NEWEST MACCIONI CREATION TOASTS THE CELEBRITY OF PAPA SIRIO WITH A TASTE OF THE SWEET LIFE

Italian comfort food and Fellini-esque style forge a new bond at Sirio Ristorante in ARIA Resort & Casino

LAS VEGAS – The Maccioni family introduces impeccable Italian taste to ARIA Resort & Casino with a new contemporary restaurant appropriately named for the family’s legendary patriarch, Sirio. Rustic, home-style Italian specialties from Mr. Maccioni’s Tuscany homeland and other regions grab the spotlight at Sirio Ristorante, backed by a cast of more contemporary dishes both refined and indulgent. The glamorous interior designed by longtime-Maccioni collaborator Adam Tihany channels the romance of Rome circa 1960s with “la dolce vita” (the sweet life) headiness, subdued by a sleek backdrop of early 20th-century Italian architecture.

Sirio Maccioni is one of the world’s most charismatic restaurateurs, as well as the brains, energy and passion behind Le Cirque and Osteria del Circo in New York City and Bellagio Las Vegas. His first restaurant, Le Cirque, opened in 1974 in the Mayfair Hotel and has since become a New York institution, quickly claiming a rare four-star rating from The New York Times and in 1995 receiving the James Beard Foundation’s coveted Restaurant of the Year award.

At Sirio Ristorante, the balanced Italian menu represents an amalgam of taste-memories from Mr. Maccioni’s childhood and travels. Most dishes are faithfully traditional favorites; others are Italian-American fusions born in the boroughs of New York City; and a few introduce the extravagance of more contemporary stars. But governing the preparation of every dish is a core Italian philosophy of simplicity, in which ingredients (imported from Italy at every turn) and freshness are placed center stage.

Brimming with antipasto selections, a colorful pantry display attracts diners to its side for the amusements of browsing. Italian charcuteries (from San Daniele prosciutto to salt-dried Bresaola), cheeses (like sweet gorgonzola and Tuscan pecorino), mixed antipasto salads (like Marinated and Grilled Eggplant) and iced seafood (oysters, lobster and prawns) make the senses reel with their visual allure and abundance.

Hot appetizers from the kitchen provide equal gratification, with Shrimp Scampi sautéed in garlic and white wine over soft polenta; or the satisfying flavor depths of classic soups like Zuppa Contadina: porcini mushrooms, cannellini beans and green chard with Parmesan crostone. Specialty items like Beef Carpaccio scented with white truffle vinaigrette are destined for greatness.

For mid-courses, pizzas and pasta dishes headline the marquee. Classic thin crust is Sirio’s natural preference, served up as both traditional pies like the Margherita and more luxurious combinations like mascarpone cheese, spinach, portabella, Parmigiano-Reggiano and truffle oil. Pastas are fresh, most house-made, and range from the simple pleasures of Hand-Rolled Spaghetti with meat ragu to the complex nuances of Potato Gnocchi with shrimp and string beans in a basil pesto. And certain to become an instant house favorite is Sirio’s Traditional Lasagna: heavenly baked layers of fresh pasta; red-wine ragout of beef, veal and pork; mozzarella slices; grated Parmigiano-Reggiano; and béchamel. Entrée choices of fish and meat showcase some of Sirio’s finest house specialties: Colorado Lamb Rack in Pistachio Crust served with sage-butter semolina gnocchi drizzled with a lamb-Port demi-glace; and classic Ossobuco alla Milanese: Veal shank slow-braised for three hours in stock and Chardonnay, then served with saffron risotto and sautéed garden vegetables.

Providing sweet closure to the meal, Sirio’s pastry chef scripts both Italian classics such as Sicilian Cannoli (filled with imported buffalo ricotta, candied citrus, pistachios and chocolate chips) and decadent updates of favorites. Tiramisu comes as a trio, its classic coffee preparation accompanied by modern versions in chocolate-caramel and strawberry, while Panna Cotta is prepared with house-made Limoncello liqueur.

Sirio’s extensive wine list comprises one of Las Vegas’ largest selections of Italian vintages at a wide array of price points. Cocktails stay similarly close to home with the best of classic Italian libations, like the perfect Negroni of gin, sweet vermouth and Campari; refreshing Bellinis of fresh peach juice and proseco; or the Aperol Spritz with its distinct strawberry-orange-rubarb essence.

Tihany Design has taken the glamour-filled days of Rome in the 60s as its reference point for a décor that captures the spirit of “la dolce vita.” Applauding the days of movie stars, paparazzi and great Italian directors, Sirio’s interiors explode with vibrant colors and ornate decoration, then gain temperance through the minimalist lines of Italian modernist architecture.

A sparkling fountain in amber, red and gold glass welcomes guests through Sirio’s stately archway of Italian white marble. Inside, a casual 84-seat café – separated from its more formal counterpart by a room-length bar – opens onto the courtyard to capture the see-and-be-seen essence of Sirio’s celebrity theme. White-marble and travertine floors sweep through the space, heightening the pizzazz of orange-and-brown upholstery and deep wood accents. Through a mahogany archway past the bar, guests enter the 152-seat main dining room.

The open pantry near the entrance, with its colorful meats, cheeses and wines, recalls an amicable Italian grocery-deli, while a display kitchen at the back demonstrates classic preparations. Overhead, the simple curves of an inverted dome ceiling takes a decorative turn with silver leaf castings – clever counterpoint to the contemporary walls of orange and etched glass.

Throughout the space, dining chairs of burnt-red leather against ebony pop. As a final flourish, artist Bram Tihany’s commissioned collection of black-and-white photography transports diners to a virtual Rome with images of Italian architecture. Located on ARIA’s Promenade Level, this newest dining vision from the mind of Maccioni is ready for its close-up.

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Media Contact:
Andrea Brown
MGM Resorts International
(702) 650-7534
abrown@mgmresorts.com