Piero Selvaggio, his restaurants, chefs and legendary wine lists continue to win the most coveted awards throughout the world, including: Best Southwest Chef (2004) Luciano Pellegrini (Valentino, Las Vegas); The Wine Spectator's Top 10 Restaurants in Las Vegas, (twice); and America's Top 10 Tried and True Restaurants (Bon Appetit).

Forbes magazine called Valentino "America's No. 1 Restaurant." The Michelin Guide has awarded Valentino one star in both 2007 and 2008.

Selvaggio has also won two James Beard Foundation Awards – in 1994 for his wine program and in 1996 for best restaurant service. The original Valentino in Santa Monica has been the recipient of the Wine Spectator Grand Award, every year since the program’s inception in 1981, while Valentino Las Vegas has been awarded The Wine Spectator Grand Award yearly since its opening in 2002. In 1998, Food Arts presented Selvaggio with the Silver Spoon Award.

Selvaggio co-authored The Valentino Cookbook (with Karen Stabiner, Villard 2001) and the foreword to Five Brothers: A Year of Tuscan Cooking. He was knighted a Cavaliere by the President of Sicily in recognition of his work as a goodwill ambassador of Italian food, wine and heritage.

In 1975, Selvaggio went to Milan in search of a new chef for Valentino and, at age 29, he discovered authentic Italian food and wine. This experienced was the epiphany that transformed Valentino forever. He began importing Italian wines. Piero has confessed that when he first opened Valentino in Santa Monica, all he knew of wine was two colors: red and white. Now, Valentino’s wine list runs 166 pages.