Inside My Recent Dining Experience at North Italia
North Italia, a modern Italian eatery with more than 40 locations nationwide, including Las Vegas locations in Summerlin and Henderson, recently unveiled its new fall and winter menu—and I was privileged to be among the few invited for an exclusive tasting.
The expansive seasonal menu features new dishes and updates to fan-favorite items, promising an exciting and intriguing dining experience.
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Burrata Di Stagione (Photo courtesy of North Italia)[/caption]
I started with the Wild Shrimp Scampi ($19). Although it’s not new, it’s a popular starter among diners. The tail-on jumbo shrimp was tossed in a special shrimp scampi sauce, a blend of garlic confit, herb butter, and charred lemon, and was accompanied by grilled ciabatta bread on the side.
Other great appetizer options include the new Burrata Di Stagione ($18) with red wine poached pear, Sicilian pistachio crumble, and grilled ciabatta bread, and the Seasonal Vegetable Salad ($22), a fresh mix of butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, roasted cauliflower, kale, radicchio, pecorino, fregola, pistachios, dates, and white balsamic vinaigrette.
Since it’s an Italian restaurant, I had to order one of their signature house-made pizzas. I chose the Hot Honey & Smoked Prosciutto ($23), topped with cured, lightly smoked ham and Italian cheeses, such as Pecorino Toscano, which has a nutty, buttery flavor. The unique addition of Calabrian honey and arugula made every bite delightful.
[caption id="attachment_67666" align="alignnone" width="1024"]
Lasagna Bianca Al Forno (Photo courtesy of North Italia)[/caption]
Pasta selections include the new Lasagna Bianca Al Forno ($26), a special type of lasagna with braised short rib, grana padano, provolone, mozzarella, and herb breadcrumbs. This dish is worth trying because it’s the first time North Italia has ever offered lasagna for dine-in.
[caption id="attachment_67667" align="alignnone" width="1024"]
Lumache alla Norcina (photo courtesy of North Italia)[/caption]
Another new pasta dish is the Lumache alla Norcina ($25), which has fennel sausage, rapini, grana padano crema, herb breadcrumbs, and black truffle. As far as main entrees go, you can’t go wrong with the Chicken Parmesan ($27), which has crushed tomatoes, aged provolone, and mozzarella. This version, however, was served with Parmesan rigatoni on the side versus traditional spaghetti noodles that many are accustomed to.
[caption id="attachment_67672" align="alignnone" width="1024"]
Citrus Olive Oil Cake (photo courtesy of North Italia)[/caption]
You’ll want to save room for dessert with options like the Pumpkin Praline Butter Cake ($13), a decadent option that’s perfect for the season with toasted mallow, pumpkin seed praline, and white chocolate crema, or the Citrus Olive Oil Cake ($13) with pear compote, orange cardamom curd, and mint.
[caption id="attachment_67671" align="alignnone" width="1024"]
Hot Italian Stromboli (photo courtesy of North Italia)[/caption]
Although I dined for dinner, the Hot Italian Stromboli ($17) is worth making a note of. This lunch-only item is stuffed with calabrese salami, Italian sausage, ricotta, provolone, smoked mozzarella, and house red sauce. The other option, the Giardino Stromboli ($17), has asparagus, roasted mushrooms, ricotta, provolone, mozzarella, and basil pesto.
North Italia’s craft cocktail list also received a seasonal refresh with fall and winter-inspired cocktails like the Turino Old Fashioned ($17.50), which blends rye, hazelnut, brown sugar, and angostura, and the Marco Polo ($16), featuring whisky, Amaro Montenegro, honey, ginger, and fresh lemon. Those who prefer mocktails can order the Limonata Rossa ($11), a combination of soda, black cherry, and fresh lemon, or the Just Peachy ($12), ginger beer mixed with lemon, raspberry, and white peach flavors.
North Italia is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday for lunch and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. for dinner daily. (The Henderson location stays open until 11 p.m.). North Italia’s brunch hours are Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information or the complete menu, visit the North Italia website.
If you loved reading about my visit to North Italia, check out my dining review of Seventy Six Tavern.
The expansive seasonal menu features new dishes and updates to fan-favorite items, promising an exciting and intriguing dining experience.
[caption id="attachment_67663" align="alignnone" width="1024"]
Burrata Di Stagione (Photo courtesy of North Italia)[/caption]I started with the Wild Shrimp Scampi ($19). Although it’s not new, it’s a popular starter among diners. The tail-on jumbo shrimp was tossed in a special shrimp scampi sauce, a blend of garlic confit, herb butter, and charred lemon, and was accompanied by grilled ciabatta bread on the side.
Other great appetizer options include the new Burrata Di Stagione ($18) with red wine poached pear, Sicilian pistachio crumble, and grilled ciabatta bread, and the Seasonal Vegetable Salad ($22), a fresh mix of butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, roasted cauliflower, kale, radicchio, pecorino, fregola, pistachios, dates, and white balsamic vinaigrette.
Since it’s an Italian restaurant, I had to order one of their signature house-made pizzas. I chose the Hot Honey & Smoked Prosciutto ($23), topped with cured, lightly smoked ham and Italian cheeses, such as Pecorino Toscano, which has a nutty, buttery flavor. The unique addition of Calabrian honey and arugula made every bite delightful.
[caption id="attachment_67666" align="alignnone" width="1024"]
Lasagna Bianca Al Forno (Photo courtesy of North Italia)[/caption]Pasta selections include the new Lasagna Bianca Al Forno ($26), a special type of lasagna with braised short rib, grana padano, provolone, mozzarella, and herb breadcrumbs. This dish is worth trying because it’s the first time North Italia has ever offered lasagna for dine-in.
[caption id="attachment_67667" align="alignnone" width="1024"]
Lumache alla Norcina (photo courtesy of North Italia)[/caption]Another new pasta dish is the Lumache alla Norcina ($25), which has fennel sausage, rapini, grana padano crema, herb breadcrumbs, and black truffle. As far as main entrees go, you can’t go wrong with the Chicken Parmesan ($27), which has crushed tomatoes, aged provolone, and mozzarella. This version, however, was served with Parmesan rigatoni on the side versus traditional spaghetti noodles that many are accustomed to.
[caption id="attachment_67672" align="alignnone" width="1024"]
Citrus Olive Oil Cake (photo courtesy of North Italia)[/caption]You’ll want to save room for dessert with options like the Pumpkin Praline Butter Cake ($13), a decadent option that’s perfect for the season with toasted mallow, pumpkin seed praline, and white chocolate crema, or the Citrus Olive Oil Cake ($13) with pear compote, orange cardamom curd, and mint.
[caption id="attachment_67671" align="alignnone" width="1024"]
Hot Italian Stromboli (photo courtesy of North Italia)[/caption]Although I dined for dinner, the Hot Italian Stromboli ($17) is worth making a note of. This lunch-only item is stuffed with calabrese salami, Italian sausage, ricotta, provolone, smoked mozzarella, and house red sauce. The other option, the Giardino Stromboli ($17), has asparagus, roasted mushrooms, ricotta, provolone, mozzarella, and basil pesto.
North Italia’s craft cocktail list also received a seasonal refresh with fall and winter-inspired cocktails like the Turino Old Fashioned ($17.50), which blends rye, hazelnut, brown sugar, and angostura, and the Marco Polo ($16), featuring whisky, Amaro Montenegro, honey, ginger, and fresh lemon. Those who prefer mocktails can order the Limonata Rossa ($11), a combination of soda, black cherry, and fresh lemon, or the Just Peachy ($12), ginger beer mixed with lemon, raspberry, and white peach flavors.
North Italia is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday for lunch and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. for dinner daily. (The Henderson location stays open until 11 p.m.). North Italia’s brunch hours are Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information or the complete menu, visit the North Italia website.
If you loved reading about my visit to North Italia, check out my dining review of Seventy Six Tavern.