La Strada
| Casino: | Eldorado Reno |
| Type: | Fine Dining |
| Cost: | $$$, Moderate. Most entrees under $25. |
| Menu: | Italian |
| Last Visit: | September, 2009 |
Summary
If you like Macaroni Grill, think of La Strada as the slightly more upscale, non-chain version of that restaurant. Good atmosphere, good service, and good food overall. Not the best Italian restaurant in the area, but certainly a fine choice if you're downtown. Summary Review: B
Food
Good selection of standard Italian fare, with some fancy varieties tossed in. Even the pickiest eaters should find something they like on the menu. Food presentation was excellent. In fact, the presentation dwarfed the actual food. Don't get me wrong, it tasted fine, but one expects more than fine for the price. The stand-out, to-die-for dish that I will go back for was the dessert. If you're dining here as part of the dinner and a show package, however, the menu is much more limited, and no substitutions are allowed. For example, on the most recent visit, 3 of the 5 choices were veal, so you may want to call ahead and find out what the selection will be in those cases. Food Review: B
Atmosphere
Whether it's in the bar outside the restaurant, or in the restaurant itself, the atmosphere alone makes it worth a visit. Wine bottles on display, crisp white table linens, a view of the chefs preparing the meals, and a couple of distinctive areas to increase the coziness factor. Atmosphere Review: A
Service
As a "fine dining" restaurant, you'd expect the service to be very good, and La Strada doesn't disappoint. It wasn't exceptional service, but all the staff was friendly and generally attentive. We also dined on the earlier side, and towards the end of the meal it was a longer wait between the standard check-ins. Service Review: B+
Value
While most entrees are under $25, the meal quickly adds up when you start adding salads, appetizers, or desserts. The portion sizes are small compared to other restaurants, and yet still enough to feel full after the meal. If you add on dinner here as a part of a show package, however, you'll be getting a good deal. Just keep in mind that drinks are extra. Value Review: B-