DOLCE & CHIANTI CUCINA & COCKTAILS

ITALIAN CUISINE IN LAS VEGAS

By Elaine & Scott Harris

Dolce & Chianti Cucina & Cocktails, an Italian restaurant, perseveres by thinking outside the box, keeping things fresh on their menu and stage. Dolce & Chianti has quite a story. Their culinary journey started in 2011 when the Mersini family opened their first restaurant in Kirkland, Washington. In the beginning, the whole family worked there—parents, kids, cousins, aunts, and uncles, and even friends—and soon expanded to a location north of Seattle. It was in 2018 that it happened. While on a business trip to Las Vegas, they came across a building, and it was love at first sight, and Dolce & Chianti in Las Vegas became a reality.

Not being deterred by a pandemic, they kept their doors open, providing live entertainment for their guests during the time the Entertainment Capital of the World came to a virtual stop, leaving many talented entertainers literally in the dark. Dolce & Chianti teamed up with headlining artists who gladly took the stage for an incredible experience accented by authentic Italian cuisine and handcrafted cocktails.

Fabulous Arancini

“We will fight to the end with all of our passion—money comes and goes, but we will stay open,” owner Inga Davidian said with conviction. Always seeking to provide the best for their guests, they brought on Hell’s Kitchen Season 12’s winner, Scott Commings, to consult and add his expertise to the menu. Looking over the menu, one can’t go wrong.

Why not start with a classic Bruschetta Trio with fresh tomato, eggplant caponata, house-made ricotta, and arugula. The Dolce & Chianti meatball is a house recipe featuring a jumbo meatball composed of pork, beef, herbs, ricotta, and marinara sauce surrounded by crisp toasts for the perfect side. Want to keep it traditional? The Bucatini al Bolognese is traditional Bolognese with sofrito, beef, and basil all topped with parmesan. For a delightful entrée, the Ahi Tuna Mediterraneo, a perfectly seared tuna, harissa couscous, and summer sweet corn relish, provides a lesson in the perfect execution of a familiar Mediterranean dish. Dolce & Chianti’s Veal Milanese features a thick veal chop, charred lemon, arugula, and a fennel salad to finish things off just right.

Dolce & Chianti is undoubtedly the place to be with a Live DJ every Friday and Saturday night, 7-10 PM. Enjoy Happy Hour with mouthwatering bites, $7 wines by the glass, and seven cocktails for $7 each. On Wednesdays, pull up a seat and enjoy a select bottle of wine at 50% OFF all day.

No matter what day you may stop in, Dolce & Chianti Italian Restaurant is ready to impress.

Love Salmon by Chef Scott Commings