Balla Italian Soul

Superstar chef Shawn McClain, who operates Libertine Social at the other end of The Strip, tackles Italian cuisine at Balla Italian Soul – adding another heavy-hitter to the already impressive culinary portfolio at the Sahara. The chef puts his spin on coastal Italian dining with subtle, contemporary modifications on traditional preparations.

Jennifer Gay of @VegasStarfish praises the "simple pasta done correctly, and perfect tiramisu." And a closer look at those pastas reveals the small touches that set Balla apart from the pack. There’s the hint of mint in the seafood alla diavola, the stracciatella cheese in the fazzoletti, and the Calabrian peppers in the casaracce.

But don’t confine yourself to pasta. Vegas Prime editor-in chief Don Chareunsy, who loves this place so much he celebrated his birthday here, recommends that marinated octopus, shellfish toast, sea bream, veal chop and grilled Romano beans as favorites, as well as that tiramisu. And Neon Feast’s Al Mancini is a huge fan of the pizzas.

Balla has a casual, high-energy dining room with brick arches, and charcuterie sliced fresh near the entrance. The wine list is exceptional and the cocktails skew towards Italian favorites. And reasonable prices should encourage return trips.