Carbone's got a glamorous appeal
Old-school Italian: The phrase conjures up images of 1950s and ’60s New York restaurants, peopled by glamorous stars, with attentive servers hovering nearby. And, indeed, that’s the feel you get at Carbone at Aria, where the “captains” take charge of your table, giving you personal attention and making you feel like you’re a celebrity. Carbone in L...
Passion fuels family-run, upscale Casa Mia in Scottsdale
She was raised in Italy in a family that loved to cook. Her father ran restaurants in their homeland. But occasionally, Hera Ambrosio, co-owner of Casa Mia Italian restaurant, is stumped by a new customer asking for shrimp scampi or chicken Vesuvio. “People ask me for dishes that I don’t know,” Ambrosio said in an energetic voice that flaunts an al...
Plantone’s Italian Market a much-needed Las Vegas Italian deli
Grand restaurants are perfect for grand occasions, but where would we be without the delis in our lives, to supply a quick lunch or dinner or satisfy a craving years in the making? In a tough spot, which is why we can all be grateful for places like Plantone’s Italian Market, which helps alleviate Las Vegas’ perpetual (and mystifying) undersupply o...
Leonetti Cellar winemaker explores his heritage with new plantings in the Walla Walla Valley
Chris Figgin's great-grandfather, Francesco Leonetti, came to Walla Walla more than a century ago from Serra Pedace, a small town in the instep of the boot that is Italy’s southern peninsula. Chris’ dad, Gary Figgins, started Leonetti Cellar in 1977, paying tribute to the Italian side of his heritage. Now Chris is paying a deeper tribute to his an...
What to expect at Phoenix’s first Gino’s East of Chicago
Home-sick Chicagoans will no longer have to fly off to Chicago or order a frozen pizza online in order to satisfy their Gino’s East of Chicago deep-dished pizza cravings. Gino’s first Phoenix location, and 18th overall, is set to open in Arcadia at 3626 E. Indian School Rd., on Monday, April 24 at 4 p.m. And the food? It’s delicious, it’s gooey and...
Jaime's Local Love: Guido's Chicago Meats and Deli
I have been coming to Guido's Chicago Meats and Deli since I was in high school. The Italian sub is to die for, but there are so many more options at Guido's. You name it, they have it-- and it's likely made from scratch right there at the deli! Guido's Chicago Meats and Deli has been on Scottsdale Road and Shea since 1983. Owner Joe Guido was trai...
See How Carina Lounge Transformed the Old Basta’s Trattoria
On March 25, Carina Lounge opened in the venue that was home to Basta’s Trattoria and Bar for the past 25 years, at 410 NW 21st Ave., and Eater photographer Dina Avila returns with photos of the new look in the gallery above. The bar area adds swagger with brown-leather bar stools and a lush leafy theme, and overall, the restaurant has been brighte...
Talking 10 years in Las Vegas and building Eataly on the Strip with Mario Batali
Mario Batali is coming to town. It may not seem like it, but it’s already been 10 years since the orange-haired, orange Croc-wearing celeb chef opened his first restaurants in Las Vegas, now B&B Ristorante and Otto Enoteca & Pizzeria at the Venetian. Appropriately, he’s ready to celebrate. A special one-night-only dinner showcasing classic dishes f...
Pietro’s Pizza Kauai becomes first in state to be certified by Verace Pizza Napoletana
The certificate stating Pietro’s Pizza Kauai is a member of the Verace Pizza Napoletana Association is just that, a piece of paper, said Peppe Miele. Which might be a strange description, since Miele is VPN’s president of Canada and U.S. operations. But he explained. A piece of paper doesn’t make pizza. It doesn’t make friends. “This guy right here...
Inside the Delicious Sport of Pizza Tossing
Tony Gemignani is equal parts chef and athlete. The Italian-American restaurateur is a pro at tossing pizza dough, and can perform complicated feats like tossing the stiff flour mixture high into the air, spinning it around his shoulders or through his legs, and even juggling multiple pizzas-in-progress at a time. Those skills are regularly served...
Renata spin-off Figlia Americana shines at lunch with soups, salads
Lunch didn't work out the way Nick and Sandra Arnerich planned. When the couple opened Renata, their close-in Southeast Portland Italian restaurant, they had hoped to roll out a casual lunch, perfect for the restaurant's sunny patio, perhaps as soon as the summer of 2015. But a barrage of early success, including our own Restaurant of the Year hono...
Nonna Urban Eatery now open in Old Town Scottsdale
Unless you were looking for it, you might breeze past Nonna Urban Eatery, a matchbox-size lunch and dinner spot in Old Town Scottsdale. The restaurant is set back off Main Street, almost hidden in a courtyard on the east end of the street. If you look while walking past, you’ll spot the bright, sunshine-colored chairs on the patio. Opened by a husb...