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| - Sure, my review is probably biased. I ate for free.
Sure, my review is probably biased. I ate for FREE.
Sure, my review is probably biased. I ate FOR FREE!!!
Then again, perhaps my review ISN'T so biased, as I would actually pay my own money to go back here.
Since I became old enough to gamble, I was a fan of the Rio. Why? I don't know, but I just had really good luck gambling at the Harrah's casinos (back when it was just Harrah's and Rio in the lineup). Of course, with lady luck shining down on me with all her glory, I'd up my antes and win even bigger. With that came the VIP treatment, for shizzle. After my second trip, I was somehow put in touch with a host, and thus began my long and beautiful relationship with the Rio.
Okay, so Rio sort of lost its charm as I got older, but my all-star host Derek was so great that I couldn't be disloyal and stay anywhere else. Then again, he DID give me free rooms all the time. Minor details, I promise.
Derek has moved on to bigger and better things, so I haven't actually been back to the Rio in awhile, but the last time I went, Derek treated me to an AWESOME dinner. Usually, we go to the buffet (because I used to love the Carnival Buffet), but that particular visit, Derek was incredibly insistent on taking me to the new Italian place that had just opened. Beggars can't be choosers, so I decided to just roll with it.
And boy, am I glad I did! Again, I don't know how much any of the dishes cost, as I didn't pay for any of them, let alone look at the menu. All the wait staff knew Derek personally (apparently, he dined here often), and were quick to serve us up with everything we could possibly need. Derek just said, "Bring us all the good stuff," and like that, magic happened at our table. Three different kinds of pasta, a little steak something for me, random meatball thingies, and I don't even know what else.
Here's the thing. I don't like Italian food. I generally find it too heavy. And another thing. Derek himself is of Italian heritage. When Derek first sat me down, he said, "Look, I NEVER eat out Italian because nothing compares to my grandma's cooking. But this place is THAT good." Did I believe him? No. I thought this was some weird promo that he was pulling on me (which is unlike him). But no. After my first few bites, I was TOTALLY SOLD. Everything was scrumptious, tasty, and definitely not too heavy. As Goldilocks once said after eating Baby Bear's soup, "This is JUUUUUUST right~"
The appetizers, entrees, and desserts were ALL amazing. But the piece de resistance of this place is the DECOR AND AMBIANCE. Holy cow!
At first, I was confused when the lighting changed from violet to blue. Were my eyes playing tricks on me? I was too busy savoring my meal to care if I was going blind. Then the blue light changed to red. What the??? That's when I realized that the lighting in the room continuously changes color, dissolving slowly from one color to the next! It adds a totally colorful and fun element to the whole modern decor, and jeebus, the movies! Okay, so I'm not a classics-enthusiast in general, but it was really cool to have the music and the lighting interrupted periodically for a short showing of classic scenes from classic movies like the Godfather and whatnot! Totally a cool and unexpected touch! The DJ played good (if loud) music, and the staff was totally friendly and enthusiastic!
The best part? I got to go to the kitchen to see where the magic happens. Derek introduced me to the chef (he looks incredibly like Vin Diesel - another Las Vegas impersonator?), and he was totally friendly and exuberant. Just my kind of guy!
This place was freaking awesome. The experience was freaking awesome. The fact that it did zero damage to my gambling funds was freaking awesome. When (and I don't mean IF, I mean WHEN) I go back, there is no way that I'll be able to afford such a varied sampling (I think we had like 10 different plates on our table at one point) of all the scrumptious goodness, but I will be sure to try something different every time, just to get my fill!
Are you thinking about dining here? DON'T HESITATE. DO IT.
DO IT. DO IT. DO IT.
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