Giada De Laurentiis has rolled out the red carpet for her Scottsdale guests, serving up a slice of her television charm with the opening of her two new restaurants at the Caesars Republic Scottsdale hotel. The much-anticipated debut of Luna by Giada and Pronto by Giada marks the celebrity chef's culinary expansion outside Vegas, according to the Phoenix New Times.
Fans of De Laurentiis, the acclaimed chef, and Food Network star, rushed to secure reservations with some eager diners already facing a multi-month wait list but Luna by Giada opened to mixed reviews, despite the chef's stardom and prior success echoed in her two Las Vegas establishments, one patron reportedly managed to snag a table due to a last-minute cancellation reported the Phoenix New Times.
Styled to reflect De Laurentiis' Italian-American culinary approach, Luna's menu teases with dishes like lemon spaghetti yet suffers from a heavy-handed citrus zest which ends up muscling out other delicate flavors such as in the crab arancini, as described in a recent visit covered by the Phoenix New Times. The lemon pizza, a twist on her pasta, also failed to impress with bitterness overpowering the necessary tangy notes.
Despite the culinary setbacks, De Laurentiis does not skimp on the spectacle, her restaurant ensconced in the grandeur of the Caesars Republic's hotel lobby, with décor suggestive of an elegance that promises much, while the chef's name graces Luna's menu and ambiance fills the room, diners' excitement initially high as they are treated to whimsical elements like a faux lemon tree on the bar and towering pepper mills in the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Pronto by Giada offers a faster, more casual dining experience, with breakfast sandwiches and paninis on the menu for those seeking a quick bite without the squeeze of a reservation as they enjoy the atmosphere of the hotel's first-floor space, as published by the Phoenix New Times. Positioned as a respite for both hotel guests and locals, it brings a piece of De Laurentiis' Las Vegas flavor to Scottsdale's dining scene.
It's clear that despite the chef's intention to blend her Roman heritage with California's zest, Luna by Giada has yet to capture the balance, leaving some patrons with a sour taste rather than a craving for more, while Pronto seems to be settling in without as much agitation, but whether this pair of eateries will live up to the De Laurentiis brand's glittering image remains a topic for Scottsdale's diners to dig into over time.
