is for those who have celiac disease so that they can enjoy pizza despite having a troubled digestive system. What’s so puzzling to me is that many people who do have celiac disease order gluten free pizza thinking that it is less fattening and healthier than normal pizza. That my friend is not the case as gluten free pizza has just as many calories as your normal pizza.

Gluten free pizza is not designed for weight loss yet many believe eating gluten free equates to losing weight. It’s true you may not feel as bloated after eating gluten free pizza but it will not get rid of the body fat. In fact many people who do not have celiac disease go on a gluten free diet in hopes to losing weight and end up gaining weight instead.

The only difference with gluten free pizza is that it’s made with gluten free flour rather than high gluten pizza flour. Toppings such as cheese, pepperoni, sausage and bacon are still high in calories and contain large amounts of saturated fats.

The bottom line here is gluten free pizza is for those who have celiac disease or some other form of digestive complication. If you are trying to lose weight and still want to eat pizza then you best choice is to have vegan pizza or to at least order your pizza with only vegetarian toppings.

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Pizza is definitely a prevalent expression of both Italian and American cooking. Regardless of the style of pizza whether is New York style, Chicago deep dish, round or square, pizza is an everyday favorite of many who reside throughout America

Among the first pizzas ever made was the Napolitano, or Neapolitan pizza. This pizza pie is constructed from strong flour, the dough is frequently kneaded by hand after which rolled flat and thin without using a rolling pin. The pizza is baked in a high temperature wood-fired stone oven for just sixty to ninety seconds, and is taken out after the crust turns a golden brown. Typical forms of Neapolitan pizza consist of marinara, created using tomato, olive oil, oregano, and garlic, and margherita, constructed of tomato, olive oil, fresh basil leaves, and mozzarella cheese.

The first pizzeria in the United States was in Manhatten, New York, in Little Italy where in 1905 a man Gennaro Lombardi set up the first shop. This would explain why New York and surrounding areas are famous for what is known as the New York style pizza. This pizza was originally cooked in a coal burning oven and is thin crust topped with sauce, cheese and various other toppings. Traditionally the dough is hand tossed which creates a large but thin pizza. New York style pizza is cut into 8 large pieces which then can be folded in half to eat. The most popular topping is pepperoni and mozzarella or provolone cheese is common.

Also popular in the northeastern United States is the white pizza. This also is a thin crust pizza however no pizza sauce is ever applied. Instead a light layer of olive oil is brushed on the dough surface then covered with cheese. Usually a white pizza is topped off with some fresh garlic, basil or oregano flakes and a few dabs of ricotta cheese.

In Chicago they like to do things a little different. The windy city is home to Chicago deep dish pizza which is cooked in a deep dish pan and has a similar appearance of a traditional dessert pie. The pizza is made in reverse order than a New York pizza as the cheese is added on top of the crust followed by toppings then the sauce is added. The Chicago style pizza first originated in 1943 at a place called Uno’s Pizzeria.

Not to be outdone by their rival city to the north,St Louis is known for their own unique style of pizza. The St Louis style pizza is an extremely thin crust pizza, cracker like that has a sweet tasting sauce which is covered with provel cheese. The sauce is applied right to the edge of the crust and the pizza is cut into squares.

Hawaiian pizza is style of pizza that really has nothing to do with Hawaii except for being topped with either slices or chunks of pineapple and also Canadian bacon. The taste is sweet much different from other pizzas. You will find Hawaiian throughout the western United States.

California is a trend setting state and you can be assured they have their own pizza style. California style pizza is a type of gourmet pizza which is famous for its many exotic toppings. This is a smaller pizza designed for just two people that has your typical sauce and variety of California cheeses but the toppings reflect the diverse agriculture found throughout the state of California. Don’t be surprised to see toppings such as chicken, walnuts, avocado, zucchini, carnitas, well you get the idea. The pizza is typically cooked in wood fired oven and has a nice crispy appearance.

That is just some of the well known pizza styles found in North America. Pizza is such a common food item that each region of the country wants to personalize their pizza to reflect their surroundings. How do you not love pizza?

Actual photo of one of my pizzas when I had a pizzeria

It seems that most people enjoy eating pizza which would explain why there are so many pizzerias throughout the United States and Canada. Yet people are always complaining that certain pizzerias just do not have good pizza. So, what make good pizza? Over the course of this article I shall explain why some pizza tastes so much better than other pizza.

Now I may not be the foremost pizza expert but I did once own a small pizzeria so I do know a thing or two about this subject other than just eating pizza. Before I go into all the ingredients that make a good pizza we need to understand the various pizza styles and what sets them apart.

The most popular type of pizza out there is a New York style pizza. Although many pizzerias today have altered this pizza style some compared to what you find in Manhattan it still to me is New York pizza. True New York pizza is thin crust, cooked in a coal burning oven and cooked well done until the cheese turns a golden brown color. Not many pizzerias do their pizza quite like that but not too far off.

The second most popular pizza style is Chicago deep dish pizza. This pizza is more costly and takes at least twice as long to cook. A good pizza provided you are willing to spend more money. Also common are Sicilian style pizza, California style pizza and so on.

You see it does not matter what the pizza style is, what matters is how you prepare the pizza. When you own a pizzeria two of the most important factors about making pizza are the cost and time. Many pizzerias today are competing with the major fast food restaurants so the price charged for a pizza and how long it takes to get that pizza in the hands of the customer are critical for the survival of the pizzeria.

Like most things in life it comes down to money. To make good pizza you will need to spend more money on quality food product and more time in preparation. Some places due to their financial plan opt to go the cheap route and that in most cases makes unfavorable pizza.

Food Products that Make a Good Pizza

To make good pizza you first start with the dough. I believe the dough should be made daily in a pizzeria. Never should you use frozen or pre-made dough but many places do. Pizza dough is made with water, yeast, sugar salt and oil, some pizzerias may add some other special ingredients but those are the basics. Water is very important as not all tap water is the same, some cities have very hard water and that will make a difference.

I am aware of some pizzerias that use purified or distilled water for dough making as it increases the quality of the dough but also adds to the cost. As I mentioned before pizza dough should be made daily, preferably each night and made with warm water so it will be ready the following day. Once the dough is formed into a ball shape it then goes into the walk-in refrigerator for the rest of the night where it will rise and be ready the following day come lunchtime.

The next item that is crucial is the pizza sauce. Many pizzerias will buy pre-made sauce in a can for their pizza. This usually will have a bland taste, nothing to get excited about. Good pizza sauce is made the night before you use it and is made by adding spices like garlic, sugar, olive oil, oregano, salt and ground pepper just to name a few. These ingredients are added to a tomato sauce, thoroughly stirred and then placed into the walk-in refrigerator to set overnight. Unlike marinara sauce you do not cook pizza sauce; it will cook when on the pizza while in the oven. So much better than canned pizza sauce.

Not many people realize that the most expensive component of a pizza is the cheese. Well that is unless they are using an imitation cheese. Good pizza is made with 100% cheese. If you are looking to cut cost on pizza making this is the place to do it as just about all pizza has cheese. Most pizzerias will use either mozzarella cheese, provolone cheese or a blend of both. These cheeses melt well and have a great taste. Now some specialty pizzas may use other cheeses like asiago, mild cheddar, provel or feta all which have great flavor and appearance compared to imitation cheese.

There are many different brands of cheese and the prices vary greatly. The top brand of pizza cheese is Grande Cheese so if you walk into a pizzeria and they display a sign stating they use Grande Cheese you are getting the best. Chances are you will not see that often and when you do the price of the pizza will be above average.

Now comes the pizza toppings. Cheap pizza will have toppings that come either frozen or canned. Some pizza topping products may only be available that way but others are available fresh and that makes a big difference in taste. Toppings likes mushrooms, spinach, jalapenos, tomatoes, pineapple and broccoli taste so much better fresh than when they are purchased frozen or canned.

The last step to making good pizza is the oven. There are many different pizza ovens out there and they do make a difference. Of course there is nothing like a old school coal or wood burning oven but those are rare and usually found at more upscale pizzerias. Most pizzerias have either a deck oven or a conveyor oven. I believe deck ovens are far better as they contain shelves of stone which cook the crust better. Conveyor ovens can cook a pizza in 4 to 6 minutes and it comes out the same every time. This oven is what you usually find in the big corporate pizza chains as they are easier to operate.

My Final Thoughts about What Makes Good Pizza

There you have it as that is what makes good pizza. Next time you are in a pizzeria look around, ask questions to determine the process used to make pizza. It is the little things that when added together will dramatically affect the taste of pizza. My advice is to visit the independent family owned pizzerias as they usually are the ones that make good pizza and have done for years.

Whether you are staying at Mandalay Bay or just happen to live nearby finding some good pizza not that easy. Well that is until now because I am about to reveal what I feel are pizzerias that provide good pizza near Mandalay Bay.

Mandalay Bay is located on South Las Vegas Boulevard just ½ mile south of Tropicana Ave, which happens to one of the busiest intersections in the United States. So there must be some good pizza nearby right? 

Yes there is good pizza near Mandalay Bay but it all depends what you are looking for. There are places that are more upscale and pricey and then there are pizzerias that are more casual and family friendly. It just depends on what you desire. Below I have listed what I feel are the places which serves better than average pizza.

Pizzerias that Offer Good Pizza Near Mandalay Bay

Metro Pizza Tropicana – Located 2.5 miles away is my number one on my short list because hands down Metro is the best. If you are a tourist then probably are not aware that this is just one of 5 locations in Las Vegas in which is considered by most locals the best pizza in Vegas. This location, a little father than the Ellis Island location but offers a large family friendly dining area. Downside is that you will need a car or taxi to get here.

Metro Pizza Ellis Island – Located 2 miles away is my second choice is another Metro Pizza. Yes I really like Metro Pizza and I am not alone. This location closer to Mandalay Bay and resides inside the Ellis Island Casino. Same great quality just a smaller pizzeria, being in casino creates a different environment and yes you will need a car or taxi to get here.

Project Pie – Located inside MGM Grand this pizzeria is close enough to walk to. A small casual pizzeria, food court style that offers great food for a low price, well low price for being located on a casino property. Next to Metro Pizza this is your best bet and you do not need a car to get her from Mandalay Bay.

Slice of Vegas Pizza – Located inside The Shoppes at Mandalay Place makes this pizzeria very close. Here you will find a pizzeria that to me is more upscale than most. The quality of food is good but pricey. If you want pizza because it feeds many for little money than this place may not be for you. Pizza is good but not worth their prices however it is very close.

New York Pizzeria – Located inside the New York New York Hotel, this pizzeria is a relaxing walk from Mandalay Bay. The pizza and food here is quite good but very costly. A large cheese pizza goes for about $23, pepperoni is $26. If you do not mind spending this kind of money than you will be happy here.

There you my short list of pizzerias for good pizza near Mandalay Bay. If you are looking for pizza delivery to your hotel room, well that could be challenging as many properties discourage that and traffic can be an issue.

When is comes to pizza there are many different styles and types. Although the most popular pizza is a large pepperoni, I know this to be true for I once owned a pizzeria and 90% of the pizzas I sold were large pepperonis; however many other delicious pizza types do exist.

One such unique pizza is the white pizza. It is called the white pizza because there is no pizza sauce and usually no toppings but that varies from pizzeria to pizzeria. This is a simple pizza to prepare and if done right has incredible taste. White pizza may also be known as garlic pizza which makes sense because garlic is spread over the top of the cheese

How do You Make a White Pizza?

Well it really simple to make, let me explain how I made my white pizzas back in the day. I would start like I was making any other New York Style pizza. That is I would knead the pizza dough, then begin stretching the dough with the traditional had toss method.

Once I have the dough the right size and good round shape I would lay it on the pizza paddle. Remember there is no sauce instead I would brush a light coat of olive oil onto the dough the I would add a layer of cheese. Me personally, I used a blend of shredded mozzarella and provolone cheese. Some will use only mozzarella, some will go with only provolone and some would use sliced cheese rather than shredded. It really does not matter much.

Now once the cheese has been spread evenly over the dough you then add fresh minced garlic. You just lightly apply small pieces randomly across the pizza. If fresh minced garlic is not available then you can go with dry granulated garlic, just apply it evenly. To achieve the most flavor but I prefer fresh minced garlic but that is me.

Some pizza makers would now put their pizza in the oven now but I believe there is more to add. Next I would then add some finely chopped basil and then to top it off I add about 5 to 6 dabs of ricotta cheese. Now you go take it to another level and throw some diced tomato on the top but that is not necessary.

Where do I Find a White Pizza?

Good question as most of those big conglomerate pizza chains do not offer a white pizza. If you want this specialty pie chances are you will need to visit a New York Style pizzeria that focuses on the more traditional pizza types. These places are usually independent pizzerias that are family owned which in my opinion is the only way to go to experience great pizza.

Next you want to order pizza try something new and different, try the white pizza you may just really like it.

When in comes to pizza in Centennial Hills there is one place that has been in existence well before the others and that place is Mark Rich’s NY Pizza & Pasta. Strategically located in the popular Centennial Center, Mark Rich’s pizzeria demonstrates what a New York style pizzeria should be like.

Inside you will observe numerous pictures and artifacts which reveal the uniqueness and beauty of New York City. But that is not all you will find as this is an attractive New York style pizzeria that has a great menu containing more than just pizza.

The Menu at Mark Rich’s New York Pizza & Pasta

For starters the menu contains a nice variety of appetizers. Not only will you find traditional appetizers like fries, o-rings and mozzarella sticks but there are also some unique items such as fried ravioli and breaded mushrooms.

Looking to have a salad, there are several to choose from. Personally I love their Greek salad but also available is antipasto salad, New York chicken salad, jumbo shrimp salad & more.

Perhaps a sandwich is more of your thing, well hot and cold sandwiches are on the menu. You can select from Italian sub, meatball parmigiana, sausage parmigiana, philly, grilled chicken and the list goes on and on. Did I mention they have pita sandwiches too?

Are you a pasta lover? The menu here has numerous pasta selections. Whether you like your pasta with chicken, veal, shrimp or eggplant you will find many choices. Now my favorite is the baked manicotti but I yet have to try all of the entrees.

Now when it comes to the pizza here you will find traditional had tossed New York style pizza. Several specialty pizzas are offered such as vegetarian, Sicilian, white pizza, stuffed pizza and even a gluten free pizza. Most people usually like to build their own pizza as a wide variety of toppings are available. Oh they also offer calzones.

Location of Mark Rich’s New York Pizza & Pasta Centennial Hills

Out of all the pizzerias in Centennial Hills I believe Mark Rich has the best location. Rather being located in some small retail center hidden behind other stores, Mark Rich’s pizzeria is in the Centennial Center where they have a high volume or cars and foot traffic making this a successful pizzeria.

Address: Centennial Center Shopping Center 7930 W. Tropical Parkway Suite 130

Phone Number: (702) 645-3337

Now it’s your turn to provide your thoughts about Mark Rich’s N.Y. Pizza & Pasta in Centennial Hills. If you have experienced their food either dine in, take or delivery then tell me what you thought. Enter you opinion below, you can do so with your Facebook account.