Those Guys Pies
Cheese Pizza with Artichokes / Italian White Pie with Ricotta, Mozarella, Sausage, Broccoli Rabe, Caramelized Onion
Fried Mushrooms
Meatball
Cannolis
Cinnamon Poppers with Citrus Cream Cheese Dipping Sauce
Located at The Lakes and described as “a labor of love to create the best for the best,” Those Guys Pies had long been a member of the Las Vegas ‘to-do’ list and with business nearby on Friday afternoon a visit was planned the day prior, online ordering allowing pickup orders to be placed in advance with an 11:20am default setting.
Cited by trusted sources as “good pizza in an inconvenient spot,” the latter lament an accurate description for pretty much anything at The Lakes, Those Guys Pies is tucked away in a small shopping center on Lake East Drive and with minimal signage plus limited seating the restaurant operates mostly as a grab-n’-go option for local residents, the “wait times approximate” as was demonstrated by an 11:40am order readied just four minutes before noon.
Visited by Guy Fieri for Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives, this fact obvious as Chef Roy Bass plays the DVD on a television in-house, Those Guys Pies looks to set itself apart from other pizzerias by focusing on quality products and a philosophy of doing as much as possible within the small kitchen, roots in Jersey and reference to Tacconelli’s giving those familiar hopes that may be a bit over-inflated, though the Philadelphia icon is certainly not a bad target at which to aim.
Running just a three man crew, the wait times not conducive to those with only an hour for lunch, it was at a small table alongside the man-made lake that lunch was enjoyed and although the oft-praised Maple Cheesecake was sold out the $28 tab nonetheless netted more than enough food to share, the half-and-half options for pies as well as sides allowing for a good amount of variety beginning with tender breaded mushrooms and a handmade Angus Meatball that featured almost no filler beneath mozzarella and bright marinara, the richness mellowed slightly by notes of garlic, basil and rosemary.
Watching the pizza get loaded into the oven at the time of my 11:39 arrival, the fourteen minute cook-time certainly not enough to render edges crispy as I stood, ignored, at the counter waiting, first bites of the red sauce slice showed good flavor but compromised crust texture and moving on to the “Italian White Pie” Special the results were equally mixed as the toppings were absolutely top-grade amidst pools of ricotta while the crust was starchy and flimsy with too much stretch.
Turning to desserts, the Fried Dough with Cinnamon, Sugar and a sidecar of sweet topping complimentary with Social Media Check-In, Those Guys Pies apparently brings the cheesecakes in from an outside source who makes these only for them and with the daily delivery not yet arriving tastes were instead invested in freshly made cannoli with a sturdy shell that shatters into creamy mascarpone dotted with chocolate chips, not as good as those at Naked City or Elements, but a heck of a lot better than the prefilled disasters people wait in line for at Carlo’s Bakery.
THREE STARS: While the issues noted make me question the “Good pizza” portion of the “inconvenient spot” quote there is no doubt Those Guys are working with good product, the desserts and appetizers all excellent even before considering the bargain pricing compared to local competitors.
RECOMMENDED: Cannoli, Meatballs, Mushrooms.
AVOID: Perhaps making a mistake in using the online ordering system, or maybe catching Those Guys Pies during an unexpected rush, execution still matters regardless of circumstances and rushing the pie yielded an inferior product.
TIP: Location Number Two just opened inside The Hideaway Bar at 3369 Thom Blvd.
WHAT THE STARS MEAN: 5 World Class, 4 Excellent, 3 Good, 2 Fair, 1 Poor.
http://thoseguyspies.com/
