Gina's Bistro

Mari wanted noodles but I didn't want Asian. I checked the Review Journal online for the new "Best of Las Vegas" listing for 2010. Locals had voted Olive Garden as their Best Italian Restaurant. What a shame. The multiple locations obviously put them over the top. Luckily the paper's staff also make a pick for each category and often it is inspired as it is for Gina's Bistro.

Gina's is in a strip mall on Durango near Flaming. As we drove up we noticed the entrance is on the side of the building and the rest room is on the outside. Should we go in? After peeking in a window we decided to venture in. We're glad we did. It felt like the cozy Italian neighborhood restaurants we loved in Chicago years ago.

Gina greeted us like we were family and led us to a quiet, nicely appointed table for two. She is from Roma and our waitress is from Napoli. She didn't mind that I pronounced my order ZUPPA DI PESCE (Sauteed calamari, clams mussels, shrimp, scallops, in a white wine tomato sauce reduction) "Peach Soup" in Italian. It was great and quite filling. Mari thought her LINGUINE ALLE VONGOLE (Sauteed with fresh clams, garlic, white wine and chili flakes) was the best she's had since our Chicago days. She finished it all even after a large and tasty house salad and some yummy bread. We were quite content.

But Gina brought over the dessert book filled with glossy photos of lots of tasty treats from Italy. Offhand, she said they made their tiramisu and cannoli on site which was enough for us to sample them even on a full stomach. Both were great. Gina thanked us warmly as we left and we weren't just being polite when we said we would be back.

Bottom line: GIna's Bistro is a very pleasurable and authentic Italian dining experience that cannot be matched by any restaurant chain.

This is My Blog on Las Vegas

Welcome to my blog. I'm Steve, a computer marketing professional in Silicon Valley. I don't gamble. So why am I starting a blog about Las Vegas? It's because friends always ask me where to go and what to do there. It's because I now have the time to do so. And it's because in the six years we've had a second home there we've found so many other things to recommend about Vegas. Restaurants, shows, parks, attractions, recreation, and the outdoors.

Our place is in Summerlin; West of the Strip and near the Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area. Specifically, it's in Summerlin Centre and a long block to the Red Rock Casino, the best 'locals' casino with great restaurants, movices, bowling, and arcades as well as gambling. The Summerlin development, more than half-way through its 20-year plan, has been named the US's best many years in a row.

Whereas I am partial to the West side of town, wife Mari has ventured to every corner of Las Vegas in a previous career. She also will play the slots from time to time. When I look at a slot machine I see a computer with a random number generator, a coin machine, and a human interface (lights, sounds, etc.) geared to separate you from your money. She sees hours and hours of fun. I think casinos are still lots of fun ... if you are into people watching. So on this blog you will get at least two different perspectives on many of the entries.

Have a look around. You may also be interested in my other blog about Santa Cruz, California (http://stevessantacruz.blogspot.com/). And you might like our websites on Scott's Guest House (http://www.scottsguesthouse.com/) and Maris Las Vegas Getaway (http://www.marislasvegasgetaway.com/.).