One of my earliest Las Vegas influences was my Aunt Ann. She had married an owner of a car dealership in Alabama and his favorite thing to do was to hit the tables in Las vegas in the mid 1960's to about 1975. A great time to be high rolling in Vegas if you ask me. She regaled me with stories of seeing Sinatra at the Sands and Elvis at the International. Fine Dining was the Golden Steer and The Bacchanal room at Caesars where the "wine goddesses" would pour wine and massage the necks of male patrons right at the dinner table! Many of us today want to go to Las vegas and try to find that vintage experience that sadly doesn't really exist anymore, until now. Ladies and Gentleman I give you Carbone Las Vegas...located at Aria just across from Bardot Brasserie and near the entrance of Zarkana. The original Carbone is in New York City and has another outpost in Hong Kong. On October 19th I was given a behind the scenes tour of the latest location in Las Vegas just before opening night. The restaurant is stunning to say the least and much larger than the New York branch. The bar area dining room is beautiful and clubby, done in palm fronds and blue similar to that of Bouchon at the Venetian. The Main dining room detailed in crushed red velvet and gold is simply stunning. the star of the dining room is the over the top Murano crystal chandelier repurposed from a now defunct Ferrari dealership. The private dining rooms are elegant and inviting. As you walk in to the foyer you are greeted by three exceptionally beautiful hostesses and a large portrait of Christopher Walken behind the reservation desk. At 5:oo on opening night guest number one was your truly. I was held at the door because they couldn't get the music to play in the dining room. The music was powered by an Aria issued iPad that didn't want to work. At 5:10 the music finally started to play. The first song was Day-O by Harry Belafonte. I was escorted to the bar as the first ceremonial bottle of champagne was popped. The bubbly was poured into a wine glass as they could not locate the champagne flutes as of yet. My companion had a business function at the Mirage so I thought I would experience Carbone by myself, but I wasn't alone for very long as Louie Carbone, cousin of founder Mario carbon greeted me and congratulated me on being customer number one. He presented me with a china dinner plate that was hand made in Italy and just like the ones they use in the restaurant as a memento. The food was outstanding and the service like none I have ever had before, but had been told about by my Aunt. Table side preparation of fresh handmade buffalo Mozzarella caesar salads, and Bananas Foster are the norm at Carbone, they can't wait to wheel a cart over to your table with some time of delightful preparation ahead. Carbone is like a scene out of Casino, The Godfather, or Goodfella's, glamorous, retro, and how the rat pack dined. The food was outstanding in every way. Dinner starts with some complimentary items that hit the table quickly. A few chunks of the best Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese I had ever tasted, a bowl of Giardiniera, imported salami and Italian bread. That's before you order anything! I started with the table side Mozzarella and prosciutto. Louis Carbone made mine fresh and hand cut the mozzarella with scissors. He hit it with some oil and and it was heaven on a plate. The pasta course was next and it was with out a doubt the star of the show. A simple house made Spicy Rigatoni ala Vodka that was simply the best pasta I've ever had. The main course was next and it was grand indeed, a bone in Veal Parmesan that is matched by no other. Terrific from the first bite and massive as it covers the plate. I was only able to get through about a quarter of it before my stomach said, enough. My usual end of meal Irish Coffee was in order but this one was presented deconstructed at the table with all of the ingredients for me to make it myself. Evidently deciding that you are done eating at Carbone isn't an option. I was goaded in to trying the table side bananas Foster as a must do experience at Carbone, "Mr. Oldham, you cannot leave until you have had the Bananas Foster. I figured if I didn't get it I would be escorted to a private room in the back where my kneecaps may be pummeled. Yes, bring the dessert cart! Yes, it was better than the version that had at Brennans in New Orleans and they invented the dish. Unfortunately two bites in I was through. Just couldn't handle another bite. You think dinner is over? It's not over until they say it's over. How about complimentary bottles of house made Grappa and Limoncello? all you can drink, they certainly know when to bring it, when you are are stuffed like a toad. They put in my record book, (yes, they keep a customer log) that I was customer number one and listed all of my likes and preferences. Pretty cool huh? Very expensive, but an over the top Vegas experience. Enjoy!