Las Vegas’ population includes quite a few New York City transplants. If you were to poll a small sample, we’d wager that one of the things that most excites them about Las Vegas is that it has the only other Rao’s Italian restaurant in the entire country. And if you’re at all familiar with the original location in New York City, you’d get what the excitement is about. Opened in 1896, it’s not only one of the oldest family-owned restaurants, it’s also one of the hardest places to get a table.
The Las Vegas outpost at Caesars Palace is much easier to get into, but no less spectacular in both its décor and its food. It’s a much more open space than its counterpart, including a patio dining area, center bar, and private dining area. (In a very cool nod to the original, there’s a replica of the 12-table space.)
Professionalism dominates in every area of the Rao’s experience, from the staff that greets you to the attentive servers. Rao’s prides itself on making you feel like you’re the only table in the place, and we’d be hard-pressed to think of an establishment that does it better. You’d better come hungry, because your food arrives in a very prompt manner.
But don’t let that deter you from enjoying a cocktail like an All in the Family, featuring Grey Goose Le Citron vodka, limoncello, fresh lemon and club soda, or an E. 114th, a delicious blend of Knob Creek single barrel reserve, vermouth, Montenegro amaro, filthy black cherries and bitters, before your meal arrives.
For carnivores, you have to try the Rao’s Traditional Meatballs as an appetizer. Made with ground veal, pork and beef, these nearly baseball-sized babies are fork-tender and smothered with marinara. They’re also guaranteed to leave an empty bowl behind every time.
There’s plenty of worthy main courses, including a sensational chicken Parmesan served over pasta, frutti di mare (linguini accompanied by Maine lobster, shrimp, calamari, Manila clams, marinara and chili flakes), and a world-beating beef lasagna, highlighted by beef Bolognese sauce, ricotta, Parmesan and mozzarella. Meat lovers will flip over the filet mignon Marsala, served over a heavenly Parmesan risotto and topped with mushroom Marsala. And fowl fans definitely need to order Uncle Vincent’s Lemon Chicken, a Rao’s signature sensation featuring a charcoal-broiled bone-in chicken with Uncle Vincent’s Famous Lemon Sauce. Trust us, you’ve never tasted anything like this.
Dessert is practically a must here—you cannot have a decadent Italian meal and not finish off with some serious calories, am I right? And the New York cheesecake, flavored with just the perfect touch of lemon, fills that bill perfectly. Naturally, you can go slightly less heavy with the tiramisu, and it’s just as thrilling, packed with espresso-soaked lady fingers, mascarpone mousse and cocoa powder.
Caesars Palace 702.731.7267
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