VEGAS: How Aria’s Five50 Pizza Bar Stole My Heart From Secret Pizza Kitchen
My favorite part of Marquee’s two-year run as the most coveted nightclub from late 2010 through 2012 was the pizza that followed. While bias could be argued because of overstimulated (LED Walls, Bass Drops, PEOPLE) and inebriated (7 and 7’s or Grey Goose) states of mind, The Secret Pizza Kitchen at the Cosmopolitan would always deliver in the clutch. Two beautiful slices of pizza that helped you sober up just enough to fall asleep on the cab ride back. Now, there is a new rising of the pizza tide and it’s happening next door at Five50 Pizza Bar located in The Aria.
Here are the two innovative pizzas you have to try. First up? The Farmstead: prosciutto, creme fraiche, OVER-MEDIUM FARM EGG, and country olives. If you missed the over-capitalization, this pizza has a yolky egg on it, and it’s glorious. Oh, and the dough is prepared by Aria’s master pastry chef. Just in case you were wondering. Pictured below.
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The second must-have. The Truffle: TRUFFLE SALAMI, Bechamel, Parmesan, Thyme, Shaved Truffles. I’m not a put-truffles-on-everything type guy, but in this case? Truffle on Wayne. Truffle on Garth. Pictured below.
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As a seasoned veteran of Internet haters, the comment that is immediately coming after talking about truffle and farm egg pizzas is, ‘But what about the real pizza?’ I get it. There are a lot of people that don’t necessarily want something brand new, but rather tried and true. And for those people, take a look at The Gotham. Pepperoni, Sausage, Salami, Mozzarella and Grada Padano. Sit down, shut up and eat the goddamn pizza. Pictured at the top and below.
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If you get the lucky chance to meet Chef and Managing Partner Shawn McClain, of Custom House and Sage – you’re in for a treat. A true conversationalist, one can immediately see the respect and passion he has for creating his own versions of pizza pie. The name Five50 has a double meaning. First, it’s a cost of a slice (at least for now). Secondly, it’s the oven temperature that McClain uses. At 550 degrees Fahrenheit the pizza bakes at a temperature in between a traditional East Coast baking oven (300-400 degrees) and a Napoli-style oven (typically over 900 degrees). You can witness the results.
The Restaurant itself is open from 11:30 AM – Midnight, Slice Counter from 11 AM – 2 AM. My hope is that its popularity extends the hours of the slice counter. Final note for those who read through the entire post – Five50 has a 50-cent craft beer happy hour from 5-5:30 Tuesday-Friday (non-football days).
Five50 Pizza Bar at the Aria Resort & Casino
3730 Las Vegas Blvd. (Casino Level, Adjacent to Sports Book)
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 590-7550
