Mario Batali reveals secrets of Eataly at Monte Carlo — PHOTOS
Celebrating the 10th anniversary of his first two restaurants in Las Vegas, you’d think that celebrity chef and owner Mario Batali wouldn’t have a care in the world. But he’s fussing over a renovation of B&B Ristorante at The Venetian and obsessed over the staging of lines of customers entering his new Eataly supermarket of Italian food opening next year at Monte Carlo.
“It’s a priority while I’m here in town,” Mario told me at the decade celebration of B&B last Friday. “I’m not actually going to walk the dig that’s underway there already because I am obsessing on how we deal with the entranceway. From six years of Eataly in America, we know that the customer lines and restaurant seating will be really busy at nights and weekends.
“But weekday daytimes, we will be quiet because of the convention business on the Strip that will keep people occupied. So how do I accommodate busy weekend lines with weekday quiet when the convention has left town? Both still have to have the appearance of being busy, so it’s a case of how to expand and contract the flow at the entrance.”
Mario told me that he’s been told Eataly will be ready to open by September 2018, but he’s pushing for May or June. He dropped other gems: “It will be 52 percent retail and 48 percent restaurant and eating. I want to see a Nevada-centric restaurant in there that would be an Italian’s view of your city — totally different from New York.”
Mario is hoping to lure back here chef Nancy Silverton, who is a partner in his restaurants in Los Angeles. Mario, the orange shorts and orange crocs host from ABC’s “The Chew,” also confirmed that he’s going to renovate B&B Ristorante with a transformation makeover.
“I’m excited we’re doing that. Our guests will be able to see us cooking when we’re finished,” he told me. “It’s going to be a lot more open and a little more casual, but the light will be coming in. Our bar is very popular, but too small, so that’s going to get larger, too.” He said no date has been set to start renovations but hopes that it will be done before year’s end.
Mario, who was mobbed by fans and TV cameras, had a sell-out crowd for his two 10th anniversary parties at B&B and Otto Enoteca e Pizzeria. He filmed segments for “The Chew,” “Extra” and “Entertainment Tonight.”
Mario served Italian cheeses, meats and pizzas at Otto and four-course extravaganza at B&B that including “Mint Love Letters” and Black Truffles on Beef Cheek Ravioli. Six prosecco and wines from business partner Joe Bastianich were matched with each course.
Through April 30, the two restaurants will offer tasting menus capturing their spirit from when they opened in 2007. My interview with Mario was posted last Monday, and thanks to Gabe Ginsberg for his fabulous photo gallery.
