There are few styles of food that provide a satisfying meal more than Italian. Just the mention of that word evokes images of heaping plates of pasta, large meatballs, bread baskets that empty as soon as they hit the table, and lots and lots of wine poured and shared. It’s practically Pavlovian to want to head to the nearest Olive Garden when you have a large group to feed, but if you’re at Westgate Las Vegas, you don’t have to all pile into an Uber. The hotel has one of the best Italian experiences in town, courtesy of Fresco Italiano.
The décor of this open, airy space, located in the property’s restaurant row, makes you feel like you’re in Tuscany with its stone patio, elegant dining room and even a train-car excursion, with the countryside flowing past. You’ll want to order a bottle of wine upon taking your seat, but don’t sleep on some of the wonderful signature cocktails available, especially ones like the Baked Apple Mule, a clever twist on the Moscow version with Crown Royal Regal Apple and Woodford Reserve, fresh lime, ginger beer and apple bitters, or the Italian Paloma, a true classic with blanco tequila, elderflower, Meletti 1870, lime and San Pellegrino Pompelmo.
From there, get ready for fabulous appetizers, including calamari served with Calabrian chilis, garlic aioli and marinara sauce, meatballs made with slow-braised beef, pork and veal and served with burrata, Grana Padano and marinara, and a bruschetta trio of fig mostarda, pistachio-marinated eggplant and tomato and basil pesto.
From pizzas and pastas to mains like chicken Parmesan and branzino, there are simply no wrong choices here. Everything at Fresco Italiano is made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and they all pair wonderfully with sides ranging from creamy polenta and roasted mushrooms, flavored with rosemary and blended with Parmesan, to Romanesco broccoli, served with toasted hazelnuts, garlic butter, orange and Grana Padano.
Don’t forget dessert! We personally love the bombolini (lemon and ricotta doughnuts served with raspberry, crème anglaise and Nutella dipping sauces), but we certainly couldn’t blame you for ordering the affogato, a combo of vanilla gelato, Nutella, chocolate ganache, candied hazelnuts and espresso.
Westgate Las Vegas, 702.732.5276
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