Little Italy on the Strip

Word to the wise: The restaurant also operates a delicious tapas bar at St. Mark's Square in the Venetian Grand Canal Shoppes.

Tipple of choice: Ask the sommelier to recommend on of the venue's 100 bottles of Italian wine under USD 100.

Superstar chef Mario Batali's Vegas eatery located inside the Venetian hotel overlooks the atmospheric San Marco piazza. In this surreal Italian Disneyland-style setting, you'll feast on real, hearty and honest Italian piatti (plates), from pastas to pizzas and everything in between.

If you aren't up for a full meal, grab a table on the patio and order a glass of wine and a selection of formaggi and charcuterie. Of special note is the finocciona, a salami cured with cracked pepper, fennel and a dash of curry. It's from Seattle's Salumi Artisan Cured Meats, owned by Batali's father.