Vegas has restaurants inspired by countries from all over the world, making the culinary scene diverse and not to be missed on your next trip. For the nights you’re craving something tasty, comfortable, and familiar, sticking with a classic Italian restaurant is the way to go. One of the best in Vegas is Nora’s Italian Cuisine.
For years, they have been a local favorite and are perfect for a casual, satisfying meal after a long day exploring or before a wild night out. Let’s look at exactly what you can expect and what you should know before you go.
Nora’s Italian Restaurant
Nora’s Italian Cuisine was opened in 1992 by Nora and Gino Mauro, who hails from Sicily. Initially, the restaurant had a capacity of only 12 to serve guests, but now it has grown exponentially into one of the hottest restaurants in Las Vegas, serving patrons from around the world and keeping up with the locals.
Today, the restaurant is still family-owned by Nora and Gino alongside their three sons, Giovanni, Claudio, and Marcello.
Over the years, Nora’s has won several awards including the Best of Las Vegas Gold award in 2016 and 2017, Tripadvisor’s Top 10 Italian Restaurants in Las Vegas, Zagat’s Best Italian in Vegas, and the Las Vegas Bar Hall of Fame, among others. In addition to their attentive service, their delicious offerings of family recipes passed through the generations have earned them their long list of accolades.
Here’s an overview of the menu, but we want to caution that it might make you hungry!
Nora’s Las Vegas Menu
The menu at Nora’s is quite extensive, so there is something that everyone will love.
Start with an appetizer like Arancini, which are fried risotto balls with mozzarella and peas coated in a meat sauce, or the Jasper Grilled Octopus with chickpeas, celery, red onion, lemon oil, and parsley. You also find their elevated takes on traditional Italian appetizers like Calamari Fritti, Mozzarella Caprese, and a few Bruschetta variations.
If you are craving pasta, you have the choice of their signatures or selecting your pasta and homemade sauce individually. A few of the signature pastas include the Wild Boar Pappardelle, Frutti Di Mare, which has linguini, shrimps, mussels, calamari, and clams in a marinara sauce, and the Crazy Alfredo with chicken, sausage, shrimp, porcini and button mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted bell peppers, and jalapenos.
For the main event, Nora’s has some fantastic house creations that include Osso Bucco, a 14-ounce veal shank with homemade gravy alongside rosemary garlic mashed potatoes, or the Grilled Gorgonzola Filet with melted gorgonzola and a red wine reduction paired with grilled vegetables.
The Rack of Lamb with a chianti reduction glaze is a house favorite You’ll also find several other fish, poultry, and meat dishes along with salads and pizzas.
Nora’s also has a lunch menu that varies from the dinner selections, offering sandwiches and protein and salad pairings.
Sweetness and Cocktails
If you’re thinking of passing on dessert or an after-dinner cocktail, our advice is don’t! When the server comes to your table to tempt you, remember that you’re in Vegas, so now is the time to indulge.
Finish your meal with some decadent desserts like a warm chocolate cake using Valrhona chocolate paired with vanilla sauce and pistachios or try the bread pudding. Either way, you can’t go wrong.
Your meal wouldn’t be complete without a cocktail or a few glasses of wine. Nora’s has you covered with a stunning list of wines and a specialty cocktail menu. Can’t decide which wine you want? Order the flight, your choice of three different wines, each with a three-ounce pour.
You won’t want to miss some of their custom cocktails either, like the Italian Sunset with mezcal, Aperol, and St-Germain base with passion fruit, grapefruit bitters, prosecco, and lemon juice or Nora’s Lemon Drop with homemade limoncello, Absolut Citron, lemon juice and finished with lemon candy.
Location
Nora’s is located at 5780 West Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89103. If you are not familiar with the Vegas area, they are located a few minutes ride west of the more Southern end Las Vegas Strip.
Hours
Nora’s is open for lunch, and dinner from 11:00 am – 10:00 pm Monday through Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, they only serve dinner and open at 4:00 pm and close at 10:00 pm.
FAQs
Can you bring the children to Nora’s?
Yes, though it can be a bit noisy.
Is there a dress code?
The dress code is casual. Jeans, shorts, and casual shirts are acceptable.
Does Nora’s serve family-style?
Nora’s has large portions that can be split and they offer catering and a banquet facility for large groups, but they do not specifically serve family style.
Should I make a reservation?
Nora’s gets rather busy, so though reservations are not required, they are highly recommended.
Get Your Pasta Fix at Nora’s Italian Cuisine
If you are looking for a casual dinner spot in Las Vegas with fantastic food, look no further than Nora’s Italian Cuisine. Get all of your Italian cravings satisfied in a fun, comfortable environment at Nora’s Italian Cuisine.
Went there 2 years ago for lunch. It was lovely food. I will be living there again in Oct. Or Nov. I will be back for your lovely food.
Love this restaurant! We make sure to go every time we are in Vegas! Yummmm!