Martorano’s

Information

At a Glance

What is it?

A boisterous Italian bistro from the boisterous Italian chef.

Where is it?

At Paris Las Vegas on the Center Strip.

What kind of food is served?

Italian favorites, classics, and comfort food.

What is the atmosphere like?

Some would say energetic, I say loud.

How is the service?

Very good – fast and friendly.

What are the prices like?

Not as expensive as some but not cheap either.

What else do I need to know?

There used to be another outlet of this at The Rio but it closed.

What’s the bottom line?

Good Italian food at prices that won’t break the bank.

Full Review

Restaurateur and chef Steve Martorano has made a career out of bringing the food from his South Philly Italian family roots and bringing it to a series of restaurants with a bit of a rock and roll aesthetic. This one at Paris Las Vegas follows the pattern with disco balls on the ceiling, lots of loud music and flashy lighting, and a general sense of hip style that you don’t usually get an an old-school Italian joint.

And that’s the kind of food you’ll find here; stuff from Martorano’s family vault. They don’t call it red sauce here, they call it gravy and it’s a zesty triumph. Go fully Italian retro with the bucatini and a meatball complete with a scoop of ricotta cheese or maybe a rigatoni with chunks of pork. The list of pastas is long with favorites like linguine and clams, penne alla vodka, bucatini carbonara and other favorites that you’ll probably recognize.

If you want to level up, check out the traditional favorites like chicken parm, veal piccata, or a NY strip topped with hot peppers. This is a “you can’t go wrong” kind of menu and while it may not be the pinnacle of Italian dining in Vegas, it’s all solid, dependable, and more than satisfying.

Prices are on the high moderate side with entrees mostly in the $25-$45 range. Figure a shared appetizer, a cocktail, an entree, dessert, tax, and tip to run in the $75-$100 per person range. I know, in most places that would be firmly in the expensive territory but this is Vegas where buffets cost $70 per person these days.

If you want a little bit of attitude with your Italian fare, this is the place to go.