Piero's Italian Cuisine — Restaurant in Winchester

We (3) were in town (from Hawaii) to attend the Still Raining (Jung Ji-hoon) concert at the MGM, so we made a reservation at Piero’s Italian Cuisine at the corner of Paradise and Convention Center Drive. It was the first visit for us to this Vegas landmark. The restaurant reminded me of old school, traditional Italian / Steak House with no windows and very subdued lighting, the kind of place for a romantic rendezvous.

My experience in ordering a bottle of wine was problematic as three of my selections were unavailable. The wine book at Piero’s is extensive and I was pleased to see a wide selection of French Burgundies … Well, they weren’t in stock. I then moved onto an American Pinot Noir and was dismayed to find that was unavailable. If it weren’t for another wait person who said he saw that bottle (Kistler Reserve, $150), I might still be there trying to select a bottle. I think the restaurant should have an insert in the wine book indicating what is out, so the customer doesn’t get frustrated when selecting a wine. I suppose I should have selected an Italian wine, but I didn’t see anything compelling. Perhaps a sommelier, if Piero’s has one, could have facilitated my search for an appropriate wine.

Bread and butter were brought to the table but interestingly, it was taken away before we were served our main course. Entrees come with a pretty large salad, so we split the Hamachi Crudo special ($29) and ordered Linguine Pomodoro ($29), Orecchiette with Prosciutto and Peas ($42) and Osso Bucco ($62) and two sides, Broccolini ($15) and Grilled Asparagus ($15).

The linguini looked fine, and the orecchiette was delicious. My osso bucco came with a large serving of pasta which I had them box up. The veal was tender and the sauce was flavorful; we had no issues with any of our entrees. The broccolini was a disappointment; it was not seasoned or dressed sufficiently; it was just a mound of broccoli to us. We had no issues with the grilled asparagus. I must say the portions are large so come with a hearty appetite.

We had Tiramisu ($15) and Profiteroles ($15) for dessert; I convinced a tablemate to have one of the profiteroles because three was too large an order for me. I paired my share of the profiteroles with a cup of (okay) coffee ($5).

The tab was $408.57, and I left a $90 tip. What did I think? It was good but not great. I think I expected more from Piero’s, but it might be the problem in ordering wine that tainted my experience. The place was packed with diners so it must be fine dining, Italian style. For me, 4 stars at best. Would I...

I've had the fortune of attending this restaurant twice now. Although I've not been there in about a year, I figure it's a good time to do a review as I am typically there around this time which is essentially when the Infocomm trade show is happening and it gets hosted in Vegas. This year it is in Florida, Orlando to be exact. My understanding is the trade show organizers have contracts with Vegas and Orlando to go between the two cities every other year. The main downside of it being in Orlando is that I don't get to go to piero's, which is definitely a highlight of the trade show trip every year.

Puro's is located directly across the street from the Vegas convention center. This has always been a positive because I don't drive when I go to Vegas for the show, and I can essentially just head on over directly from the convention center once the day's events are over. Although I end up having to walk in the Vegas heat during the summer, it is a very short walk and therefore tolerable.

The venue looks like a tavern. The interior is dark and a great place for a low-key social gathering. It is a bit on the dark side for my tastes, but the lighting appears to be very intentional. There is a bar area where we typically socialize before we start our dinner, and various pockets of rooms and seating styles including private rooms and booths. The bartender tends to pour solid drinks and the overall experience leans towards fine dining and what feels like professional but not pretentious setting.

Everything I have ever had here has been very good, and the quality of the presentation and display of their desserts is notable. Although I am about a year removed from my last experience here, I do have fond memories of both professional social events at this establishment, and the overall good vibes I get from having attended a meal and gathering here.

I would recommend this place. I believe it would impress anyone who came here to dine. Not sure how I necessarily feel about the location, as it sort of stands alone with nothing but the convention center around it. It's not near the strip, there are no shopping areas close by, it is not surrounded by other shops and is a stand-alone building of its own. In other words, if you came here, you would be coming here just to eat at Piero's. If I was from this area and I wanted a bit of an upscale dining experience where I knew the food would be good and the experience pleasant, I would consider...

Piero's Italian Cuisine in Las Vegas: A Mixed Bag

Overall rating: 7 out of 10

Pros:

Excellent crabcakes Spectacular mac & cheese and lobster Large and well-cooked fillet mignon Enough veal Parmesan for two people Friendly and attentive service Excellent desserts

Cons:

Unpleasant smell at the entrance Food took longer than expected to arrive Some dishes were underseasoned Waiters discussed their third and fourth jobs instead of the history, food, and inside of Las Vegas Expensive for the overall experience

Review:

I recently had the opportunity to dine at Piero's Italian Cuisine in Las Vegas, and I was left with mixed feelings. On the one hand, the food was generally good, and the service was friendly and attentive. On the other hand, there were a few things that disappointed me, such as the unpleasant smell at the entrance, the fact that some dishes were underseasoned, and the fact that the waiters spent more time talking about their third and fourth jobs than about the history, food, and inside of Las Vegas.

I ordered the fillet mignon, veal Parmesan, crabcakes, and mac & cheese and lobster. The fillet mignon was cooked perfectly and was very flavorful, but the veal Parmesan was a bit bland. The crabcakes were some of the best I've ever had, and the mac & cheese and lobster was spectacular. The desserts were also excellent.

Overall, I think Piero's is a decent restaurant, but it's not the best Italian restaurant in Las Vegas. If you're looking for a truly memorable dining experience, I would recommend trying one of the many other excellent restaurants in the city.

Suggestions for improvement:

Address the unpleasant smell at the entrance Ensure that all dishes are properly seasoned Train the waiters to focus on the history, food, and inside of Las Vegas instead of their third and fourth jobs Offer more competitive pricing at the current food quality

I would also recommend that Piero's consider adding a more modern and inviting atmosphere to the restaurant. The current decor is a bit dated and could...