Las Vegas Weekly

Mona Lisa will make you smile

In a town that prides itself on being 24/7, the late night dining options can be rather limited. If you want some atmosphere with your appetizers head to Mona Lisa, the newly renamed restaurant at The Artisan, which offers late night fine dining with a retooled menu until 2 a.m. on the weekends. The restaurant serves snacks like beef carpaccio, shrimp scampi or caprese salad with buffalo mozzarella and thickly sliced beefsteak tomatoes along with a full range of Italian entrees.

In addition to her cryptic smile, Mona Lisa will now be known for her osso bucco. The Italian fine dining staple comes braised in a red wine reduction and is one of the most popular items on the menu. Other crowd pleasers include a velvety veal scaloppini served with either a marsala, picatta or pizzaiola sauce and garlic butter soaked vegetables that make you want to eat your greens and ask for seconds.

Atmosphere is key here. From the velvet drapes at the entrance to the gold chargers on the table, Mona Lisa exudes elegance. Like the overall décor of The Artisan Hotel, the restaurant boasts beautiful artwork in ornate frames, interesting sculptures and plenty to occupy the eye while you dine. A well-stocked bar ensures that cravings from Glenlivet to Three Olives Grape can be satisfied, and a wide variety of cocktails are available to accompany your meal.

Also available with dinner is entertainment, including live jazz and A Touch of Mystery dinner theater. Several times a month, the crew from A Touch of Mystery stops by for dinner and a dose of murder mystery with the chicken marsala. Even when you know you’ve signed on for dinner theater, it’s always a surprise when a person at the next table drops dead in his chair. The performers are intermixed with other dining guests to increase the element of surprise. On other nights, when the jazz artists put down their instruments, the DJs in the Artisan Lounge can be heard in the restaurant.

In addition to the dining room, Mona Lisa’s food is served on The Artisan’s spacious tree-enclosed patio. Though pool season is coming to a close, the restaurant also services the pool area, so the full menu is available anytime you wish to dine and take a dip.

It all makes for a Las Vegas experience that’s right next to the Strip but feels miles away thanks to Mona Lisa’s authentic Italian delicacies.