Batista's Hole in the Wall (Las Vegas)

[professor shorthair]

I was looking through some posts that slammed Batista's Hole in the Wall. A relative says it is great. I can see that it is a traditional red sauce place. Is it being slammed because it is red sauce or is it weak red sauce and deserves slamming.

[rooroo]

I was just in Vegas this week and 9 of us had dinner at Batistas, I can appreciate the old school look and I thought the food was just great, prices were not any worse there than anywhere else. I'm not into eating at the "commercial" restaruants when I travel I would reather try out the small "hole in the wall" places, it is more relaxed and you meet many more interesting people...Batistas has a story to tell and isn't that what Vegas is about everyone has a story and I like Batistas story I would recommend it. If you want commercial food at a commercial price go to Olive garden.
roo

[blair_houghton]

Batista's has been around literally forever. Seriously. It may predate Hoover Dam. Good Italian food. Fun old-Vegas atmosphere. Let the unknowing gripe. I hope it never dies.

[The Old Man]

"Let the unknowing gripe." Yeah, a lot of unknowings on Chowhound. (Insert sacastic smiley face here). It's not tourist trap serving overpriced, substandard Italian food. (Insert same smiley face here.)

[camdog]

I've been going to Vegas steadily for nearly a decade. I just stumbled upon Batista's a couple of years ago. I love it and make every attempt to have dinner there one of the nights that I'm in Vegas, every time I'm out. I make a reservation, even if there's only two of us. We get right in, maybe a 5-10 minute wait here and there. The free flowing wine, although not top notch by any means, is great; that cappucino at the end is great as well. The food is good, but I think the atmosphere takes the cake. Knowing that mobsters and celebrities alike have been enjoying this place for decades says a lot to me; and seeing their pictures all over the walls is pretty cool in itself. The prices aren't bad at all. $40 for a dinner for 2 in Vegas, big deal. I've spent 5 times on dinner for two, so to me it's worth every penny. Hope more people chime in. Lot's of Batista haters out there, but the place is always packed, and I always get exactly what I expect - never let down.

Cameron, from San Diego, CA

[The Old Man]

"Knowing that mobsters and celebrities alike have been enjoying this place for decades says a lot to me." Why? Who cares? I go to places for the food. When was the last time a true celebrity ate there? 1958?

[Justjenn]

If you are going to go off the strip for Italian -- I still like Nora's and Pasta Mia for god ole itlaian

[masstech]

The food is not very good and not a good bargain either. However, the reason why it has such divergent opinions is because it is a fun place with very hokey entertainment that some people like but others hate accordions. They give you all the wine you can drink so it ends up being a fun but blurry memory for many. The wine is not that great, especially the white wine but after a few glasses you may not care.

It is very easy to understand why some love and some hate this place. Food and wine purists judge it by the food and wine. People who want to have fun somewhat or significantly buzzed like the atomosphere.

My personal recommendation is that I would never go back but I did notice others having a good time so I can't completely slam it.

[vegasfoodfan]

i went to bautista's last week...the food was good, the room inviting, the service average...the price was insane...$40 for two spaghetti dinners...and it wasnt even the best spaghetti in town...the food at Jerry's Nugget is the best in town and half as much...

[Honeychan]

I think it gets slammed because it's a high price place, and the food only passable. It's got Vegas Strip prices, and in reality, should only be charging half the prices they do.

You want excellent Italian food, big portions and a great atmosphere? Try The Bootlegger. They are a drive down the Strip, past all the major resort hotels. They are near a big outlet mall, and on the left side of the steet.

They make AWESOME Osso Bucco. If given a choice, I'd eat at The Bootlegger over BHITW any day, but that's just me. Plus? Batista's is allways packed to the gills with tourists, and without a resv, you'll be waiting at least an hour to get a table. It's just not worth it, since Vegas has alot of great Italian places to eat.

[kjs]

i 2nd the bootlegger...haven't been for a few months ...last time , the stand out was the fried calamari ( so tender ! ) and the osso bucco...top notch ! i still don't get why people like bautista's

[someyoungguyy]

the bootlegger rocks!!!! why else would nevada's lt. gov. own the joint!!!
http://www.bootleggerlasvegas.com/

less than 5 minutes from mccarran airport right on LVB south of the outlet mall.

[janetofreno]

Well, to be accurate, Lorraine Hunt hasn't been Lt. Governor for over a year....

But I have eaten at Bootlegger's and enjoyed it.....and the prices did seem to be reasonable.

[Erich]

I'm a fan of immigrant S. Italian food - Battista's is not the strongest example of such by a long shot. It won't kill you, though. Depends on what you're used to, I guess.