Pie Time: Where to Find Pizza along the Colorado River

Laughlin will never be confused with iconic pizza cities like New York or Chicago, but Nevada's cozy riverside vacation town is perfectly suited for America's favorite comfort food. Whether by the slice or a full pie to share, a good pizza pairs well with a community based on stress-free convenience and affordability.

River Rock Pizza & Pasta is everything great about Laughlin all in one place. Located inside the Aquarius casino, the dining room has a casual, comfortable ambiance, mixing stone decor with red-checkered tablecloths and gorgeous riverside scenery. As expected, the tables overlooking the water are routinely snatched up first, but it doesn't hurt to request one in advance, especially when celebrating a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary.

The restaurant was inspired by its proximity to live music venues like the Laughlin Entertainment Center and Edge Pavillion. It's impossible to miss guitars from the likes of Kid Rock, Sammy Hagar and Kane Brown hanging on the walls while walking through the dining room. 

"Those were donated by the artists," says Rachel Carey, Vice President of Food and Beverage for Aquarius and Edgewater. "So it'll have the musician's name and the year they performed on display. We wanted to bring that rock ’n' roll theme here."

But the most alluring part of River Rock is the smell of classic Italian American cuisine floating through the air from the hustle and bustle of an open kitchen. The hotel's bakery team makes the pizza dough from scratch daily.

The pepperoni is a best-seller, topped with a cup-and-char version of the meat for an Old World touch. The Brooklyn is another winner — and surprisingly photogenic — with dollops of ricotta and thick meatballs blended with pork, veal and beef. For something off-beat, try the pizza topped with braised short rib and wild mushrooms.

Here's a fun hack if you're having trouble scoring a table. The Cove Bar & Lounge shares a kitchen with River Rock and serves the same exact pizzas. There's less competition for those riverside views and you can score $8 cocktails during happy hour, including the Mango Margarita, which looks as good as it tastes. 

PTs Express at Edgewater has the same sauce and cheese blends as River Rock and the Cove, but it's more straight-forward for diners on the go. The walk-up counter exclusively serves slices and 20-inch pies, sticking to familiar staples like pepperoni and an Italian meat combo. For a fun mashup, choose a slice and pair it with the can't-miss Pub Burger, which layers two quarter-pound beef patties with cheese and classic toppings on a brioche bun. A meal is whatever you want it to be. 

 "It's a different style out here," Carey says. "Whereas Vegas is fast paced, Laughlin is more laid back. People really just want to chill and relax."

Passagio operates on a similar level of convenience — at least on weekends, since the fast-casual restaurant is only open on Friday and Saturday nights at the Tropicana. Choose from four pizzas (four cheese, pepperoni, meat, or veggie) by the slice or as a whole pie. They're billed as Neapolitan, but the recipes are standard flat crust. Still, the pizzas hit the spot when taking a break from the casino floor and the to-go option at the counter is perfect for bringing food back to your hotel room. The garlic-drenched, buttery breadsticks are a nice side bonus.

The original Pin-Up Pizza in Las Vegas is known for having unusually large, over-the-top slices, but the brand has streamlined its sizes and identity as it expands. The Pin-Up Pizza at Harrah's has one of the better pure, ingredient-driven recipes in Laughlin, using an aged sourdough starter and Imported Italian flour for its dough. The pizzas are all personal size, and an extra supply of hot-and-ready boxed orders are on standby during crowded nights when there's a big concert at the Rio Vista Outdoor Amphitheater.

The New Pioneer has River Rick's Pizzeria, a small, no-frills operation with the menu handwritten on a sheet of brown paper behind the counter. Customers are encouraged to mix things up and customize either a small or large pie with a choice of toppings and one of three sauces: tomato, alfredo or buffalo ranch. If you prefer to have someone else do the thinking for you, go with the BBQ chicken, meat combo or mixed veggie pizzas. No meal is complete without a house-baked cookie to go.