Everything Las Vegas - Restaurant Reviews http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/ This is ONLY for restaurant reviews. Please no dining questions here... en Sat, 25 May 2013 06:39:40 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/images/misc/rss.png Everything Las Vegas - Restaurant Reviews http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/ Presidio http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16319-Presidio&goto=newpost Tue, 07 May 2013 20:13:26 GMT *Presidio brings new look, menu and hours to the District at GVR. * BY: Brocke Radke/Las Vegas Weekly. Attachment 2248 (http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2248) If you haven’t visited Presidio at the District at Green Valley Ranch, the restaurant formerly known as... Presidio brings new look, menu and hours to the District at GVR.
BY: Brocke Radke/Las Vegas Weekly.

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If you haven’t visited Presidio at the District at Green Valley Ranch, the restaurant formerly known as Kennedy, get ready for a shock. It’s the same space, but it’s hard to tell. The front patio has expanded into a full-on outdoor lounge, and a wall of windows floods the formerly cavernous room with bright natural light, which bounces off the long sleek bar and a vibrant green wall. It feels more spacious, mostly because the ceiling is higher.

Presidio’s fresh new look comes compliments of Pete Kaufman’s District Tavern Group. Kaufman opened Balboa Pizza Company at the District in 2005 and acquired the Kennedy space and its sports bar neighbor, Al’s Garage, about a year ago. “We always knew we wanted to do something different with it,” Kaufman says. “As Kennedy, it was a little more high end, more of a dark, nighttime bar. We thought, let’s open it up. We changed everything.”

Well, not everything. They kept the staff. And the laid-back vibe at Al’s Garage hasn’t changed. But now, gamers can take advantage of looser slot play at all three District venues, and everyone can take advantage of the fact that Balboa, Al’s and Presidio are open 24 hours.

“The way we see it, we are a locally owned and operated group that caters to the people who live in this area, and that includes swing shift workers,” says Kaufman, who was a casino host at the Bellagio for seven years before getting his own management group together. “At Balboa, we always straddled the line between family restaurant, a really fun bar and a late-night place, and we think we can do that at all these places.”

Presidio has an all-new menu and is serving breakfast for the first time. Plenty of reasonably priced fan favorites have been added, like chicken parmesan and a rustic French dip sandwich. “There are quite a few new appetizers,” Kaufman says, referring to items like rare ahi tuna on crispy won ton chips and grilled beef and blue cheese on toasted bread with caramelized onions.

In keeping with the new San Francisco theme, seafood entrees include blackened salmon and seafood diavolo, and the kitchen is preparing to roll out five North Beach-style pasta dishes. “We really try to react to what we hear and incorporate our customers’ wishes,” Kaufman says. “Between these three places, there is definitely something for everybody.”

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011...-new-hours-gv/
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]]> Restaurant Reviews Steve http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16319-Presidio Nagoya http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16318-Nagoya&goto=newpost Tue, 07 May 2013 20:11:23 GMT Rush hour.
Nagoya, which pairs sushi with brown rice, can make for a hurried and ultimately frustrating dining experience,

BY: AL MANCINI/Las Vegas City Life

Sometimes, I'm forced to ask myself: "What the hell is this restaurant thinking?!"

Take for example, Nagoya, a Japanese restaurant on Fort Apache Road, just south of Tropicana Avenue. I was originally intrigued by the news it offered sushi on brown rice. As a purist, the idea sounded like an abomination. But realizing many people are on whole-grain-only diets, I thought it would be worth checking out. Sadly, that wasn't easy.

When my wife and I sat down at Nagoya's sushi bar, the sushi chef and waitress immediately asked if we wanted the all-you-can-eat deal. Before answering, I asked if it was true they offered sushi made with brown rice. The answers began flying fast and furious in broken English. "Only on rolls." "There's an extra charge." "Only a la carte, not in the all-you-can-eat special."

When I asked if we could pay a little extra to mix white-rice nigiri with brown-rice rolls in the special, I felt increasingly rushed. Nobody directly answered the question. Instead, both insisted we should just stick to the basic white-rice, all-you-can-eat deal. Frustrated, I agreed.

I continued to feel rushed throughout my meal. When we ordered about half-a-dozen types of sushi, the chef delivered them at a lightning-fast pace. But while prompt service is generally a good thing, he insisted on giving them to us one fish at a time, with two to four pieces on each plate. Since there wasn't enough room for that many plates in front of us, we were forced to practically inhale each delivery to make room for the next arrival. And as soon as we finished one order, it felt like the staff was breathing down our necks.

When the staff began mopping behind the counter, I suspected we'd arrived near closing time. That might explain, if not justify, the rushed attitude and their desire to steer us away from a product that might be out of stock. But when we left, at 8:45 p.m., I noted that the closing time was 11!

Under normal circumstances, that would have been my last experience at Nagoya. But I was still curious about that brown rice sushi. So the next afternoon I called and learned it was available only on rolls, as I'd been told. But I was also told those rolls could, in fact, be included in the all-you-can-eat deal for an extra charge of $1.

I returned that afternoon to get a takeout order of a spicy spider roll with brown rice. They served me -- but the very next day, they told my photographer they'd removed brown rice from the sushi menu! Since they seem to be batshit crazy with regard to this item, I decided it's still worth writing about -- just in case you happen to be there on a day they want to serve it.

In all honesty, brown rice on sushi isn't bad. But I can't see any reason to ever order it, unless you're on a restricted diet. A lot of people don't realize that in Japan, rice is considered the most important part of sushi. Special short-grain rice is used because of its stickiness. Apprentice chefs can spend months, sometimes years, learning how to properly cook that rice with vinegar and other ingredients.

Brown rice just doesn't have the taste or texture of real sushi rice. More importantly, it doesn't hold together -- which is probably why Nagoya doesn't offer it with nigiri. Even the rice paper on my spider roll proved unable to keep it from falling apart. While I didn't try it with a more traditional nori (seaweed) wrapper, I suspect that might hold up a bit better.

For those who are on a restricted diet, however, the brown rice option gives you the chance to enjoy some form of sushi with your friends. And while service sucks, the sushi is generally pretty good -- at least by all-you-can-eat standards. And the special ($19.95; $23.95 for dinner), includes most common varieties of sushi. Tobiko (flying fish roe) is conspicuously absent, while amaebi (sweet shrimp) and uni (sea urchin) are available during dinner hours only, and limited to a single two-piece order of each. But that's fairly common. And the menu includes a tremendous assortment of crazy rolls, noodle dishes, fried rice, soups, appetizers, salads and sides.

If brown rice is your dietary reality, by all means, give Nagoya's sushi a shot -- assuming you can get it.

Nagoya 5025 S. Fort Apache Road; 871-4257.
http://www.lasvegascitylife.com/arti...q_46197779.txt ]]> Restaurant Reviews Steve http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16318-Nagoya Pasta China http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16317-Pasta-China&goto=newpost Tue, 07 May 2013 20:09:57 GMT Fusion fail.
Pasta China might temp foodies with its Italian/Chinese combinations, but its food ultimately underwhelms.

BY: AL MANCINI/Las Vegas City Life

As a foodie, I'm always looking for a chef or a restaurant that brings something new and interesting to the table. And in this economy, I'm always looking for bargains. So I was excited when a friend recommended Pasta China -- an Asian/Italian fusion restaurant on Craig Road near The Cannery, where full meals are priced between $4 and $6! But after two visits, three entrees and two side dishes, there's not much I can comfortably recommend. Not only does the bizarre fusion fails miserably, but the straight-up Italian and Chinese dishes I sampled were boring and bland.

On the surface, combining Italian and Chinese cuisines isn't completely insane. While experts have discredited the legend of Marco Polo bringing pasta from China to Italy, noodles are a staple of both types of cooking. For a gifted chef looking to create interesting fusion dishes, that's a pretty good jumping-off point. Sadly, that's about as far Pasta China gets when it comes to creativity.

The menu is small (although it tends to offer a lot of daily specials). The Italian section offers three types of pasta: chicken Marsala with bacon ($4), rustica ($5) and scampi ($6). The three Chinese pastas are called Dynasty (described only as "spicy braised pork," $4), The Emperor ("cashew chicken," $5) and Ying Yang ("two flavor shrimps," $6). Then there's the fusion section, which boasts five options, such as the signature Pasta China ("stir-fried spaghetti with Chinese sausage, BBQ pork, chicken and [sic] vegi's," $4), Marco Polo ("bow ties tossed in spicy tomato beef sauce," $4) and wonton marinara ("chicken wontons sautéed in marinara cream sauce," $5). A section marked "Goodies" features appetizers and side dishes such as shrimp fried rice ($4), General Tsao chicken wings ($3 for six) and curry beef puffs ($1). There's also a pair of salads ($3) and two desserts ($1).

When I visited Pasta China for lunch, I ordered a fusion pasta called Szechuan Angel ($5) with a pepperoni and sausage egg roll on the side ($1). The order of pasta was unbelievably large, and came with a salad and two pieces of pesto bread. Unfortunately, it was incredibly boring. The menu describes it as angel hair pasta with chicken tossed in a spicy peanut butter sauce. But the sauce was ridiculously bland, the cuts of chicken mediocre and the pasta a little too thick to truly be called angel hair. It was, however, edible -- which is more than I can say for the egg roll. Sure, when you order an egg roll stuffed with two fatty pork products, sauce and cheese, you expect an over-the-top greasy hunk of junk food. But that level of decadence requires serious skill to keep it from being just plain disgusting, which the chef at Pasta China doesn't have.

Not wanting to base my review on two items, I returned the next day for takeout. This time, I avoided the fusion entrees and got a simple rustica pasta and the Ying Yang, along with an egg roll cannoli ($1). Like my previous day's pasta, the rustica was bland, with subpar cuts of chicken and a cream sauce in no way "tart and tangy," as advertised. The small shrimp in the other dish appeared to have been dredged lightly in flour, then sautéed in two sauces: a simple scampi-like garlic preparation and a barely spicy tomato base. They were accompanied by spaghetti in an oregano-heavy red sauce.

On the bright side, the cannoli was actually pretty good, probably because it didn't stray very far from tradition. And the fried chicken and shrimp puffs that accompanied the shrimp were kind of addictive in their greasy simplicity.

I feel a little bad picking on Pasta China. There are plenty of hole-in-the-wall joints that serve boring, uninteresting food, and I don't go out of my way to point them all out. They definitely serve a purpose for those who want a decent portion at a good price, and prefer to avoid fast food. And the people at Pasta China are extremely nice, so I wish them well. But their bizarre fusion concept will undoubtedly draw the attention of curious foodies. It's for those people I'm writing this review -- don't bother.

Pasta China 2595 E. Craig Road, 633-6404.
http://www.lasvegascitylife.com/arti...q_46532874.txt ]]> Restaurant Reviews Steve http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16317-Pasta-China East Coast Eats http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16316-East-Coast-Eats&goto=newpost Tue, 07 May 2013 20:08:41 GMT East Coast Eats serves up quick Boston fix.
BY: Carole King/Las Vegas Review Journal.

Outside, the sign says East Coast Eats.

Inside, there's no doubt as to the restaurant's East Coast connection -- not with a giant flag hanging on the wall celebrating the Boston Bruins' recent Stanley Cup victory.

Framed mementos of Boston sports landmarks also line the walls, including a plaque commemorating the Red Sox's curse-bursting 2004 World Series win, plus jerseys from Boston Celtics great Larry Bird, Super Bowl-winning New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and gold-medal goalie Mike Eruzione, captain of the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" U.S. Olympic hockey team.

And if you catch East Coast Eats' Dave Babiarz in action, his chowdah-thick accent seals the Beantown deal.

The rest of the review can be read here:

http://www.lvrj.com/taste/east-coast...125875293.html ]]> Restaurant Reviews Steve http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16316-East-Coast-Eats <![CDATA[Javier's at Aria]]> http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16315-Javier-s-at-Aria&goto=newpost Tue, 07 May 2013 20:05:34 GMT Javier's at Aria serving up Mexican comfort food.
BY: Heidi Knapp Rinella/Las Vegas Review Journal

Somewhere, I am confident, it's written that every Las Vegas casino of any size has to have a steakhouse, an Italian restaurant and a Mexican restaurant. Slots? Certainly. Table games? Probably. Keno? Maybe not. Those three restaurants, though? They're a lock, because they represent the most popular restaurant genres in the country.

Aria, MGM Resorts International's showpiece at CityCenter, is a foodie mecca, with a number of restaurants from famous and well-respected chefs such as Michael Mina and Jean-Georges Vongerichten. It has more than a dozen restaurants, many of which break new culinary ground as a matter of course. Javier's, its Mexican entity, isn't one of them.

Not that there's anything wrong with that. Mexican cuisine has become so popular in this country that most of us think of it as comfort food, whether or not we have roots below the border and whether or not the Mexican food at hand is authentic; not for nothing has Taco Bell sold bazillions of its Doritos Locos Taco. Aria's culinary lions may cast long shadows, but provided it's a good one, sometimes an enchilada is just an enchilada. And when it come to good enchilada - and good, solid renditions of the other classics - Javier's delivers.

This entire review can be read here
http://www.lvrj.com/neon/javier-s-at...194172871.html ]]> Restaurant Reviews Steve http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16315-Javier-s-at-Aria Meatball Spot http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16314-Meatball-Spot&goto=newpost Tue, 07 May 2013 20:03:58 GMT *Dry signature dishes at Meatball Spot a disappointing surprise. * BY: Heidi Knapp Rinella/Las Vegas Review Journal. I have the utmost respect for Chef Carla Pellegrino and the work she’s done locally, formerly at Rao’s at Caesars Palace and currently at Bratalian in Henderson. I thought the... Dry signature dishes at Meatball Spot a disappointing surprise.
BY: Heidi Knapp Rinella/Las Vegas Review Journal.

I have the utmost respect for Chef Carla Pellegrino and the work she’s done locally, formerly at Rao’s at Caesars Palace and currently at Bratalian in Henderson. I thought the Meatball Spot at Town Square was a brilliant concept and have heard tons of good things about it.

So you might understand my surprise that the meatballs were the most disappointing part of our dinner there.

We went to the Meatball Spot on one of those magical evenings that occur only in the spring in Southern Nevada. We clearly weren’t alone in our appreciation of the weather because the shopping district was packed on this weeknight, with teens and 20-somethings making their way among the movie theaters, shops and restaurants, parents watching their little kids playing on the faux sod at Town Square Park and multigenerational families in the cars pulled by the rubber-wheeled trackless locomotive as it tooled around the square. We had a table on the Meatball Spot’s patio, relaxing in comfortable red chairs for a front-row view of the action.

This entire review can be read here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/columns...-disappointing ]]> Restaurant Reviews Steve http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16314-Meatball-Spot The Steak House at Circus Circus http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16313-The-Steak-House-at-Circus-Circus&goto=newpost Tue, 07 May 2013 20:00:59 GMT *The Steak House at Circus Circus continues a tradition of excellence.* BY Brock Radke/Las Vegas magazine Attachment 2247 (http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2247) For more than 30 years, The Steak House at Circus Circus has been a perennial favorite. Las Vegas... The Steak House at Circus Circus continues a tradition of excellence.
BY Brock Radke/Las Vegas magazine

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For more than 30 years, The Steak House at Circus Circus has been a perennial favorite. Las Vegas visitors make it a regular stop during their Sin City adventures, an institution beloved for its old Vegas style. And locals love it just as much, making the trip to the Strip to celebrate special occasions.

With so many cutting-edge steak specialists serving up the good stuff from the glitzy casinos on Las Vegas Boulevard, it might be easy to overlook this quiet sanctuary at the iconic 45-year-old casino. But savvy eaters know this is the place to find ultimate satisfaction with all the trimmings. Enter a short but regal hall plastered with photos from Vegas’ past and get ready for a memorable meal. Take a peek inside the dry-aging room, where flavor is brewing. Maybe you’ll make a pit stop at the intimate bar, a time machine in its own right, but still ready to serve up a dry martini or splash of whiskey on the rocks to whet your appetite.

Since it served its first meal, The Steak House has maintained its exhibition kitchen in the center of the dining room, the charcoal-broiling headquarters where the freshest steak and seafood get the final finishing touches. The atmosphere hasn’t changed a bit through the decades, a masculine mélange of leather booths, taxidermy, more way-back-when photos, and the feature that truly sets this restaurant apart—top-notch service from a staff that’s been around as long as the steakhouse itself.

A proper experience begins with the Seafood Sensation, an iced platter of giant, juicy oysters on the half shell, succulent and sweet crab meat easily lifted from its cracked shell, and the biggest cocktail shrimp you’ve ever drooled over. The accoutrements are almost as good as the seafood: fresh horseradish, spicy mayonnaise, cocktail sauce, squeezable lemons and The Steak House’s signature “goombah sauce” (essentially horseradish-laden cocktail sauce). If this is old Vegas eating, forget the future.

Salads of fresh spinach, crunchy romaine with Caesar dressing, or tomato, mozzarella and basil will ready you for the monumental meat choices, a greatest hits of favorite cuts. A mighty bone-in ribeye and a plate-size porterhouse are the most popular options, but a velvety petite filet mignon is yours for the taking as well. Prime rib could be bone-in or a smaller boneless cut, both dripping with flavor, and grilled lamb chops are a tasty alternative. From the ocean, there’s grilled garlic shrimp, lobster tails, king crab legs, salmon or halibut.

While you can add sautéed mushrooms or crispy fried potatoes as a side dish, you won’t need to: this steakhouse doesn’t do a la carte. Each of those tantalizing steaks or seafood dishes comes with soup or salad, fresh baked bread, vegetables and garlic mashed potatoes, wild rice or a big baked potato with all the classic toppings. This impressive value is one of the reasons why The Steak House at Circus Circus is one of Las Vegas’ best kept dining secrets. The raspberry chocolate cake is pretty good, too.

Circus Circus 4-10 p.m. Sun.-Fri., 4-11 p.m. Sat. 702.794.3767

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]]> Restaurant Reviews Steve http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16313-The-Steak-House-at-Circus-Circus Trevi’s http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16312-Trevi’s&goto=newpost Tue, 07 May 2013 19:58:33 GMT *Picturesque setting showcases Trevi’s rustic charm.* BY: Nina King/Las Vegas Magazine We know, we know. When it comes to treating your mother, you want to treat her right. And perfume and flowers can only carry you so many years. So here’s what you want to do: Make a reservation at a top... Picturesque setting showcases Trevi’s rustic charm.
BY: Nina King/Las Vegas Magazine

We know, we know. When it comes to treating your mother, you want to treat her right. And perfume and flowers can only carry you so many years. So here’s what you want to do: Make a reservation at a top restaurant, ply her with great food, a glass of wine, a little espresso and all the gelato she can handle.

At Trevi, a Las Vegas favorite, you’ll find all you need to make Mother’s Day (or any day) more special. That special feeling starts with a fabulous fountainside location inside The Forum Shops at Caesars, where Italy seems just a step away. Choose a table on the expansive patio or slip inside for a quieter meal in the dining room, which is open to the patio, giving great views of the Fountain of the Gods, or head upstairs to the mezzanine. Inside, a cascading red chandelier dominates the décor. Rich, warm hues throughout are balanced by a blue brocade-style design on the walls.

Trevi’s menu combines rustic, classic Italian cuisine and contemporary dishes rounded out with a selection of seafood, pizza and enchanting desserts. You’ll want to start with a nice appetizer and a salad, and the Caprese alla Trevi surely satisfies. Generous slices of buffalo mozzarella and tomato are scattered with pine nuts and pesto and drizzled with balsamic. Another standout to start: the crunchy fritto misto, popping together shrimp, scallops, vegetables and calamari, tossed with a lemon aioli.

Mom may love a good pasta, and Trevi’s selection aims to please. A lovely ravioli chock full of cheese makes the perfect bed for a covering of tangy, creamy tomato vodka sauce. Shrimp amatriciana features large grilled crustaceans with a smoky touch, resting around a mound of marinara-laden spaghetti. Not to be missed is Trevi’s signature dish, the deep-dish lasagna pizza, which layers together ricotta, mozzarella, pomarola sauce and rich Italian sausage for oozy, cheesy slices.

For Mother’s Day itself, take advantage of Trevi’s prix fixe menu, just $54 for a three-course meal. Entrées include the penne diavolo with grilled chicken in a spicy cream sauce, capellini al pomodoro, chicken scaloppini with artichoke hearts and pancetta in a lemon butter sauce, and salmon picatta with black rice from Italy’s Po Valley. You’ll get an appetizer and dessert along with the main dish.

If you’re feeling decadent, indulge in one of Trevi’s delizioso desserts, such as the airy, light tiramisu or the chilly, eye-fooling spaghetti ice. For real fun, a gelati tasting might be in order. A trio of the housemade gelato lets you select from several varieties, including pistachio, cappuccino, strawberry, Italian vanilla, chocolate mousse and tiramisu, with nice bits of pistachio, chunks of strawberry and flecks of vanilla. The tiramisu actually has tiramisu! Depending on what’s in season and what has inspired the gelato master, you’ll find creations such as the Almond Joy. Now remember, this meal is for mama, so don’t fight her for the last bite.

The Forum Shops at Caesars 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sun.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-midnight Fri.-Sat. 702.735.4663
http://lasvegasmagazine.com/2013/05/03/tuscan-beauty/ ]]> Restaurant Reviews Steve http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16312-Trevi’s Fin http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16311-Fin&goto=newpost Tue, 07 May 2013 19:56:14 GMT *Fin makes a splash with traditional Chinese offerings.* BY: Brock Radke/Las Vegas magazine Attachment 2246 (http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2246) One of the Las Vegas Strip’s most chic, sleek and contemporary Asian dining rooms is Fin, a striking palace of... Fin makes a splash with traditional Chinese offerings.
BY: Brock Radke/Las Vegas magazine

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One of the Las Vegas Strip’s most chic, sleek and contemporary Asian dining rooms is Fin, a striking palace of Chinese cuisine at the iconic Mirage resort. Located in a corner of the casino just around the bend from the hotel’s central tropical atrium, Fin’s delicate décor is highlighted by strands of shiny glass stones hanging from above, the sparkling juxtaposition of black against white and soft amber lighting. A private dining room is marked by cherry blossom windows, an escape within the escape. Feasting at Fin is a transporting experience.

The menu hosts a collection of favorite and classic dishes from various Chinese regions, plus some refined takes on more soulful fare. One of the most popular family-style offerings comes from clay pot cooking, an authentic method focused on ingredients such as beef brisket, braised sea bass with tofu and shredded pork, or sizzling chicken with Chinese sausage. These are the heartiest of meals, so be prepared.

Instantly recognizable appetizers abound, so feel free to order a bunch and pass them around. Vegetable egg rolls, barbecued spareribs, seafood lettuce wraps and crisp shiitake mushrooms are perfect opening bites. For a little more substance, share a plate of juicy steamed chicken and barbecued pork, or fight over an order of the meatiest, most savory pork pot stickers you’ve ever encountered, pan-fried to crispy perfection. For a warmer-upper, opt for shrimp and pork wonton soup, or vegetarian hot and sour soup enhanced by earthy enoki mushrooms.

As you may have deduced from the name, Fin specializes in seafood. Live fish and shellfish are available at market price and will be served via your preference—braised, wok-fried, steamed or as sashimi. Options typically include Maine lobster, Dungeness crab and sweet Santa Barbara prawns, among other fresh sea-bites. Of course, more conventional aquatic treasures are on the list as well, from braised scallops with sweet and hot chili sauce to salt and pepper calamari. The most popular fish dish is steamed sea bass with specks of salty cured ham, which bring bolts of flavor to the light, flaky fish.

You can get your seafood fix blended into rice and noodle dishes, too. The best example is the beloved Fuzhou fried rice, with fresh and dried scallop, shrimp and barbecued duck meat mingling with vegetables in a rich gravy. Meat and poultry entrées, also perfect for family-style sharing, are familiar and hard to pass on, great stuff like Mongolian beef, lemon chicken or the Chinese-American fusion dish egg foo young. The hungry carnivore must try wok-fried lamb chops, decorated in cracked pepper and garlic, and the impossibly tender beef tenderloin in a rich black pepper sauce. You’ll need some veggies. Those are flavor bombs, too, particularly stir-fried green beans in XO sauce and crisp baby bok choy.

There are only a handful of Las Vegas casino Chinese restaurants that deftly serve authentic fare with interesting alterations, and even fewer that have been doing it as consistently as Fin. If you haven’t dined here, push it to the top of your must-try list.

The Mirage
5-10 p.m. Thurs.-Mon. 702.791.7111

http://lasvegasmagazine.com/2013/04/...sticated-flow/
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]]> Restaurant Reviews Steve http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16311-Fin El Patio Mexico http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16310-El-Patio-Mexico&goto=newpost Tue, 07 May 2013 19:53:10 GMT * El Patio Mexico isn’t flawless, but it’s an ideal spot for good, cheap Mexican food.* BY: Al Mancini/Las Vegas City Life As spring creeps towards summer, I generally patronize the restaurants around UNLV a bit more than usual. This can be a rough time of year for businesses operating along... El Patio Mexico isn’t flawless, but it’s an ideal spot for good, cheap Mexican food.
BY: Al Mancini/Las Vegas City Life

As spring creeps towards summer, I generally patronize the restaurants around UNLV a bit more than usual. This can be a rough time of year for businesses operating along South Maryland Parkway. Once classes end on May 18, their most regular customers return home for summer break. While seasonal business is a fact of life for any establishment that caters to college kids, I’ve seen the summer lull kill more than one great restaurant. So I like to pay a bit of extra attention to the neighborhood this time of year. (Moreover, it means I won’t feel ancient eating in a room full of people half my age.) This week, while looking for someplace new, I stumbled across a cute little spot called El Patio Mexico.

The restaurant is small and modestly decorated. Its menu, however, is pretty large. In fact, you could probably eat here every day this summer and still not sample everything by the time fall semester begins. For starters, El Patio offers 15 appetizers ($4.75-$7.50), nine salads ($5.50-$9) and five soups ($7.50-$13.50). Main courses include eight burritos ($4.50-$9.50), seven tortas ($5.25-$6.75), five chimichangas ($7-$7.50) and four enchiladas ($9.50-$10.50). Those are followed by a page of more than two dozen house specialties ($7.25-$20) and another full page of seafood dishes ($7-$12). And just to round things out, there’s a breakfast section ($6-$8.50), a kids menu ($3.75-$5), three hotdogs ($4.50-$5.75) and 10 lunch special combos ($7-$8.25).

When my friend and I entered on a weekday afternoon, we were greeted by a pleasant young woman whose English, while better than my Spanish, wasn’t particularly good. As a result, it took a few seconds of miscommunication over where to sit before we decided to simply seat ourselves at the bar. The language barrier persisted as we asked about various dishes. But we eventually determined that while a handful of items featured house-made tortillas and other homemade base ingredients, most did not. Those that did, however, were clearly marked on the menu, and we gravitated toward those.

That proved to be a good strategy. A trio of homemade zopas ($5.75), topped with beans, cabbage, onions, tomatoes and ranchera sauce, were wonderful. Even better was a huarache ($9), a thick, homemade tortilla topped with beans, cheese, your choice of meat, onion, tomato, spicy salsa verde and sour cream. I was less impressed with the chicken enchilada/chili relleno lunch combo special. The cheese-stuffed Anaheim pepper didn’t appear to have been battered at all, while the enchilada was OK, but unexceptional. Nonetheless, at $7.50 for the plate, it wasn’t a dish I’d complain about.

I’m also torn on the final dish we sampled. Mole zacatecano ($8.50) consists of chicken and potato in a spicy red mole sauce served with pinto beans and tortillas. In this case, the tortillas clearly weren’t made in the restaurant. Nonetheless, it was a pretty good dish. In fact, if it had been labeled differently, I probably would have enjoyed it quite a bit. The problem, however, is that the sauce didn’t have any of the complexity I expect from a mole. It was little more than a spicy red sauce. That’s not a big problem for me. But moles are very special sauces. They’re tough to do correctly, but when they are, they’re amazing. And this, sadly, was not.

These minor complaints aside, in a city without a lot of good Mexican food, El Patio Mexico is better than most. Throw in the extremely reasonable prices, and it’s clearly a perfect spot for students dining on a budget. And once they leave town, the rest of us should eat there to help it survive the lean summer months.

EL PATIO MEXICO 4550 S. Maryland Parkway, 597-1155. Read more about the Las Vegas dining scene on Al Mancini’s blog, www.almancini.net and follow him on Twitter @almancinivegas.

http://lasvegascitylife.com/sections...deal-spot-good ]]> Restaurant Reviews Steve http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16310-El-Patio-Mexico Heraea http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16309-Heraea&goto=newpost Tue, 07 May 2013 19:51:09 GMT *Heraea attempts a different type of sports bar.* BY: Al Mancini/Las Vegas City Life I’m often asked for recommendations on good spots to watch the games. Since I’m not into sports, I rarely have a good suggestion. Recently, however, I paid a visit to The Palms’s newest restaurant, Heraea,... Heraea attempts a different type of sports bar.
BY: Al Mancini/Las Vegas City Life

I’m often asked for recommendations on good spots to watch the games. Since I’m not into sports, I rarely have a good suggestion. Recently, however, I paid a visit to The Palms’s newest restaurant, Heraea, which even I can see is a step above the typical sports bar.

Heraea’s owners describe it as a “vibe- and sports-driven restaurant” with a menu and atmosphere “that appeal to female sensibility.” OK, that sounds like typical PR bullshit. But Heraea is owned by The One Group, which made STK a Cosmopolitan hotspot by marketing the typically male-dominated steakhouse concept to a sexy young female crowd. (It also runs Bagatelle in The Tropicana.) Intrigued, I dropped in to watch a few tournament games, and brought my wife, who’s even less interested in sports than I am.

When remodeling the space that formerly housed the Mexican eatery Garduno’s, The One Group clearly spared no expense. The sexy main dining room consists primarily of plush, semi-circular dark booths facing the main bar, which boasts eight big-screen TVs. For the handful of guests facing the opposite direction, there are another seven huge screens on the back wall. Behind it, you’ll find a large, comfortable lounge area with another seven screens, and an outdoor patio.

Basketball and hockey games ran continuously during our meal, but every time the main attraction went to commercial, a house DJ cranked up some music — in most cases, playing hard rock. The ultralounge vibe seemed to have attracted more sports-oriented families on the evening of our visit than single women, although a few groups of the latter were also present. Either way, the restaurant is definitely a far cry from your typical testosterone-infused sports book – my wife, Sue, said she preferred the couches to the “rows of old men passed out on those big chairs” she normally encounters when accompanying me to make a rare bet. But serious gamblers will soon enjoy all the amenities of the Palms book courtesy of tablet-based wagering at the tables.

Plenty of sports fans would probably dine at Heraea simply for the ability to watch and bet in such a unique setting, as long as they were offered hot dogs and frozen Buffalo wings. Fortunately, Executive Chef Doug Bell isn’t so complacent. Starters on his lunch and dinner menus include bloody Mary oyster shooters (three for $9), tuna tartare tacos with mango salsa and avocado mousse ($15), and a version of potato skins made with roasted fingerling potatoes, bacon, scallions and crème fraiche ($11). Among his entrees, you’ll find miso-glazed sea bass with a shrimp-scallion dumpling ($29) and char-grilled prawns with pineapple-basil brown rice ($28). Fans of simpler fare shouldn’t be intimidated, however. The regular menus also feature plenty of sandwiches ($13-$15) and salads ($10-$23), and a special game-day menu offers twists on classics like pigs in blankets ($7), sliders ($10) and wings ($8).

All of the dishes I sampled were considerably better than what I’d expect in a sports bar, although they weren’t exactly five-star cuisine. A trio of king crab cones with avocado, radish and siracha aioli ($12) was probably my favorite, followed by some mushroom spring rolls nicely flavored with ginger and other spices ($7) and some sriracha and brown butter wings ($8) that had a nice combination of flavors, even if they could have been a little spicier. Sue really enjoyed her grilled chicken salad ($15), which the chef was kind enough to make during dinner hours despite the fact it’s only on the lunch menu. My pepper-crusted tuna steak ($31) was perfectly cooked, and nicely seasoned, although I found the accompanying au poivre sauce a little unnecessary on such a simple fish. The only thing I probably wouldn’t order again was piquillo pepper poppers ($14) stuffed with a blend of short rib and mascarpone that was a bit too heavy for me.

While the vibe in the main dining room can get a bit loud at times, Sue said the scattered screens made the place seem less hectic than many sports bars. Add the beautiful décor, above-average food and excellent service, and she concedes, “If I’m forced to watch a game, I’d definitely want to do it here.” So if I decide to put money on the Final Four, we’ll probably be dining there again.

HERAEA, The Plams, 4321 West Flamingo Road, 866-725-6773. Read more about the Las Vegas dining scene on Al Mancini’s blog, www.almancini.net and follow him on Twitter @almancinivegas.

http://lasvegascitylife.com/sections...ports-bar.html ]]> Restaurant Reviews Steve http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16309-Heraea Park on Fremont http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16308-Park-on-Fremont&goto=newpost Tue, 07 May 2013 19:48:06 GMT *Park on Fremont is hip and quirky. Too bad that doesn’t help the food.* BY: Al Mancini/Las Vegas City Life As I’ve collaborated with other food critics on various projects, I’ve sometimes been criticized for valuing a restaurant’s “cool factor” — its creativity, location, décor and clientele —... Park on Fremont is hip and quirky. Too bad that doesn’t help the food.
BY: Al Mancini/Las Vegas City Life

As I’ve collaborated with other food critics on various projects, I’ve sometimes been criticized for valuing a restaurant’s “cool factor” — its creativity, location, décor and clientele — more than its food. I generally deny those accusations. But as I found myself trying to justify the subpar cuisine during my recent visit to Park on Fremont, I wondered whether they had a point. I wanted to like this place so badly I was striving for reasons to cut it slack. But in the end, I care too much about good food. I can’t honestly recommend the new hotspot’s cuisine to anyone other than inebriated hipsters who want to order cool-sounding dishes in a nicely decorated spot on the coolest block in Las Vegas.

In January, I listed Park on Fremont as one of the most anticipated restaurants of 2013. At first glance, it seems to fulfill my expectations. The interior is decorated like a posh hunting club with a slightly satanic twist. It boasts ornate wallpaper, bizarre paintings of game animals in unnatural states, and provocative works of taxidermy (the deer has gold assault rifles attached to its antlers). The cocktail menu is laid out to resemble an old punk rock concert flier. There’s a great beer selection, and some intriguing specialty cocktails. And most important, there’s outdoor seating perfect for people-watching on this town’s hottest promenade. I don’t know if there’s free wi-fi, but if there is, I’d gladly drive here everyday and use it as my office.

Even the food menu, while small, looks intriguing. I’ve always been a fan of bar food with some twists, and many of the dozen offerings here are just that. There’s a pair of burgers, one stuffed with Monterey jack and cheddar, the other with pepperjack and sautéed mushrooms, each topped with bacon ($12). The chicken bar bites ($9) are crusted in cornflakes and accompanied by sauces like sweet honey mustard, honey soy and chipotle barbecue. And health-conscious customers can get a veggie wrap ($11).

The problem is in the execution. My friends and I tried four dishes, and each failed on at least one level. There was the Philly steak sandwich topped not with cheese, but with macaroni and cheese ($12). It had the potential to be decadent, but the underlying steak sandwich was pretty subpar, and the mac and cheese wasn’t much better than what you can get in a grocery store. When my friend asked our waitress whether they brined the corned beef for the Reuben ($11) in-house, it was obvious his hopes were too high. But the dried-out meat on the sandwich looked as if it hadn’t even been sliced to order. The chicken in the chicken and waffle sandwich ($11) was pounded super-thin and overcooked. And the sweet potato tater tots we got as a side were saturated with maple syrup. I was impressed with the perfectly cooked eggs that came with our chaquiles ($14), but the low-end steak that accompanied them was reminiscent of what you’d get at a Denny’s or a low-rent casino coffee shop. The only thing that was actually above average as a whole was a side of French fries, primarily because of the sriracha-infused ketchup.

All of the servers I encountered, both at the bar and at my table, were friendly and knowledgeable about the food and the beer list. I honestly feel bad they have to serve up such poor fare.

Perhaps I’m being too hard on Park. Maybe nobody expects it to serve good food. Maybe everyone will just be happy with the addition of such a great new bar to the neighborhood. And I can certainly see how the grub would be good enough for late-night revelers looking to put something other than booze into their stomachs. But the menu seems so much more ambitious than that. I have to assume the owners wanted to offer something more. If so, they need to get the kitchen staff to execute their dream a little better. Because right now, it’s failing miserably, and no amount of coolness can make a serious foodie overlook that fact.

PARK ON FREMONT, 506 E. Fremont St., 834-3164. Read more about the Las Vegas dining scene on Al Mancini’s blog, www.almancini.net, and follow him on Twitter @almancinivegas.

http://lasvegascitylife.com/sections...help-food.html ]]> Restaurant Reviews Steve http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16308-Park-on-Fremont <![CDATA[Senor Frog's]]> http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16307-Senor-Frog-s&goto=newpost Tue, 07 May 2013 19:45:07 GMT Senor Frog's by Rick Garman
www.vegas4visitors.com

The world needs places like Senor Frog's. Without it where would drunk frat boys do their Jager bombs?

Yes, Senor Frog's at Treasure Island is that kind of place - a "party bar" and restaurant that tries to recreate a spring break in Cancun ethos right here on the Vegas Strip. The fact that you can do Jager bombs at pretty much any bar in town, even the classy ones, should not factor into your decision making here.

The place is a riot of color and "stuff" all jam packed into a room (and outdoor patio) that is frenetic and mildly disorienting. Signs with "amusing" sayings on them done in day-glo paint cover almost every surface. Some samples: "I don't have a girlfriend but I do know a woman who would be pissed that I said that;" "Same day, different hangover;" "Never trust anything that bleeds for five days and doesn't die." If you're looking for Noel Coward, go somewhere else. There are also movable signs - arrows on stands with things like "party animal" and "sex machine" on them that the servers randomly put behind unsuspecting diners at tables. High-larious!

If I'm being overly snarky here, it's mainly because the whole thing feels rather forced. News flash: this is not really a Cancun party bar and therefore an attempt to make one here is destined to feel as manufactured and faux as the Sphinx in front of the Luxor or the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas. I love a party bar as much as the next guy but the best ones spring up organically and don't need a bunch of props to make their point.

But this particular review is not about the bar aspect of Senor Frog's but rather the food, and here, at least, there is more success.

The menu is all over the place and despite the name it is not exclusively Mexican. In fact except for a few appetizers (nachos, quesadilla, etc.) and some tacos, burritos, and enchiladas, the vast majority of the offerings are standard theme restaurant fare - starters like chicken wings and sliders; a few salads and soups; pasta; wraps, burgers, and sandwiches; BBQ ribs and chicken; seafood from Baja tacos to lobster tail; chicken and beef entrees (including filet mignon); and high-calorie desserts.

Since I didn't do my research ahead of time I went into this thinking it was a Mexican restaurant and had already decided that chicken fajitas were in my future. I considered changing once I saw the giant menu but I was in a hurry and didn't think I could spend the time lost in a "what should I have?" haze.

The fajitas come sizzling on their own little miniature grill - a full chicken breast, a big pile of peppers and onions, a big side of sour cream and guacamole, rice, and tortillas. Presentation was much more thoughtful than I would've have expected and the smoky flavor was impressive. $20 impressive? Well...

Which brings us to the price discussion. This is a moderately priced restaurant but it is at the high-end of moderate so you can very easily do $30 per person all-in and even higher if you go for the more expensive entrees. Not terrible if you are thinking dinner but for a quick lunch it seems excessive.

The true bright spot was in the service. As mentioned above I was in a hurry because of some unforseen scheduling issues (another news flash: just because the plane says it will land at a certain time doesn't mean it really will) and the server I lucked into took special care to let the kitchen know and get everything moving quickly. I was in and out in less time than it usually takes to get your appetizers at most Strip restaurants.

But excellent service is not enough for me to make this a highly recommendable restaurant. There are plenty of places that serve better food at cheaper prices in less obnoxious surroundings.

Now, if you need fajitas AND a place to do your Jager bombs...

Senor Frog's
Treasure Island
3300 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702-894-7850
website
$20-$30 per person
Open Daily 11am-11pm
Mexican/American
Vegas4Visitors Rating: B ]]> Restaurant Reviews Steve http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16307-Senor-Frog-s <![CDATA[Jammin' Jerk Hut]]> http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16306-Jammin-Jerk-Hut&goto=newpost Tue, 07 May 2013 19:42:23 GMT Jammin' Jerk Hut balances spice of traditional Jamaican food.
BY: Heidi Knapp Rinella/Las Vegas Review Journal

I’m frequently asked how I choose restaurants to be reviewed, the answer being that there are a number of methods. With Jammin’ Jerk Hut, I followed my nose.

I discovered Jammin’ Jerk Hut, you see, on a trip to review the late, lamented Flava Flav’s House of Flavor, which had been next door. I didn’t find much flavor at the hip-hopper’s restaurant, but upon exiting was enveloped by a cloud of wonderful aromas emanating from a grill in front of the Jammin’ Jerk Hut. Since it’s tucked away in the back of an L-shaped shopping center that doesn’t have much in the front, I doubt I’d ever have found it if not for that smoke.

So a return visit was in order. This time, no smoke, so I don’t know if that was a one-time thing or not. We also discovered that, like Flava Flav’s place, some of the things on the menu weren’t available. What was, however, were the things that most carry the ring of authenticity.

This entire review can be read here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/columns...ional-jamaican ]]> Restaurant Reviews Steve http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16306-Jammin-Jerk-Hut Jerusalem Grill http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16305-Jerusalem-Grill&goto=newpost Tue, 07 May 2013 19:39:42 GMT *Jerusalem Grill wows with exceptional shawarma, other dishes.* BY: Heidi Knapp Rinella/Las Vegas Review Journal Attachment 2245 (http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2245) Photo credit: Jerry Henkel As soon as our server at Jerusalem Grill brought us a bowl of... Jerusalem Grill wows with exceptional shawarma, other dishes.
BY: Heidi Knapp Rinella/Las Vegas Review Journal

Name: 8421427-0-150007.jpg Views: 50 Size: 59.7 KB
Photo credit: Jerry Henkel

As soon as our server at Jerusalem Grill brought us a bowl of warm garbanzo beans sprinkled with cumin and one of pickled vegetables, I began to get a good feeling about the place.

Well, let me back up just a little. I think the good feeling actually started as soon as we walked in and saw what the current owners had done to a formerly nondescript space in an aging, nondescript strip center. The ’70s bumped-out windows reminded me, from the outside, of my last visit there when it was a gyros joint, but as soon as I stepped inside I saw that much had been added in the way of cherry-finished cabinetry, a gleaming stone bar (for eating, not drinking) and textured stone veneer that covered most surfaces. It was clear the owners care a lot about the place, enough to pay attention to the details.

That did, of course, carry over to the food, starting with those garbanzos and pickled vegetables. The latter were somewhat conventional, while exceptionally tasty, but the former something I hadn’t encountered before. Well, cumin and garbanzos have a natural affinity, which shows up in classics such as hummus and falafel, but this snack-style serving was both novel and delicious.

The entire review can be read here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/columns...shawarma-other
Attached Images
 
]]> Restaurant Reviews Steve http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?16305-Jerusalem-Grill