Lunch at Giada in The Cromwell, Las Vegas

I last left off in my Travel Tuesday posts with a little pretend trip to Europe in the middle of the Las Vegas Strip after my tour of the South End of the Strip and breakfast at Della’s Kitchen. Also here in this middle area of Las Vegas Boulevard was my favorite meal during my long weekend when I was here in Las Vegas: a lunch at Giada in The Cromwell.

You can tell she thought about every detail of the experience, even starting with the bottom of the escalators that take you to the second floor where the restaurant is located, to the long reception hostess area where you check in and see arranged shelves as if you were in someone’s home. Naturally some of those shelves include some Giada branded products and cookbooks.
The downstairs area where the escalators where take you up to the second floor of The Cromwell, where the Giada restaurant is located The downstairs area where the escalators where take you up to the second floor of The Cromwell, where the Giada restaurant is located The escalators take you up to the second floor of The Cromwell, where the Giada restaurant is located The escalators take you up to the second floor of The Cromwell, where the Giada restaurant is located

There are some cushioned seats and a PHOTO BOOTH in that waiting area. The photo booth is FREE, so take some photos if you are waiting! You can upload the photo booth strip directly to Facebook and Twitter or print them directly to photo strips as keepsakes.
The Photo Booth in the waiting area of the Giada - it's free, you should stop in before and after your meal The Photo Booth in the waiting area of the Giada - it's free, you should stop in before and after your meal

This is Food Network star Giada de Laurentiis’ first restaurant and the interior is large with big window views and terrace that look out across the street to the Bellagio fountains. Despite the size, at the same time it evokes a feeling like you are inside her home, with the same feel as the interiors she films her shows. It’s posh yet warm and homey.

And, very branded, from the G on the seats to the Giada on the placemats and more. The round light fixtures read one of her most famous quotes, which is an answer to how she eats so much great food and stays slim: “I eat a little bit of Everything and not a lot of Anything”.

When you first walk in, you can take a look at the big open kitchen. After you are seated, you might consider coming back to peer at the antipasti plates like I did.
A look at the big open kitchen inside Giada inside The Cromwell, Las Vegas A look at the big open kitchen inside Giada inside The Cromwell, Las Vegas A look at the big open kitchen inside Giada inside The Cromwell, Las Vegas A look at the big open kitchen inside Giada inside The Cromwell, Las Vegas

I was there for lunch. The complimentary bread service includes fresh Lemon Thyme flatbread fresh from that big wood oven you saw when you were walking in. It is served with pesto instead of butter – healthier and yet even tastier! I think at dinner the bread basket is filled out further with doughy thick focaccia and parmesan breadsticks.
Lunch menu at Giada in the Cromwell in Las Vegas, the bread service comes with lemon thyme flatbread and pesto Lunch menu at Giada in the Cromwell in Las Vegas, the bread service comes with lemon thyme flatbread and pesto

Many years ago, it was Giada who first taught me about burrata – I had never seen or heard of it while living in Chicago. As an homage to that, I ordered the Burrata with balsamic salt, olive oil, and microgreens.

OMG it was amazing. I’ve had burrata before, but the freshness of the burrata here combined with the simple but excellent oil and a touch of salt and those microgreens was the best way I’ve ever had burrata, ever.
Lunch menu at Giada in the Cromwell in Las Vegas, the Burrata with balsamic salt and the bread service comes with lemon thyme flatbread and pesto Lunch menu at Giada in the Cromwell in Las Vegas, the Burrata with balsamic salt

The Signature Cocktail at Giada is the G with Kappa Pisco, pineapple simple syrup, fresh lime, homemade apricot preserves, egg white and Angostura bitters. I was impressed with how even this cocktail was so strongly branded…
The Signature Cocktail at Giada is the G with Kappa Pisco, pineapple simple syrup, fresh lime, homemade apricot preserves, egg white and Angostura bitters The Signature Cocktail at Giada is the G with Kappa Pisco, pineapple simple syrup, fresh lime, homemade apricot preserves, egg white and Angostura bitters The G Cocktail, Lemon Thyme flatbread (served with pesto) and Burrata with balsamic salt.

For my lunch entree, I was tempted by the wood fired pizzas and pastas (one of the pastas is the Pasta of the Day, which changes daily), but ultimately picked out of of the half dozen sandwich options, the Lemon Pesto Grilled Cheese with heirloom tomatoes with prosciutto San Daniele and fried zucchini scapecce (or salad, but I went with the zucchini fries as my side, you get a choice of either). My rationale is the day I had this lunch, I was leaving on a plane that evening and I knew I could take the other half of this plate with me on the plane as my dinner. The prosciutto is optional so you could keep it vegetarian.
Lunch Menu at Giada in the Cromwell Las Vegas, Lemon Pesto Grilled Cheese with heirloom tomatoes with prosciutto San Daniele and fried zucchini scapecce Lunch Menu at Giada in the Cromwell Las Vegas, Lemon Pesto Grilled Cheese with heirloom tomatoes with prosciutto San Daniele and fried zucchini scapecce

Dessert was a Chef’s Choice Assortment of sorbet and gelato, one of which was an incredible toasted banana pine nut gelato.
Dessert of an assortment of Sorbet and gelato at Giada in the Cromwell, Las Vegas Dessert of an assortment of Sorbet and gelato at Giada in the Cromwell, Las Vegas

I was thrilled when I later opened my doggy bag with the other half of that grilled cheese and found an autographed photo of Giada in the bag too! Notice the check presentation too (along with the doggy bag and placemat). Even the paper towels for drying hands in the restroom was not missed in terms of detail.
Giada branding details with the doggy bag, check presentation, even the placemat at the table at Giada in The Cromwell, Las Vegas Giada branding details with the doggy bag, autographed photo that came with the doggy back, a paper towel from the restroom for drying hands, and photo strip from the complimentary photo booth in the waiting area

I was here for lunch, but could imagine with the views of the Bellagio fountain shows in the evening this restaurant could get super busy in the evening, so you want to try to make reservations (they are also on Opentable). The portions at this restaurant are reasonable, unlike most of Vegas so keep that in mind. The dishes are very flavorful, but they are at the same prices you would find anywhere on Las Vegas Boulevard for this class of restaurant, so you are paying for the high quality ingredients.

For me, service was very friendly and smooth where the dishes came out quickly for me and the others around me. We were checked on but left alone to enjoy the atmosphere with no pressure like we were in a friend’s living room in her oh, million dollar mansion in Los Angeles. When I’m back in town, whenever that is, I would definitely return and try Giada Las Vegas again.

My Guide to the Free and the Food on the Las Vegas Strip

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