HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT Tommasino's Fine Italian Dining has opened for business on Humahuaca Street. Tom Saitta's development has flown in the face of the economic downturn. MARK WAITE / PVT Inside Tommasino's, one can forget about the heat outside in a comfortable dining room. Advertisement

What may be the most significant development in Pahrump since the opening of Home Depot and the deepening recession is Tom Saitta holding a private party at Tommasino's Fine Italian Dining Monday night for those who took part in the construction project and opened the big, wooden doors to the general public at 11 a.m. Tuesday for lunch.

Beret-clad singer April Spain belted out the jazz classic "Twisted" by bebop artists Lambert, Hendricks and Ross Monday night while diners feasted on entries like osso buco and cioppino. Accompanying guitarist M.L. King played in a style reminiscent of Wes Montgomery, while Saitta himself got on stage to sing a few numbers like Frank Sinatra's "The Lady is a Tramp" or play the trumpet.

The interior resembles a town square, with faux storefronts, similar to some casinos in Las Vegas like New York New York.

"The idea is it looks like the piazza in Rome," Saitta said.

Saitta, co-owner of Saitta-Trudeau Chrysler Jeep Dodge, broke ground for the Italian restaurant at 250 S. Humahuaca St., right across from the dealership and next to Romero's Mexican Restaurant, in mid-December.

"This is a place that will be frequented by those who embrace ambience and good food," said Karolyn Zambrotta, an invited guest and patron at the Monday night private party.

Monte Noland, the pianist who performs at Stockmen's Steakhouse at the Pahrump Nugget on weekends, will tickle the ivories for customers over lunch hour Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, Saitta said he will have a piano player from Italy performing for lunch.

Spain and King, a husband and wife duo, will perform six nights per week. Saitta said initially the restaurant will be closed Sundays.

The gas-lit fireplaces, red tile roofs, artificial trees with lights and granite tables with wood frames evoke a certain elegance by Pahrump standards.

Saitta plans to have dancing later in the evening on wooden floors in front of the stage, removing a few tables after the dinner hour.

Meals include a choice of a spring salad or soup. Appetizers include tasty items like Tuscan-baked shrimp, cooked with prosciutto and sauteed in garlic butter and parsley. Other patrons Monday night enjoyed main entrees on the menu like linguini with clams, chicken marsala and eggplant parmagiana.

The head chef is Michael Paris-Candolo, a Pahrump resident who formerly cooked for major casinos in Las Vegas.

Saitta said he hired 30 employees for his new restaurant.

He said prices will be reasonable, with lunch entrees priced at $6-7 and a number of dinner entrees under $15.