Vino, Vino, Vino!

Monday, Aug. 22, 2011 | 3 a.m.

As a kid, Jose Navarro wasn’t even allowed in the kitchen, and, boy, has he come a long way. Now the chef at d.vino Italian Food & Wine Bar at Monte Carlo, Navarro says what makes his restaurant different is simple: Fresher ingredients and awesome wine.

Describe your restaurant.

We approach Italian food with fresh seasonal ingredients and always have a seasonal menu. I work with our purveyors to make sure everything is fresh. We’re also very focused on wine sales. We educate our staff on wine and we can better accommodate everyone.

What makes your restaurant different from other Italian restaurants on the Strip?

We have a little different wine program. You can try wines here that normally wouldn’t be available by the glass on the Strip. We also make all of our pastas in house, which is becoming less and less predominant.

What’s different about the Strip?

We get customers from all over the world and we have to cater to a lot of different palates. When you get a good food review in Vegas, it’s more meaningful than it is anywhere else, because it truly is a worldwide judgment.