You’d never know it now, but delicious, authentic Italian food was not always easy to find in Sin City. As Las Vegas rapidly evolved from the land of the cheap shrimp cocktail and all-you-can-eat buffet to the epicurean paradise it is today, not all cuisines available here advanced with it. It was only recently that the face of Italian food in Vegas came into its own, thanks to a fresh generation of talented chefs willing to blend traditional cooking with modern flourishes, at restaurants on and off the Strip.
OSTERIA DEL CIRCO At Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas NV 89109 (702) 693-8150 Hours: open daily from 5 to 10 p.m. Dress well and make reservations in advance if you want to dine at one of the Strip’s most elegant restaurants, Italian or otherwise. The Maccioni family’s Tuscan-influenced outpost at the Bellagio, overlooking the spectacular water show at the resort’s huge lake, has managed to maintain its reputation of upscale mood, top flight service and distinct flavors with a decidedly home-cooked touch, such as hot and cold antipasti selections, thin crust pizzas baked in a clay oven, handmade pastas and a peerless rack of lamb. Price range average: $25-$35 per person Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Open, Valentines Day- Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving- Open, Christmas Eve- Open, Christmas- Open, New Year's Eve- Open.
FIAMMA TRATTORIA At MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas NV 89109 (702) 891-7600 Hours: open daily from 5:30 to 10 p.m., until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday The appropriately named Fiamma – its name is Italian for “flame” – is one of the hottest and hippest Italian restaurants in Vegas, following in the traditions of the original New York location that opened in 2002. The trendy setting, which includes separate dining rooms, is almost as enjoyable as the Strachetti appetizer of grilled Kobe beef, Portobello mushrooms and spinach. Other creative dishes include gnocchi with Maine lobster, roasted organic chicken augmented by smoked pancetta, and the incredibly tender braised beef short ribs. Price range average: $25-$35 per person Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Open, Valentines Day- Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving- Open, Christmas Eve- Open, Christmas- Open, New Year's Eve- Open.
NORA’S CUISINE 6020 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas NV 89103 (702) 365-1713 Hours: open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday. Traditional Sicilian recipes from the Mauro family have made Nora’s a locals’ favorite for many years. Be prepared to line up for lunchtime during the week as busy professionals snap up white table-clothed tables to munch on tasty salads, homemade pasta e fagioli soup and maybe split a crispy, thin crust pizza. Dinner is a good time to try one of Nora’s trademark pasta sauces, made fresh daily, including a wonderfully subtle pesto. Close it out with a sweet, crisp cannoli and you can pretend you’re a local too. Price range average: $15 per person or less Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Closed, Valentine’s Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas-Closed, New Year’s Eve-Open.
IL FORNAIO At New York New York, 3790 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas NV 89109 (702) 740-6403 Hours: open daily from 7:30 a.m. to midnight Despite its fancy and popular location in the New York New York, two words describe Il Fornaio, which has a handful of locations across the country as well as another local site in Henderson: rustic and reliable. Open daily for a light breakfast focused on pastries and frittata, the restaurant offers up all the classic Italian fare you could ask for, from perfectly fried calamari to tasty minestrone to fresh-made ravioli in an asparagus cream sauce. Don’t be afraid of its tourist-trap appearance; the food at Il Fornaio is worth the fight. Price range average: $15 to $25 per person Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Open, Valentine’s Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas-Open, New Year’s Eve-Open.
MONTESANO’S 4835 W. Craig Road, Las Vegas NV 89130 (702) 656-3708 3441 W. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas NV 89102 (702) 876-0348 Hours: open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (both locations) It’s easy to pigeonhole this neighborhood eatery as that great pizza place around the corner, especially since the pies here – chewy-crusted creations dripping with cheese and your choice of one of the most diverse topping lists in town – are as good as you’ll get in Vegas. But Montesano’s is a family-friendly, deli-style restaurant as well, serving up satisfying antipasto salads with fresh, crusty Italian bread, pasta and terrific desserts. Snag a few cookies or pastries from the attractive deli case on your way out. Price range average: $15 per person or less Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Closed, Valentine’s Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Closed, Christmas-Closed, New Year’s Eve-Open.
VALENTINO At Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas NV 89109 (702) 414-3000 Hours: open daily from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Restaurateur Piero Selvaggio and James Beard Award-winning chef Luciano Pellegrini are the big guns of Italian food in Las Vegas, and Valentino’s consistency is the proof of that claim. A classically plush dining room and adjacent grill attract diners seeking frico (parmesan cheese chips), smooth potato gnocchi or the very popular sea bass dish, not to mention more experimental fare such as the Key West pink shrimp on the appetizers list or the maple syrup marinated pork loin. An extensive wine list offers the perfect complement. Price range average: $30 to $40 per person Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Open, Valentine’s Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas-Open, New Year’s Eve-Open.
SPIEDINI RISTORANTE At JW Marriott, 221 N. Rampart Blvd., Las Vegas NV 89128 (702) 869-8500 Hours: open daily from 5 to 10 p.m. Way out west in the suburb of Summerlin you’ll find plenty of quality restaurants, many of them chains but some hidden treasures. In the quietly classy JW Marriott, master chef Gustav Mauler serves up a variety of juicy, expertly seasoned rotisserie meats to complement fresh pasta dishes at Spiedini. Nightly specials can range toward the exotic, such as the squid ink spaghetti (black pasta) with spicy tomato sauce. The restaurant’s upscale yet comfortable décor lends a casual vibe, and you can finish your meal at Mauler’s cigar bar a few steps away. Price range average: $15 to $25 per person Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Closed, Valentine’s Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas-Open, New Year’s Eve-Open.
THE BOOTLEGGER BISTRO 7700 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas NV 89123 (702) 736-4939 Hours: open daily 24 hours. No less than a Vegas institution, the Bootlegger relocated to the bustling southern end of the valley a couple of years ago and its strong local following went with it. It’s known for its after-hours cabaret-style entertainment as much as its menu, a classic sampling of Italian favorites done just how Mamma cooked. The house specialty is the spicy Seafood fra Diavolo, which, like most of the dishes here, is an enormous portion of pasta packed with shrimp, calamari and shellfish. It’s also a great place for light night dining. Price range average: $15 to $25 per person Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Open, Valentine’s Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas-Open, New Year’s Eve-Open.
IL MULINO At Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas NV 89109 (702) 492-6000 Hours: open for lunch Monday through Saturday from noon to 2 p.m., and for dinner daily from 5 to 10:30 p.m. You may not be used to being served Italian food from waiters in tuxedos, but that’s how it goes at Il Mulino, a very well-decorated and elegant dining room from the New York Masci brothers. Besides the great Italian fare – be sure to try the veal Milanese – the menu also includes classic gourmet room steaks, chops and seafood. But you may not have room after sampling the imported salami and cheeses, the bruschetta and the fried zucchini complimentary appetizers. Il Mulino is becoming one of the Strip’s great prix fixe lunch spots as well. Price range average: $15 to $25 per person Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Open, Valentine’s Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas-Open, New Year’s Eve-Open.
BELLA LUNA 7905 W. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas NV 89117 (702) 227-7900 Hours: open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and for dinner daily from 4:30 to 10 p.m. The upscale neighborhood restaurant Bella Luna already was a favorite before it was renovated and reinvigorated by new ownership and a chef from the island of Sardinia. The changes have been for the better, bringing exotic Mediterranean seafood dishes to the menu while maintaining an extensive selection of delicious pasta offerings. The unlikely pairing of mushroom risotto with duck meat is a great combination that displays the restaurant’s flexibility. Price range average: $15 to $20 per person Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Open, Valentine’s Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Closed, Christmas-Closed, New Year’s Eve-Open.
The Top List of Best Italian - Las Vegas, NV