Celebrity Chef Bobby Flay has certainly made his mark. His fast casual Bobby’s Burgers are popping up everywhere and afficionados of Southwest cuisine certainly enjoyed the uniqueness of Mesa Grill.
But now that the grill is closed, another spot at Caesars is making a splash as well. Amalfi is a tribute to the finer aspects of Italian cuisine. Not only will you find an entertaining list of Italian dishes but don’t hesitate to visit the fish market that is located near the kitchen.
The freshness of the seafood is undeniable. You can tell many selections were just flown in, ready for the table. Priced by the pound you can choose the one you want and wait for it to be custom prepared.
If you aren’t leaning toward offerings from the market, there are a lot of other pleasantries that will please the palate. The antipasti selections include Shellfish Fritto Misto with a collection of shrimp, squid and asparagus immersed in a tomato aioli.
Eggplant Al Forno is a collection of mascarpone and roasted garlic crema with a Sicilian olive relish sitting on toast. Of course, there is Bufala Mozzarella with charred lemon leaves and caprese relish.
If you are looking for an appetizer salad, order the Amalfi Chopped edition with crunchy vegetables and lemon vinaigrette. A baby Caesar features a new twist…black kale with garlic croutons.
My pick for pasta is a terrific Squid Ink Fettucine with lobster pieces and shrimp. Don’t let the black noodles scare you off. It really is a tasty treat.
Other pasta favorites include Agnolotti with arugula ricotta, tomato sauce and crunchy garlic. There is a traditional chicken parmesan with bufala mozzarella and crushed tomato sauce plus homemade spaghetti zucchini with shishito pesto.
Steak lovers will want to nosh on a 10-ounce filet of 16-ounce New York strip. There is also a bone-in 24-ounce monster. All of the beef picks are certified prime Angus.
There are some enticing sides like the crispy potatoes there were highly recommended by the waiter. They are enhanced with parmigiano, oregano and lemon. The white bean risotto is combined with broccoli rabe.
A half dozen desserts that will satisfy a wide range of tastes. Bobby’s Pistachio Sundae is a combination of pistachio gelato, dark chocolate sauce, Amarena cherries, vanilla crema and pistachio crunch.
A caramelized apple toasted walnut crostata is topped with whipped walnut crème fraiche. The caramel espresso tiramisu is accented with mascarpone crème.
When it comes to wine and cocktails they have it covered. Seventeen wines by the glass are featured. A 2021 San Salvatore Rose from Italy is available along with a Sicilian vintage…Terra Constantino, de Aetna Fina Rosso.
For a fitting cocktail how about a Bellini with Drusian Prosecco Superiore and white peach puree? A Limonata has Bacardi Rum, lemon soda and mint. For those looking for a mocktail they offer a couple of selections with fresh juices.
Even though I miss Mesa Grill and especially the fine Sunday Brunch they had, Amalfi fills the space very well with seafood and Italian favorites.
Bobby Flay’s Amalfi, Open for dinner every day at 4:30PM. Reservations recommended. 3570 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. www.caesars.com.
