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| - Talk about being foodie side swiped by a random suburban Italian restaurant.
I meet my mom here for dinner and to be honest, my mom's taste in restaurants mostly falls into the "chain" categories, nothing fancy and convenient. So I was surprised when I read the reviews on Ventano's and more even more taken back by the look of the place.
Normally I avoid places that have the words, "Video Poker" or "24hr Lounge" on the side of the building. This just says mediocre food and smoke filled rooms of sad degenerates. Not the case here at all here, first off the bar with the Video Poker is 100% separated from the dining area and is sealed off with heavy glass doors. The dining area is completely smoke-free, not a hint of smoky smell seeps into the dining room.
The view from the dining area is amazing; really no matter where you sit in the dining area you'll get a full view of the Vegas valley. I do recommend sitting in the raised portion of the dining room for a fully unobstructed view or if the weather is nice just enjoy the patio and glass of wine.
We ordered Grilled Shrimp on the Stone to split and two chicken Caesar salads. Not the normal hearty Italian meal, but I had just left the gym. The shrimp was amazing and seasoned simply with garlic and lemon, served literally on a searing hot stone. It also comes with two side dipping sauces, but these shrimp are so good on their own that you really don't need them.
I know what you're thinking, can a chicken Caesar salad really be that good? Yes, the mountain of greens, chicken and dressing was delicious. Not overly dressed, just a touch of Parmesan, but what really made this so good was the way the chicken was prepared. You could tell it had been flattened with a mallet, seasoned and seared on a super hot surface to create that crunch on the outside while still juicy on the inside. The salad game is strong with this place.
The service was immaculate from top to bottom. Plates cleared quickly and my water glass was never empty. I will definitely be back and my next trip will include a little vino and some ravioli or gnocchi.
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