Most restaurants need a hook. Some kind of gimmick or specialty item that has customers coming back for more. Due forni’s claim to fame? The only two pizza Napolitano brick ovens of their kind in the country! Their concept is simple: two styles of pizza — Neapolitan for a thicker, chewy crust with a crisp exterior and Roman for a lighter, cracker-like crust — with incredibly fresh ingredients for a true Italian experience with some modern flair.
I’m no pizza expert but the two I tried here make Due Forni the best in town. Although, I haven’t made it to Settebello yet, which everyone raves about. Pizzas only come in one size, which are plenty for one, or good enough for two if you get some apps.
The Bianca al prosciutto cotto Neapolitan pizza ($14.95) had plenty of cooked ham, fontina, caramelized onions, oregano, and aged balsamic on top of of a chewy crust with just the right amount of char and crunchiness. Our kid had a Roman style cheese pizza ($12.95) that lived up to it’s billing of having a light, crispy crust. And, let’s be real. It’s the crust that separates great pies from average ones. After trying both, there’s no doubt that this place is the real deal.
Not to be outdone, the appetizers are on point as well. The Panzanella salad ($9.95) with arugula, tomato, onion, toasted pistachios, croutons, and balsamic vinaigrette is large enough for two to share. I loved the added texture from the croutons and pistachios. The beef carpaccio ($11.95) — thinly sliced prime beed, arugula, pine nuts, parmesan, black truffle vinaigrette — was a unique presentation. Six slices of beef rolled up with the other ingredients inside and shaved parmesan on top. The flavors were excellent but my only complaint was the light brown discoloration on the beef, which made it, visually, not as appetizing as it could be.
To go with the amazing food is a long list of wines by the glass dispensed from enomatic machines. Our server recommended a couple that we really enjoyed (Educated Guess cabernet – $13.95/glass and Pian di Nova Syrah – $12.95).
It’s refreshing to see an Italian place that doesn’t have the typical “pizzeria” look. Instead, the interior has a modern feel with rich, dark browns, blacks and orange. The front patio is covered and has windows that can be opened or closed depending on the weather. In all, it makes for a wonderful experience where the atmosphere lives up to the fabulous and unique food produced by the kitchen.
5 Stars
3555 S Town Center Dr 105
Las Vegas, NV 89135
(702) 586-6500