Rome's Trevi Fountain Was Design Inspiration for Transformation of Former Bertolini's

CHICAGO, Feb. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Introducing Trevi, the spectacular new Las Vegas Italian restaurant that opened at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace on February 2.

Formerly Bertolini's Authentic Trattoria, the restaurant has been transformed into Trevi, a visually stunning, festive and spacious Italian brasserie with a new menu featuring classic Italian favorites and an impressive selection of new dishes.

Trevi is owned and operated by Morton's Restaurant Group (NYSE:MRT) , which owns and operates the 74 Morton's steakhouses throughout the United States and in Toronto and Vancouver, Canada, Hong Kong and Singapore, as well as the three Bertolini's Authentic Trattorias located in Indianapolis, IN, King of Prussia Mall, PA and West Las Vegas, NV.

Inspired by Rome's magnificent and fabled Trevi Fountain, Trevi was designed by the internationally-renowned Rockwell Group, whose acclaimed designs include the Nobu, Vong and Rosa Mexicano restaurants; The Kodak Theatre (site of the annual Academy Awards ceremony) in Los Angeles, the Cirque du Soleil building in Walt Disney World and the Mohegan Sun Casino, in Connecticut.

Trevi is located at the Fountain of the Gods in the Forum Shops, on the site where Bertolini's stood since 1992.

Trevi features cafe dining with elaborated street lamps surrounding a fountain and a walk-up gelato/espresso bar. The vine-covered fields of the Italian countryside are set against rich wood, mosaic glass tiles and custom glass chandeliers.

Trevi's patio dining area surrounding the Fountain of the Gods is accented by glass mosaic table tops, new torcheres and cantilevered, etched lit-glass canopies. Chandeliers with Italian wording fused to cast glass hang through the canopies. The granite-topped oval bar has been designed to be part of the plaza experience and the interior environment.

A new 22-foot high staircase flanks one side of the restaurant. Walkways are adorned with blackened steel laser-cut illustrated panels set over a richly textured and colored wall provide a striking backdrop to the stairs. The large open-display exhibition kitchen, featuring custom mosaic glass tile stretching from the brick oven to the grills, is located at the rear.

The entrance to the mezzanine level consists of a dramatic design of solid teak stairs, which are broken by edge-lit risers. The mezzanine features seating that looks out through arched windows into the plaza of the Fountain of the Gods. At the far end of the mezzanine level, an area is framed by custom ceramic tile and a hand-painted mural of an Italian streetscape.

A truly dramatic touch is provided by the centerpiece, a 2,000 lb., 12- foot-tall, hand-blown, vivid red and orange chandelier hanging from the domed- ceiling in the center of the rotunda.

Trevi's menu includes classic favorites, such as the Caprese Salad with homemade mozzarella; Linguini al Frutti di Mare filled with shrimp, lobster meat, scallops, tomatoes and scallions in a seafood cream sauce; sausage Polenta; Tuscan Tuna Salad, with Italian-style tuna, cannelini beans, kalamata olives, sundried tomatoes with balsamic vinegar and olive oil; Baked Macaroni and Cheese Trevi; and Polenta Fries with homemade polenta, tossed in romano breading, fried, and accompanied with marinara sauce.

"The transformation from Bertolini's has been so significant that we felt this spectacular restaurant merited a new name to reflect its new identity," said Nick Catanella, Trevi's general manager and managing partner.

"One of the prime reasons for our popularity," added Catanella, "has been our famous homemade gelato (18 varieties) and our sorbetto. And Trevi has a fulltime gelato chef."