There is a fresh vibe emanating from the north side of The District at Green Valley. North Italia has been open for a few months and every time I pass by the place is always packed. Residents in Summerlin have been enjoying the food for quite some time and now east siders get a chance to indulge.
A new building was erected for the Henderson location. It is a large space with a wide-open dining room and enlarged patio area. White and black accents are evident that afford a modern look.
A recent Sunday Brunch visit was enjoyed by everyone at our table. Not only do they feature regular entrees from the menu, but some innovative breakfast items are included as well.
A must for the table is the banana coffee cake that features dark rum butterscotch, caramelized banana and crème fraiche. It is a satisfying start to the meal.
Pizza is available with more than a half dozen choices ranging from margherita to Cacio e Pepe, a treat with pecorino tomato fonduta cheese, mozzarella, shaved garlic and cracked black pepper.
Eggs in Purgatory is a new item and comes in a sizzling hot metal dish sitting on a wood plank. The offering brings on the heat as spicy marinara, grana Padano, heirloom cherry tomatoes and sunny-side eggs and enhanced with crispy hash potatoes.
Smoked salmon avocado toast is a large portion of caper relish, watermelon radish, toasted pine nuts and pickled red onion. Tuscan hash features a protein choice of either braised short ribs or pulled chicken. A fried egg, sweet onion and bomba sauce finish it off nicely.
A waiter passed our table with a couple of orders of strawberries and cream French toast made with cinnamon custard brioche, cannoli cream and butter maple syrup. I must try it next time!
Poached eggs and polenta look like a winner with a combination of roasted mushrooms, fava bean, snap pea, piquillo pepper, romesco sauce and grilled ciabatta bread.
Dinner offerings range from an Italian farm salad with just about anything you can think of like pepperoncini, olives, salami and oregano vinaigrette. The Italian meatball small plate is served with creamy polenta, rustic marinara sauce and grana Padano.
Grilled branzino is enhanced with sugar snap pea and roasted cauliflower. Seared scallops are topped with Calabrian vinaigrette and roasted salmon has basil pesto and lemon gremolata plate mates.
Bolognese is a house specialty featuring traditional meat sauce, large pappardelle noodles and wild oregano. Squid ink makes an appearance in an entrée including tiger shrimp, calamari, wild fennel pollen, mint and spicy tomato sauce.
Tahitian vanilla panna cotta tops the dessert list along with hazelnut torta and tiramisu.
A large list of libations is tempting. Sangria is one choice along with a Sicilian margherita with tequila, Grand Marnier, Montenegro and fresh citrus.
There is a quartet of zero proof cocktails. Limonata Rossa features black cherry, fresh lemon and soda. Just Peachy includes ginger beer.
Henderson is enjoying the North Italia vibe!
North Italia, The District, 2235 Village View Dr., Henderson. (702) 260-1683. Also at 1069 S. Rampart Blvd., Las Vegas. www.northitalia.com.
