Metro Pizza on Sky Pointe
Bread and Butter
86th Street Square Pie – Mozzarella Cheese, Tomato Sauce, Romano Cheese, Olive Oil, Half Old School Pepperoni
Fries
Calzone – Ricotta Cheese, Mozzarella Cheese, Romano Cheese, Spices, Side of Marinara
Margherita Pizza – Roman-style Ultra-Thin Crust, Basil, Tomatoes, Mozzarella Cheese
The Gotham Pizza – Pepperoni, Mushrooms, Sausage, Green Peppers, Ground Beef, Onions
Stella – Peaches, Mike’s Hot Honey, Burrata Cheese, Prosciutto, Arugula, Serrano Peppers, Balsamic
Serving as the flagship of John Arena and Sam Facchini’s family of pizzerias since November of 2012, and featuring an expansive footprint including Lulu’s Bread & Breakfast, it was with COVID-19 precautions in full-swing that curbside pickup was arranged at Metro Pizza on Sky Pointe, and just like any other day the Food and hospitality did not disappoint.
At this time take-out and delivery only, Pizzaiolo Chris Decker and a longtime staff member already busy with a line of tickets by 11:30am, it was for a group of eight that seven items were gathered, portions generous and prices far lower than Ingredient quality and craftsmanship might dictate.
Dubbed “America’s Neighborhood Pizzeria” since the early eighties, though past and present so much more, it was with everything carefully transported twenty minutes south that goods were unboxed and photos snapped, French Fries slightly compromised by Styrofoam containers but a golden Calzone holding up well with a still-molten trio of Cheeses lining the Garlic-tinged pocket.
Paying for extra table Bread during tough times, here un-cut and still warm from the oven with plenty leftover for Toast during the week, it was by-request from one diner that Metro’s Margherita was ordered, the “Ultra-Thin” Crust able to support classic Toppings from Cornicione to center while a slightly thicker “Gotham” got sorta-Supreme by way of Pepperoni, Mushrooms, Sausage, Green Peppers, Ground Beef, Onions.
Asking Chris for one of his #instagramworthy masterpieces despite the circumstances, and seeing Chef come through with a Stella balancing sweet heat with bitter Greens, Burrata and Prosciutto, it seemed only right to finish with the reference-standard Sicilian John Arena dubbed “86th Street,” because as one guest said of the pandemic “at least I could die happy if this was the last thing I ate.”
FIVE STARS: Serving Las Vegas for 38+ years and continuously evolving the concept while slowly growing the brand it would be difficult to say anyone has contributed more to Sin City’s love of Pizza than John Arena, and although any brand featuring more than one space may suffer from inconsistency Metro sets a high standard by rewarding their old customer base with predictable greatness while Chris Decker’s creativity looks towards a new era and without ever neglecting the basics – the same synopsis as always since it warrants repeating.
RECOMMENDED: Anything offered as a special from @everythingbutanchovies Social Media feed is worth asking about. So is the 86th Street Square Pie. And, really, any of the Pizzas.
AVOID: N/A.
TIP: 1395 East Tropicana Avenue, 4001 South Decatur Boulevard, 6720 Sky Pointe Drive and 1420 West Horizon Ridge Parkway all still open with Curbside Pickup and No Touch Delivery.
WHAT THE STARS MEAN: 5 World Class, 4 Excellent, 3 Good, 2 Fair, 1 Poor.
www.metropizza.com
