Cousins New York Pizza & Pasta
18” Cheese Pizza – Mozzarella Cheese, Housemade Red Sauce
18” Palermo Pizza – Mozzarella Cheese, ‘Nduja, Sliced Tomato, Eggplant, Basil
Sicilian Grandma Pizza – Mozzarella Cheese, Housemade Sweet Cherry Tomato Sauce, Basil
Garlic Knots – Housemade Marinara Sauce
Housemade Rustic Garlic Bread – Parmesan Cheese, Mozzarella Cheese
Classic Calzone – Mozzarella Cheese, Ricotta Cheese, Parmesan Cheese, Housemade Marinara Sauce (added Pepperoni)
Vegetarian Calzone – Mozzarella Cheese, Mushrooms, Onions, Artichokes, Cherry Tomatoes, Housemade Marinara Sauce (minus Olives)
Foretold by the drawing of eleven-year-old Jared Weiss in 1983, and a dream fulfilled alongside cousin Mitch Kane, Cousins New York Pizza & Pasta opened in early May, its location in the West Flamingo shopping complex just off I-215 providing convenient access to Westsiders who likely know the area thanks to LVAC, Starbucks or Target.
An area with no shortage of eateries, local favorites like Lindo Michoacan and Rollin Smoke alongside the likes of Popeyes and Cinnaholic, it is beneath a freshly-hung banner that guests will find Cousins, a well-designed space currently offering socially-distanced seating and friendly staff taking all the necessary Food and personal safety precautions.
A tribute to the Big Apple, Cousins’ story told on the walls surrounding checkered-tablecloth tables, it was with greetings and thanks from Jared that five boxes and two bags were picked-up, curbside or door-to-door delivery also an option for those still leery about dining in.
Thus far a concise menu, New York-style Pies and Italian-American entrées easily customized via Cousins website or smartphone app, lunch began with Garlic Bread and Knots with a side of Marinara , the homemade Loaf soft and splendid beneath dueling Cheeses while the six small balls were unfortunately under-proofed and thus a little tough.
Moving next to a pair of Calzones, both under $10 and stuffed to bursting, it was after a dip in vibrant housemade Sauce that taste and texture set a high standard, the “Classic” with added Pepperoni luxuriously creamy while a Vegetarian version requested without Olives was more heterogeneous thanks to a mélange of roasted Mushrooms, Onions, Artichokes, and bursting Cherry Tomatoes.
Not about to pass on Pizza, two rounds and a Grandma-style rectangle divided amongst seven hungry guests, it was on the word of a trusted local Chef that Cheese Pizza “well done” displayed a crisp base with developed yeastiness beneath nothing more than Sauce and Mozzarella, the “Sicilian” something of a misnomer but nonetheless delicious thanks to its balance of natural Sugars and fresh Basil while “Palermo” stole the spotlight with spicy Calabrian Sausage, sliced Tomatoes and Eggplant.
FOUR STARS: Referencing the 5 Boroughs in terms of name as well as style, Cousins New York Pizza & Pasta will surely please those who romanticize the late-night street corner “Slice,” and although the Ingredient quality may not match Las Vegas’ upper-echelon of Pizzerias the price is more than fair while customer service and safety are most-certainly priorities.
RECOMMENDED: Garlic Bread, Cheese Pizza, Palermo Pizza, Vegetarian Calzone.
AVOID: Garlic Knots.
TIP: Located on the South side of West Flamingo, at 9773 West Flamingo Road Suite 2. Call 702-333-0086, check the website or download their convenient App to order.
WHAT THE STARS MEAN: 5 World Class, 4 Excellent, 3 Good, 2 Fair, 1 Poor.
www.cousinsnypizzaandpasta.com
