Went to Marinelli's because I had a friend of mine staying at the Resort and what I found was a gem of a little restaurant. The space is comfortable and the noise level was perfect. Snag a seat next to the terrace and you have wonderful views all the way to the strip.
I love that they didn't start off by pushing Bottled Water on us and brought out some decent bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The wine menu was smart and affordable. Its based of Italian regions and showed a nice blend of very drinkable and appropriate wines. The food menu as well was very affordable and showed a nice balance between classic Italian favorites like Spaghetti Bolognese and Rigatoni and some more daring offers like Genoan Pesto Pasta and Osso Bucco. I opted for the Shrimp Fra Diavolo and ordered a Caprese Salad for the table. The Caprese came out in a generous size which is always appreciated in these days of the microscopic appetizer. My Shrimp Fra Diavolo followed and the pasta couldn't have been cooked more al dente. It was truly fabulous. The shrimp also was very good but my only complaint would have been I would have like the sauce a tad more spicy as a true Fra Diavolo should have a nice, strong kick to it and this was on the tame side. My associate ordered the Spaghetti Bolognese and very much enjoyed it. The only complaint was perhaps a bit to much salt, but he loved the very flavorful beef that blended so well with the light and subtle red sauce. I'm also a huge fan of the grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese at the table side even though a lot of Italian foodies will tell you its a travesty to grate such an immaculate cheese for a simple topping. Its so full of flavor that it should be eaten as a stand alone cheese. Well thats true, but it does make a damn good topping!
Unfortunately we didnt have room for a desert but their offerings looked intriguing. Service overall was attentive and unobtrusive. As mentioned before there were a couple small hiccups that Marinelli's had but overall its a brilliant choice if you ever find yourself down in those neck of the woods. And therein lies another problem. The M Resort is fabulous but if you live in most parts of the Valley, you might as well drive to California to get to its location at St. Rose and Las Vegas Blvd. I cant wait to go back, I just need to save some gas money for the journey!