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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 |
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May 6, 2019 22:55
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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 |
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May 6, 2019 22:56
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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'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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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 |
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May 22, 2019 17:17
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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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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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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 |
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Jun 20, 2019 17:04
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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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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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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
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It's off-Strip, but for my money the best Fancy Meal place is Raku. It's like Nobu, but better quality, half the price (the highest omakase is sub-$200), and with 100% fewer Jersey Shore rejects sitting at the next table braying about how "that was the sickest sushi I've ever had, bro." Yes that is an actual thing that happened at Nobu once. I don't do fancy on the Strip, so Wiggles's suggestions are better than I can muster. Cleaver is a pro recommendation too - catch their happy hour if you can, 50% off everything including the big fancy steaks. Mr. Wiggles posted:On another topic - Bart, I've finally become semi-regular at The Starbord Tack. I don't know why I waited so long. About goddamn time. I've barely started exploring their rum selection, aided by the half price pours during happy hour. I don't get up there as often as I did since Hardway 8 opened, but once hockey season is upon us I'll have to visit for some Knights games. If you haven't gotten the fish sauce wings yet, you absolutely must next time you're there. If they have it, order a pour of the Centerbe to go with it. It's a perfect pairing. (But be warned: Centerbe is 140 proof and smells like walking into a great Vietnamese restaurant located next to a dentist's office.) General notes of the Vegas culinary world: - CraftHaus's second taproom is now in soft open in the Arts District. It's right across the street from Esther's Kitchen. The staff is all new; the beers are the same, and they've got a crowler machine which is the best loving news ever. I've been whining at Wyndee and Dave to get one for years now. Grand opening for the taproom is on the 28th; more details to come. - Speaking of the Arts District, Able Baker Brewing is also in hyper-soft open (basically only industry people have been as far as I know) with real opening Soon(tm). These guys have been brewing for almost a decade for festivals and stuff, but most people will know them for being allied with Ryan Reeves (of the Vegas Golden Knights) for a special beer. Which is both cool and a shame, because they do a lot more than hang out with goons. - Speaking of CraftHaus, their anniversary party was goddamn amazing. The parking lot was full of beer booths and live bands, the taproom had two fast-moving lines for beer, and the brewery area had snacks and desserts for us VIP types. Best beers included oak-aged Lowlands Clan scotch ale; Scorpion malt liquor (the official anniversary beer, shockingly smooth at 8%); and Oaked and Artichoked, a brown ale with Cynar-soaked oak chips (herbaciously bitter and delightful). Most of those beers are off tap at the taproom(s) now, but they'll be cycled in one after another as taps open up. - There's a new restaurant between Lamaii and Sparrow + Wolf, next to Sura: Lee's Noodles. It calls itself a "Vietnamese Chinese restaurant." I tried it and was extremely unimpressed. There were two parties (including me) in the whole restaurant and somehow the server managed to take my food to their table and bring their food to me. When I finally got the right order - bun bo Hue - it was made with the wrong broth (they used a sweet fish-based broth instead of rich beef) and had little in it besides chunks of pork blood. Now, I love pork blood, and these chunks were extremely fresh and good. But bun bo Hue is supposed to have multiple off-cuts of beef, a pig foot, etc. in it as well. This did not. I'm going to give these guys another try in six months or so, hoping they can sort things out. The banh mi I got was better than Lee's Sandwiches manages, which is a positive sign. - Speaking of Lamaii, they have a new dish on the menu. It's ceviche. No, really, just ceviche. It's primarily shrimp, and it's tasty, and as far as I could tell indistinguishable from Bajamar or any other really good ceviche spots in town. To put it another way: it's really good, and therefore one of the weakest things on the menu. Order it if you're in the mood for it, but don't expect anything revolutionary. - I went to Cornish Pasty Co. a couple of nights ago. It's still great and highly recommended. The oven fries are better than I remembered. Everyone's pies were delicious, as were the sides. They were having a little trouble with their re-heating system (we had to send a soup and the bacon-wrapped meatballs back because they were barely room temperature), but that was the only miscue. - Astronomy Aleworks (in the Henderson Booze District) is releasing a helles tonight. I'll be there after work (around 4pm) and will probably hang there and at CraftHaus for the early evening.
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Sep 20, 2019 21:54
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DC Murderverse posted:these are both awesome suggestions, thanks a bunch. I'm actually staying at the Park so Best Friend is definitely on my list, and the other two sound really awesome too. I've never been to Vegas before but i have to imagine getting from the strip to elsewhere isn't that hard. All Strip hotels have taxi stands and virtually all have dedicated Uber/Lyft pickup zones too. Most things are pretty close to each other and should cost $15 or less each way, and most/all of that will be recouped as cost savings for not paying Strip prices. It only gets "expensive" if you want to head out to Henderson for the Booze District, or somewhere else more than 5 miles from the Strip.
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Sep 21, 2019 19:45
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Yesterday afternoon I went to Sparrow + Wolf for a Secretburger event. It was a class, "Anything Can Be Pickled." It's part of their usual staff training regimen, but Chef Howard decided to open the trainings to the public as well. We got about an hour of "lecture" time from Brian Howard and two of his assistants about pickling methods ranging from lacto ferments to vinegar brines and the ultimate cheat: vacuum pickling. During the talk, they brought us stuff to try: bread-and-butter carrot pickles, oil pickled skin-on kabocha squash, lacto fermented shredded apple, and garlic fermented in miso for 12 months. The garlic was revelatory - one of the most umami things I've ever tasted, assertive, but not at all rough. The bar manager also gave a nice talk about shubs (vinegar + sugar + fruit) and sampled us on a couple of cocktails. And finally, we got to make our own tiny jars of pickles using ingredients prepped by the kitchen staff, so now I have a small jar of giardiniera curing on my pickle shelf. Class price was $45, and to me it was worth it. I didn't pick up a ton of knowledge (I'm an avid home pickler, and actually brought Chef Howard a jar of my watermelon rind kimchi to try), but the chance to taste professionally-made stuff and drink vinegar-based cocktails was a pretty great experience. Plus that miso garlic, goddamn I have to do that soon. Further classes are planned and will probably be available on Secretburger, so if this is your sort of thing (and you can make a 1pm class on a weekday), keep an eye out. Other current events: - Craft Beer in the Alley is happening this Sunday. It's another offering in the Ferguson Alley series. Ticket cost is $45, on Secretburger and Eventbrite. In the next month they're also hosting kombucha, bourbon, and scotch events. - CraftHaus Arts District (which they are abbreviating CHAD for marketing purposes I guess?) is now offering a small delivery menu from Esther's Kitchen. It's a little unhandy to order (you can call Esther's or walk across the street to their host stand), but worth the bother. The menu includes homemade sausage corn dogs, two kinds of pizza using their sourdough crust, and a sea salt chocolate chip cookie, along with a couple of veg* options I didn't try, delivered to the CHAD by Esther's staff. - Able Baker Brewing is having their grand opening event this Fri-Sun. I went last weekend, and their extended "soft open" is indistinguishable from a place that's been open for years. The vibe is very San Diego Beer Mecca, with patio seating and an open view to the brewing area. It's a really nice space, and with luck it will be an anchor shop for the whole area (which is about a quarter mile south of Arts District proper) as it improves. bartolimu fucked around with this message at 15:52 on Oct 24, 2019 |
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Oct 24, 2019 15:50
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The lamb tartare is must-have IMO. Hot potato is probably the best potato dish in town, and the octopus is way up there too. I like the Japanese sweet potato quite a lot. Skip the BBQ salsify.
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Oct 24, 2019 16:40
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How was Sparrow + Wolf, Wiggles? Did you sit at a table or the bar? The bartenders are mostly great and can do some pretty cool variations on classics. And of course the cocktail list is amazing on its own. I hit Lamaii over the weekend, and they now have a jumbo prawn on the menu. It's a single, very large shrimpy thing split lengthwise and grilled, then topped with spicy sauce and herbs. It's great if you're into eating every part of the animal - the head cavity was one of the shrimpiest things I've ever tasted, and most of the carapace gets cooked enough to be edible. If you're only into shrimp tails, the $15 price tag might seem pretty high. Also new on the menu: an eggplant appetizer that is very simply stir-fried eggplant chunks with a sweet, fish-sauce heavy coating. As someone who likes eggplant and consistently fails to cook it well at home, I'll be ordering it frequently. Current events update: - Atomic Liquors is doing its annual Sour Saturday this Saturday, the 9th. If you like sour beers, I strongly recommend it. They get some stuff that never comes to town otherwise - notably, Black Project. I may go, but haven't decided because it's going to be a very busy weekend for me. There are a handful of VIP tickets still available, along with GA, here. - CraftHaus Brewery is having their fourth annual Mac & Cheese Smackdown on the 17th. This is a great time for everyone involved. Competitors get to talk poo poo and feed people; everyone else gets to eat a ton of great mac and cheese, and vote for the crowd favorite. As an additional saucy bonus, the winner of the Judges' Trophy will have their mac and cheese recipe picked up by Esther's Kitchen, to be offered on the CraftHaus Arts District delivery menu. Oh, and I'll be competing. So y'all should definitely plan to show up and vote for me. Event times, signups if you feel like challenging my culinary supremacy, etc. here. - Pour in the Alley has Kombucha on the 23rd, Whiskey and Bourbon on the 30th, and Scotch on December 14th. I'm very likely to attend the latter two. - Beloved local sandwich chain Capriotti's is hopping on the Impossible Meat train with an Impossible Cheesesteak. Preview is on the 9th, tickets on Secretburger. Personally, I'll stick with the Capastrami. bartolimu fucked around with this message at 17:14 on Nov 6, 2019 |
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Nov 6, 2019 17:10
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Mr. Wiggles posted:Just grabbed our tickets for Repeal Day at the Mob Museum this year. We opted not to have the dinner at Oscar's because, while good, Oscar's would be too much damned food before trying to enjoy the party. We learned our lesson last year. I'm not sure I'll go this year. It's a great event, but the Mob Museum is part of a couple different Downtown groups that are promoting a punitive anti-homeless law, so I'm inclined to boycott them. Also (possibly related) the director of the museum is a huge dick and I don't like the idea of funding his salary. But I dunno. It was super fun, and I'm relatively certain I ate/drank more than the ticket cost last year.
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Nov 22, 2019 23:00
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I hope y'all survived New Years without too much trouble. I've been sort of laying low and cooking at home for a while now (thanks Christmas debt!), but there are new things and news things to talk about. - Garagiste Wine Room opened in late November. It's in the Arts District, next to CraftHaus, across from Esther's Kitchen. Their wine list is heavy on quirky, interesting stuff, and they've jumped hard on the natural wine train. I'm not a fan of natural wine cultists, but the Garagiste staff is un-snooty and accommodating. They have some unusual ciders (including one or two Basque models) and beers on hand as well. They're a very good stop, and the pricing is reasonable - strongly recommended. - I ran into Justin Kingsley Hall (formerly head of Kitchen at Atomic, chef de cuisine at Sparrow & Wolf before that) in early December. He's aiming for a late January/early February opening for Main Street Provisions. Build-out is going well, and the menu is mostly set. I plan to be there day 1 of soft open. Justin is a goddamn wizard of pig fat, and drat good at a lot of other things as well. - CraftHaus has announced their fifth annual Comrade Day, February 1st. Comrade is their yearly imperial Russian stout release. It's a drat fine beer, and they generally have 4-5 variations to enjoy as well. On Comrade Day only, fans can bring in half-growlers from previous years to be filled - aside from that day, it's taproom only. This year they're not producing a new half-growler; instead, they're pre-filling crowlers to help streamline beer-getting for patrons. Regulars can still bring in old glassware to fill, however. This is not a ticketed event - it's just show up, drink beer, socialize. Typically they open the brewery space for additional seating. I'd expect a food truck or three to show up as well. - On Wednesday, I was in Chinatown and finally indulged an obsession I've been harboring for a few months: Myungrang Hot Dog. They're located in Shanghai Plaza, just east of Arville on the north side of Spring Mountain. It's a Korean chain that makes street food-style corn dogs. Why was I obsessed with them? Four words: Squid Ink Corn Dog.  It's high-quality hot dog (all-beef I'd guess from the taste), topped with a chunk of mozzarella cheese and dunked in batter, then fried. The squid ink is in the batter only, and doesn't contribute much to the flavor - but the color contrast speaks for itself. This was definitely the best corn dog I've ever had. I'll be back. Maybe next time they'll actually have the spicy rice cake side dish; they were out of it at 5pm on a Wednesday, which seems kind of silly. Note for vegetarians: they do some sausage-free stuff covered with batter, so there are some options here if you don't mind it being in the same fryer oil. Everything on the menu is under $5, so this is a great inexpensive snack option in Chinatown. - Allan Harrison, head brewer of Astronomy Aleworks, is going to open a side project bar on the second floor of Three Sheets some time soon. He'll be essentially gypsy brewing at his own brewery, using the Mad Fermentationist brand. He's got logoed glassware and other swag planned. Since the licensing is handled mostly through Three Sheets, he's planning a quick open - possibly some time in February. Allan's a great brewer and a pretty cool guy to chat with (especially about music, he's an old heavy metal guitarist), so I'm hopeful this project will work out well. - Bad news for those excited for Rose Signor's (formerly manager of Atomic) planned tap room and bottle shop in the Arts District: it's been delayed, maybe indefinitely. Problems with the building, from what I understand. Rose and her business partner Andrew are picking up shifts at Hardway 8 in the meantime, classing up the cocktail menu and training new staff in the arts of cocktailing and pint pouring.
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Jan 10, 2020 23:02
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Mr. Wiggles posted:Starboard tack still doesn't have centerbe. That's a paddlin' next time I see Bryant.
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Jan 11, 2020 00:30
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DC Murderverse posted:i'm a big dumb idiot who hasn't checked into this thread since I went to vegas but the combination of Raku, Cleaver and Bouchon was pretty much perfect. I'm glad you enjoyed everything. This town is getting pretty awesome for food in general, but Raku is still one of the best. I've been trying out Ethiopian restaurants lately, hoping to find some best-ofs to recommend since it's a delightful cuisine not enough people know about. The food is delicious, and in most places the veggie dishes are fully vegan, so it's the perfect food to enjoy with veg*ans who aren't into eating potato chips and candy all the time. Last night I went blind to a place Google calls Gir Giro, on Decatur just north of Spring Mountain. They recently changed their name to Zee's, after the owner, but the internets haven't caught up yet. It's a small bakery/cafe with about six tables in the front (including one al fresco which I imagine gets used about twice a year). Their menu is a little more diverse than some of the mom-and-pop spots I've tried; along with the ubiquitous mesir wat, gomen, tibs, etc., they offer the harder to find kitfo and gored gored. Unfortunately, I was there on a Wednesday, so they weren't serving "fresh meat." (It's a religious thing - Wednesdays, Fridays, and all of Lent are meat-free "fasting days" in Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.) Seeing my disappointment at missing out on kitfo, Zee was nice enough to offer me some beef tibs, and I accepted even though I LOVE Ethiopian veggie dishes. I got a generous portion of the main dish, along with a big scoop of some of the best mesir wat I've ever had - rich, smooth, and perfectly seasoned. The house-made injera was special, too: more tender and assertively sour, perfect with both parts of the meal. The food was great. The "Ethiopian spiced tea" I ordered with the meal was great. The price (just over $20 for a very big meal) was great. The three Ethiopian dudes talking and laughing as they drank their coffee at the next table were great. After my meal I talked with Zee briefly, and he mentioned plans to make his place a little more approachable for people unfamiliar with Ethiopian food. He's bought a buffet service table, and starting in a couple of weeks he's going to offer food "like Panda, but Ethiopian," so people can see what they're ordering. With a lot of cuisines this would worry me, because holding trays aren't a great place for a lot of foods. But stewy Ethiopian classics should for the most part work fine - and if it gets more people comfortable enough to walk in and order, it's a fantastic idea. So, locals, check out Zee's Ethiopian. But take some friends - this food is better when shared, whether you order from a menu or wait for the "safe" cafeteria-style serving. I don't know if Zee's will end up on my shortlist (and therefore on the goonmap), but they're definitely high on my list so far.
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Jan 23, 2020 22:04
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Wiggles, if you have any favorite Ethiopian spots I'd love to hear them. I'm flying blind right now, which is fun but I'm sure others would enjoy another perspective as well. Speaking of perspective, sometimes marketing derails an otherwise promising restaurant. A taqueria in Chinatown is a fine idea; I have it on good authority the truck across from Chinatown Plaza is one of the best Mexican places in town. Speakeasies are still cool and neat and all, and making one based around agave spirits is novel for this town. But what the gently caress are the marketing drones doing? quote:specialty dishes such as the Goin’ in Deep with ground beef pico, white cheddar, and jalapeno, all Injected with nacho cheese and sour cream in an empanada shell; the Pullin’ Out with pulled pork, beans, and kimchi on a Hawaiian roll taco shell; and the Fresh Prince with steak, peppers, white cheddar, mushrooms, and onions in a puff tortilla. What twelve year old did they consult for those food and drink names? Who thought the worst part of Hawaiian food was the best thing to use in a fusion dish? Who was clamoring for a Will Smith reference in a cheesesteak taco? Why does every one of those agave spirit drinks sound like they don't want to taste the agave? I rarely get angry at a restaurant before walking in the door. The last time was F Pigale, the execrable and thankfully short-lived fondue restaurant Downtown. But I kind of hate these guys for being frat bro douches and swaggering into Chinatown to make oh-so-clever dick jokes and dickish food. ...I'll still probably check them out. But my expectations are low. In more interesting culinary (fe: actually, drinky) news: - CraftHaus Brewery is doing Comrade Day, the annual release of their Imperial Russian Stout, on February 1st. They'll have 9 variations on draft, plus crowlers (that's a growler-sized can) to go of the base beer, food, and probably some other fun stuff. This is a day of major debauchery and I strongly recommend it. - Sake in the Alley, the newest Ferguson's event, is happening tomorrow. Tickets are still on sale through Eventbrite. - Banger Brewing's 6th anniversary party is also happening tomorrow, and it's in walking distance of Sake in the Alley. I don't recommend doing both, but it's technically possible. - Beer Zombies Festival, probably the best general beer fest in Vegas, is on February 29th at Skinny Fats.
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Jan 24, 2020 22:42
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Mr. Wiggles posted:Bart, have you found anyone doing take away cocktails? All the good places in Reno are, but all my favorite spots here (herbs, starboard, etc) seem to be closed closed closed. The problem is with municipalities. Las Vegas is allowing alcohol delivery from liquor stores but not restaurants as far as I know (but I haven't checked yet today). Henderson hasn't even allowed delivery from liquor stores yet, which is loving dumb but here we are. Clark County is, I think, allowing both, but most cocktail places are in Paradise which is a separate municipality mostly dominated by Strip interests. So, probably not a ton of interest in letting the little guys deliver. That's my understanding of the situation, anyhow. There is hope, though. Many breweries are doing pickup. CraftHaus is doing curbside pickup of cans and (new olnly) growlers at their Henderson location Thursday through Sunday. They were authorized by the city to do pickups in the Arts District as well, but stopped offering that last week without a word. Strangely, Garagiste (which is right next door to CHAD) announced today they're doing wine pickup AND delivery, so I'm not sure why CHAD stopped doing pickup. Astronomy Aleworks is doing curbside growler fills (new glass only,), and Vegas Valley Winery is selling curbside Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday, with 10% off for orders of six or more bottles and a free dessert with every order. Bad Beat is doing growler refills and can sales, but they're announcing hours every day. They're also on my poo poo list again, but that's a social thing that has nothing to do with their mostly quite good products. Tenaya Creek is doing growler fills, though I'm not sure if they're taking refills or requiring a new purchase. There are probably some others as well, but those are the ones I'm aware of from the Vegas beer scene people I talk to. Let's talk about restaurants and other food-related businesses that are trying to stay alive through this, maybe we can preserve one or two of them. Valley Cheese and Wine is open every day, doing curbside pickup for wine, cheese, and charcuterie. Order through their website (weirdly it's changed to valleycheeseandwine.org) or call them. Esther's Kitchen isn't open, but they're baking their exceptional sourdough some days. It's a small number and the only way to find out is watch James Trees's personal Facebook page (content warning: some politics) and he'll announce it a couple of hours before the loaves are ready. I know some of the pizza places are doing everything they can, but I don't know who's doing what very well. Maybe ogopogo can give us an update? Hardway 8 is offering delivery and take-out. Every order made directly through them (instead of GrubHub et al.) gets a free roll of toilet paper or small bottle of hand sanitizer. Get the nachos, they're loving outstanding and could serve 2-3 easily. Their sister bar/restaurant, Starboard Tack, remains closed until at least April 18th. Post anything else y'all know about. This thread won't be for tourists for a while, but maybe we can all eat better while staying safe.
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Apr 9, 2020 03:29
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This couldn't be more precisely in my wheelhouse, and as promotions go it's a pretty good idea:CraftHaus posted:Our friend, Chef Justin Kingsley Hall has created a special for you this weekend. He slow simmered heirloom beans in pork, molasses and Belgard, Coffee Stout. The special offers four, 8oz servings (total 32oz) of luscious, smokey, sexy baked beans and a six pack of Belgard, Coffee Stout. Limited number of specials. Pick up Henderson Taproom Fri-Sun Noon-4pm. Order online https://crafthausbrewery.com/shop Too many adjectives aside, Justin is a wizard of pork and I expect those beans to be among the best ever produced. If you need a side dish and some beer, I doubt you could do better than this. Khoury's Fine Wine and Spirits is doing a Czech natural wine deal. quote:Three bottles of @milannestarec youngsters wines for only $80! Youngster is Milan’s “nouveau” style wines. Made using organic grapes, indigenous yeast, and zero sulfites added. As chuggable and fun as you can get! I'm not 100% sold on the natural wine movement, but there are some pretty interesting ones. I'm particularly fond of Czech wines (I've spent a good deal of time in the area these were produced) and will probably pick them up for old time's sake. Khoury's is also offering a mixed four-pack of Modern Times beers for $15, if that's more your speed. Their liquor selection is also well-curated, and the staff is typically pretty knowledgeable. Lee's Discount Liquors is still delivering to Las Vegas and Mesquite; Henderson is still dragging its feet on delivery policy. Why yes I am paying more attention than usual to alcohol sources, why do you ask?
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Apr 16, 2020 14:57
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Well, some places are starting to reopen. Whether it's a good idea or not is a matter of who you're listening to (I happen to think it's not). But here we are. Plans I know of: For breweries: - Able Baker has increased the distance between their tables and is open for normal business hours. - CraftHaus plans to open both taprooms (with outdoor seating at both, at least until someone official tells them they can't) on Friday the 15th. Curbside and to-go will both be maintained for those who prefer them. The Henderson taproom is getting a fancy new bar top; sadly, nobody will be allowed to sit at it. - As for the rest of the Henderson Booze District, Astronomy is still doing curbside pickup only, and they're new-growler-only. Bad Beat hasn't announced any plans to change from curbside-only either. Las Vegas Distillery has been producing hand sanitizer instead of booze, and from what I hear they'll be continuing that for a while yet. Vegas Valley Winery does curbside (growlers of cider as well as bottles of wine) on Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday with no public plans to open. - Big Dog's Brewing posted on the 9th saying to stay tuned for reopening information "next week." Tenaya Creek remains curbside only. - Mojave Brewing remains closed; they posted on the 9th saying to look for an update "any day now." I suspect, as the newest place in town, they're waiting to see how other breweries handle things... - ...including their neighbors Lovelady , who are supposed to announce an opening time this week. On the opposite of opening news, Joseph James Brewing announced they're closing "indefinitely." This is, from everything my industry contacts tell me, a permanent closing. Unfortunately they've been fully owned by an investment firm out of Colorado for years, and investment firms aren't big on weathering a storm when they can just sell off equipment and divest. I haven't heard if any of the crew is being picked up by other breweries, but it wouldn't surprise me. There are a couple of very talented brewers up for grabs now. Restaurants: Carson Kitchen hasn't announced any definitive plans, but I know they're reopening soon. One of their executive chefs was in Atlanta last week helping that location reopen, and flew back to town this weekend to start the same procedure here. Soon(tm), I'd guess. Esther's Kitchen posted the following on Facebook: quote:Ok Everyone: let's make this official! We will begin the reopening process this Friday at 5 p.m. This will be a gradual process! Here is the specific plan: Sparrow + Wolf has confirmed will reopen in June, and not before. Lamaii is open 11am-midnight daily, reservation required. They offer delivery (in a small radius) and curbside pickup as well. Last month's special of 30% off all wines seems to still be going on, which is neat. bartolimu fucked around with this message at 14:38 on May 12, 2020 |
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May 12, 2020 14:33
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Well, it's begun. Three restaurants announcing permanent closures due to COVID-related losses. Brio in Tivoli Village is one; its parent company declared bankruptcy. Hamptons and Ben’Zaa (same restaurant group) are also permanently closing. Of those, I'd only been to Brio, and only once to pick up some catered stuff for a friend's wedding reception. But I doubt these are the last closures. On a more hopeful note, Settebello's Henderson will be opening for dine-in starting today, reservation only.
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May 14, 2020 14:37
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So. This thread needs an update. Vaccines are rolling out to high-priority populations and will be widely available in a matter of months. The comeback is, we can hope, real (and in part subsidized by our administrations' willingness to stay open despite being a superspreader destination, but let's not litigate that here). Our restaurant scene has proven more resilient than I'd feared, to my great relief. We've had a few new openings as well. I'll highlight what I'm aware of. Other Vegas folks, please do the same. I'll update the restaurant list in the second post as much as I can. 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. For Henderson locals, the (imo) most exciting development on Water Street is the opening of Fratelli's Pizza Kitchen. Owned by the same family as UNLV-adjacent favorite Cugino's, they've got the same New York style pizza, hot and cold subs, and a few other specialties on offer. Unlike Cugino's, they don't have a deli counter or much in the way of specialty grocery items. But the white clam pizza is the best in town, and the Donnie's Special sub - a fantastic combo of fresh house-made mozz, roasted red pepper, fried chicken cutlet, and balsamic vinaigrette - remains one of my favorite lunches ever. 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. 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. They seem to be running a lot of secretmenu deals as well at the moment. We'll see if that continues as things (hopefully) return to normal. Since I haven't been out in nine months, I haven't been talking to my usual information sources. Hopefully the industry folks who hang out here can give us some more updates. e: I either never mentioned it for forgot to change the second post, so: Valley Cheese and Wine has sold a second time. The new proprietor, Diana, is a Certified Cheese Professional and overall badass of dairy. The wine shelves are maintained by a team of her on-staff somm and previous owner Solene; it leans a little more to the French/budget categories than it did under the original ownership, but there's still plenty to love. They've put in taps for beer and wine, and you can order cheese plates to eat there if you're inclined to have a snack. They also do outstanding cheese/meat/etc. trays for parties, just like always. bartolimu fucked around with this message at 01:51 on Feb 1, 2021 |
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Feb 1, 2021 01:19
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Thanks to my employer and Nevada's surprisingly decent vaccine rollout, I've gotten both shots and am able to go out with vaccinated friends. I can't adequately express what I felt when I sat down with a buddy at the Esther's bar for brunch, but holy poo poo was it good to be back. My trips have been limited to the Arts District so far (fewer tourists, fewer people in general), but don't worry ogopogo - Yukon Pizza is calling my name. A trip up to check out Vegas Test Kitchen will happen some time soon. Jammyland is open as of March 4th, with lots of seating on their patio and a few indoor tables as well. No bar seating just yet, sadly. Judging from my brief visit, the cocktail program and beef patties are both as good as ever. I had the 15 Mile Limit, a hot mezcal cocktail with Abuelita chocolate ("the real thing!" the menu says), Ancho Reyes, and Jelinek Fernet. Garnished with a marshmallow set aflame tableside. It's smoky agave-y hot chocolate and I loved it. Hours currently are Thursday-Sunday 4-midnight. The wait to visit Main Street Provisions was excruciating, but I've now been there for dinner twice. The food is fantastic - new American with a country accent, very much Justin Hall's food if you're familiar. Highlights: venison tataki; scotch duck egg; charred sweet potato with BBQ beets. Their cocktail program is pretty limited and I wouldn't make them a drinking destination, but they've got enough variety to have something interesting with/after dinner. The highlight of my trips to the Arts District, though, was the long-awaited Silver Stamp. It's my new favorite bar in town. It's got the feel of an old, comfy neighborhood bar, with a diverse and interesting beer list. Their amaro collection is outstanding too, and Andrew and Rose are working on some amaro cocktails. They're not licensed for anything over 20% abv, but don't let that deter you from trying whatever they come up with. And if that's not enough, among their can/bottle collection you'll find a stellar Basque cider (in cans, weirdly, but still great) and some other interesting stuff. Bar snacks include some extremely good pickled eggs served in an antique-style glass chicken dish, two for $5. I'm not sure I can come within five miles of Silver Stamp without feeling obligated to show up, sit down at the bar, and just vegetate for a while. They nailed it.
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Mar 10, 2021 22:08
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Yukon Pizza status: legit AF Neapolitan Pepperoni with pickled onions. Extremely good,. and very quickly prepared. I don't get up around DTLV much anymore but Test Kitchen will be high on my list when I do.
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Mar 18, 2021 22:27
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Yeah. I was a bit hungover (Justin's whiskey dinner plus Silver Stamp will do that, apparently) and didn't feel like bothering you at the start of lunch rush, but that was me. The salad was drat good too, and very generous.
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Mar 19, 2021 00:48
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I was on a nice long vacation to California and found this place. Had to get a photo for everyone's favorite pizzagoon: They're in East LA. The beer was okay, ciders were pretty good.
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Jun 26, 2021 19:22
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Ladies and gentlemen, the most important food event of the year has been announced and tickets are on sale NOW! https://www.vegasunstripped.com/ Unstripped is local chefs' response to being excluded from Food & Wine's Vegas Food Festival in favor of out-of-towner celebrity chefs with Strip restaurants. It's like that stupid festival, but off-Strip, with better food, better attitude, and better drinks. It is in short the best money you can possibly spend on food in Vegas. Early bird special is $95 tickets, which is enough to pay for the Lyft you'll need to get there because goddrat does the booze flow like water. If you're in Vegas, buy a ticket for this. If you're thinking of visiting Vegas, get a ticket for this and plan your trip around it. It's just. Plain. Awesome.
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Jul 1, 2021 15:38
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Festival(ish) alert!quote:The Las Vegas Pizza Alliance welcomes you to a night of local slices and pizza celebration with all proceeds supporting Slice Out Hunger on Monday, August 16, 2021 from 7:30-9:30pm. Pizza Expo attendees and local Vegas pizza lovers are welcome to join us for samples from five of the city’s best pizza and beer from Crafthaus Brewery. Tickets are just $25 and capacity is severely limited so get yours today! For the price it's exceptional value, and it's a good place to start out before heading to the Stamp, or any number of other area attractions. Tickets here: https://sliceouthunger.org/las-vegas-pizza-alliance-welcome-party-2021
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Aug 3, 2021 03:27
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None of those are bad spots, but not going to the Arts District at all seems like a bad idea. Even if just for drinks or something.
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Aug 14, 2021 05:23
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Mr. Wiggles posted:We do have a bunch of really good Ethiopian places, but you'll need a good sized group to do that. BC I was doing a solo survey of Ethiopian places trying to figure out which ones I liked best. And while it's definitely better with a group, you can totally order a large meal for one or take some stuff home. Probably the best place I tried was Zee Vegas Ethiopian at Decatur and Pioneer, which Google Maps had as Gir Giro LV for reasons I can't quite understand. GMaps has them as "temporarily closed" but they also report a new Korean restaurant in the area. There were two other businesses in that building, so hope isn't completely lost, but I'm concerned. Best thing about Zee was their injera; they were a bakery and I think provided for a couple of other restaurants, so the injera was super fresh and had the best texture I've found in town. Back in late 2019 when I visited, the owner (Zee, naturally) was planning to buy a buffet service table and have a lot of the stewed dishes on display so non-Ethiopian people would feel more comfortable ordering. He said he was turning into the "Panda Express of Ethiopian food." I admired his entrepreneurial spirit. Hopefully he didn't go out of business and we'll get to see his genius at work. I'll have to check out BG Bistro, hadn't heard of them. The menu looks outstanding. seance snacks, I just want to point out that Raku isn't a dedicated sushi restaurant. They have a significant amount of sushi and sashimi on the menu, and if you request an omakase that concentrates on that they'll make adjustments. But the whole meal will be amazing regardless. If you're looking for a 100% sushi meal, though, I would suggest Kabuto, which concentrates on traditional Tokyo-style sushi and is in the same mini-mall as Raku. I haven't been, but reviews are uniformly great. Then go for dessert next door at Raku Sweets. Otherwise, you could consider Sen of Japan - it's farther afield than the other two options, but it's excellent. Last time I was there (it's been quite a while), the omakase was more sushi-forward than Raku's. That said, if I had to choose between the two just based on value and enjoyment, Raku would win for me.
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Aug 16, 2021 00:44
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ogopogo posted:If you see this bottle, get one I'm guessing Garagiste will have that since it's a natural wine. Last night I took my cousin out for a night on the Arts District. We started with cocktails at Jammyland. They have a pina colada variation made with Lagavulin 8-year that is absolutely astounding. I'd say about half of people will love it and the other half will think we're crazy. Seek it out if you're at all into that smoky/iodine/saline flavor Islays get. Second stop was CraftHaus to try their new michelada flavor: tom yum. Yeah, they made a Thai soup flavored michelada, with dried shrimp on the rim. And it's...okay I guess? Very savory, obviously, with a touch of spice and some background coconut/fish sauce/lime flavors. Definitely weird. We did dinner at Main Street Provisions since Esther's was booked until 10:00 that night. The shrimp and grits special is phenomenal - the entire shrimp is crispy and edible, and the grits are super creamy. The usual veggie sides (harissa carrots, Ernie's Birds salad, radishes and green things) were as good as ever. And the Basque cheesecake is happily on the menu permanently. Servehza was way too busy (as usual) so we headed straight to Silver Stamp and spent the next few hours talking with all my friends who happened by. It was a good night. Stamp still has the Basque cider on, along with some great classic German stuff.
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Aug 22, 2021 01:22
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Mr. Wiggles posted:Gotta save my party for next weekend at Punk Rock Bowling. Next weekend is also CraftHaus's 7th anniversary party, which is where I'll be. Agreeing with Wiggles on the nam kao tod - it's one of the best things on Lotus's menu, and nobody else in town does it as well. Lamaii had it on the menu briefly right after they opened, but it was a sad shadow of what Lotus makes and was off the menu the next time I went. Right choice IMO. In other news, Motley Brews made the official announcement today that Downtown Brew Fest will require proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID test for admission. That's a good step, I think. Unfortunately that fest is the same day as Vegas Unstripped, which is absolutely the better value even though their tickets are up to full price now. And Unstripped is requiring vax proof, no quarter for negative tests. For those wondering what to expect at Unstripped or on the fence about buying a ticket despite my incessant urging, the list of participating chefs is on LV Weekly. Highlighted chefs I'm familiar with: Brian Howard from Sparrow + Wolf (known for whole hog butchery, familiar dishes with inspired variations, and excellent vegan options) Justin Kingsley Hall from Main St. Provisions (known for mastery of game meat and perhaps the best salad on the planet) (I'm eating there tonight with friends and it's gonna be great) James Trees of Esther's Kitchen (homemade pasta, the best porchetta in town, some of the best bread in town, etc.) Kai Vu from District One (famous for whole-lobster pho but also the source of outstanding green papaya salad and a lot of great small plates) Jamie Tran of The Black Sheep, probably the best restaurant in SW Vegas And what I'm provisionally calling Team Pizza: John Arena (Metro Pizza, local family place and a pillar of the Vegas pizza community) Gio Mauro (Pizzeria Monzu, best crust in town) Michael Vakneen (Pop Up Pizza) and Floriana Pastore (Signora Pizza), both of whom I'm unfamiliar with Bruce Kalman of Soulbelly BBQ will be there; he's also catering the VIP area for CraftHaus's anniversary party. I've heard good things, will make a trip report if I think of it. And there are about ten more chefs whose restaurants I haven't visited but have heard good things about. As usual, the fest is a rogue's gallery of the best off-Strip dining in town. I'm sad to not see Saipin Chutima (Lotus of Siam) on the list this year as last Unstripped I ate about 3000 calories of beef tartare from her, but that's about the only disappointment I see.
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Sep 17, 2021 20:21
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Mr. Wiggles posted:For a sushi omakase, I would suggest Sushi Kame on spring mountain. Bart has some other good places he knows about too. I liked Sen of Japan when I did their omakase, very reasonably priced and sushi-centric. Probably not quite the quality level of Kame, but the Sen chef is the guy who opened Nobu Las Vegas so he knows a thing or three. Trip report on Soul Belly BBQ from the CraftHaus anniversary party: excellent brisket. Pretty good pulled pork. Great jalapeno-infused coleslaw. Whatever they bring to Unstripped, it'll be outstanding. Trip report on CraftHaus 7th anniversary party: what I remember of it was very fun, though attendance seemed a lot lower than two years ago. Hopefully they managed a profit and will continue doing the events. They had a bunch of barrel aged beers that were okay-to-great, plus several new brews - including an Imperial Czech Pilsner (which isn't really a thing over there but hey) that I liked a whole lot. Fun time, thanks Uber receipts for letting me know how I got home.
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Sep 30, 2021 00:29
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We should've planned a goon meeting spot or something. I never even saw Mr. Wiggles, despite the small venue. Best dish of the night for me was that beef cheek with bone marrow arancini. Justin Kingsley Hall's kingfish with smoked shellfish topping and Gina Marinelli's seafood cassoulet were tied for second. Biggest surprise was Gio Mauro's spleen sandwich, absolutely delicious and the kind of thing he could never sell in his restaurant even though it was amazing. Everything was really good, though. After the fest I hit Silver Stamp and got to hang out with Rose and Andrew at the bar for a while, which is a rare treat. Had some amaro to help the digestion. Still, I may not eat until Tuesday. While the food for Unstripped was great and the drinks crew knocked it out of the park as always, there were some problems with the event. Hopefully the newly-formed Feast of Friends group will learn some lessons from this and improve the experience for next time.
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Oct 17, 2021 22:04
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So, with the biggest culinary event of the season done, is there anything else to drink or eat worth a drat in this stupid town? Well yes. A short list of things to be excited about : Chef Brian Howard of Sparrow & Wolf was at Unstripped not only for S&W's excellent stuff, but also to promote his new restaurant: Half Bird Chicken & Beer. They had a drat good (and loving massively-portioned) Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich at the event, and they've teased rotisserie chicken and a banh mi on social media. Full menu has not been posted but I'd expect a surprise or two to come - including a secret menu item for their first 500 Instagram followers. They're up to 385 at the moment if any of you are interested in that sort of thing. Half Bird's location is two blocks east of Sparrow & Wolf, in the same impossible-to-find-a-spot parking lot as Golden Tiki. I look forward to having to walk from Sparrow's parking lot just to eat the chicken. Russell Gardner, currently a bartender for Astronomy and long-time centerpiece of the Vegas beer scene (he was Nevada's first cicerone), is opening a new pub: Red Dwarf. Features include Detroit-style pizza from a custom-made oven, tiki style cocktails, and a divey-but-crafty beer list with an emphasis on budget friendliness. They have a stage with plans for frequent live music performances. The bar itself will be non-smoking, with a nice open patio for the smokers. Russell says he's in the Actually Close to Opening phase - before Thanksgiving or just after if the inspections don't sync up. Red Dwarf is at the corner of Maryland Parkway and Desert Inn - close-ish to Downtown and the Arts District but far enough away to keep the rent down and drinks affordable. Please be sure to mention to Russell how much his logo looks like the ASU Sun Devil, he loving loves that. If you're a stunt beer fan, CraftHaus has you covered. Last Friday they released Killer Bunny, a "carrot cake beer" that is a huge desserty mess of sweetness and baking spice. And tomorrow they're re-releasing Sugoi, their strawberry lactose IPA that made a huge splash last year and sold out the day it was released. Astronomy has been getting in on the adjunct action too, releasing a pumpkin spice coffee blond with cacao nibs called Cheers To Being Happy AF, as well as a non-adjunct 9.1% stout called Imperial Stout Destroyer. Both are pretty tasty for their styles. I've heard from multiple sources that Velveteen Rabbit has returned to form and is producing some drat amazing cocktails with their latest menu. Haven't gotten a chance to drop in yet (drat you, Silver Stamp, why must you be so perfect?) but highlights include the Exquisite Corpse (coffee-infused tequila, ube agave syrup, lemon juice, chocolate bitters, and tonic) and the Roast Beast (ribeye fat-washed scotch, cognac, and charred rosemary syrup). The menu will change in a week or three, so be sure to check them out soon. Silver Stamp's draft list is even better than usual these days, including a Stamp semi-exclusive collab brew featuring wandering brewer Juxta Nomad (formerly Kyle, head brewer of Joseph James) and Bad Beat called Kveikrowave. As you might guess from the name, it's made using kveik - Norwegian farmhouse yeast that has existed in relative isolation in remote farm communities for 300 years. It's neat stuff on the technical end; for casual drinkers, it's a softer, slightly less-attenuated flavor profile. Kveikrowave is spiced with chamomile, and the result is a soothing herbaceous drink that is entirely crushable at under 5% abv. Rose and Andrew are also tapping some kegs of aged classics - Scheider Aventinus vintage 2017 was on last weekend - and have plans to bring in more interesting/niche beers soon. And finally, my multi-talented buddy Manny Franco (bartender at CraftHaus, itinerant musician, cook, and all around mensch) is starting a food truck called Somethin' to Taco 'Bout. It is, as you might imagine, a taco truck. F&F soft open is this weekend; I'll try to remember to post photos of the finished product. He's been catering friends' events and developing his menu for a while and I've been very much looking forward to buying his food. bartolimu fucked around with this message at 22:15 on Oct 21, 2021 |
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Oct 21, 2021 19:48
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Nevada Public Radio released their annual Restaurant Awards. Highlights: Kaiseki Yuzu for Asian Restaurant of the Year Silver Stamp for Bar of the Year. The "Platonic ideal of a beer bar," and the best bar in the universe. Okay, that last bit was my own comment, but yeah. Congrats to Rose and Andrew, it's well deserved. Bazaar Meat for Strip Restaurant of the Year James Trees got top marks, both for Best Management/Service at Al Solito Posto and Chef of the Year for being just plain a badass. Main Street Provisions for New Restaurant of the Year Lots of love for the Arts District, which is great to see.
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Nov 16, 2021 07:09
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