It’s been a tourist and locals favorite for years, but Fresco Italiano never stops working to keep you coming back for more. As executive chef Shawn Gabilondo says, “From the moment (guests) walk in, I want them to feel welcome, and when they leave, I want them already thinking about their next visit. When guests love their meal so much that they come back the very next day—especially here in Las Vegas, one of the food capitals of the world—that’s an incredibly humbling and rewarding experience.”
Specialty cocktails include Rome, a Italian take on the whiskey sour with Angel’s Envy bourbon, rose-rye, Semillon grape nectar and a chianti float; Harvest Pear sangria, made with pinot grigio, harvest pear and spiced apple; and the Palermo, a spicy Sicilian margarita with Patron Silver, blood orange, sparkling grapefruit, firewater and Sicilian sea salt.
Now that your taste buds are primed and ready, it’s time to enjoy some comforting starters like calamari, served with hot peppers, lemon crema and marinara, slow-braised beef, pork and veal meatballs served with grana padano and marinara, and a bruschetta burrata board with burrata cheese, marinated tomatoes, fig preserves, vincotto, basil pesto and ciabatta crostino. (For an extra fee, add prosciutto de Parma and soppressata.)
When it comes to main courses, Fresco Italiano doesn’t skimp on the choices—or the portions! Pasta options include short rib pappardelle with melted tomatoes, rosemary and pecorino romano; shrimp scampi with spaghetti, melted tomatoes, garlic, chili and parsley; penne pesto with blistered tomatoes, broccolini, basil pesto and your choice of wild mushrooms, chicken or shrimp; and rigatoni Bolognese with a veal, beef and pork ragu, pecorino romano and chives. If you want to go the pizza route, the margherita (tomato sauce, roasted tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil) and Calabrese (tomato sauce, fennel sausage, meatballs, pepperoni and mozzarella) are both fantastic choices.
If you want to go a different direction for your main, Fresco Italiano also offers a substantial steak, the 18-ounce bone-in ribeye with butter whipped potatoes, cipollini onions, sweet peppers, oyster mushrooms, broccolini and Calabrian salsa verde. Make sure to pair it with sides like Brussels sprouts with Parmesan cream, pimiento peppers and crispy prosciutto.
The Chef’s Selection takes all the guesswork out of the process and allows a sampling of some of the best cuisine at the restaurant. For $56 per person, you get three courses: Your choice of salad (either Italian chopped or Caesar) or soup (Nonna’s zuppa di pollo); your choice of chicken fettucine alfredo, chicken Parmesan, rigatoni Bolognese or grilled salmon; and your choice of Biscoff butter cheesecake (one of the best desserts in town!), gelati or tiramisu.
And while some Italian restaurants boast of you being family, it really is so with Fresco Italiano. Gabilondo loves to meet customers, and looks forward to meeting you on your next visit. “We have many guests who frequent us, and I’ve been fortunate to build meaningful relationships with quite a few of them.”
Westgate Las Vegas. 702.732.5276 or westgateresorts.com
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