Mario Batali - San Marcos Enoteca -- Las Vegas, NV

Rating 6.5 Average Cost -- $45-$75

Located just steps away from the world famous Piazza San Marco in the Venetian Hotel, Enoteca San Marco, is the second project for Mario Batali in Las Vegas. Open all day, this is a casual eatery. The cuisine is pure Italian. It may not look exactly like the real Venice at this man-made-American Square, but Batali ensures the food is authentic.

Ordered to Table:

Antipasti; Carne & Verdure $35 & $28 -- The Carne appetizer comprised of sliced and cured meats; prosciutto di parma, mortadella, salumi, lonza, and testa. The procuitto was the most mild of the dish, having a sweet aftertaste, while the salumi was the strongest because of its fat content, making one want to chase with a morsel of pan or something from the Verdure plate of marinated olives, lentils, squash, eggplant and fine roasted beets. This is a great pair of appetizers, but I might recommend adding a cheese (formaggi) antipasti to the mix.

Grilled Pork Chop $26 -- Cooked Medium, this 1 1/2" combed cut was char grilled and then baked to perfection. No need for spicing for this prime cut, the meat spoke for itself. Char tasting up front and then vivid taste of pork loin comes through, followed with a mild char after taste. What a delight! Served with sauteed sweep peppers, onions and capers. The mix of juicing from the sauteed peppers and the loin was to die for, especially when sopped with the hard crusted bollios.

Grilled Lamb $30 -- Cooked Medium rare, a mile rib eye cut served with roasted potatoes, arugula and garlic. Lamb is an acquired taste for most, but this is one to experiment with if it is your first time. Slightly gamey, but not harsh at all. Grilled marked just right to give the blended bite of potato and lamb that one anticipates. Potato is the only vegetable to eat with lamb.

Batali runs one of the tightest ship in upscale dining. The wait staff is helpful translating and describing the menue to the first time comer. A first timer here would be wise to rely on the suggestion of the head waiter assigned to your table. A fun thing to do is have the waiter bring to you blind, the desert option.. What a fun experience!