Pop Up Pizza - Las Vegas

Originally visited five years ago, though seemingly little has changed save for the desirability of DTLV, it was with Michael Vakneen on-site once again that Pop Up Pizza was visited Thursday, the young man who has since become a recognized name by way of his Pies assisting staff but insisting all he does is assemble the same recipes he created when the countered opened in 2012.<br/ <br/ Located at Plaza Hotel Casino, and as such an unlikely candidate for accolades including the local papers, Tripadvisor and fellow Pizzaiolos singing its praises, guests looking for Pop Up will find it halfway between the property’s front doors and Self-Parking access, the convenience no doubt part of Pop Up’s popularity but even a cursory look suggesting something better than expected.<br/ <br/ Based on quality Ingredients and a childhood in his father’s Restaurants, Vakneen finding his love of Pizza during the recession and soaking up knowledge ever since, it is atop Dough treated to lengthy fermentation that housemade Tomato Sauce is carefully spread, the 18” whole Pies a tremendous value ranging from $18-$23 depending on topping for an airy edge and charred bottom that picks up just enough crispiness to be foldable without breaking.<br/ <br/ Additionally offering Knots, Wings, Fried Pickles and even a Vegan Pie, all at a fair price and serving their purpose, it was with good fortune that 6:00pm additionally found one of Michael’s Detroit-style Pies fresh from the oven, the overlapping Cheese nicely caramelized into a fine lattice while the bottom was dimpled, buttery and light. <br/ <br/ FOUR STARS:  Attempting to set aside service, but impossible to do so entirely as two encounters with the same young woman were protracted to the point of exhausting, there is nonetheless no doubt that Pop Up ranks amongst Sin City’s top Slices and warrants a look from anyone in the area.

However, my second visit was a bit disappointing. It wasn’t bad, just not as good as my initial experience suggested. I tried a slice of the Goodman pizza (mozzarella, caramelized onions, roasted mushrooms, spinach, and red potatoes), and it just didn’t hit the mark. There were thick slices of potato on the pizza—what was that about? I don’t know if they’re skimping on the toppings, but I only had about half a spinach leaf per slice. Overall, it’s a bland, unappetizing pizza. Next, I had a slice of the White Chapel pie (mozzarella and ricotta cheese, roasted red bell peppers, and Italian sausage). It was decent, but honestly nothing to write home about. I can think of several places that make much better white pizza. The lack of sauce really makes it fall flat. To sum it up, stick with the Main Street pepperoni (the best in Las Vegas, if not the world), the Newport, or the Soho vegan pizza. Enjoy those while cheering on your favorite sports team, grab a cold drink, and have a good time. This is Vegas living at its finest! _____________________________________________________ Thin, New York-style crust with good quality toppings and a decent sauce, topped with delicious, stretchy cheese. I had a slice of the Main Street pepperoni, a slice of the Newport (with dollops of ricotta, roasted artichokes, peppers, eggplant, spinach, and mushrooms drizzled with garlic-infused olive oil), and the Soho Vegan (mozzarella, spinach, mushrooms, artichokes, and roasted bell peppers). While it’s not the best pizza I’ve ever had in terms of dough and sauce, I still consider it a five-star spot because the overall vibe is just fantastic. The place is really charming. The Newport, which doesn’t have mozzarella, was surprisingly good—the veggies were fresh and flavorful. The Soho impressed me the most. I ordered it with a bit of skepticism, expecting it to fall flat, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover a delicious and, believe it or not, healthy pizza. The atmosphere is really cute, and the slices are ready to go, which is a big plus. My three slices, which will keep me fueled for the day, only cost me $12.11. They were huge portions packed with quality ingredients. All in all, Pop Up Pizza is a fantastic stop. Downtown is becoming a great place for a pizza crawl.

We absolutely loved the pizza topped with eggplant, bacon, and red pepper—it was fantastic!!!

Vegan slice is very good. The cheese is very convincing. The spinach and mushroom slice is my other favorite. About $11-12 bucks for these two slices. I’ve been eating their stuff for years and it hasn’t changed a bit with the flavor and textures. And it gets me satisfied and full each time. Good deal!

If you've ever visited Rome, you'll know exactly what this pizza tastes like. We tried the crispy pepperoni, and it was outstanding! It was neither soggy nor overcooked—just perfectly crunchy, flavorful, and delicious. The portion sizes were reasonable, and the prices were great! We'll definitely be back as long as we're in Vegas.