For a restaurant to celebrate its 10-year anniversary is an accomplishment in any city, but even more so when it’s situated on the Vegas Strip. Buddy V’s Ristorante at The Palazzo/Venetian Grand Canal Shoppes has done exactly that, and this year will have completed a full decade of operation, as it opened in October, 2013.
The first restaurant by famed baker Buddy “Cake Boss” Valastro, star of the reality TV show Cake Boss, Buddy V’s is a partnership with renowned restaurateurs Elizabeth Blau and Chef Kim Canteenwalla (owners of Honey Salt in Las Vegas and others in Dallas, Texas and Vancouver, British Columbia). The décor features wood flooring mixed with subway tile; shelves stacked with pasta, tomatoes and oil over the open kitchen; collections of rolling pins and cake pans; and a real family feel attained via genuine photos of the Valastro clan over the years.
There are also large windows offering outstanding views of the Vegas Strip below.
The menu is a tribute to the Valastro family, with heirloom family recipes featured in dishes such as Valastro Sunday Gravy—meatballs, sausage, lamb, pork and rigatoni served family style; My Mother-in-Law’s Linguine Shrimp Scampi with tomatoes, spinach, garlic and white wine; and Nonna’s 7-layer Lasagna—a thick mound of sausage, beef, pork, ricotta, mozzarella, provolone and parmesan. Italian flare can be found in the Bone-in XL Veal Milanese Chop with tomato confit and roasted artichoke.
Not surprisingly, the restaurant also serves an impressive dessert selection including Cannoli, Traditional Tiramisu, Cookies and Cream Cheesecake, Butterscotch Crème Brulee and Lisa’s Nutella Cake.
Recently the restaurant brought back its popular Sunday Brunch. Served from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and priced at $55 per adult and $24 per child under 10, the unique all-you-can-eat buffet-style feast is an excellent way to sample a large portion of the regular menu. It includes a carving station with Roasted Maple Glazed Ham and Grilled Peppercorn-crusted NY Striploin (which are worth the price on its own).
There are plenty of Italian favorites like Grandma’s Meatballs, Chicken Parm, Sausage & Broccolini Orecchiette and Roasted Mushroom Pizza; house-made omelets; Ciabatta French toast with toasted almond mascarpone cream; Lemon-blueberry Pancakes; Kids Corner with kiddie culinary classics such as cheese pizza, chicken tenders and mac & cheese; and plenty of sweet treats such as Raspberry-Lemon Meringue Bars, Strawberry Cheesecake, Italian Donuts, Cannoli, Tiramisu and assorted Italian cookies.
In addition to Buddy V’s, there are four other Valastro Family eateries: Carlo’s Bake Shop (situated directly across from the restaurant), The Boss Café and Buddy’s Jersey Eats at The LINQ Hotel and Pizza Cake at Harrah’s.
Note that as of Sept. 5 The Palazzo and Venetian are charging for self-parking and valet parking, but fortunately for those with Nevada ID, you can get three hours of self-parking for free by scanning your driver’s license. No local ID? You’ll have to pay $15 for up to four hours, or park at the free Treasure Island garage across the street, exit the casino and after walking across the pedestrian bridge the restaurant is right there immediately upon entering The Palazzo.
For hours and complete menus visit buddyvsrestaurants.com.
