Martorano's: a hit with celebrities and 'Gourmet'
When Gourmet speculates that a restaurant "may just make the best meatball in the world" — as the magazine did about Martorano's All-Suite Hotel & Casino, you know you've arrived.
And it's been a long, long road for owner/chef Steve Martorano, who serves
some of the best cuisine outside of South Philadelphia. The hard-bodied and heavily tatooed Martorano began by making and delivering sandwiches out of his mother's South Philly basement. Martorano developed his signature “Martorano flavor” while becoming one of the hottest fixtures on the South Florida culinary and club scene. Singers as diverse as Tony Bennett and Ludacris — among other celebrities — stop off at Martorano's.
The chef, who also serves as a DJ, has put a whole new spin on Italian-American platters amid a molto-cool ambiance. Martorano had been entertaining diners with his blend of food, music and film for more than 15 years at his top Zagat-rated Fort Lauderdale restaurant. In February, the self-taught Italian cook marked his two-year anniversary at the Rio, celebrating with a revamped “refined comfort cuisine” menu that reflects his evolving love of food.
“I’ve always done things my way,” Martorano said. “I’m old-school Italian, and I’ve always cooked what I love to eat. My tastes have grown and my new menu reflects what I’m eating now, while also featuring superior homestyle Italian-American dishes that pay homage to tradition."
While cooking meals for the customers — nothing's ever frozen or precooked — the hyperkinetic Martorano serves as his own DJ, maintaining a constant stream of color and sound. In the Vegas restaurant, his first West Coast venture, mounted plasma televisions display fashion, art and food programming while Martorano spins irresistible grooves of hip-hop and R&B, creating an environment that rivals the finest lounges of Las Vegas and South Beach.
Martorano credits the success of his restaurants to the quality of the food and his attention to detail, which he says will never change. From his exclusive use of San Marzano tomatoes to Badia a Cultibuono extra-virgin olive oil and Giuseppe Cocco pasta — reportedly the Pope’s favorite — Martorano prides himself on providing his guests with only the best and freshest ingredients available.
His new menu features signature touches on dishes such as grilled hot and sweet sausages with tomato, red onion and cucumber; spaghettini fra diablo; bruschetta with prosciutto di parma and sharp provolone; and braised pig’s feet, a peasant food dish.
However, guests longing for Martorano’s classic dishes needn’t worry. They'll still be able to find their favorites.
“Some things are tried and true, like our meatballs, San Marzano tomato gravy and cooking each macaroni dish to order with a fresh pot of water and Sicilian sea salt — but we’ve added a lot of new plates, too, giving guests an opportunity for new dining experiences,” Martorano said.
- by Bobbie Katz, Las Vegas Reporter for HelloMetro
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