Piero’s Italian Cuisine and its lead bartender Ryan Bruce have something in common—they both have deep roots planted in Las Vegas. In fact, Piero’s will be celebrating its 40th anniversary this March, and Bruce is a third-generation Las Vegan.
Bruce’s grandfather moved to the desert city to work for Area 51 and the Nevada Test Site; Bruce’s father has long owned and operated a small business in Las Vegas; and Bruce himself joined Piero’s when he was just 16 years old, more than a dozen years ago. “I thought I wanted to be a chef, so I came to Piero’s to help in the kitchen,” Bruce explains. “But I ended up bussing tables instead and then worked almost every position here from busser to waiter to captain and host. Then when I turned 21, I became a bartender.”
As the lead bartender, Bruce takes great pride in taking care of each guest that sits at his bar. “I have a good memory of what you drink—I can remember exactly what you drink and how you like it made,” he says. With Piero’s long history, many of Bruce’s guests have been coming to the restaurant for years—it’s long been a hot spot for celebrities, politicians. athletes and the Vegas elite.
“I love the history here, especially being from Las Vegas myself,” Bruce says. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I grew up working here. I’ve taken care of the celebrities like Jerry Lewis, Don Rickles, Joe Pesci (scenes from the movie Casino were filmed at Piero’s). It really is a family-owned restaurant, and we treat it like that. It’s not going to be a quick dining experience—it takes awhile, but that’s what adds to the feel of it. The moment you get here to the moment you leave, you’re always going to be taken care of. Piero’s is one of a kind. It has that classic feel. It’s that old-school Vegas restaurant. It’s not something that can ever be replicated or duplicated.”
Libation: Espresso Martini
One of the most popular cocktails Piero’s serves is the espresso martini. It’s made with freshly brewed espresso, vanilla vodka, regular vodka and a splash of Kahlua. “We’re definitely known for our martinis because it’s a big pour—10 ounces,” Bruce says. “We go up to the very top (of the glass). We don’t miss a drop.” Piero’s is also known to the Vegas celebrity community, who recently voted the restaurant into Las Vegas Magazine’s 2022 Hall of Fame.
Benefit: Ask Bruce to make you his signature drink, the Amaretto Stone Sour. (This writer says it’s delicious!)
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