Kevin Nay, owner of The Pizza Place, said he got his first job at the age of 15 working in a pizza restaurant. Several more pizza jobs followed for the lifelong Davis County resident -- until he opened his own establishment in March 1990.
He operated the business for 21 years from a location on Gentile Road in Layton before moving a few blocks over to Fairfield Road one year ago. His new building is larger and more visible, but the menu is the same.
Nay said his favorite aspects of his work are creating the food and serving his customers. "Our customers are very loyal here," he said.
To create his pizza, Nay begins with a hand-tossed crust and tops it with a New York-style sauce that is slightly sweet with a fresh tomato flavor. "Our sauce is never pasty," he said.
His pies are topped with freshly shredded mozzarella cheese and a choice of toppings. Some of the most popular sellers are cheese ($7.36/medium), pepperoni ($8.49/medium), Hawaiian ($9.49/medium) and Meat Lover ($9.99) with pepperoni, Canadian bacon, breakfast bacon and Italian sausage.
He is committed to using fresh ingredients, including fresh vegetables.
Specialty pies include the Chicken Bacon Ranch ($11.49/medium), with grilled chicken breast, breakfast bacon and homemade ranch sauce; and BBQ Chicken ($11.49/medium), with grilled chicken, honey barbecue sauce and breakfast bacon.
Nay said he is well-known for his fresh breadsticks served with homemade ranch dressing ($3.29). They are a favorite especially among the teenage crowd. His current teenage customers are the children of his original teenage customers. "We have been serving generations of breadstick eaters," he said.
For dessert, he recommends the cinnamon breadsticks ($3.29).
THE PIZZA PLACE
- ADDRESS: 198 N. Fairfield, Layton
- HOURS: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays
- PHONE: 801-544-5200