Diner's Notebook
A visit to Vinny’s, a farewell to Nico and hello Beer Fest!
Italian food dominated what was a good but high-calorie week of dining out. The northside appears to have a winner in Vinny’s New York Seafood Bar and Café, at 2950 N. Durango Dr. It’s one of the few places in town where you can get scungilli, or conch—but when it’s pronounced, leave off the last syllable, Sicilian style, and say skun-jill.
Read More »Fast-food winners, a home-cooking bistro and Vegan vegan
Here is some info relevant to burger lovers: According to a fast-food survey by the Zagat people, the best burger comes from the Virginia-based chain Five Guys.
We don’t have Five Guys here, but take heart, we do have In-N-Out Burger, which took Top Food among large chains. We also have Dairy Queen, which ruled Best Milkshakes, McDonald’s (where else) for Best Fries, and Bonefish Grill, which won Top Regional Seafood. But wait … Bonefish just shut down its Henderson location.
Read More »Lunch on the clock, a retro sugar fix and modern barbecue
When I heard that Simon Restaurant and Lounge at the Palms was offering a 30-minute power lunch, I had to try it. With a stopwatch, of course. What I discovered was that the staff members live up to their end of the bargain, but they give you so much food at once you might still go over the time limit.
Read More »A new dinner treat, sausage heaven and a wholesome Elixir
Even in the dog days of summer, the food scene here is as lively as it is during the peak tourism season. François Payard, the pastry and chocolate genius who has a venue at Caesars Palace, recently unveiled a dinner menu in his tiny, wedding-cake-like dining room, and it’s killer. Payard Pâtisserie & Bistro has been open for breakfast and lunch since it opened, and it reopens for dinner in early September.
Read More »High-end vegan, a happy cocktail and Lolita’s surprise
Alex Stratta, the double threat at Wynn who runs the Alex and Stratta restaurants, has lost 80 pounds and looks incredible. What he hasn’t lost is his world-class technique, which he recently showed off in a dinner at Alex celebrating his Grand Award from Wine Spectator for the restaurant’s wine list. Stratta prepared waves of bite-size appetizers such as Peruvian-style ceviche subtly flavored with cumin, then dazzled our table with spiced duck breast with Black Mission figs and American Wagyu short ribs.
Read More »A heavenly ramen bar and another yogurt twist
It’s not every day that I get to write that a meal is a life-changing experience. But from now on I’ll probably be eating at Monta, a new Japanese ramen noodle bar at 5030 Spring Mountain Road (367-4600), at least once a week. It’s that good.
Read More »Great summer wines and a couple of Old Vegas classics
July is a good month to cool down with summer wines, and one of the best local places to buy them is Khoury’s Fine Wine and Spirits (in two locations: 9915 S. Eastern Ave. in Henderson, and 7150 S. Durango Dr.). Young entrepreneur Issa Khoury is a native of Elko who grew up in retail, and his stores have a big inventory of both New and Old World wines, plus vintage cognacs and Scotches.
Read More »A taste of the Laundry and a perfect Match
Two weeks ago, I dined at The French Laundry, Thomas Keller’s restaurant in Napa Valley, Calif., and am pleased to report the dinner exceeded my expectations. Housed in a stone building more than a century old, a meal here is a feast for the five senses.
Read More »Revel in Sinatra’s wine, an off-Strip innovator and superb bargains
One of the things making Wynn Las Vegas such a compelling destination for foodies is owner Steve Wynn’s insistence on having his chefs in house. Alex Stratta, Jet Tila and Paul Bartolotta are just three of the stars cooking every day at the hotel.
The talents of Theo Schoenegger, executive chef at Sinatra, shone brightly at a recent wine dinner for Sinatra Family Vineyards, attended by Frank Sinatra’s daughter, Tina, and Wynn himself.
Read More »A hot food truck and a smart do-over for Puck
There was a time when a hot food trend took up to a year to cross the United States. Today, thanks to Twitter and other online tools, that journey can happen in a matter of weeks.
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