The 1995 American epic crime film Casino directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, and Joe Pesci features a number of notable Italian restaurants. The movie is set in Las Vegas and depicts mob involvement in the Las Vegas casino industry in the 1970s and 1980s.
Opening Scene at the Villa D’Este Restaurant
One of the most iconic Italian restaurants featured in Casino is the Villa D’Este restaurant in Lake Como, Italy. The opening scene of the movie, set in 1983, shows the characters Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro) and Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci) having dinner together at Villa D’Este while discussing Santoro’s request to be sent to Las Vegas.
The Villa D’Este, a famous and luxurious hotel and restaurant located on the shores of Lake Como, provided an elegant and upscale setting to establish the extravagant lifestyles of the main characters. The restaurant’s grand architecture, scenic views, and fine Italian cuisine portrayed the success and affluence of Rothstein’s and Santoro’s criminal enterprises.
The Leaning Tower
Another notable Italian restaurant featured in Casino is The Leaning Tower restaurant and pizza parlor located in Las Vegas. Several pivotal scenes take place at The Leaning Tower throughout the movie.
In one scene, Rothstein has a confrontation with Nicky at The Leaning Tower after discovering Nicky’s reckless behavior is attracting unwanted attention from law enforcement. The bickering between the characters emphasized the escalating tensions of their relationship.
Later in the movie, a car explosion kills Rothstein’s brother-in-law, Andy Stone, in the parking lot of The Leaning Tower. This dramatic scene exemplified the violence and tragedy resulting from the involvement in the criminal underworld lifestyle depicted in the film.
Anthony’s Steak House
The Italian steak house Anthony’s also appears in a couple of scenes in Casino. In one scene, the mob bosses Remo Gaggi and the Santo Trafficante, Jr. character discuss business matters while dining at Anthony’s Steak House.
The lush interior and upscale ambience of Anthony’s provided a fitting backdrop for the powerful mob bosses to meet. The slick, dimly-lit bar and red leather booths created an atmosphere of sophistication and importance for their conversation.
Later in the movie, a scene takes place where Nicky Santoro’s crew gets kicked out of Anthony’s at gunpoint for causing trouble. This event illustrated the gradual loss of mafia control over Las Vegas casinos and businesses as depicted in the film.
Other Notable Italian Restaurants
In addition to the three restaurants mentioned above, Casino also features scenes filmed at the former Italian restaurant The Sahara Reno once located inside the Sahara hotel and casino. The Sahara Reno was a popular fine dining restaurant in Las Vegas for many years.
Several other upscale Italian restaurants existed in Las Vegas during the time period depicted in the film as well, such as Piero’s and Joe’s Bistro. While not directly featured in the movie, these restaurants would have been part of the culinary landscape of Italian cuisine in 1970s and 80s Vegas.
Conclusion
The Italian restaurants Villa D’Este, The Leaning Tower, Anthony’s Steakhouse, and The Sahara Reno were all significant filming locations that formed the backdrop of the 1995 mob film Casino. Martin Scorsese used these lavish dining establishments to immerse audiences in the extravagant, dangerous, and volatile world of the mafia-controlled Las Vegas casino scene. The prominent inclusion of these Italian restaurants established Las Vegas as a haven of decadence and luxury, albeit one ultimately doomed to violent ends.