Updating the Electric Energy of Downtown's Pizza Rock

Still promising a late summer opening, Sacramento's Pizza Rock is heading to Downtown's 3rd Street and revealing some of the elements they promise will add "artistic and energetic atmosphere" to their national reputation for serving premium gourmet pizzas.

The Sacramento branch carved out a concept of music, pizza, breakdancing staff and eclectic decor. The Las Vegas outpost will expand on those themes. Project mastermind Tony Gemignani is an 11-time World Pizza Champion and creator of their infamous Margherita pizza, only prepared in limited batches of 73 pies per day.

The 185-seat restaurant will feature four different ovens concentrating on Neapolitan, classic Italian, classic American, Sicilian, Roman and gluten-free pizzas.

Three award winning specialties will top the menu: the Sicilian-style Burratina Di Margherita, winner of the Gold Cup Pizza Championships in Leece, Italy; the Napoletana-style Margherita that won in the World Pizza Cup in Naples, Italy; and the Cal Italia, which grabbed the Gold Medal in the Food Network Pizza Champions Challenge.

On premises, they'll be making all their own pasta, plus Sicilian and Calabrese link and bulk sausages. Away from the gourmet options, they'll also be selling New York slices, calzones, paninis, strombolis, grinders and meatball subs.

Keeping as much in house as possible, they'll be whisking up their twist on vanilla soft serve. Bold toppings include olive oil and sea salt and Fernet reduction and the more conventional seasonal berries, hazelnut and Valrhona chocolate.

Pizza Rock's full bar will feature hand-crafted cocktails and wines chosen from California and Italy.

The high-energy music will be turned down for the acoustic Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., serving breakfast pizzas and a menu of weekend favorites like meatball hash and eggs, eggs Benedict with pancetta and French toast made with focaccia bread.

Pizza Rock will be open Sunday to Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to midnight and Thursday to Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 a.m. Deejays will be on hand Thursday through Saturdays.
· All Coverage of Pizza Rock [~ELV~]