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Hi GWS. Long time no see. There are a few of us in Vegas, and most of the world comes to us at one time or another, so we should probably have a Vegas food thread. I'm not in the industry, but I'll claim to be an expert because I'm fat and I drink a lot. So I'll start this thread, but I hope all of you - locals, hungry tourists, etc. - will help make it more complete and more interesting. I can only abuse my liver (and wallet) so often. There's more out there than my favorites, so speak up! Because I am a somewhat obsessive nerd who does nothing halfway, I made a Google map. Here, enjoy. Like I said, suggest some restaurants and I'll try to keep that map maintained with the Goon restaurant gestalt. If I have time, I'll keep this OP updated with upcoming culinary events and specials worth knowing about. Otherwise, check the most recent posts for current events. most recent post from 1/31/21: James Trees, chef of Esther's Kitchen, decided to open three new spots (sorta) during the pandemic. It's so crazy it might just work. For those disinclined to read, the restaurants are: - Al Solito Posto in Tivoli Village, a.k.a. Narnia for us Hendersonites. Regular Italian (minestrone, chicken/eggplant parm, etc.) upscaled, Given Trees's amazing pasta talents I have little doubt it'll be amazing. - A re-thought Ada's, also in Tivoli Village, going toward a small plate/wine bar vibe. Confirmed menu: salmon rilletes served with Esther's signature sourdough. Crazily, the article says "every employee on the floor will be at least a level two sommelier." - Some form of market thing in the Arts District, near Esther's Kitchen, opening around Valentine's Day. They'll sell pasta kits, bread, wine, etc. Seems like a neat idea. I've seen similar things in California, though the one I know best was forced to close early in the pandemic. Other amazing superstar chef Justin Kingsley Hall opened Main Street Provisions just north of Velveteen Rabbit. This will be the first place I go once I'm fully vaxxed. The menu is game meats, BBQ, and some extraordinary vegetable options. Downtown, next to Ferguson's, Vegas Test Kitchen is set up as a space for rotating restaurant concepts and one-off dinners. Among the current participants is thread regular ogopogo's Yukon Pizza. The long-awaited opening of The Silver Stamp, by former Atomic manager Rose Signor, is planned for "early 2021." From what my sources tell me, the aesthetic will be classic dive bar, with a menu mostly to match. bartolimu fucked around with this message at 01:34 on Feb 1, 2021 |
# ? May 6, 2019 22:55 |
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# ? Jun 8, 2024 07:18 |
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And for anyone who wants to torture themselves with my restaurant reviews without clicking the Google map, here they are. Might as well have a little content for the new thread. The Strip The upside of Strip dining is there are plenty of options close together. Unfortunately, you'll pay for that convenience: most places are busy all the time, and everything's more expensive. This is especially true of wine prices - Strip markups are traditionally 400-500% of retail! My advice (and that of most locals) is to get off-Strip ASAP. Or head north of the Stratosphere (during the day), where a couple of my favorite spots are. That said, if you're stuck at a convention or just want a certain kind of experience, sometimes the Strip is the only place you can go. Recommended Strip stops include:
The Arts District/Business District Vegas's burgeoning Arts District is just north of the Strip, snuggled against the I-15 on both sides of Charleston Boulevard. It's probably the most up-and-coming area of town, with tons of exciting restaurants, bars, art studios, and other attractions. I'm not sure how the city defines the Business District, but our the purposes it's the area north of the Arts District and south of Downtown, where the federal courthouse and a lot of other government buildings are concentrated. In the next year or so, this area will see at least two more breweries and several new restaurants opening - and it's already pretty great. Some highlights:
Downtown Las Vegas Downtown Vegas is Fremont Street, from Main Street to about 11th, with occasional 1-2 block outgrowths on either side of Fremont. When I moved to Vegas twenty years ago, you went Downtown to get one of two things: meth, or stabbed. Thanks to the efforts of former Mayor (and former alleged Mob defense attorney, and Las Vegas mascot-for-life) Oscar Goodman, Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh (who lived in a Streamline trailer on Fremont Street, because he was weird), and a host of hospitality professionals, the supplies of both meth and stabbings have dropped significantly in recent years. Instead there's a community of bars, restaurants, and shops that serve both budget-minded tourists and hungry locals. Best of all, most of the good stuff is away from the Fremont Street Experience, which is loud, garish, and terrible. Local-approved hot spots:
Chinatown Vegas's Chinatown runs west of I-15 along Spring Mountain Road, ending around Jones Avenue. Despite the name, it's more of a Pan-Asian-town with tons of Vietnamese, Korean, and other SE Asian spots. Some local chefs cooking other styles of food have found the rent in this area more affordable, so there's worldwide appeal to dining in Chinatown.
North Las Vegas NLV is a strange mix of old neighborhoods and new growth suburbia, and I don't spend much time there aside from one spot:
S(l)ummerlin While Summerlin is technically one suburb in the northwest of town, I'm using the term here as a catch-all for the part of town north of Charleston and west of I-95. This will no doubt offend a lot of Summerlin dwellers, but that's okay because you're all a bunch of bougie fucks anyhow. I don't get up to this area very often, so my list is pretty light for now. With luck, some bougie fucks will come along and make few suggestions.
Hender Originally the redheaded stepchild of Boulder City during the construction of the Hoover Dam, Henderson is now proudly the redheaded stepchild of Las Vegas instead. Aside from Downtown, this area is probably the most improved over the last twenty years. John Curtas (a pompous, insufferably classist local food writer) called Henderson "a culinary wasteland" back then. Now we've got quite a few great options spread around among the chain-stored strip malls.
Other Areas There's a lot of Vegas between neighborhoods, and a lot of places in those places are worth visiting. This list is all over town, but everything is worth chasing down. In absolutely no order whatsoever:
bartolimu fucked around with this message at 07:19 on Apr 29, 2022 |
# ? May 6, 2019 22:56 |
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Glad to see the effort, Bart. I'll add some updates soon, especially for Eastside and Chinatown. Just throw whatever I write into the OP.
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# ? May 7, 2019 00:02 |
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I haven't read the entire post yet but any time I go to Vegas I always have to dredge through old threads to find your guys' posts so it's incredible to have this all in one spot. I suggested the bouchon buffet a few weeks back when we had a family event in Vegas because of your recs and it was probably the highlight meal of the trip.
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# ? May 7, 2019 05:49 |
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Thank you for a spectacular OP The Bouchon in Vegas is first-rate, better than the one in Napa, and IMO the chicken and waffles is the dish to go for Sweets Raku is excellent There are occasional bargains on on-strip wine lists, placed there for the benefit of industry people/those in the know. One of those apps that decodes restaurant wine lists might be helpful. Note: bargain means 2x markup not 4x
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# ? May 12, 2019 15:46 |
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Checking in as another Vegas local, that's a great list and a great write up. Happy to see our town really blow up in terms of killer food/drinks and going out spots. I live within walking distance of the Arts District and spend most of my time there. I heard Vegas Unstripped was a good time, I spent my night at Velveteen watching a friend play with her band instead but was watching friends on IG tear it up.
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# ? May 12, 2019 16:52 |
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Unstripped was unreasonably delicious once again. Best dishes of the night: - Lotus of Siam's larb beef tartare, just slightly spicier than most people might have liked and so dense with lemongrass and herbs I kept coming back for more. - Whatever goddamn maniac did the bomba rice paella with saffron, uni, and jamon iberico. In a field of obscenely rich dishes, this was probably the richest. - The roasted carrot at Justin Kingsley Hall's table. Last year was the year of foie gras, with about half of chefs using it in their dishes. This year we had three or four different quail entrees, which was weird but they were all delicious in their own way. Former CraftHaus brand manager and local celebrity bartender Shane Merriam was pouring Garrison Brothers bourbon all night. Folks with connections got to try their 95 proof single-barrel and yeah, it was goddamn delicious. Every bar pouring brought good stuff (Golden Tiki's was sugary, but that's their schtick) and we managed to drink everyone out of alcohol by 10:30. Best moment of the night was a clearly tired and probably-drunk James Trees (chef/owner of Esther's Kitchen) giving me a big hug while we waited in line for more Trumer pils. What can I say? Guy gives good hugs. Seeing Mr. and Mrs. Wiggles was a close second, though. All in all, fest exceeded expectations again and I hope they do it again next year.
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# ? May 13, 2019 23:30 |
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I'll comb through the massive amount of helpful info posted above, but I have a quick question here for the locals. Are there any places you'd recommend for someone with Celiac disease? I know restaurants all seem to have trendy "gluten free" items on their menu. Does that mean they simply use ingredients without gluten, or can I trust that they take precautions to avoid cross contamination? This isn't a case of "My naturopath says I should avoid gluten", it's a legit case of "A real medical doctor diagnosed me, and explained that I'm malnourished because my immune system has been destroying my intestines" Ironic diagnosis, considering my user name, and how much I love drinking beer and baking bread. Sorry to get all E/N on this, but it's new for me, and I've got an anniversary vacation booked this summer.
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# ? May 16, 2019 22:54 |
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I've been revisiting places I recommended to make sure they're still good. So far, the answer is universally Yes, which is pretty neat. Lamaii now has a cocktail program. This is great news for cocktail fans - most things are Thai-flavor variations on classics. Their Ramos gin fizz tweak is especially good, as is the mezcal cocktail with sorrel syrup that looks like a snow cone. There are also a few new food items: crispy shrimp fritters (tasty but I think the shrimp cakes are better), watermelon balls with ground fish powder (weird, but weirdly satisfying), and a sort of cashew chicken variant with deep-fried chicken cubes (good, but everything else on the menu is better). It's also getting difficult to get in without a reservation, at least on the weekends. Zen Japanese Curry remains spectacularly good at Japanese curry. They have fried oysters now, perfectly fried and served with a lemon wedge - simple and satisfying. The takoyaki are also stellar, but I managed to nearly cook the roof of my mouth with one so I'm a little mad about that. I want to get a couple more visits in before adding it to the list, but a new potential Henderson hot spot is Hardway 8. It's on Water Street, just a bit south of Lovelady Brewing. Same owner as Starboard Tack, with the same attention to detail on food and cocktails. Rose, the former manager of Atomic Liquors, is doing some shifts behind the bar and training up the rest of the bar staff - including Chase, who was the bar manager at Atomic Kitchen and (briefly) BBD's. So what I'm saying is Hardway 8 is like an all-star show of talented bar staff with some new ones sprinkled in. Beer list has plenty of variety, rotating frequently, with $2 Rolling Rock planned to be the always-on cheap beer. Food menu is extremely diverse; so far I've had the Buffalo hot fried oysters and the jägerschnitzel, both excellent. B33rChiller posted:I'll comb through the massive amount of helpful info posted above, but I have a quick question here for the locals. Are there any places you'd recommend for someone with Celiac disease? In general, restaurants are going to be very careful about GF designation. Lawsuits are expensive. More than that, professional chefs take feeding people very seriously. I'm not Celiac and don't know anyone local who is, so I can't make any recommendations for guaranteed good actors, but if a dish is called GF you should be okay. I know that's not particularly helpful, sorry.
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# ? May 17, 2019 16:14 |
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Ross J's and Chicken Shack are my favorite hole-in-the-wall spots in Las Vegas from when I lived there. I go back every time I'm in town. DW Bistro was my go-to for brunch. Big Piece O Shit fucked around with this message at 01:07 on May 18, 2019 |
# ? May 18, 2019 01:02 |
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B33rChiller posted:I'll comb through the massive amount of helpful info posted above, but I have a quick question here for the locals. Are there any places you'd recommend for someone with Celiac disease? I know restaurants all seem to have trendy "gluten free" items on their menu. Does that mean they simply use ingredients without gluten, or can I trust that they take precautions to avoid cross contamination? This isn't a case of "My naturopath says I should avoid gluten", it's a legit case of "A real medical doctor diagnosed me, and explained that I'm malnourished because my immune system has been destroying my intestines" Honestly, if you're VERY clear with your server/bartender/register monkey/whatever that you have a severe gluten allergy, they're going to make sure the kitchen knows it. Don't be afraid to flat out tell them you're Celiac because pretty much any food service professional will bend over backwards to accommodate actual food allergies, it's the people that are allergic to everything but burnt steak with no seasoning over plain white rice that annoy us.
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# ? May 18, 2019 01:42 |
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Coasterphreak posted:Honestly, if you're VERY clear with your server/bartender/register monkey/whatever that you have a severe gluten allergy, they're going to make sure the kitchen knows it. Don't be afraid to flat out tell them you're Celiac because pretty much any food service professional will bend over backwards to accommodate actual food allergies, it's the people that are allergic to everything but burnt steak with no seasoning over plain white rice that annoy us. I figured as much, but this is all very new to me, and I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. I haven't been out to eat at a restaraunt since the diagnnosis. I guess I just need to make sure I'm dealing with professionals who know not to use the same tub of butter they use to butter regular toast, etc. I trust goon input over (more)random internet people's, so that's why I'm checking in here. I have found a LV celiac support group on facebook that has a bunch of suggestions. I'll be cross referencing those with the dining suggestions up thread. Thanks for the reassurance.
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# ? May 18, 2019 03:17 |
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Added two places to the map. - Hardway 8. A new sports bar by Bryant Jane, the owner of Starboard Tack. Bar staff is half Atomic alumni and half new blood, with some crazy guy in the kitchen doing excellent things. Drink specials include $2 pints of Rolling Rock, along with 10+ taps of interesting craft beer and a very Bryant cocktail list (mostly tiki-inspired but less sugary, with heavy use of amaro). For appetizers, Buffalo hot fried oysters are shockingly great, as is the mezze platter (hummus, edamame hummus, and roasted beet spread with pita). The cheese-filled meatballs are texturally perfect, crunchy on the outside and almost squeaky inside. Speaking of cheese, the "fried mozzarella" isn't sticks - it's one big chunk they bread and deep fry, then chop into sticks tableside to ensure maximum stretch factor. Of the larger plates, the Jägerschnitzel with potato salad and house-fermented sauerkraut is about as authentically Central European as I've found anywhere. The signature cast iron skillet pizza is...nostalgic; it tastes like middle school cafeteria pizza, but way less greasy. I'm biased here - I know Bryant and most of the bar staff he's hired and like them all, so take that into account with this glowing review. But the product will speak for itself, I think. - Settebello Pizzeria Napoletana. This should have been on the list originally, they've been around for nearly a decade at this point. Excellent, certified Napoli-style pizza using as many Italian ingredients as possible, including flour flown in from one particular family mill in Italy. Most of the offerings are highly traditional, but they do an amazing brisket pizza for those craving adventure. Decent wine program with lower markup than most. Along with the brisket pizza, I'd recommend the margherita, carbonara, and Vico (sausage, fennel, red onions, mascarpone). Big Piece O poo poo posted:Ross J's and Chicken Shack are my favorite hole-in-the-wall spots in Las Vegas from when I lived there. I go back every time I'm in town. Also added these. One bit of bad news: after seven years, Bob and Kristin of Valley Cheese and Wine are calling it quits. They've found a buyer for the store and will be leaving town after it changes hands. That's likely to happen around July or so, according to Bob. I'm having trouble with this one - I'm losing two friends and there's no guarantee the new owner will be as approachable or good at his job. Time will tell; for now, I'm leaving Valley on the map. Cross your fingers, everyone. bartolimu fucked around with this message at 17:22 on May 22, 2019 |
# ? May 22, 2019 17:17 |
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bartolimu posted:One bit of bad news: after seven years, Bob and Kristin of Valley Cheese and Wine are calling it quits. They've found a buyer for the store and will be leaving town after it changes hands. That's likely to happen around July or so, according to Bob. I'm having trouble with this one - I'm losing two friends and there's no guarantee the new owner will be as approachable or good at his job. Time will tell; for now, I'm leaving Valley on the map. Cross your fingers, everyone. drat, that’s a shame to hear. They were my favorite butcher in town for sure. Looks like a good steak dinner is in my future soon.
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# ? May 23, 2019 17:05 |
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The state of Vegas food writing is almost universally dire, but if you're looking for some more suggestions - including more Strip locations than I've been to - this Thrillist article is actually quite good. The author is clearly a local, but writing for adventurous tourists. The lead photo is from Esther's Kitchen and showcases their ridiculously good, ridiculously cheap sourdough bread.
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# ? May 31, 2019 16:29 |
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I know I haven't done my update yet, but I needed to pop in to say that everyone needs to get in to Partage. We just walked in on a Friday night and were seated immediately. Highlights were the best duck breast I've ever had, gold (the mineral) and lemon verbena cecream, and jamon on wheels. Unf. Oh also I guess Alain Ducasse just left. Whether or not that effected quality I don't know, but drat is my mouth Happy. Mr. Wiggles fucked around with this message at 06:47 on Jun 1, 2019 |
# ? Jun 1, 2019 06:21 |
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Coasterphreak posted:Honestly, if you're VERY clear with your server/bartender/register monkey/whatever that you have a severe gluten allergy, they're going to make sure the kitchen knows it. Don't be afraid to flat out tell them you're Celiac because pretty much any food service professional will bend over backwards to accommodate actual food allergies, it's the people that are allergic to everything but burnt steak with no seasoning over plain white rice that annoy us. This is absolutely true - and it's not necessarily just nicer places. Most chains are terrified of being sued so if you tell a random server at Chili's that you have a no bullshit allergy to X, they'll likely pass it on. At ethnic and mom and pop stores, it might be better to ask if Y dish has Z ingredient though - sometimes being asked in that manner will help people remember.
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# ? Jun 1, 2019 17:09 |
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Would you have any specific recommendations for those of travelers who got a hotel around McCarran?
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# ? Jun 2, 2019 18:39 |
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Red Crown posted:Would you have any specific recommendations for those of travelers who got a hotel around McCarran? McCarran is centrally located, so you should be able to taxi/rideshare anywhere for a reasonable amount. If you've only got one night in Vegas and want our absolute best, I'd say Raku, Esther's Kitchen, Lamaii, and Pizzeria Monzú are way up there depending on what you're in the mood for. Or Lotus of Siam if you don't mind waiting a couple of hours for your table. If you're alone, Lotus might have a spot at the bar where you can drink/eat, but parties of 2+ without reservations are going to have a long wait.
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# ? Jun 2, 2019 21:29 |
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Dunno if anyone saw the RJ article about the Pizza Festival that Vincent Rotolo (Good Pie) and John Arena (Metro Pizza) are putting on this fall, but I'll be out there slinging my pies from my little pop-up. Seeing from the email list that I'm on right now, there should be a lot of the local names and faces in the pizza scene representing all kinds of styles. Vincent and I have talked about doing something like this for a while, so it's good to see he finally got things moving. https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/food/local-chefs-to-gather-for-inaugural-las-vegas-pizza-festival-1674262/
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# ? Jun 5, 2019 22:25 |
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Thank you for this. Will review.
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# ? Jun 5, 2019 22:40 |
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I wish this thread existed a year ago - I got married in Vegas (at the neon museum, naturally) last December and had my reception at Frankie’s.
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# ? Jun 6, 2019 04:11 |
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Slore Tactician posted:I wish this thread existed a year ago - I got married in Vegas (at the neon museum, naturally) last December and had my reception at Frankie’s. Are you actually Richard Cheese?
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# ? Jun 6, 2019 04:58 |
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Thanks for this thread. I was in Vegas last weekend and steered dinner one night to Raku and Sweets Raku. It did not disappoint. Definitely the best tofu I've ever had. I didn't have much say in the rest of of meals. But the Cracked Egg is a solid breakfast place, but make sure you get the coffee cake. Seems like they change it daily. Settebello was also solid. My friend took me to Lola's for lunch one day. I wasn't expecting cajun food to be that good so far away from New Orleans. Made me pretty jealous.
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# ? Jun 6, 2019 05:06 |
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Mr. Wiggles posted:Are you actually Richard Cheese? Possibly. Frankie’s was a great venue. They didn’t even want any $ down, they just put “reserved” signs on about half of the tables. Bill for 40 people for 2 hours was $800. 10/10 would have a wedding reception here again.
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# ? Jun 6, 2019 07:27 |
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It's ok if you're old Dick. I see you like twice a year at Red Rocks! Frankie's really is great. Smokey, but so classic.
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# ? Jun 6, 2019 08:27 |
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We had lots of great meals out there but the best one was this by a long shot. What an amazing experience.
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# ? Jun 6, 2019 17:17 |
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I didn't get to do nearly as much as I'd hoped but I can now confirm that the Arts District is awesome. Goodwich was the best sammich shop I've eaten at, and Vesta scratched my itch for that particular level of coffee snobbery.
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# ? Jun 8, 2019 16:16 |
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Slore Tactician posted:We had lots of great meals out there but the best one was this by a long shot. What an amazing experience. This one is hard to beat anywhere.
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# ? Jun 9, 2019 05:26 |
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Shooting Blanks posted:This is absolutely true - and it's not necessarily just nicer places. Most chains are terrified of being sued so if you tell a random server at Chili's that you have a no bullshit allergy to X, they'll likely pass it on. At ethnic and mom and pop stores, it might be better to ask if Y dish has Z ingredient though - sometimes being asked in that manner will help people remember. Thanks for that. It's reassuring to hear. I just get a bit nervous about cross contamination. And, it's not like I get immediate symptoms, so I won't even know something is up until well afterwards.
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# ? Jun 12, 2019 04:04 |
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It's Restaurant Week in Vegas! This is a very special time of year - tons of restaurants participate, with tasting menus or other prix fixe offerings that include a donation to Three Square Food Bank. Website here: https://www.helpoutdineoutlv.org/ My recommended LVRW outings, based on past experience: - Border Grill. This restaurant consistently offers one of the best Restaurant Week experiences. The food is great, and there's a ton of it. No vegetarian option for the main this year, though, which is a shame - they usually have the chile relleno. - Bouchon. Eggs Benedict aren't always on the menu, so seeing them on the RW list is fantastic. And the dinner option is death row meal-worthy. Thomas Keller's creme brulee? Who do I have to stab? Offer extended through July 5th, too! - Jammyland. $30 is a steal, and they're offering "curated cocktail pairings" as well. Do it, their program is outstanding. Great vegetarian options on this menu. - Mesa Grill. Bobby Flay is a douche, but his restaurant consistently serves one of the best RW menus. The dinner is an especially ridiculous amount of food, and it's way better than it has any right to be. Places I'm sad aren't participating this year: - Andre's. Their RW menu was light and affordable, and they always made sure to have some decent wine deals. - Burger Bar. Hubert Keller's restaurants have always been big supporters, and it's too bad Vegas's original gourmet burger spot (and low-key the first place to have a great craft beer selection on the Strip) isn't. bartolimu fucked around with this message at 17:11 on Jun 20, 2019 |
# ? Jun 20, 2019 17:04 |
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On the way back from Yellowstone two weeks ago I stopped at Sushi Twister on the southeast side of town. We ate pretty good sushi for less than $12 a roll there.
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# ? Jun 23, 2019 04:07 |
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There's a secretburger.com event tonight at Rebar if anyone is around. I'll be helping Vincent make pizzas - it's a collab of a sour double IPA beer from 8 Bit Brewing and pizzas from Good Pie, should be pretty fun! I've got a pocket full of pizza stickers, holler at me and I'll throw some at ya.
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# ? Jun 26, 2019 18:27 |
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A few updates for those interested in trends/developments/events. 1. Hardway 8, the sports bar and excellent eatery on Water Street, started brunch service last weekend. I went with a few friends to check it out. The menu features a lot of well-made favorite breakfast options - egg/meat/toast skillet, breakfast burrito, etc. - along with some outstanding eccentrics. The porchetta eggs Benedict, while not quite as mind-blowing as Esther's Kitchen, is wonderfully porky with a properly-made hollandaise. Bananas Foster french toast manages to be delicious but not cloyingly sweet. And the standout, Mrs. Crunchy's Grilled Cheese, is an honest-to-god croque madam - possibly the best in town. Their beer list right now has some extra-great offerings, including Pfriem's Czech dark lager (absolutely perfect, and I've had gallons of that style in the Czech Republic for comparison). 2. Lamaii is slowly adding new dishes to their menu. The newest one is Salmon Noir, a sashimi-style dish simply dressed with a deeply flavorful sesame oil based sauce and crispy fried garlic chips. It's just as excellent as the rest of their menu. In addition, their cocktail list has developed into one of the best and most food-friendly in town. They have a Ramos gin fizz variant, as well as a tweaked Old Fashioned using a Thai fruit syrup I forget the name of. The savory-leaning basil/pepper cocktail may be the best of all, but when it comes to pairing food and liquor all of them are home runs. 3. Valley Cheese and Wine changed hands on July 1st. The new owners are a French couple who are shifting the store's concentration a bit. The charcuterie and cheese selection places a little more emphasis on affordability and a little less on being top-of-the-line. Same with the wines - the high-end Bordeaux/Bourgogne is gone, replaced with a wider variety of budget-friendly wines from small growers - and the grocery items: they no longer carry crackers, candy bars, etc. Some of the old shelving now holds a selection of beer, which they claim there's been a lot of demand for. Overall, the shop has shifted somewhat in the direction Khoury's but without the expert choices on beer and no liquor sales. On the bright side, they've got on-site consumption permits and are selling cheese/charcuterie plates and by-the-glass wines for in-store enjoyment. Classes are still being offered - Thursday/Friday are more social classes, while Saturday/Sunday are aimed at more formal wine education. Sign up in-person at the store if you're interested. I'll provide some opinions on the new ownership once I've sounded them out a bit. 4. James Trees, chef/owner of Esther's Kitchen, has opened a second restaurant: Ada's. It's up in the wilds of Summerlin, which means it'll take me months to get up there and try it even though I know the bread chef. Give them a try if you're in the area, my friends who've been give it very high marks. 5. Ferguson's, the Downtown hotel known mostly for being closed for renovations for a decade, has been hosting Stuff in the Alley events for some time. I've been to a couple of Pour in the Alley events, which concentrate on single booze, and they've been great. Now they're planning their most ambitious project yet for October 6th: Picnic in the Alley. The event features and is being planned by local women restaurateurs, chefs, bartenders, and industry folks of all descriptions. Show up, get a literal picnic basket with reusable dinnerware, then go around and get take-out from the cook stations and have your own picnic right there in the alley. Rose Signor, former manager of Atomic Kitchen and inspiration behind the legendary Sour Saturday beer fest, is handling the beer end of things. The list of industry people connected to this project is extraordinary, and the event should be as well. I will, unfortunately, be out of town when it happens. The rest of you should buy tickets and go, though. 6. If you want to test the Ferguson's Alley waters before committing to Picnic, I'd recommend attending one of the aforementioned Pour in the Alley events. Info available here. The first mezcal Pour in the Alley still ranks among my greatest hangover experiences in Vegas, and I got to bring home a bottle of pre-batched premium mezcal negroni! They're neat events and the venue is unusual and pretty neat, though keep in mind it's outdoors - if heat bothers you a lot, maybe wait until later in the year.
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# ? Jul 23, 2019 23:20 |
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bartolimu posted:
I film all the Pour in the Alley events for Ferguson's and can attest to this - they're a lot of fun, really social, and a lot of the downtown who's who roll through. Still haven't made it to Hardway 8 yet, dying to try it out. Bryant and I talked about doing a pizza cook off competition with the Free Pizza DTLV guy and me out there, once it cools down that will be a cool event.
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# ? Jul 24, 2019 18:26 |
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Going to be in vegas in august with family to help my niece move into the UNLV dorms. Any recs for a couple of family meals that can handle 8? Also, wife and I will have some meals w/o people so what are some hidden gems we should check out? We've done Jaleo, Lotus, and Viva Las Arepas before.
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# ? Aug 2, 2019 17:53 |
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GrAviTy84 posted:Going to be in vegas in august with family to help my niece move into the UNLV dorms. Any recs for a couple of family meals that can handle 8? Also, wife and I will have some meals w/o people so what are some hidden gems we should check out? Breakfast: - Esther's Kitchen brunch on the weekend is a must-have. You'll have to call for a reservation (the Resy system only allows parties of 6 or fewer). - Bouchon is of course great - Eat may be a possibility, though they can get pretty busy. The food's great though, and they're very family friendly. Lunch/Dinner: - Pizzeria Monzu can take larger parties no problem with a reservation. Everyone loves pizza, and they've got some great cicchetti as well. - Sura Korean BBQ if you want a hang-out-and-cook-meat kind of thing, they have tons of seating. - Lindo Michoacan has a lot of Mexican-American classics on the menu, along with multiple moles and other less-common stuff for the adventurous. - Cornish Pasty has larger seating and a great variety of stuff, as long as you want it in a pie. - Lotus of Siam if you've got two weeks ahead to try for a reservation. They're world famous and well worth the effort. Romantic meals for two: - Raku. Absolutely go to Raku and do an omakase. Best Japanese in town. - Sweets Raku. If you've got a weekend day free, go there for their lunch service. It's the best brunch deal in town. Otherwise just go there for the regular dessert thing. Be sure to sit at the counter! - Lamaii. Obscenely good Thai in a beautiful dining room. Not really equipped for large parties though. - Sparrow & Wolf. Excellent cocktail program, amazing food. Bar seats are very popular and worth waiting for (or reserving - they take reservations for those separately). Occasionally offers brunch, I mostly go there for dinner. - Estiatorio Milos. Spendy, but probably the best seafood restaurant in town. Interesting wine list, very high standard of service. - Comedy (but not really comedy) option: Do the Henderson Booze District tour (Bad Beat, Crafthaus, and Astronomy breweries; Vegas Valley Winery; Las Vegas Distillery) and eat from food trucks, or check out nearby Good Spots like Mi Peru or Lemongrass Cafe. Local folks reading this: CraftHaus is releasing a new beer tonight. One of the best food trucks in town, Smiley Pies, will be selling their incredibly great hand pies. I'll be there for much of the evening, stop by and have a pint with me!
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# ? Aug 2, 2019 18:20 |
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GrAviTy84 posted:Going to be in vegas in august with family to help my niece move into the UNLV dorms. Any recs for a couple of family meals that can handle 8? Also, wife and I will have some meals w/o people so what are some hidden gems we should check out? Buy out é
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# ? Aug 4, 2019 07:25 |
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Ultimate Mango posted:Buy out é It’s a private counter setting and the food is super fun if not the last word in sophistication. Not a bad way to go if you have the coin
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# ? Aug 4, 2019 18:44 |
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# ? Jun 8, 2024 07:18 |
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I've been saving up for vacation, but man does not live by homemade dal alone. So I still have some updates. My big splurge this month was SecretBurger's Vetri dinner. It was a collaborative event between James Trees (Esther's Kitchen, Ada's) and Marc Vetri (Vetri, The Palms). The view was pretty spectacular - usually us plebs don't get this far off the ground with a Strip view. The food was, if anything, even more spectacular. That menu was not the normal "choose one of each" affair. Instead, in an effort to make us burst like Mr. Creosote, the crazy motherfuckers sent out every one of those dishes to everyone. We had stumbled into the battleground of two Italian giants, and the only way out was to Eat. Every. Thing. Special mention: - Eggplant caponata, zucchini tonnate, and mortadella beignets. A textural wonderland, full of crunchy, creamy, squidgy, and every other vegetable texture. - Squid ink radiatore with squid and tomatoes. This was the best dish of the night to me: oceanic, brightly acidic, with gorgeous visual contrast - the pasta was squid-ink black with bright white shreds of squid strewn throughout. - Rigatoni with chicken livers. Rich enough I suspected them of subbing in foie gras in large quantities. One of the best liver dishes I've ever had. - Pancetta wrapped rabbit. It looked like a sushi roll made of meat. The mostarda was perfect: bitey with both acid and mustardy burn, just fruity enough to complement the rabbit. We need to eat more rabbit. Rabbits are delicious. Downside: - Wine pairings were $70 for all-you-can-drink, which is a fair deal when your wine list starts at $90/btl and rapidly goes up from there (gently caress Strip wine pricing btw). What wasn't okay was their choice of red: it was just plain not good. The white - a sylvaner from Alto Adige I've had before - was quite nice and paired well with the lighter fare. But I know from experience that's a $25 retail bottle and there's no goddamn way I drank three bottles' worth despite my best efforts. The rest of my table ended up ordering two reds from the wine list, which increased their tab for the night by nearly $400. So, overall, a pretty standard Strip wine experience. What a shame. In addition to the food, Chef Vetri brought in a musician buddy and they had a jam session before dessert. Chef can play a pretty great blues guitar, turns out. It was a nice chance to digest and enjoy live music that wasn't turned up to deafening volume. Overall verdict: B+, would repeat again. James Trees gives good hugs (he's fond of me, for whatever reason). Next time I'll stick to the free pre-dinner negronis and skip the wine pairings. A couple of nights ago, I returned to Sweets Raku for the first time in too long. Their desserts are just as aesthetically pleasing, light, and delicious as ever. I had the Apolo, a returning classic from one of their first menus: Top to bottom, it's: Earl Grey ice cream Insanely light chocolate mousse (held together with agar agar, I think) Insanely light strawberry mousse Fluffy chocolate cake It was, of course, outstanding. I recommend Sweets all the time, and am going to do it here again. If you're in the Chinatown area and want a nice dessert after dinner, it's the best place in town. Speaking of desserts, I finally had a chance to check out The Patio, the tea-and-honey-toast spot on Decatur by Bank Atcharawan (Lamaii, formerly the Chadas, somm of Lotus of Siam before that). It was...pretty good. They have a huge array of teas, coffees, and affiliated beverages with creative flavors. Same goes for the honey toast, which for the uninitiated is a six inch tall loaf of pound cake, hollowed out and filled with fruit, ice cream, sweetened condensed milk, etc. Patio's honey toasts range from traditional to death by chocolate. They have homemade ice cream, cakes, and other stuff too. It's a pretty good variety as long as you're in the mood for something drinky and something sweet. Final note: CraftHaus Brewery is having their 5th Anniversary Party on September 14th. It'll be a good time - they've abolished drink tickets, so it's just come in and drink as much as you like. Tickets are on Eventbrite, though VIP has sold out already.
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# ? Aug 28, 2019 16:39 |