Wild Salmon
The dining room at B&B is best described as casually elegant. With its dark wood, leather banquettes, and Italian marble accents, seems almost like a 1960s supper club. And tunes from Mario’s personal play list provide the soundtrack. The food here is serious. But the ambience is relaxed.
Batali is credited with getting American diners to stretch their wings — and their palates — with tripe, lamb’s tongue, and sweetbreads. They’re on the menu here, and adventurous diners should take the plunge.
Grilled octopus with spicy limoncello vinaigrette and rabbit confit crostone with favas and house-made ricotta are sensational starters. For your first course, try linguine with clams, pancetta, and hot chiles or beef cheek ravioli with black truffle and crushed duck.
Entrees include everything from grilled quail to Alaskan halibut. The pork chop with spiced figs and mustard greens and the duck with vignole and vincotto are both stand outs. It’s easy, and practically recommended, to share food here. If you split some appetizers and pasta dishes, and order your own entrée, you’ll still have room for dessert.
Brasata al Barolo
Another alternative is to order one of the two tasting menus. This lets everyone at the table sample some of Batali’s best dishes. The price for either is $99 per person. Wine pairings are an additional $70. The eight-course pasta tasting menu usually starts with house-made salumi, five pasta courses, a palate cleanser, and a dessert.
The regional testing menu usually features an appetizer, a fish dish, a pasta, a meat dish, and dessert. A three-course pre-theater menu is also served from 5:00 to 6:30PM for $49.
The encyclopedic wine list, which has bottles from all over Italy, is the most extensive in Las Vegas. There are several bottles for less than $50. And you can also order house wines — many of which are from Bastianich — by the quartino or quarter liter.
If you love Italian food and want an unstuffy, unhurried evening out, B&B is a great choice.
See our list of the top Italian Restaurants in Las Vegas here.
Wild Salmon Image Flickr: cchen
Brasata al Barolo Image Flickr: arnold | inuyaki
