In the heart of Gillette, Wyoming — a city better known for coal mines and wide-open skies than artisan pizza — one restaurant decided to change the conversation entirely.
Pizza Carrello is the kind of place that makes you stop mid-bite and wonder why every city in America doesn’t have one — a wood-fired pizza institution in Gillette, WY, built from a fiery passion for quality ingredients, boundless creativity, and the belief that even small-town Wyoming deserves world-class pie. 🤠🍕
How Pizza Carrello Won Gillette’s Hearts
The story of Pizza Carrello is one of the most genuinely inspiring origin stories in Wyoming’s food scene.
Founders Ariane Jimison and Rachel Kalenberg started this entire operation in 2011 with just $400 in startup funds — building their own wood oven pizza trailer from scratch, designing their own logo, crafting their own menu, and rolling their cart out to street corners, parking lots, parks, and local events across Gillette.
Word spread fast, and what began as a humble food cart rolling through the streets of Gillette grew into one of the most beloved locally-owned restaurants in Wyoming — eventually scaling into a stunning 7,000-square-foot restaurant seating 140 guests, complete with a 14-seat bar and 20 taps pouring Wyoming craft beers and spirits. 🏆
The secret weapon has always been the oven. Pizza Carrello uses a handmade wood-burning oven fired with hardwood ethically harvested from sustainable forests — producing pizzas with a distinctive char, crackle, and smokiness that no gas oven can replicate.
Every crust is made from unbleached, unbromated, GMO-free Wheat Montana flour — a detail that speaks volumes about how seriously this kitchen takes its craft.
The founders were eventually honored as Small Business People of the Year for Wyoming — a distinction that cemented Pizza Carrello’s place not just as a great restaurant, but as a symbol of what determination and community spirit can build from almost nothing.
Locals who lined up at the food cart in the early days now bring their kids to the restaurant, and visitors driving through Gillette on their way to Devil’s Tower or the Bighorn Mountains have been known to reroute their entire trip for a slice.
Food Highlights
- Firecracker Pizza: Garlic-infused olive oil, cream cheese, and spicy bold toppings — packed with heat and personality. 🔥
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Roman Holiday: San Marzano tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, house-made sausage, salami, fresh basil, garlic-infused olive oil, and two-year-aged Parmigiano Reggiano.
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Carrello Supreme: San Marzano tomato sauce, mozzarella, sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, black olives, green onions, and aged Parmigiano Reggiano. 🍄
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Sausage Bianco Balsamico: Garlic-infused olive oil, mozzarella, house-made sausage, mushrooms, red onions, and a drizzle of balsamic reduction.
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Carnivore: San Marzano tomato sauce, mozzarella, ham, premium pepperoni, house-made sausage, and Montana bacon. 🥓
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Pesto Pepperoni: House-made fresh basil pesto, cream cheese, mozzarella, and pepperoni.
- The Dazzle Berry: Garlic-infused olive oil, fresh mozzarella, house-made ricotta, smoked ham, spicy jalapeño-raspberry compote, and seasoned arugula. 🫐🌶️
- Strawberry Steak Pizza: Garlic-infused olive oil, shredded mozzarella, steak, and sweet-savory strawberry. 🍓🥩
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BBQ Chicken Pizza: Carrello BBQ sauce, mozzarella, Red Bird chicken, bacon, onions, and cilantro. 🍗
Atmosphere
Pizza Carrello buzzes with the unmistakable energy of a restaurant that the entire city is proud of. The 7,000-square-foot space is warm and welcoming — equal parts neighborhood pizzeria and lively craft beer hall, with 20 taps pouring Wyoming beers and spirits behind a 14-seat bar. 🍺
From the moment you walk in, you feel the history — a food cart dream that became a full-blown Gillette institution, and a room full of people who all seem genuinely happy to be exactly where they are.
The open, spacious dining room accommodates families, date nights, and large groups with ease, while the bar area keeps the energy lively for solo diners and after-work crowds.
Bottom Line
Pizza Carrello is a $400 dream turned Wyoming food legend — built on wood-fired craft, locally sourced ingredients, and a founders’ story that is as inspiring as the pizza itself. A true institution, a community cornerstone, and the best pie in the Cowboy State. 🤠🍕
Address:
601 S Douglas Hwy, Gillette, WY 82716
📞 (307) 363-1743
🕔 Open Tue–Sun, 11:00 AM–9:00 PM (closed Mondays)