Where to go for old school Italian?

Going to be in Vegas from 10/19 to 10/23 and am looking for some great "old school vegas" Italian food. Any suggestions?

 

http://chicagojoesrestaurant.com/

Locally owned place and very good food. Qualifier: Haven't eaten there in over 2 years.

 

bootleggers is old school and good
casa di amore also

 

Heading to Bootleggers ourselves on Sunday, looks like a definite old school vibe and food from what I saw on Bourdains show.

 

Piero's

 

Nora's is our go-to old school Italian place. 6020 W. Flamingo.

 

One of the local bartenders keeps telling us we have to go there, but we just haven't made it yet.

 

I like Casa Di Amore. We're going back there. Great red sauce Italian, good cheesy band.

Capo's Speakeasy is really good, too. It's a very unique atmosphere and very old school.

 

The obvious answer is Batista's. It gets some hate around these parts, but I've never had a bad meal there.


TFK

 

Put me down in the Chicago Joe's and Bootlegger boosters club!

 

Battistas!!!

 

I was wondering how long it would take for this answer to come up! If Chef Boyardee from a can and wine from a box along with a 100 yr old accordion player playing non Italian music are old school for you, then I'd agree. Otherwise, I'd avoid this place like the plague. (Two experiences here, and both were significantly terrible.) Their prices aren't any cheaper than the nicer places, either.

 

Chicago Joe's is great, and very old school. Ditto for Bootleggers, but they seem to have a more contemporary menu and style.

Personally, I like Battista's, never had a bad meal there, but quite a few despise it. LOL, you can get very silly on the complimentary AYCD house wine.

Alas, Carluccio's, probably my all time fave Italian in LV is closed.

 

My problem at Battista's was the young broad, at the very
close, next table -- yappin' away on her cell.
The conversation was about NOTHING !!
I endured the whole ,USELESS conversation......man, i was pissed !
Right as I was eating....I don't remember how the food was ?
*
I went looking for staff - so they would shut her up or move me -
I couldn't find ANY STAFF......where the hell did everybody go ?
*
The old guy playing accordian was a bit .........surreal ?
*
I want to try Bootlegger's.

 

OK, if we are getting into old, no longer in business, then Capozolli's on Desert Inn & Maryland. We loved that place and you never knew which Strip entertainer might wander in at 2 AM or so. Autographed pictures of performers covered the walls. They also had a nightly, live band. As something that would come from a scene in Sopranos, they had a fire and never reopened.

 

we always head to casa di amore, great food and wonderful atmosphere!! when you make a reservation they have a free limo that comes to your hotel. when your done they will drop you anywhere on the strip you want to go.we usually tip about $10 each way

 

I'm so glad to hear the positives about Casa di Amore - we are heading there for birthday bash dinners in December - can't wait!

 

I agree with Bardolator about Nora's. It's not great on ambiance, but the food is outstanding and the prices are very reasonable. Just be sure to make a reservation because the place is always busy.

My experience with Batista's was horrendous. Bad food, undrinkable house wine, and the obnoxious accordion player interrupting conversation looking for a tip. Once was one time too many for us!

 

I'm sure it comes from a bag-in-box, but I didn't think it (the red, anyway) was that bad. Far better than some of those junk wines we used to drink in HS and college.

Is that guy still around? Last time we went he appeared to be getting very old. LOL, we were discussing tipping him to play some tune for some OTHER table.

 

Hey Now!
Casa di Amore hands down. 7 trips to Vegas, 7 killer dinners. There's a MRB 20/20 coupon too. And George Bugatti is there during the week.