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| - This was our first experience at Giada. My husband and I felt compelled to try this new restaurant, where Bruno Morabito is now running the daytime kitchen. (Chef Morabito was in charge of breakfast and lunch for over a decade at Thomas Keller's Bouchon, in the Venetian Hotel, one of our Las Vegas favorites.) In a phrase, we had a marvelous lunch! Giada's menu is very satisfying, with none of the "Nouvelle Cuisine" massive plate and tiny bits of food tendencies which still infect so many high-end restaurants.
Portions at Giada are generous, without being overwhelming, and I particularly liked this celebrity chef's unpretentious approach to respected standards. My husband's lasagna was beautifully presented and tasted wonderful: "smooth, flavorful, and perfectly satisfying", according to the walking stomach. My polenta en cocotte with poached eggs, spicy sausage and cranberries was excellent, as well, and I sampled all of my husband's dishes, among them his chicken Marsala meatballs and ultra-airy crust Margherita pizza, which were top-shelf. Tiramisu came in a cup and was deliciously paired with a nice glass of Fonseca Bin 27, the sort of reliable basic Port my husband used to keep in his booze-soaked rooms at university.
Service was welcoming and efficient; Erin was enthusiastic and most helpful, a credit to both Giada and Chef Morabito. The tasteful light-colored room is attractive, with superb window table views of the strip and the Bellagio fountains. I want to see that famous water display from this perfect vantage point: we will return for a late lunch against the darkening sky.... Giada is a really wonderful restaurant that delivers on the chef's promise!
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