This weekly update covers noteworthy restaurant openings and closings, dining news, culinary events, and entertainment news
Events
The Front Yard — May 16
On National BBQ Day, The Front Yard at Ellis Island Casino will host the “I Don’t Give a Fork” BBQ Experience.
The all-you-can-eat feast will feature endless smoked meats and classic sides served family-style. The lineup will include Ellis Island Baby Back Ribs, House Smoked Brisket with cherry BBQ sauce, House Smoked Pulled Pork with jalapeno jam, Half Chicken with white BBQ sauce, Five Spice Pork Belly, Italian Smoked Sausage, Corn on the Cob, Cheddar Corn Bread, Baked Beans, and Triple Cheese Mac.
The dinner will begin at 5 p.m., and the cost is $50 per person. A complimentary pint is included with each ticket, and guests can upgrade to an all-you-can-drink beer package for an additional $25 per person or unlimited beer and cocktails for $40. To purchase tickets, click here.
With Love, Always — May 16
With Love, Always, the smashburger concept first launched as a Vegas pop-up in 2021 by founders Kevin Whelan, Drew Belcher, and Damian Ocampo, has officially set its grand opening date in Red Rock Casino’s food court in the former Fatburger space.
The menu will highlight signature double smashburgers made with fresh Black Angus beef, seared on a hot griddle, and served on soft potato rolls layered with American cheese, onions, and classic condiments. Kicking off at 11 a.m., a series of day-of giveaways are being offered including: first 10 guests in line receive a free combo (burger, fries + drink) every week for a year, first 100 guests a complimentary branded hat, first 500 guests a free cheeseburger, and raffle giveaways throughout the day.
Guests in line by 10:30 a.m. will receive a raffle ticket, with drawings taking place every 15-30 minutes starting at 11 a.m.
Eataly — May 22
Eataly at Park MGM will host a hands-on Tiramisù alla Nutella class, where guests will learn about the dessert, with espresso-soaked ladyfingers layered with sweet mascarpone cream, dusted with cocoa powder.
Eataly’s Scuola chefs will instruct on the dessert’s origins dating back to the 1960s, present a live demonstration as they introduce modern twists, and assist guests in creating their own tiramisù to take home.
The experience also includes a tasting featuring Venchi chocolates and a wine pairing. Non-alcoholic beverages will also be available, and the class is suitable for children 8+ accompanied by a supervising adult.
The class will begin at 5 p.m., and the cost is $60 per person. To purchase tickets, click here.
Farm to Table: A Sunset Dinner Experience — May 29-30
Lilli by Chef Tyler Vorce and Green Life Produce will present Farm to Table: A Sunset Dinner Experience.
The five-course dinner hosted at the regenerated Green Life Produce farm grounds at 6451 Homestead Rd in Pahrump will feature organic ingredients harvested directly from the farm, along with premium meats from BH Premium Meats and breads by Sourdough Dreams Farm.
The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with a guided farm tour, canapés, and cocktails. Dinner follows at 7 p.m., set against the backdrop of sunset on the farm grounds, accompanied by live music.
The dinner by the Michelin-trained Tyler Vorce will include Deviled Farm Eggs with chicken liver mousse, Beef Tartare with sauerkraut and toast, Lettuce Cups with smoked white fish salad and garden dill, Garden Vegetable Bouillon with olio nuovo and herbs, Cucumber and Tomato Salad with whipped ricotta, Chicken Confit Agnolotti with roasted mushrooms, Grilled Ribeye Steak with demi-sec beets and Port wine sauce, and Garden Rhubarb Shortcake with Chantilly cream and poached strawberries.
The dress code is elevated casual (comfortable, stylish attire for an outdoor farm setting with practical footwear for uneven ground, but no flip-flops or baseball caps).
This is a 21+ event. Tickets are $149 per person (plus tip), and an optional wine pairing is $45 per person. The May 29 dinner is sold out, but tickets are still available for the May 30 dinner. To purchase tickets, click here.
Pick of the Week: Pizza Rock at Green Valley Ranch
Pizza Rock Rocking Our World with Award-Winning Pies Representing All Pizza Styles
Pizza Rock has been a staple at the locals’ Green Valley Ranch Casino since it opened in 2015 and continues to satisfy fans of pizza and Italian delights.
Located just off the casino on the Paseo Verde Parkway side, once inside, you can’t miss the full-size 1964 Peterbilt long-haul truck extending from the dining room to the patio filled with retro beer boxes, some dating to the 1950s. There’s also rustic red brick walls, a marble bartop and several TVs throughout. Adding to the fun are the menus encased in actual vintage LP record album covers.
The pizza magic here is the handiwork of 13-time World Pizza Champion Tony Gemignani, an icon in the pizza world. His talents are evident through a menu featuring pretty much every style: Napoletana, Romana, New York/New Haven, Cracker Thin/Tavern, California, Detroit, Classic Italian, Classic American, Grandma, Sicilian and Gluten-Free—cooked in a gas brick oven fired at 550°, electric at 700°, or wood-fired at 900°.
Award-winning pies are identified on the menu, such as hugely popular New York/New Haven style The East Coaster (winner of ‘Best Traditional Pizza in the World’ at the Las Vegas Pizza Expo) with sliced mozzarella, tomato sauce, hot honey sausage, pepperoni, garlic, EVOO, oregano, Romano, and ricotta; and Napoletana-style Margherita (World Pizza Cup winner) with San Marzano tomato, mozzarella fior di latte, basil, EVOO, and sea salt. My personal favorite is the Classic American Vodka Pie with sesame seed thin crust topped with vodka sauce, mozzarella, Applewood smoked bacon, thick & thin pepperoni, hot honey sausage, ricotta, basil, and house-made hot honey. Vegans have options too, with pies like Piante Piccante with vegan pepperoni and banana peppers, and most of the pizzas can be made with vegan cheese upon request.
The delights are not all pizza pies. Outstanding appetizers worth investing your appetite in include the Italian Fries in varieties of Plain, Gorgonzola, Truffle, Honey Pancetta, and Rosemary Garlic; Fried Green Beans, flash-fried and tossed in garlic and EVOO; and Calamari Fritti (choice of Traditional or spicy Calabrese style), served with Calabrese aioli and marinara. Other Italian specialties include the Pasta and Italian Dinners with Sausage and Peppers, Chicken Parm, Lasagna, Veggie Pasta, and a selection of Italian-inspired burgers and sandwiches. I highly recommend saving room for the Mud Pie with an Oreo cookie crust, chocolate ganache, and coffee and vanilla bean ice cream, topped with hot fudge, caramel, and house-made whipped cream.
As everyone knows, pizza goes great with beer, and an extensive craft beer selection complements the world-class pizza with more than 80 brews to choose from. Ten of them are from local breweries and Bar Manager Jesse Hannah rotates the beers frequently. Currently pouring are Nevada-brewed beers from Able Baker, Bad Beat, Beer Zombies, Big Dog’s, CraftHaus, Las Vegas Brewing, Lovelady, and Revision. A great way to sample them is to order a flight of any four beers on draft.
Some great deals can be had during the happy hour available throughout the restaurant Mon-Thu from 3 to 6 p.m. and Fri from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. with $2 off select wine and beer, 25-ounce PBR for $5, five different cocktails for $9, several appetizers priced from $7-$9, and eight of the most popular personal sized pizzas for $8-$9.50.
In addition to this location, there’s one in Downtown Las Vegas at Ogden and 3rd Street and one in Allegiant Stadium.
Pizza Rock at GVR is open 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more info and to view the complete menu, visit pizzarockgvr.com.
Dining News
Butcher & Thief New Menu and Happy Hour
Butcher & Thief, the newest steakhouse by Restaurateur Cory Harwell and Chef Scott Simon, located at The Bend at 8670 W Sunset, has introduced seasonal additions to its spring menu.
Highlights include Ricotta Gnudi with manchego and lemon corn beurre blanc ($30); Cauliflower Steak with za’atar chickpea purée and chimichurri ($28); 4-ounce A5 Wagyu tri-tip from Kagoshima Prefecture ($64); Verlasso Salmon with cherry barbecue gastrique ($36); Watermelon and Feta Salad with cucumber, fennel, and mint vinaigrette ($18); Beef Bánh Mì with lemongrass pickled vegetables and spicy aioli ($20); and Lemon Bar made with hazy IPA and pistachio crumble ($12).
There’s also a new happy hour available daily from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the bar and outdoor lounge, offering:
- Shishito Peppers with ginger salt, lime, and togarashi ($9)
- Peanut Butter Bacon with jalapeño cucumber jelly ($9)
- Beef Tartare with brioche toast and Parmesan ($9)
- Cheesesteak Egg Rolls with natural jus ($9)
- Calamari with saffron lime aioli and peppadew peppers ($9)
- Butcher Sliders with Cooper’s Sharp, pickle, and fry sauce ($11)
- Jumbo Shrimp with house cocktail sauce ($15)
- Rockefeller Oysters with Herbsaint and lemon ($15)
- Hamachi Crudo with yuzu soy, pickled jalapeño, and jicama ($15)
- Pastrami Salmon with tomato caper relish and crema ($15)
- Garage Beer ($4), draft wine ($6), and well cocktails ($8)
For more info and to view the complete menu, visit butcherandthief.com.
Glitter Gulch Tiki Weekday Drink Specials
Glitter Gulch Tiki, at 113 N. 4th St. in Downtown Las Vegas, has announced several weekly specials.
They include Mai Tai Monday with the Mai Hands Tai’d with rhum agricole, dark rum, orange curaçao, lime, and orgeat priced at $7 throughout the day; Tiki Tuesday with $7 signature cocktails, $7 Dole soft serve cocktails, $7 beers, and $7 wine from 4 to 7 p.m.; and happy hour from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday featuring $12 classic cocktails, $10 frozen cocktails, and $5 beers and wine.
For more info, visit glittergulchtiki.com or follow at @glittergulchtiki.
Whisky Day Flights at Eight Lounge
Eight Lounge, the esteemed cigar shop and sophisticated lounge in The District at Resorts World, will celebrate World Whisky Day with three distinct bourbon flights.
Available from May 15-17 and priced at $65 each, they include American Bourbons: Frey Ranch, Wyoming Whiskey, and Woodinville; Bottled-in-Bond: Heaven Hill 7-Year Bottled-in-Bond, Henry McKenna Bottled-in-Bond, and Brothers Bond Bourbon Bottled-in-Bond; and Bold Bourbons: Horse Soldier Small Batch Bourbon, Blade & Bow Bourbon, and Bradshaw Bourbon. Each flight will be paired with a Madre Tierra San Andres cigar, balancing sweeter, grain-forward expressions for a flavor-forward experience.
Reservations are recommended and can be made at eightloungelv.com.
World Whiskey Week at Rosina Cocktail Lounge
Rosina Cocktail Lounge at The Palazzo will celebrate World Whiskey Week from May 10-16 with an “Around the World” tasting experience, allowing guests to select three whiskeys for $30.
The curated menu spanning multiple regions and styles includes Basil Hayden, Horse Soldier, Woodford Reserve, and SirDavis (American); Hibiki Harmony and Suntory Toki (Japanese); Slane and Teeling (Irish); Crown Royal (Canadian), and Dalmore 12 Year (Scottish).
For reservations or more info, visit rosinacocktaillounge.com.
Recently, on the Food and Loathing Podcast
Be sure to check out Food and Loathing this week (and every week). The podcast features veteran food writer Al Mancini, along with co-host Samantha Gemini Stevens and producer Rich Johnson, as they give the lowdown on what’s new, hot, and delicious in America’s most glamorous city, as they talk with chefs, bartenders, journalists, and other experts on where to go and what to order when you get there.
This week, Al and Rich almost make an episode that comes in under one hour—but not quite. Still, you’ll find plenty of value in Al’s centerpiece interview with Good Pie’s Vincent Rotolo discussing his expansion to the Red Rock Hotel/Casino. Al also gets the lowdown on KJ’s, the new restaurant at the English Hotel, thanks to conversations with owner Kevin Jeffers, Corporate Chef Adam Allen, and Las Vegas Mayor Shelly Berkley, who was on hand for the grand opening. Al also has great things to say after attending the Grand Opening Party for Maroon by Chef Kwame Onwuachi. And Rich goes on and on and on about his tasting menu experience at La Loba, the Spanish tapas joint in Seattle owned by EDO Hospitality and Vegas Chef Oscar Amador. And, as always, a Happy Hour Report from Happy Hour Vegas’ Andrew Morgan.
To listen, click here.
Entertainment News
The Lives of the Showgirls: True Stories from Mob-Era Las Vegas — May 21
The Mob Museum will host The Lives of the Showgirls: True Stories from Mob-Era Las Vegas.
For more than 50 years, the showgirl, with revealing, rhinestone-studded costumes, was an iconic symbol of Las Vegas, with extravagant stage productions on the Vegas Strip beginning in the late 1950s. At this symposium, three former showgirls will return to the stage alongside UNLV’s Head of Public Services in Special Collections and Archives, Su Kim Chung, to look back on their careers and lives in bygone Las Vegas.
Speakers will include:
- Dawn Sachs: a Las Vegas–based casino marketing executive and former professional dancer who performed as a lead and company manager at the Lido de Paris.
- Diane Christiansen: author of The Last Real Showgirl: My Sequined ’70s Onstage, a veteran actress, dancer, and award-winning acting coach who performed in major productions like the Lido de Paris.
- Teri Thorndike: a longtime Las Vegas performer and producer whose career began in 1970, spanning roles as a showgirl, line captain, choreographer, and director in iconic productions including Folies Bergere and Casino de Paris.
- Su Kim Chung: a Las Vegas historian and Head of Public Services in Special Collections and Archives at UNLV. She curates entertainment collections, created the “Fishnets and Spotlights” panel series, and co-developed the podcast “The Women Who Saved History,” which highlights women who have preserved Nevada’s past.
The event will take place inside the historic courtroom on the second floor from 7 to 8 p.m., followed by a book signing.
It’s free for Museum Members or with Museum admission ($34.99 or $19.99 for Nevada residents with ID). For more info or to RSVP, click here.
