As much as Andiamo is a hidden gem on the Las Vegas restaurant scene, Piero's is well-known among the locals as a place to get great Italian food in the city.
Located within walking distance from both the Las Vegas Hilton and the Convention Center, Piero's has been serving great Italian food for nearly 25 years. Freddie Glusman opened the original Piero's in 1982 and they moved to their present location in 1987 (see map). Piero's is a favorite for the local celebrities who can go to the restaurant without getting bothered by fans or autograph seekers. Freddie won't allow it to happen.
One rumor I'd heard for years is that Piero's is also an establishment favored by members of organized crime. There's also an interesting story from 2000 regarding an alleged assault on notorious Las Vegas business man and wanna-be politico Bob Stupak. And before Glusman took over the property in 1987, the restaurant was known as "Villa d'Este". It was the restaurant favored by mobster Tony Spilotro and his local gang during his years in Las Vegas. In fact, scenes from the Martin Scorsese film Casino were shot inside Piero's.
Piero's decor features lithographs by Aldo Luongo, original oil paintings by local artist José Bellver (right), and large floral displays on antique pine tables. The atmosphere is classy, cozy and warm.
The menu is the same menu they've had since the day they opened. Their wine list is extensive with a number of wines from all around the world to choose from. And the service is top notch.
The night we were at Piero's, we were seated at a long table in a small alcove off a main dining area. On one end of the room there was a large wine closet. In the dining area off to our side, there happened to be a large table of what we surmised were adult movie starlets seated at a table next to us (the Audio Video Nudes convention and award show coincide with CES). I have to admit it was difficult to keep our eyes off these flamboyantly dressed ladies.
After starting out with a combination of hot and cold anti pasto, we ordered our dinner. I went with the veal piccata cooked with mushrooms in a white wine and lemon sauce with a side of fettuccine alfredo. One of my colleagues next to me went with the "Zuppa di Pesce", a cioppino-styled seafood soup. And one of the guys to the other side of me got the Suprema Pollo di Vesuvio - a grilled chicken with tomato, egg plant and mozzarella. Actually, it all sounded damn good.
My colleague who is well-schooled in Italian wines picked the 2000 Solaia Antinori red from the Tuscany region. It was expensive and very good.
We were served a house salad before our meal and within about 25 minutes after we'd ordered our food, it made it to our table. My veal piccata was outstanding. The chicken Vesuvio to my right was great, according to the guy eating it. And the report on the "Zuppa di Pesce" was equally outstanding.
And, no, I don't think we saw any underworld types in the restaurant.
Piero's is one of those old time places in Vegas that has withstood the onslaught of the upscale restaurants that have come into the area since the mid-1990's. The charm and charisma of Piero's is what sets it apart from the others. It's a great place for Italian food in Las Vegas.
Comments