Carnevino - by Mario Batali..

This is my last post about my dining experience in Las Vegas...but actually the first restaurant I went to when I got there. This place was recommended to me by a friend. It had better reviews than the other Batali Restaurant in Vegas, B&B.

Carnevino (as the name says) is Batali's version of Steak house. I was toying between this restaurant and Pucks CUT, which is also a Steak place, but unfortunately they were closed for lunch. Carnevino's lunch menu is much more limited than the dinner menu and the only steak available was the Bone-in New York Strip and the Filet Mignon, which were both huge cuts. I was not really in the mood for a steak since I was eating alone so I decided on Tartare for my appetizer, since it was really my first taste of it during the trip.

The Tartare (Called Carne Cruda in the menu) was served with raw mushrooms. It was very tasty and creamy. When I asked the waiter how it was done he explained to me that it was bound with olive oil instead of egg for a fruitier finish. Needless to say I enjoyed every single bite of it with toasted bread..

For Main, I decided on a sandwich: Pastrami Ciabatta with Fontina, Tomato and Onion. Huge dish...the pastrami was delicious and served on Ciabatta with fresh tomatoes, lettuce, Fontina Cheese and spicy mustard. I loved this and the Fontina cheese made this dish even better. It reminded me of young Queso Manchego. The Pastrami was just incredible tasting. Of course I also devoured it and just left the top part of the Ciabatta, since it was just too much to finish...

A very simple type of lunch which I enjoyed very much. I was practically alone in the restaurant so the service was great and very fast. I'm hoping to try the steaks there some day when I go back to Vegas....