Chowhound: Lavo Italian Restaurant at The Palazzo Las Vegas
Lavo Italian Restaurant & Nightclub, adjacent to Morels French Steakhouse & Bistro in the lobby of The Palazzo Las Vegas, is Italian dining with a very hip atmosphere. If you’re looking for a fun night out in Las Vegas, Lavo has a full restaurant, lounge, terrace and a nightclub rolled under one roof. Depending on your mood you can hang out in the sleek lounge on the main floor for drinks or opt to dine in the restaurant which is in the back half of the room. Above the restaurant, a walkway and staircase lead to Lavo Nightclub which boasts an intimate, yet energetic, dance floor.
On the restaurant level of Lavo you will hear a DJ playing current pop music hits at a level that's almost too loud, but one that helps set the tone for the evening. Plus you never have to strain yourself to speak or listen to someone at your table while enjoying a modern take on traditional Italian food.
While someone may look at Lavo as a place for "the kids," because of the music and housing a nightclub upstairs, the food is phenomenal and should not be looked past. Lavo has some of the best Italian food on the Las Vegas Strip. On my most recent visit, instead of starting the meal with a salad, my guest and I opted to share a couple of meatballs. These aren't your mama's meatballs and are easily large enough for 3-4 people to share. The meatballs are made from fresh ground A-5 Kobe beef, topped with fresh ricotta cheese and well worth the $20 per order cost. It’s their specialty!
Moving from the appetizers to the main course we ordered two of my Italian food favorites, Spaghetti Carbonara and Rigatoni Sausage Bolognese, both of which were great and hit the spot. The portions were not too large, but they were heavy and very filling. I for one typically avoid pasta before going out but each of the pasta options sounded so good that it couldn't be avoided. If you don’t want to opt for one of the excellent pasta selections, Lavo’s Chicken Parmigiana or a nice steak are great options as well. When it comes to dessert, order the Fried Oreos, delicious!
Not to be outdone is the service, which was excellent. Our table had one main waiter with a couple of assistants helping all night. A glass of water or wine was never empty.
The atmosphere, service and food were all excellent. Sometimes I prefer a nice reserved, calm and quiet meal but there are other times, especially in Las Vegas where I want the night to be getting started while it's still young. Lavo does just that and has become the first place on the Las Vegas Strip that I think of when in the mood for Italian food.
No matter the size of the party every time I've been to Lavo Italian Restaurant & Nightclub at The Palazzo Las Vegas it’s been crowded but in a good way. With that, I recommend making a reservation which can be by phone at 866.263.3001.
