Giada De Laurentiis is a California girl. And so am I. And maybe that’s why I’m so enamored of her Las Vegas restaurant, the eponymous Giada.

Giada-the-restaurant encapsulates that California vibe, from the entry at the top of an escalator to the cozy bar and the elegant yet comfortable seating that fills the dining room. The dining room itself is a curved area with windows overlooking the Strip; it’s replete with wood, white walls and overhead fans, reminding you of the outdoor rooms of so many California homes.