To gorge or not to gorge, wait – is that really even a question? It isn’t for us. Especially when it comes to dining at the Grand Canal Shoppes inside The Venetian Resort Las Vegas. Home to more than 160 restaurants, shops and a whole slew of entertainment, there’s no place on the Strip quite like it. With so many appetite-inducing options to choose from, you don’t even have to leave the property to find flavorsome fare for every meal, snack and “oh that looks delicious” moment during your stay.
From breakfast and brunch to lunch and dinner, restaurants like Mercato della Pescheria, Canaletto and The Cake Boss’s own, Buddy V’s Ristorante tempt guests with authentic Italian ingredients and supremely decadent dishes. Let’s face it, Italians do a lot of things better than most, but food may be at the top of that list. So, sit back, relax and go ahead and loosen your belt a notch, because we’re about to take your taste buds on a culinary tour through the world’s favorite boot, without ever leaving the U.S. – or the Grand Canal Shoppes for that matter.
With chefs hailing from as far as Sardinia and specializing in regional Italian and Italian-American dishes, there’s no shortage of worldly inspiration and techniques straight from the motherland. But what can you expect from an Italian-themed resort in the middle of Vegas? We’re glad you asked. The freshest coastal seafood, crusty rustic bread to sop up all-day-simmered sauces, imported pastas and rich formaggio.
Primo
Mercato della Pescheria: Linguini Frutti di Mare
Tucked in the corner of St. Mark’s Square, Mercato della Pescheria is the embodiment of Italian reverie. It’s everything you’d hope Italy to be; warm with rustic touches like rounded archways and weathered beams, illuminated by glowing candlelight and a terrazza sprawled beneath the billowing clouds of a hand-painted sky. There’s even a salumeria stand for artisan cheese and hand-shaved charcuterie to-go, or as they say in Italy, “for take-away.” But one of the dishes they’re best known for is all oceanic.
A quintessential coastal dish, frutti di mare or “fruit of the sea” is a medley of different textures and flavors. “This dish is Italian Seafood at its finest,” says Executive Chef Nelson Berrios. An assortment of saltwater manila clams, mussels, calamari tubes and spindly tentacles with large, tender shrimp, it is both delicate and robust.
“It is the perfect marriage of imported pasta and a market full of the freshest seafood around, balanced by a subtly rich lobster broth,” says the chef.
So, what’s in it?
MANILA CLAMS
MUSSELS
SHRIMP (PEELED, DEVEINED AND TAIL-ON)
CALAMARI TUBES AND TENTACLES
Secondi
Canaletto: Polipo con Patate
With Juliet balconies, side-swept drapes and white linen tablecloths, Canaletto is old-world Italy and Venetian elegance at its finest. A two-story restaurant connected by a polished brass staircase, it’s filled with winding hallways leading to intimate dining spaces that overlook St. Mark’s Square and the lapping Grand Canal below. Specializing in regional Italian recipes, guests will enjoy housemade pasta and freshly-baked breads along with a variety of seafood and meat.
Sardinia native, Chef Gianpaolo Putzu draws his inspiration for the celebrated polipo con patate from the coastal waterways of the Adriatic. A summertime staple, this dish is about creating a harmony with contrasting textures. “This traditional Venetian dish is light, healthy, and bursting with flavor,” says the chef. “Grilled tender octopus, perfectly balanced with red onions, celery, and diced potatoes. Definitely a favorite dish all along the Italian coast!”
So, what’s in it?
OCTOPUS
CELERY
DICED POTATO
RED ONION
EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
LEMON JUICE
Dolce
Buddy V’s Ristorante: Italian Birthday Cake
Overlooking the Strip, Buddy V’s Ristorante is lined with soaring windows and red leather booths. The restaurant is decorated with colorful kitchen utensils and cookware like vintage rolling pins and bundt pans. Black and white family photos hang from the walls, their faces smiling down on diners and preserving a slice of time that is undoubtedly associated with good food and infectious laughter. Warm and jovial, this is exactly what you would expect from the Cake Boss’s first family-style restaurant.
If anybody gets those values, it’s Chef Bryan Forgione, who grew up in a thoroughbred culinary family of his own as the son and brother of two Iron Chefs. The cuisine is stick-to-your-ribs good, like Sunday dinner at Nonna’s. And while the meatballs are to-die-for, we’re here to talk about – what else – cake.
Moist and spongy, Buddy V’s Italian birthday cake is pure childhood nostalgia. With three rum-soaked layers and alternating chocolate pastry cream and ricotta cannoli filling, it’s wipe-your-mouth-on-your-sleeve, sticky fingers – indulgent and just as memorable. “This traditional Italian cake is loved by Buddy and his family because it reminds him of the days he would bake with his father,” says the chef. Topped with the fluffiest whipped cream and crisp, toasted almonds, “this cake provides traditional flavors that will truly bring back memories.”
So, what’s in it?
VANILLA CAKE
RUM SIMPLE SYRUP
CANNOLI CREAM
CHOCOLATE PASTRY CREAM
TOASTED ALMONDS
WHIPPED CREAM
Three restaurants, three superb courses. Now, waddle over to St Mark’s Square in time for the live music at the Streetmosphere. The Venetian Trio plays the most beautiful, traditional Italian music with a Spanish guitar, violin and a vocalist. You won’t want to miss this incredibly-talented group of entertainers.
Other signature restaurants at Grand Canal Shoppes include CUT by Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse’s Delmonico Steakhouse, Ricardo Zarate’s Once, as well as Smith & Wollensky, SUGARCANE raw bar grill, SUSHISAMBA, TAO Asian Bistro & Nightclub, and Trustworthy Brewing Co. & BBQ, to name a few.