4 1/2 out of 5 sprouts
There are so many places to eat in Las Vegas, many of which are very fancy, very expensive and super trendy. So where does one go when you just want a simple pizza without blowing your travel budget all in one meal? I was craving pizza, was not up for the $30 single cheese pizza offered at my hotel so I ventured down the strip aways and found this place – 800 Degrees Pizza at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino.
Reasonably priced with a casual atmosphere, this place was a perfect spot to get off the crowded Las Vegas strip and enjoy a quick meal. The restaurant is set up similar to that of a Chipotle or a Blaze Pizza, basically an assembly line where you can pick and choose your toppings. Or order any of the creative pizzas already thrown together for you on the menu. Mr. Beet and I decided to keep it rather simple, we ordered the Verde Pizza and the traditional Margherita Pie.
The Verde was wonderful – with a pinenut-basil pesto, fresh mozzarella and a sprinkling of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. The crust is simple, made of flour, salt, water and wild yeast, lending to a soft and chewy texture. This is typically uncharacteristic for a thin crusted pizza, but the char from the wood burning oven is unique and flavorful. The pizzas take about one minute to bake in the hot oven!
The Margherita Pie was also delicious with crushed tomatoes, olive oil, fresh mozzarella, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and basil. The sauce is a bit tangy and not too spicy. Again, the crust is slightly charred but still soft.
We also tried the Greek Salad which was ordinary, but very good.
However, not everything on the menu is so typical. We ordered the Burrata and Beets from the cold bites menu. Warm crusty bread served with creamy burrata cheese, roasted beets, arugula and balsamic vinegar. This was my personal favorite. I felt fancy in a rather casual spot. The burrata and beets was unexpected and unique to such a concept, and it was amazing.
Prices were very reasonable as we spent less that $30 for the two of us including non-alcoholic beverages. Service was quick and courteous. There is another location along the north part of the strip in the SLS Hotel and Casino. 800 Degrees Pizza also has outlets in the Los Angeles/Pasadena metro, one location in Tokyo, Japan; and a handful of restaurants in Dubai, U. A. E. 4 1/2 out of 5 sprouts.
Verde pizza and Greek salad – that’s definitely for me 🙂