Las Vegas Enjoys Some of the Best Italian Restaurants in the USA

Gambling is great, but that is not all Las Vegas has to offer. The dining scene here is international in quality and diversity. Las Vegas enjoys some of the best Italian restaurants in the USA. That is headlined by Tasting Table, a New York City foodie website, naming three Las Vegas Italian eateries on its 20 Best Italian Restaurants in the US.

I am going to add a couple of my old time favorites to this list. Reservations at all of these Italian restaurants are strongly encouraged.

THE THREE ON THE TASTING TABLE LIST

Brezza – Resorts World

Brezza is part of the dynamic dining scene at the newest resort on the Las Vegas Strip, Resorts World. Brezza bills itself as a great place for leisurely dinners – a comforting sanctuary in the go go go chaos that can be Las Vegas.

The kitchen is helmed by 2020 James Beard Semifinalist chef Nicole Brisson, a Vegas vet who sharpened her knives at the Wynn, Eataly, and Locale. The ingredients are fresh and seasonal, sustainable and the offerings constantly change.

The dry-aged tomahawk steak is a constant on the menu. Meanwhile items like Tuscan Carne Cruda (Filet Mignon with lemon capers and shallots) or the Beef Cheek Raviolo (with Parmesan, European butter and Aceto) take you down rabbit holes you’ll wish lasted forever.

Carbone – Aria

Carbone is the only restaurant chain named in the Tasting Table top 20 list. Not only is the popular Italian eatery at the Aria in Las Vegas, but also the original location in Greenwich Village in New York, plus additional locations in Miami, Dallas and Hong Kong. Each location is a hot spot in their home city.

For the Las Vegas location includes menu items that are, “…showcasing elevated classics such as Lobster Fra Diavolo, Chicken Scarpariello, Veal Parmesan and Octopus Pizzaiolo.” Each entre has an Italian base that is modern and creatively displayed on the plate.

But what really stands this eatery out is its over-the-top table side service, in fact attentive service is an absolute given. This is the high energy and dazzling spot on the list.

Esther’s Kitchen – Arts District

Esther’s Kitchen tops a lot of locals list for best Italian Restaurant. In fact it makes a lot of Best Restaurant in Las Vegas lists. Chef James Trees, a Las Vegas native, works Western US ingredients with classic Italian technique and it turns out something special. Just try their home made sourdough bread spread with basil ricotta with herbs and basil oil and you are immediately sold.

When you are ready, the Mafaldine Nero awaits, a masterpiece of Maine lobster, fennel, truffle butter and preserved lemon and you are awash with flavors. Too much? Try the Aussie Wagyu Beef Carpaccio or even the Roasted Bone Marrow.

TWO OF MY FAVORITES

The above three are wonderful, although there are probably a dozen other Italian restaurants in Las Vegas that feel slighted they weren’t named on the list. I can’t help that, but I would like to point out two of my own local favorites. They have great food, although not quite the world class of the above bunch, but they are sooooo Las Vegas.

Battista’s Hole in the Wall – Off Strip

Call it Battista’s. Call it Hole in the Wall. Whatever you call it this is a Las Vegas tradition churning out great Italian American classics since 1970. Think Little Italy in New York City or North End Boston. It is snuggled in an unprepossessing (always wanted to use that word) little group of shops behind the Flamingo and the Cromwell, so barely off The Strip.

Inside the walls (and ceilings) are covered with pictures of famous entertainers, odd memorabilia and an Alaskan Moose named Moooosolini.

Battista’s offers all inclusive meals. Main dishes run the Italian gamut of Lasagna, Sausage Cacciattori, Steak Pizzaiola, or Veal Marsala. Each order comes with Italian soup or salad, garlic bread, a pasta side, complimentary house wine and homemade Cappuccino. Just don’t forget to tip the wandering accordion player.

Capo’s Italian Steakhouse and Speakeasy – West Sahara

The food is good, but the atmosphere rules here. You walk to the entrance door and ring the bell. Suddenly a peep hole opens and a gruff “Wadya want?” challenges you. If you look okay a secret door behind the payphone opens to let you in.

Inside is dark and intimate with darker wood and red leather. A 1920s style jazz singer entertains the crowd while servers push drinks named Godfather while serving dishes called Da Don’s Lasagna, The Gallows with Clams (Fresh clams in the shell sautéed with shallots, garlic & fresh Italian herbs over linguini with red or white sauce) and Angels with Dirty Faces (Angel hair pasta with peas, mushrooms & pepperoni, tossed with Capo’s pink sauce).

What is your favorite Las Vegas Italian restaurant?

National Nevada Day!

Today is National Nevada Day, But not Nevada Day because that is separate!

National Nevada Day is one of a whole bunch of National Days celebrating individual US States and Territories. Yes there is a National New Hampshire Day and a National Georgia Day and a National Utah Day. As far as Nevada, its National Day is celebrated on the 29 of March.

This is separate from Nevada Day, which is celebrated on last Friday in October every year. This year, it takes place on October 27. It’s the day to commemorate Nevada’s statehood as the 36th state to join the union, and only the second state to do so during the Civil War.

Nice to have two days to celebrate our State of Nevada!

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL NEVADA DAY

  • Book a trip to Las Vegas or Reno to explore and relax.
  • Experience a tour of historical Las Vegas next time you visit.
  • Share your adventures and make recommendations to must-see places.
  • Uncover hidden gems and a little luck in Nevada!
  • Check out these 7 Nevada Road Trips.

Another Over-the-top Steakhouse Opens on the Las Vegas Strip

Just checking out one of my favorite Las Vegas web sites – Eater Vegas – and found this article posted this morning.

This is a partnership of celebrity chef Chris Santos (of Chopped and a dozen other food related show fame) and Tao Hospitality Group. That sounds like a scary good combination to me. It’s website proclaims table side “theatrics.”

True to the showmanship of Las Vegas, Stanton Social Prime also features theatrical tableside presentations, delectable desserts, and charming craft cocktails.

Stanton Social Prime Website

And that’s not even getting to the food.

Stanton Social Prime’s steaks are a highlight of the menu, seasoned with house dry rub, rested in a bath of Beurre de Baratte, finished with pink Himalayan salt, and served with roasted black garlic.

Stanton Social Prime Website

Stanton Social Prime Steakhouse has me salivating, and I’m not even in the right zipcode yet. But I expect it will take a chunk out of my wallet…

Hoover Dam Tour Access Limited by Maintenance Issues

Hoover Dam Tour Access continues to be limited due to ongoing maintenance issues. At least there is some access after recent suspensions.

The problem is ongoing issues with the elevators that service the interior of the dam, and are used during Hoover Dam’s Power Plant and the dam interior Guided Tour. As said one Hoover Dam Tour Guide (one of the official docents who lead the interior tours), “They’ve (the elevators) been a problem for a couple years and just getting worse.”

My own tours that I lead generally have these in-house dam tours as part of my own broader tour, but their recent on-again, off-again has kept me and other tour guides, as well as just typical Hoover Dam visitors, scrambling when the tours are suspended when the elevators stop working.

The Hoover Dam interior tours were suspended several times in the first week of March and this finally resulted in tours being suspended “until further notice” on March 9th, 2023.

You could still access the Visitor Center, take a Top of the Dam tour (or walk through), go to the stunning overlooks on the Arizona side and from the Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. Only the parts inside the dam were unavailable.

Now the Power Plant Tour is available, but tickets are only sold on site on a first-come, first served basis. I have found that even calling ahead doesn’t do any good.

Hoover Dam is still a marvel to behold and well worth a visit. I am still offering my tours, but just assuming the interior tours are not available and going into more detail on other areas of the dam. If the tours are available, then right now I consider them a bonus.

Hopefully, Hoover Dam will come to full access soon. No word when that will happen at this time.

Private Tours versus Group Tours

Heading to Las Vegas? There is so much to see and do in my town. But just like any foreign, exotic location, it can be daunting. Where to go? What to do? How do I get answers to all my questions? That’s why most travelers book a tour to get their bearings and visit the top local spots. In Las Vegas you are confronted with two main options. Should I book a group tour or a private tour?

mature couple sightseeing in downtown las vegas streets

I do both scheduled tours (the kind you find on websites like Viator and TripAdvisor) and private tours. Scheduled tours generally are cheaper if just a few people. If low cost is you main factor then that is the way to go. But if you are in a family group or larger, a private tour may not only be a better option, but cheaper for you too!

Complete Freedom and flexibility

Personalised private tours give you total freedom and flexibility. The tour itinerary and schedule is entirely focused and planned around you. Everything is catered around your tastes, including places to visit, things to do, types of activities you’ll enjoy and even the menu.

With a personal tour, there are no rigid pre-planned itineraries that you need to accommodate, although we do offer a suggested course to get you started if you don’t already have something in mind.

Explore at your own pace

Have you ever found yourself on a group tour, enjoying a particular spot, but then times up, and you have to move on before you’re ready to accommodate the group’s itinerary? One of the benefits of private tours is that you can go at your own pace.

If you’re not enjoying a particular location or activity, you can skip it and move on to something else. But, on the other hand, if you are thoroughly enjoying a particular place or experience, you don’t need to worry about time limits and getting back to the bus.

In short, if time and pace is important to you, then a private tour is a good option.   

More exclusivity

While group tours rely on buses filled with other travellers, private tours allow you to choose who will accompany you on your trip. Whether travelling alone, with family or friends you can enjoy more privacy and comfort.

In addition, this makes private tours ideal for special occasions like honeymoons, wedding anniversaries, birthdays, or just travelling with friends and family on a special vacation.

Special care and assistance

Having your own personal guide and transportation provides you with that extra special care and attention. This is especially helpful if you are travelling with young children, elderly relatives, disabled travelers, those with medical conditions, special needs or mobility issues.

Your guide will be able to accommodate your dietary needs better and plan around you, while your driver will transport you door to door to make you as comfortable as possible. 

Without other travellers to take care of, your guide will solely focus on you and your travel companions’ needs.

Your own personal tap of local knowledge

Having your own personal guide means there is no competing with other travellers to get the attention of your guide or to have your questions answered. Instead, you’ll have access to a tap of local culture and knowledge.

Find out everything you want to know, get recommendations on foods to try, things to do and places to visit. In addition, you can get to know a real Korean local who can introduce you to places off the beaten track. 

Private tour cons

Cost (sometimes)

Private tours are usually considered much more expensive due to the luxury, convenience and personal attention they offer. While there is some truth in this, as personal tours can often be more expensive than group tours, this isn’t always the case.

When travelling within a group of family or friends, booking a private tour can be more economical than the per-seat cost of individually booking everyone on a group tour. Therefore, it is worth comparing the entire cost of a group tour and private tour over the per seat or individual cost of booking one person.  

Not a good option for meeting new people

If you are travelling alone and looking to meet fellow travellers for companionship, a private tour option is probably not a good idea. A larger group tour would offer you more opportunities to meet others, from different countries or areas, while exploring Las Vegas. 

Caesars Palace Rotunda Torn Down for Las Vegas Grand Prix

Reports are out that this week the Caesars Palace Rotunda is being torn down to make way for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

When built in the 80’s it housed a Disney-style animatronic show. But mechanical and budget issues caused it to be closed after a few years. Since then it has been an interesting photo op on the Strip, and storage for Caesars Palace.

It is now being demolished because the space will be needed during the Las Vegas Grand Prix coming in November. The Formula 1 Race will go right down Las Vegas Boulevard. No word yet on exactly how long The Strip will be closed off for traffic, but considering set up, practice days, time trials, the actual race and finally tear down, the heart of the Las Vegas Tourist area could well be closed off for a week or more. Eek!

Most high end ticket packages are all sold out, some going over $1 million for a group of 24. A final tranche of tickets are due to come out for sale later this month. Cheap standing room only seats starting at $500, cheapest seats starting at $1500.

Come time for the Las vegas Grand Prix, I think I will visit family in Oregon…

Interior Tours of Hoover Dam Suspended Until Further Notice

The internal Hoover Dam Tours (the ones that go inside the dam and are led by government tour guides) are suspended until further notice. This is due to maintenance issues with elevators that service the interior of the dam.

My tours that include exterior and top-of-the-dam tours still are operating.

This is the message I am providing my customers:

“Just a heads up. The Hoover Dam in-house Power Plant tour, which I include as part of my Hoover Dam Tour Package, is currently unavailable until further notice because of maintenance issues with the dam internal elevators.
What that means is a 20-minute section of our tour which goes into the interior of Hoover Dam is probably not going to be available. There are some interior areas of the Dam you will still have as part of our tour. I also plan to expand into more detail our top-of-the-dam tour and take a little extra time going through Historic Boulder City.
Also if you have already paid for your tickets you will receive a refund. The access fees of $5/person in the Hoover Dam access fees will not apply until the Power Plant Tour becomes available. If you have already paid for the tour you will receive a refund for those parts of the tour access fees.
If anything changes I will let you know immediately. Please let me know if you have any questions.”

Richard

Three New Pool Openings in Las Vegas

Following up my earlier post about the March start of the Las Vegas Pool Season, I have heard announcements that three pool openings of some of the most popular pools are opening this weekend: AYU Dayclub at Resorts World, Aria’s Liquid Pool and Mandalay Bay’s Daylight Beach Club.

AYU Dayclub at Resorts World

The newest of the day club swinging set, this party pool is themed after Southeast Asia island paradises. Opening DJs for this weekend are Bassjackers and RL Grime. Dress code is “Upscale Casual Swim Attire” – whatever that is.

Hours

FRI: 12pm – 6pm
SAT: 11am – 6pm
SUN: 12pm – 6pm

Daylight Beach Club at Mandalay Bay

The pool’s website states that “…partygoers and music lovers can expect DJs playing Open Format & Top 40 music on Fridays, EDM at Sunburst.”

Meanwhile, “Saturdays and on Sundays you can witness your favorite hip hop performers and DJ’s performing for our LIT Sundays party! Starting in May, experience the best reggaeton performers at NEON VIBRA,” for latin nightswim events.

Hours

Fri-Sat – 11am – 6pm

Sunday – 12pm – 6pm

Liquid Pool at Aria

The party that is Liquid Pool is run by the Tao Group and takes the Spring Break Vibe to far more energetic and adult levels.

Friday the 10th has Phoreyz running the party with DJ Buza and DJ Nova following up on Saturday and Sunday.

Hours

Wed-Sun – 11am – close (typically 5pm but varies)

Pool Season 2023 in Las Vegas Starts Now

It is the first week of March 2023 and the Las Vegas pool season is upon us. Several pools are already open with most to open within the next two weeks. Bring your bathing suit.

Most resorts close their pools from around October to March although several resorts keep at least one pool open. Ones that I confirm are currently open as of 4 March 2023:

Cheerful tourist drinking a huge blue cocktail in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
  • Aria
  • Bellagio
  • Circa Stadium Swim
  • Cosmopolitan
  • Gold Coast
  • Golden Nugget
  • Mandalay Bay (Moorea Beach Club only so far)
  • Mirage
  • Palazzo
  • Sam’s Town
  • Vdara
  • Wynn Las Vegas

And again, most other resorts will be opening over the next couple of weeks as the 2023 Pool Season in Las Vegas kicks off.