Amore Taste of Chicago Henderson: Deep Dish Pizza & More

Sometimes you crave a meal that feels like a trip without boarding a plane. Amore Taste of Chicago in Henderson brings Chicago-style deep-dish pizza, tavern-style thin crust, Italian beef, pasta, Vienna Beef hot dogs and more to East Sunset Road. With another location on South Durango, Amore has become one of the Las Vegas Valley’s established spots for Chicago-inspired comfort food.

A Chicago-Themed Restaurant in Henderson

During my weekly foodie mission, I decided to stop into the Henderson location to finally give their deep-dish pizza a try.

From the moment you step inside Amore Taste of Chicago, the restaurant makes its Chicago identity obvious. Sports memorabilia, music references, Chicago landmarks and plenty of Windy City personality fill the dining room.

The décor draws heavily from Chicago culture, from references to Michigan Avenue to the city’s music and sports history.

In one corner, you might find a tribute to the band Chicago, while another section includes nods to figures such as Al Capone.

The walls are also filled with memorabilia celebrating Chicago sports teams including the Cubs, White Sox, Bears and Blackhawks.

For another Las Vegas spot that wears its Chicago influence proudly, Chicago Brewing Company on Fort Apache offers its own mix of Chicago-style food, sports, and neighborhood-bar personality.

Chicago Deep-Dish and Tavern-Style Pizza

Pizza is one of the biggest reasons to visit Amore Taste of Chicago. The menu covers Chicago deep dish, stuffed pizza and tavern-style thin crust, giving diners distinctly different ways to experience Chicago pizza.

Deep dish is built more like a savory pie than a conventional thin pizza. The crust rises along the sides of the pan while cheese, toppings and tomato sauce create a thick, layered slice designed for a fork and knife.

Amore’s current menu asks guests to allow about 45 minutes for deep-dish and stuffed pizzas to cook, so this is one order where planning ahead helps. If you’re ordering takeout, placing the order before you leave home can save some waiting at pickup.

I’ve never had deep dish pizza before, so I decided to give it a try. Deep dish is a different style of pizza, so definitely approach it with an open mind! It really does feel like you’re eating a pie since it’s built differently!

The other major Chicago option is tavern-style pizza. Instead of a tall crust, tavern-style goes in the opposite direction with a thin, crisp crust cut into small squares.

I’ve been to Amore plenty of times and the tavern-style pizza is my favorite! Since it’s very minimal pizza, all the ingredients pack more of a punch. Not sure why; it just does!

If you enjoy comparing regional pizza styles around Las Vegas, Dom DeMarco’s Brooklyn-style pizza offers a very different interpretation, while Marsigliano’s Pizzeria takes more of a casual neighborhood Italian approach.

Appetizers Before the Pizza

There is plenty to order while waiting for a deep dish. The appetizer menu includes fried mozzarella, mushrooms, zucchini, ravioli, onion rings, calamari, shrimp, and other familiar Italian-American starters.

The fried ravioli is an easy choice if you want something shareable without filling up before the pizza arrives.

Italian Beef, Pasta and Chicago Classics

Pizza may get most of the attention, but the menu goes much further. Amore serves Italian beef, Italian sausage, Vienna Beef hot dogs, pasta, chicken dishes, seafood, and other Italian-American favorites.

The Chicago-style Vienna Beef hot dog comes on a poppy-seed bun with mustard, onions, relish, tomatoes, sport peppers, celery salt and a pickle spear.

The Italian beef is another Chicago staple, featuring sliced roast beef served on a French roll with au jus. Italian sausage and a beef-and-sausage combination are also available.

On the Italian side of the menu, choices include spaghetti, penne, angel hair, homemade rigatoni, baked pasta, stuffed shells, ravioli, and several house entrées. If you want to compare the experience with another local Italian restaurant, Trattoria Italia near Henderson takes a more traditional full-service approach to pasta, seafood and Italian dining.

Desserts After a Heavy Chicago Meal

Once you make it through the pizza, pasta or Italian beef, Amore still leaves room for dessert. The current menu includes options such as tiramisu, cheesecake, mini cannoli and carrot cake.

The tiramisu gives you the familiar combination of coffee flavor and creamy layers after a particularly hearty meal.

During our visit, the Henderson restaurant also had a gelato bar, giving us another dessert option beyond Amore’s cakes, cannoli and tiramisu.

A Full Bar Surrounded by Chicago Sports

Amore’s Henderson restaurant also includes a full bar surrounded by televisions, making the restaurant work just as easily for drinks and a game as it does for a family dinner.

The drink menu includes draft and bottled beer, wine, cocktails and house sangria. If sports bars are more your speed, our visit to Al’s Garage offers another look at the neighborhood sports-bar scene away from the Strip.

Amore also runs weekday happy hour and rotating specials, so checking the restaurant’s current specials before visiting can be worthwhile.

A Taste of Chicago in Henderson

Amore Taste of Chicago gives Henderson locals an unusually broad introduction to Chicago comfort food in one restaurant. Deep-dish pizza, tavern-style thin crust, Italian beef and Vienna Beef hot dogs sit alongside pasta, appetizers, desserts and a full bar.

That combination makes Amore useful whether you’re specifically hunting for Chicago deep-dish pizza in Las Vegas or simply want a casual neighborhood restaurant where a group can order several completely different things.

For me, the visit was finally a chance to understand why deep dish has such a devoted following. It is very different from the pizza I normally order, but that is part of what made trying it worthwhile. And with tavern-style pizza, Italian beef and the rest of the Chicago menu still competing for attention, there is plenty of reason to return.