new italian restaurant in red rock casino

Scarpetta's combination of Italian cuisine and killer Strip views has only gotten better under the direction of executive chef Michael Vitangeli. The cocktail menu smartly avoids trying to cover too much ground-no Mules, for example-while focusing on Italian-inspired libations like two Negronis and five takes on a Spritz.

The squash blossoms are the most rewarding appetizer, balancing sweet ricotta with a salty anchovy sauce. Eight pasta dishes are robust in flavor with even the caramelle (stuffed with sweet potato and topped with brown butter) packing subtle heat. The fish is grilled whole or filleted with light seasoning and a choice of sauces on the side. Branzino (a common sight on Las Vegas dinner menus) is the most popular, but the nuttiness of the golden snapper is a welcome change of pace. The restaurant welcomes up to five deliveries of fresh fish a week with the latest catch on display in the dining room.

Just last year, Bobby Flay turned his long-running Mesa Grill into Amalfi, where fresh seafood and coastal Italian cuisine is served within a dining room of gray stone walls and curtains to block out the chaos of the Caesars Palace casino floor.

New italian restaurant in red rock casino