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L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
10.28.21
THE ART OF SANDWICH
Ismaele Romano’s new Via Focaccia is a must-eat situation
BY BROCK RADKE
L
as Vegas residents or visitors might have sampled Ismaele Romano’s food at Eataly at Park MGM, the short-lived but exceptional Contento Pizzeria & Bar at Jerry’s Nugget or at the recent Vegas Unstripped event in the Arts District. But the Sicilian-born chef and winner of the World Sandwich Championship at the 2021 International Pizza Expo is more accessible than ever at a brand-new venue offering simple-yet-irresistible cuisine very close to his heart. Romano teamed with the Ellis Island Casino just east of the Strip to create Via Focaccia, a casual counter
specializing in incredible sandwiches and also offering “basically all the things you need for an incredible Italian picnic,” says general manager Christina Ellis. Ellis Island discovered Romano through Metro Pizza founder John Arena, who has operated the other fast-casual kiosk at the casino for years. “We knew we wanted to put something into that space that was homemade with an emphasis on ingredients, and once Ismaele started making the focaccia, it was a done deal,” Ellis says. Romano grew up eating similar sandwiches for breakfast and lunch, stopping at the neighborhood bak-
VIA FOCACCIA Via Focaccia’s Genovese sandwich (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
Ellis Island Casino, 702-733-8901. Daily, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
