(LifeWire) - Where: Las Vegas Hilton
3000 S. Paradise Road
Las Vegas, Nev. 89109
Phone: (702) 732-5755, (702) 732-5664
Website: http://www.lvhilton.com/dining/casanicola.shtmlHours: Open seven days a week, 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Cuisine at Casa Nicola: Rustic Italian, with influences from throughout the Mediterranean
Menu pricing: Appetizers run from about $9 to $20, and entrees vary from $22 to $45, making Casa Nicola one of the priciest dining options at the Las Vegas Hilton.
Reservations for Casa Nicola: Strongly suggested, especially around holidays. Call (702) 732-5755 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., or (702) 732-5664 between 4 p.m. and 11 p.m. Group menus are available for large parties.
Dress code: "Business casual" is the official line, in keeping with the Hilton's popularity as a conference destination. You won't be asked to don a jacket at the door, but you may feel out of place if you're wearing shorts or a fanny pack.
What it's like: Much like in any Italian home, this restaurant's center of activity is the kitchen - but it's not just any kitchen. Casa Nicola's winning gimmick is an open preparation area that would not be out of place subbing for Iron Chef's Kitchen Stadium (if the show ever went for a Tuscan theme).
Chef Ray Sansota - who helmed the restaurant in its previous incarnation as Andiamo, open since 1987 - presides over an army of talented cooks. They turn out fresh, flavorful Italian dishes that lean toward the traditional (think osso bucco, pappardelle Bolognese and tiramisu) but do so impeccably, and with no corners cut. The pastas are made from scratch every day, and the bread is baked in the large stone hearth.
Mediterranean influences abound, especially in the menu's extensive seafood options (try the lobster, shrimp and scallops fradiavolo or the hearty seafood cioppino) and light-handed meats (grilled lamb chops are a favorite) that reflect the chef's full-flavor, low-fat philosophy for healthful dining.
Suggestions: While Casa Nicola is elegant, it's also mellow enough to be family friendly - wee ones will likely be captivated by all the action in the open kitchen (not to mention the impressive dessert display).
