The Strip may be home to several restaurants celebrities dine at when they’re visiting Las Vegas, but when you want to eat at a real celebrity favorite, look no further than d.vino Italian Food & Wine Bar.
Visited by everyone from former Las Vegas headliner Frank Caliendo to members of the Jabbawockeez, Blue Man Group and even performers from Cirque du Soleil, d.vino is one of the few restaurants in town that local entertainers frequent. Located just off the Monte Carlo casino floor, the exposed modern Italian restaurant may not be as exclusive or intimate as some celebrities might like, but its mouth-watering Italian menu still attracts plenty of familiar faces to its tables—in addition to many Las Vegas performers, boxer Zab Judah has been spotted dining on d.vino’s delicious dishes. Of course, it’s not just the Italian fare that guests come to d.vino for. The restaurant is also home to one of the Strip’s most extensive wine lists, boasting more than 400 varieties of Italian and Californian wines by the bottle. Recognized by Wine Spectator with the Award of Excellence in 2010 and 2011, d.vino also features 18 hard-to-find selections in its Enomatic wine system that can be tasted in 1 oz., 2 oz. or 5 oz. pours, so guests can pair each course with a different wine of their choosing.
Start off your dinner with the tasty Stuffed Zucchini ($9): zucchini stuffed with molted tomatoes and mozzarella and cooked in herbed bread crumbs. Even if you’re not a big zucchini lover, this flavorful dish is sure to please, as it’s simply delightful! Paired with a glass of La Pergola Rosso Monferrato d’Asti Nebbiolo 2009 (1-oz. pour, $2; 2-oz. pour, $4; 5-oz. pour, $10) and taste buds are sure to be saying, “That’s amore!”
Another memorable antipasto selection is d.vino’s Beef Carpaccio ($10) topped with extra virgin olive oil, arugula, lemon and Parmesan and served with toasted baguettes. The dish is easy to share, making it an ideal choice for couples or larger parties. However, if you only order one appetizer for the table, be sure to make it d.vino’s create-your-own formaggi platter. The restaurant has its own authentic formaggi and salumi bar that features a variety of different farmhouse and artisanal cheeses from Italy. Guests can create their own formaggi platter by choosing three ($13) or five ($16) different cheese selections, with options ranging from cow to goat to even sheep. With so many types of cheese to choose from, there’s guaranteed to be something to please everyone’s palate.
As far as entrées go, d.vino’s selection of wood-fired pizzas never disappoint, with options ranging from the traditional Pepperoni ($13) with crushed tomatoes and fresh Gioia dairy mozzarella to the more exotic Shrimp ($16) with lemon butter glaçage, arugula and oregano. While the wood-fired pizzas are tasty, though, it’s d.vino’s many pasta and risotto dishes that are truly some of the best in town. Must-tries include the Mushroom Ravioli ($18) with bolognaise sauce and mushroom fricassée and the amazing Rigatoni with Sausage ($18). Both dishes go great with a glass of red wine, like the smooth Enzo Boglietti Dolcetto d’Alba Piedmont 2009, available in 1 oz., 2 oz. and 5 oz. pours ($2.40, $4.80 and $12, respectively).
While it would be a shame not to order one of d.vino’s heavenly house-made pastas, the restaurant’s savory Hand-cut Prime Sirloin ($26) makes a good case as to why guests should order one of d.vino’s hearty main courses instead. Juicy and tender, the Hand-cut Prime Sirloin is easily one of d.vino’s best dinner selections. For those who prefer fish, the Crispy Skin Salmon ($21) served with crispy potatoes, wilted spinach and lemon-caper butter is also sure to please. Other tempting main courses include the Roasted Jidori Chicken ($18) with truffled pan jus and the Veal Piccata ($22) with potato mousselini.
As if d.vino’s delectable dinner menu wasn’t scrumptious enough, the restaurant also features one of the yummiest dessert menus in town, so be sure to save some room for an after-dinner treat! Selections include the Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée served with sugar cookies and strawberry compote and the to-die-for Tiramisu served with lady fingers and shaved Belgian chocolate ($7 each). The only thing that could make either dish taste any better is a glass of dessert wine to wash it down with; the sweet Moscato d’Asti Gianni Dogliani Piemonte 2010, available by the glass for $12 or by the bottle for $50, goes perfectly with either selection.
While all of d.vino’s desserts are sure to leave guests salivating for more, it’s d.vino’s selection of house-made ice creams and sorbets that’s guaranteed to leave the biggest impression of the night. Guests can choose from more than 10 different flavors (three scoops cost just $7), including the rich hot chocolate, refreshing orange-honey and piquant lavender. It may cold outside, but you won’t want to miss out on these divine flavors! Plus, you can always warm up with one of d.vino’s fresh roasted coffees afterward, like the big, bold Kenya Extra Fancy AA ($7) or the Nicaragua “Aldea” Cooperative ($5), a nice medium dark roast with light body, soft hazelnut tones and bittersweet chocolate.
D.vino Italian Food & Wine Bar is open Mon.-Thurs. from 4-10 p.m., Fri. from 4-11 p.m., Sat. from 2:30-11 p.m. and Sun. from 2:30-10 p.m. Be sure to stop by the restaurant for its daily Happy Hour from 5-7 p.m. featuring a variety of meatball sliders for just $3 each (or 2 for $5 or 3 for $7) as well as specials on well drinks, wine and draft beer, and be sure to check out d.vino’s Red Sauce Sundays where guests can enjoy a filling three-course prix fixe menu for just $29 from 4-10 p.m. For more information, or to make your reservation, call 702-730-7966.
Comments