Brett Raymer, the Brooklyn-born star of Animal Planet’s “Tanked,” has opened up a second location of his popular Stallone’s Italian Eatery in the Santa Fe Station Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
If you’re from the Northeast Corridor, the aroma is unmistakable. You know a true New York pizzeria and Italian sandwich shop once the smell wafts past your nose. It’s the smell of garlic roasting, mozzarella cheese melting and dough baking in multiple ovens. It’s real ricotta cheese and tomato sauce. Do other places use these same ingredients? Sure. Do other places smell this delicious when you get in the nose zone? Most of them do not.
As distinct as the smell is, you don’t have to be from New York or New Jersey to appreciate how good the food is at Stallone’s Italian Eatery. The original location, at 467 E. Silverado Ranch Blvd. in Las Vegas, has built a loyal following since opening in early 2022. Both locations offer counter service and a wide menu of Italian classics to choose from. The new 35-seat restaurant next to the STN Sportsbook at Santa Fe Casino is decorated with an impressive collection of sports memorabilia that is also available for purchase.
The Starters and Sliders section features appetizers like Stallone’s Famous Meatballs – a mix of pork, veal and beef balls covered in a rich pomodoro sauce with a scoop of ricotta cheese. Another standout is the fried calamari, with Town Dock wild squid, hot cherry peppers and a side of pomodoro sauce. Three different garlic knot sliders are also available – chicken, eggplant and meatball, all served parmigiana style. Salads offered are Stallone’s Chopped, an arugula salad, a Caesar salad and a classic caprese. All can be ordered small or large.
The list of specialty pizzas at Stallone’s Santa Fe is almost as long as the Brooklyn Bridge. If you’re a fan of meats, the Mega Meat has generous portions of ham, pepperoni and sausage. If you prefer your pizza topped with your daily dose of vegetables, the Viva Las Veggie has mushrooms, Kalamata olives, pickled red onion and Roma tomatoes. If all of that sounds good to you, The Kitchen Sink is Stallone’s version of the Supreme pizza. Of course, the classics are available and when the ingredients are this fresh, sometimes the best pizza is an Old School or Bianca. Pizzas are available in small (except for The Kitchen Sink), large or by the slice.
The Super Heroes also has something for everyone. A nod to the exploding Las Vegas sports scene includes sandwiches named after the Raiders and both recent Championship winners – the Aces and the Golden Knights. The Italian Combo is always a great test for an Italian sandwich shop. Stallone’s take on the sub – simply named “Brooklyn” – gets an A-plus with the meats piled high on a sub roll. Mozzarella is used for the cheese instead of provolone, adding a welcome touch of creaminess, and a balsamic glaze is drizzled in lieu of the traditional oil and vinegar.
Pasta dishes include baked rigatoni, rigatoni noodles with a variety of sauces and meats, lasagna, and Stallone’s Santa Fe’s version of parmigiana dishes with rigatoni pomodoro. Cheese and lobster ravioli are also available. Save a little room for a selection from the cannoli bar – made fresh in-house.
Stallone’s Santa Fe location is open daily from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. For more information, visit www.stalloneslv.com.
4949 N. Rancho Dr.
Las Vegas, NV 89130