Ameristar Casino
3200 North Ameristar Drive
816-414-7000
Bugatti's isn't non costoso in the same way that the Olive Garden restaurants or a neighborhood pasta joint like Villa Capri is easy on the wallet. But because Bugatti's is located in one of Kansas City's busiest casinos, it manages to be both elegant and cost-effective. Think about it: Your savings can go right into the slot machines after supper, and the food is absolutely sensational. This venue started out as a more costly trattoria, but both the dining room and the menu got a makeover this year after the casino brass, worried that patrons were intimidated by the $30-a-person average check, decided to scale down the menu, do away with the tablecloths and generally make the place feel less hoity-toity. Still, it's no spaghetti joint. The menu is relatively sophisticated, the breads are wonderful, the appetizers are big enough to pass for dinner (we're partial to the lobster ravioli), and there are plenty of fine Northern Italian dishes on the menu. The signature dish, a bowl of penne tossed in a rich Gorgonzola-cream sauce with roasted chicken, walnuts and sliced purple grapes, is the culinary version of winning the jackpot.
