People plan trips around dining at Italian-American concepts like Carbone. The New York restaurant, conceived by Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi in 2013 and later imported to Las Vegas in 2015, is that reputable, that in-demand. But for the New Yorkers looking for mid-priced Italian sandwiches and soul food, there’s always been Parm.
This May, Major Food Group debuted its first West Coast Parm Famous Italian at Aria’s Proper Eats Food Hall. And if you’re wondering, yes: It’s the fast-casual Carbone we deserve.
All of the classics from Parm’s beloved East Coast locations make their triumphant and tasty return here. The chicken parm ($18) is a rib-sticker of a sandwich. Wedged between two soft sesame buns is a breaded chicken cutlet with reams of melted Parmesan, mozzarella and Parm’s famous red sauce. Parm’s herby and sauce-tossed meatballs ($12) could rival anything on this menu, but the spicy rotini ($19), a staple also found and highly requested at Carbone, shouldn’t be missed.
Other sandwiches like the meat-dense Italian combo ($18) and the house roast beef ($18) add a little variety to the sub game, with spicier notes seeping in from hot peppers and other savory ingredients. The crisply fried mozz sticks ($12) also make a pleasantly crunchy side dish—just make sure to save room for some cannoli ($7).
Carbone and Torrisi opened Parm in Little Italy 13 years ago with the intention of recreating dishes they grew up eating. Everything on this menu reflects that comforting, warm belly feeling of a quickly whipped-up wonder from your nonna’s kitchen.
On top of LA’s Wexler’s Deli and London’s Seoul Bird, Parm joins an admirable amount of restaurant imports that have come to Proper Eats. And the New York restaurateurs behind Major Food Group still have so many other concepts that could cross over. Either way, we’re off to a delicious start.
PARM ITALIAN Aria, propereatslasvegas.com. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
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