AGO, the elegant Italian trattoria named after its celebrated executive chef partner, Agostino Sciandri, has launched a new Las Vegas location at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, coinciding with the tenth anniversary of the landmark Los Angeles eatery.

AGO is best known for its authentic Tuscan-style Italian fare that emphasizes light and simple cooking with signatures dishes such as Burrata con Fagiolini, Tagliatelle al Ragu Antico, and Branzino ai Ferri con Pane Profumato. The menu will be consistent with the restaurant’s four other locations across the U.S., including Los Angeles, Miami and soon-to-be New York.

Executive Chef Sergio Santoro is excited about the restaurant opening inside the Hard Rock Hotel/Casino because the menu is so different than anything you’ll find in Las Vegas. “It is more authentic Italian food than the Italian-American restaurants,” said Santoro. He added that the atmosphere and décor you’ll find at this restaurant will be second to none. “It is very new, modern, wide open and comfortable. It’s beautiful,” he exclaimed.

AGO Las Vegas was designed by Ralph Gentile and includes a sleek and welcoming lounge where diners can sample AGO’s one-of-a kind cocktails or small plates from the bar menu. Guests then enter the intimate dining area which includes the “Cava” room designed in the spirit of an underground wine cave.

Sergio is impressed with the menu and how healthy the portions are. The flavors used in the food do not include the cream sauces that so many other Italian restaurants use. There is very little need for the cream sauces in Tuscany, and that is what you’ll find at AGO. Directing the restaurant’s extensive wine selection will be Emilio Marchionne, Sommelier, and Kim Peak is the restaurant’s general manager.

“This is such an exciting time for Las Vegas dining, and I’m happy to have the opportunity to be a part of it,” said Agostino Sciandri, executive chef and partner. “Diners in our Las Vegas restaurant will get what they come to expect from all of our AGO restaurants – good food in a good environment, it’s as simple as that. For the past ten years we’ve mastered our straightforward Tuscan-style Italian food.”

The namesake of the restaurant, Agostino is from Aulla, Italy (Tuscany) and came into prominence as co-owner and executive chef of Toscana in Brentwood, Calif. prior to opening AGO’s first location in West Hollywood in 1998 along with Hollywood heavyweights and partners Robert De Niro, Bob and Harvey Weinstein, and Tony and Ridley Scot

De Niro, the Italian-American actor, is known for his powerful method acting in such films as “Taxi Driver,” “The Deer Hunter,” “Raging Bull,” “Casino” and “The Godfather: Part II.” The 64-year old actor is getting ready to release his newest film in September, starring in “Righteous Kill,” with Al Pacino. De Niro first gained his reputation for being a tough guy in movies with his roles in “Bang the Drum Slowly” and “Mean Streets” in 1973. In 1974 De Niro received an Academy Award for best supporting actor for his role in “The Godfather: Part II.”  He received Academy Award nominations for best actor in 1976 for “Taxi Driver,” 1978 for “The Deer Hunter” and 1991 for “Cape Fear.” He won the best actor award in 1980 for “Raging Bull.” De Niro currently heads his own production company, Tribeca Film Center, and made his directorial debut in 1993 with “A Bronx Tale.”