Sure, it’s fun to be an adult. You can go anywhere you want, eat anything you want and buy anything you want. But sometimes, isn’t it fun to feel like a kid again? There’s something about those younger years that sometimes pulls at you and begs you to return, even if just for a few hours. And at Retro by Voltaggio, you can do just that, not to mention get a fantastic meal in the process.
A collaboration by brothers Michael and Bryan Voltaggio, this brand-new enterprise, which takes up the space that used to house Aureole, is a celebration of nostalgia, and the feeling is in absolutely every corner—even the tall tower that used to house Aureole’s massive wine collection is now full of trinkets from the brothers’ past, from bicycles and video game units to superhero toys.
From the second you sit down, that joyful, childhood feeling continues—including multicolored placemats and china plates designed to look like paper plates; red-tinted glasses with bubble highlights; and brightly colored napkins, folded in the shape the brothers had to shape them in when they worked at Holiday Inn!
The dishes here are all designed with one thing in mind: fun. Order the escargot and marvel when it arrives in a ceramic container made to look like a Chinese food takeout box. Marvel even more when you dig into the dish and find it tastes almost exactly like General Tso’s chicken. Order the pepperoni rolls and marvel when they arrive, looking like cinnamon rolls, but stuffed with pizza goodness. And who doesn’t like deviled eggs? Retro’s version is extra-creamy and comes with a nice surprise inside: caviar. It’s like getting in touch with both your younger and older sides simultaneously—in the best way possible.
But the nostalgia really kicks in when you order the wagyu beef pot roast, served in the CorningWare your mother served all her casseroles in when you got home from school. And while it may look like the stew you remember, wagyu bumps this baby up. And wait until you try VoltaggiO’s, a re-creation of your favorite Campbell’s canned pasta goodness, made with house-made “O’s,” arrabbiata butter and a giant meatball. Your tastebuds—and your memory banks—will seriously come alive.
The desserts are a constant source of surprise and delight, from the deconstructed key lime pie, with lime curd shaped like a lime and served with coconut sorbet, to cookies and cream, a version you’ve never seen before—frozen cookie butter and crème fraîche rocks are piled high on a bed of chocolate ganache pudding. And if you’re a fan of both cheesecake and crème brûlée, guess what? The brothers have combined it in one dessert! And yes, it seriously rocks, pretty much like everything else at Retro.
Mandalay Bay, 702.632.7401
Click here for your free subscription to the weekly digital edition of Las Vegas Magazine, your guide to everything to do, hear, see and experience in Southern Nevada. In addition to the latest edition emailed to every week, you’ll find plenty of great, money-saving offers from some of the most exciting attractions, restaurants, properties and more! And Las Vegas Magazine is full of informative content such as restaurants to visit, cocktails to sip and attractions to enjoy.
