Celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis opened her first restaurant inside Caesars Entertainment’s new Cromwell boutique hotel in June, and it’s quickly become one of the toughest dinner reservations to get on the Strip. Now also open for lunch, the nearly 300-seat eatery, with an inviting bar lounge and dining room and prime view of the Bellagio fountains, includes a menu with notes of Giada’s grandfather Dino’s favorite dishes.
Eat: The varied antipasti is a draw, but pucker up for Giada’s signature dish, lemon spaghetti with shrimp ($28) and traditional Italian meat dishes like a saltimbocca-style veal chop ($43; a favorite of Dino’s). The roving dessert cart features a perfect strawberry and tomato tart and burnt banana gelato, all made in-house.
Drink: Cocktails are named after movies Dino produced like “Hannibal,” “Conan the Barbarian” and the “Barbarella,” with Tanqueray 10, orange spice ginger beer, fresh lemon and basil foam ($15), that is especially refreshing in the Las Vegas heat.
Stay: The 188-room Cromwell (across from Caesars), formerly Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon before a $185 million renovation, features plush and comfortable rooms with a slightly dark but classy Parisian edge. The property includes Drai’s popular rooftop beach and nightclubs.
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Go: Giada: 3595 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas
