Chowhound: Sinatra at Encore Las Vegas

Sinatra at Encore Las Vegas is supposed to create a culinary salute to the man himself, Ol' Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra. The singer's charisma and style are kept alive through the decor and a reinterpreted Italian menu by acclaimed Chef Theo Schoenegger that emphasizes the chef's seasonal approach to the country's signature dishes.

The decor of Sinatra is not ‘80s gaudy over the top dedication to Frank Sinatra. Rather, the decor is modern and very understated. Sure there are photos and paintings on the wall of Frank, his music playing over the speakers and his Academy Awards are on display at the entry, but everything is done respectfully and unobtrusively.

Since Sinatra opened I've been told that I have to dine here but haven’t found myself in a hurry to make this a must try.  The excuse to visit Sinatra came when a friend played enough craps at Wynn Las Vegas to earn a comp meal at Sinatra. (Note: If you earn a dining comp, tip waiters with cash on the full price of your dinner.)

I'm originally from New York City and lived in Frank's hometown of Hoboken, New Jersey for some time so it's hard to impress me with west coast Italian food. That said, I was happy with my dinner at Sinatra.

My meal began with an excellent antipasto. Everything I tried on the plate was very good. Looking back, this may have been the best thing I ate all evening. My main course was Sinatra's recommended signature dish - Osobucco "My Way" with Risotto Milanese and Gremolata. Osobucco isn't something I eat often and it's not something I would ever make at home but it's a dish I enjoy and one of the few Italian dishes that I find worth the high price tag. The Osobucco was tender enough not to need a knife and the risotto was cooked perfectly.

I rarely have room for dessert after a full meal, but since I only shared an appetizer and didn’t finish my main course, I ended up with a little extra space in my stomach. I decided to try the cute Ricotta Lollipops and an espresso. Both were excellent and a nice way to end a my meal.

Overall, dinner at Sinatra was excellent but it was unspectacular. After so many rave reviews I was expecting a meal that was so good that it would make me weep. The meal was just off the mark. Sinatra is really good and service is fantastic but if you're an Italian food snob expect a good dinner but nothing you haven't had before.