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| - This is modern Italian cuisine like we have never had before. We were given the tip to try this place from a friend and I have to say that this gem goes down in my book as a must visit place every time we go to Las Vegas. It's a bit out of the way for people who visit the strip, but it's well worth the trip.
To start, the restaurant is absolutely beautiful. It is very modern in design and very tastefully decorated. From the bartender to the wait staff to the owner himself, the people were great to deal with.
We started with an appetizer combo of Arancini (Risotto balls in a fresh, hand-made tomato sauce) and the Carpaccio (sushi grade yellowfin tuna on an eggplant tart). Just amazing flavors and as fresh as I have ever had. The tomato sauce needs to be sold in jars!
We also had pasta that was done 2 ways - fried and boiled, in the same dish with cherry tomatoes and basil. This was very unique and very tasty.
The Ravioli was absolutely heavenly. The pasta was cooked perfectly, the cream sauce was delightfully rich and flavorful, and the braised short ribs inside the ravioli were unique and melted in your mouth.
Looking for something familiar but different? Try the meatball sliders. Very flavorful, slightly flattened meatballs served on buns with mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce - mini meatball subs!
One of the real unique features of the restaurant was the Enomatic preservation system... basically a 16 foot long machine loaded with bottles of fine wine which you can sample in 1oz, 3oz and 6oz pours at your own convenience. This is unlike anything we have ever seen before.
Finally, the deserts... I have never been a big fan of Tiramisu. I find it often too light as a desert and just not rich enough. This is not the case here. The Tiramisu at Pips is a must try dish. If you have never been a fan, their recipe will become your new favorite. There are no skimping on quality of ingredients in this dish!
All in all, I would have to rate this as one of the finest dining experiences we have ever had in Las Vegas.
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