Basilico Ristorante Italiano

Located within a luxury apartment complex, Basilico courts locals who appreciate the nuances of fine dining, but don’t want to travel to The Strip to find it. So they’ve created a stylish, modern dining room, with an inviting outdoor patio, offering a unique vision of modern Italian cuisine. It’s a combination that’s made it a favorite of Chefs James Trees (Esther’s Kitchen), Nicole Brisson (Brezza) and Daniel Ontiveros (Carversteak), as well as KNPR’s Lorraine Moss

Sicilian-born Chef Francesco Di Caudo captured Las Vegas’ attention with his boundary-pushing work at the local institution Ferraro’s (earning him a Chef of the Year Award from Desert Companion magazine) and the James Beard-nominated Anima. At Basilico, he continues to transcend expectations with avant garde technique, unexpected ingredients, and original presentations. But he keeps it all grounded with respect for the basics, particularly pizzas and pastas.

Yes, there’s a “cigar” stuffed with duck mousse, served in an oversized ashtray, accompanied by sesame-truffle “ash.” And a tiramisu-inspired preparation of foie gras (Foiemisu) pairs the duck liver with fig jam, mascarpone and toasted cocoa nibs. But don’t overlook the beef carpaccio, spaghetti with tomatoes and basil, branzino with artichoke confit, or bar-sized Margherita pizza.