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A diverse collection of red wines
Want to tour the world, but don't have the funds required to go from country to country? Visit Vegas, where you can revere the Statue of Liberty, take an elevator to the top of the Eiffel tower and eat pasta in Maggiano's Little Italy.
Located in the heart of the Strip, across from the Wynn hotel, Maggiano's Little Italy takes old world flavor and makes it distinctly Las Vegas. Both classy and classic with deep mahogany wood, red and white checkered tablecloths and wide, bright open windows makes Maggiano's seem like the kind of place where big business is always happening right down the hallway. Fresh pressed garlic and snipped basil fill the air. The constant clang of silverware against porcelain is dominated by chatter. Frank Sinatra croons "Come Fly With Me" in the background. Maggiano's is the kind of place where martinis are served at 10:00 am.
Family style dining, where select meals are served and passed around the table, is the perfect way to dine for parties of four or more and the recommended way to dine for parties of ten or more. This allows diners to sample many meals without committing to just one.
Salad and appetizers should begin any Italian meal. A Caesar salad, with crisp, green romain lettuce, is served with freshly shaved parmesean cheese. The creamy Caesar dressing has the slightest hint of olives and drenches the salad: remember to ask your server to serve the dressing on the side. Thick triangles of deep fried, golden-brown mozzarella arrive to the table piping hot. Melted provolone cheese covers the top and marinara sauce simmers underneath the bottom. Cut while it is hot, the mozzarella oozes out from its crunchy crust and drips from the fork.
The salad and appetizers began to disappear and the entrees appeared: Chicken Marsala, Chicken Parmaesan, Baked Ziti,and Fettucini Alfredo. It becomes alarmingly evident that counting calories is not chic. Chicken marsala, pan-fried chicken smothered in brown gravy and fresh mushrooms are an instant hit. Succulent chicken breasts work well with mushrooms that taste like they've been simmering in sherry. Chicken Parmaean, covered in bread crumbs and then fried, is slathered with thick slices of provolone cheese and marinara sauce. The bread crumbs are crunchy and provide an interesting contrast to the smooth chicken breasts. Baked Ziti and Sausage consists of savory Italian sausage, pomodoro sauce and ziti then topped with a layer of Italian cheeses. Pomodoro, the thicker version of marinara, is resplendent with fresh tomatoes and basil. Fettucini Alfredo--the granddaddy of all things tasty--looks dangerously like ten extra pounds. Thick, creamy, cheesy white sauce fully coats ribbons of fettucini noodles and fresh broccoli (which is added only to make you feel less bad about the massive amounts of calories you are happily ingesting).
Just when you think you are done--the plates have started to clear, guts have started to bulge, and eyes have started to droop--the server reappears, with more plates of sin. Thick slices of creamy cheesecake are covered with fresh strawberries and beckon you to taste. Apple crostinis--crisp, sweet fried dough with a sugar crystal crust, filled with apples, simmering in caramel sauce, topped with fresh vanilla bean ice cream, and dusted with powdered sugar--torment your eyes and nose. Even though you are full and your stomach is ripe, you still manage to take one final deep breath and indulge. And you are pleased. When the crostini arrived, one member of our party cut it open and let the goodness ooze out while inquiring, "Where are the apples?" It is easy to forget that fruit (something actually good for you) actually resides inside.
What is really unique about Maggianos, is that they are one of a growing number of restaurant that offers not only whole wheat penne pasta but also gluten-free pasta options. This will bring traditional Italian dishes to those who are intolerant to wheat.
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