Cooking in Tuscany is simpler than in some other parts of Italy. Grilled meats are a specialty, and no trip to Florence is complete without having Bistecca alla Fiorentina. Made from a thick steak cut from the local Chianina cattle, it’s seasoned with salt, pepper, and olive oil, then grilled over charcoal. It might be the best steak you ever eat.
Chianti also comes from the region, so rabbit, boar, or deer braised in red wine are on most menus. Beans (fagioli) are also popular. Read more…
No one comes to Paris for Italian food. But if you return to Paris after several weeks of traveling in France, you may think an Italian restaurant sounds like a refreshing change of pace.
In a city that’s legendary for its food, you can expect the Italian restaurants to be as good as their French counterparts. They have to be outstanding to stay in business. Read more…
These days, Las Vegas is arguably the most exciting dining destination in America. The top resorts have brought superstar chefs from all over the world, including Joel Robuchon, Alain Ducasse, Thomas Keller, and Mario Batali. And 17 restaurants here have one or more Michelin stars.
You’ll pay top dollar to enjoy these world-class culinary experiences. But many of the top Italian restaurants in Las Vegas have less expensive grills, where you can dine more affordably. Read more…
In a country noted for exceptional cuisine, Bologna is a superstar. Some of the best-loved Italian food originated here, including classics like tortellini, mortadella, and tagliatelle. And the wine, cheese, and ice cream you’ll enjoy are the pride of Italy.
Chef Mario Batali spent three years in the Bologna area before introducing America to the pleasures of its cuisine. Read more…
Italian for flame, Fiamma Trattoria is a great spot for a pre-show supper, cocktails and appetizers in the fireside lounge, or a leisurely dinner. Located in the MGM Grand, the restaurant is a sister to Fiamma Osteria in Soho. Its updated Italian cooking was an immediate hit in both locations.
The modern, two-level dining room is sleek and stylish, with lots of hardwood, leather, and free-form sculpture that evokes the idea of flames. Read more…
Run by restaurant veteran Piero Selvaggio, Valentino has been the top Italian restaurant in the Los Angeles area for thirty years. Executive chef Luciano Pellegrini has done a great job of taking all that’s great about the Santa Monica restaurant and applying it to the new Valentino in the Venetian Hotel.
Pellegrini was born in Bergamo, Italy and started working in Italian restaurants at the age of 13. In 1985, he came to America after getting a job offer from Selvaggio, and the two have been a team ever since. Read more…
Fans of Mario Batali’s Babbo in New York will not want to miss the chance to dine at B&B Ristorante, located in the Venetian . Many of Babbo’s signature dishes — such as whole, grilled branzino — appear on the menu here. The 2005 winner of the James Beard Foundation Outstanding Chef of the Year award, Batali has a dozen Italian restaurants in New York, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. Read more…
Named for chef Paul Bartolotta, Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare is located in the Wynn Hotel. As the name suggests, seafood and shellfish are the stars here, and they’re flown in fresh daily from the Mediterranean. You can dine indoors in the two-level dining room with a grand, curving staircase, or in a private cabana next to the reflecting pool. The ambience inside and out is romantic and refined. Read more…
