Gondola Italian Restaurant

Folks, cancel the vacation to Italy, because we have our own intimate vineyard of Venice in our own backyards. Gondola is doing Italian food in ways that have never been seen before in Las Vegas, and the flavors are out of this world amazing. Treat yourself and the family by trying a local family-owned business that is putting the EAT in eatery.

During my visit, I tried the Burrata Salad and Lobster Ravioli dishes that were so phenomenal. I prayed to the lord to increase my stomach size so I could fit more food inside. The Truffle Cake dessert is also to die for. Overall, I will definitely be coming back, and can't wait to try more delicious food... I'm salivating just thinking about it.

I recently had an opportunity to dine twice at the new Gondola Italian Restaurant on Buffalo. Gondola is not your typical spaghetti and meatball restaurant. Chef Miguel Rivera has worked at top restaurants in the northeast and Las Vegas. His skills did not disappoint. When I saw that his restaurant was open for the first time I immediately drove over. The restaurant itself has a clean modern look. Missing are the kitschy decorations found in many Italian restaurants. Bathrooms were clean and bright. The staff was attentive and I was immediately seated. Since this was opening night, I expected some issues as the staff and restaurant settled in, but was pleasantly surprised that things went smoothly. Gondola is in the process of obtaining their liquor license, so I settled for Pellegrino. I had the shrimp appetizer to start and found the shrimp large and fresh. For my main course I had the Veal Campagnola and found the dish delicious and a hearty size. Very different from most of the meals I see listed on menus in other Italian restaurants. For dessert, I opted for the Italian Ricotta Cheesecake which was made in-house like all their desserts. During my dinner, Chef Miguel came out to say hello and answer any questions I had about the food.

My original visit was by myself since my wife was out-of-town. When she returned, I suggested we try Gondola as a couple. Once again, we were seated promptly by the attentive staff. My wife chose the Pasta E Fagioli soup and I decided on Minestrone. Both soups were served in large bowls packed appropriately with pasta and vegetables. We sampled each other’s soup and gave them both a thumbs up. We decided to sample the dinner specialties menu. My wife chose the grilled Atlantic Salmon with wild mushrooms. I choose the Veal Sorrentino with prosciutto, eggplant, mozzarella and slice tomatoes. My wife's salmon was cooked to perfection and my veal dish was excellent. Serving size was large and we choose to take some home. Chef Miguel came out to say hello to the diners and explain some of his dishes. We decided to have coffee and split a Tiramisu dessert. Both the coffee and the desert were excellent.

I don't believe in 5-start ratings because there is always room for improvement. But I think Gondola is a 4.5.

We tried the new Italian Restaurant Gondola, nothing but positives. Elegant decor, in the dining room. Some of our favorite dishes were the bronzino and gnocchi. Our server was attentive and offered great suggestions. Will be back!

I'm impressed with the upscale quality and human touch of this familly restaurant that a corporate chain restaurant can't ever match.