This weekly update covers noteworthy restaurant openings and closings, dining news, culinary events, and entertainment news
Events
Gaetano’s Ristorante — August 16
Gaetano’s Ristorante will host its 2nd Annual Peroni/Negroni Pop-Up from 2 to 5 p.m.
There will be swag giveaways, Italian street food, and Italian beer and cocktails. Drinks will include Campari Soda ($12), Barrel Aged Negroni ($16), Campari Sbagliato ($14), Camparo Shakerato ($10), Sarti Pink Lemonade ($12), Peroni ($6), Peroni 0.0 ($6), and Peroni Cocktails ($12). Food specials are Homemade Truffle Potato Chips ($7); Arancini Bolognese with saffron and peas ($9); Arancini Black Truffle ($9); Fried Lasagna ($12); Calamari Fritti ($12); Panini with mortadella, stracciatella cheese, and arugula ($18); Italian Chicken Sausage Sandwich with peppers, onion, and provolone cheese ($18); and Italian Beef Sandwich with provolone cheese, giardiniera, and sweet spicy peppers ($18).
Reservations will be admitted first over walk-ins. To reserve, click here.
Echo & Rig — August 17
Echo & Rig Henderson is continuing its monthly Chef’s Table Monday night dining series.
This fifth session, named Ribs, Three Ways, will feature a menu built around ribs, ribs, and ribs. The dinner will include an Amuse Bouche of Candied Thick-Cut Bacon Bite; Caesar Salad; Beef Back Ribs, Pork Baby Back Ribs, and Lamb Denver Ribs; sides of Macaroni Salad, Cole Slaw, Slow-Cooked Beans, Corn Bread with whipped honey butter; and Grilled Peaches with vanilla ice cream. Optional add-ons include Mac & Cheese, Braised Collard Greens, French Fries, a specialty Peach Crisp Martini cocktail, and wine pairings of Drylands Sauvignon Blanc and Bonanza by Caymus Lot 9 Cabernet Sauvignon. The cost is $55 per person (plus tax and tip). Reservations are available from 4 to 8 p.m. and can be made at echoandrig.com/chefstable.
Bar Boheme — August 22
Chef/Partner James Trees and Corporate Pastry Chef Jake Yergensen will continue their monthly Saturday morning bakery pop-up at Bar Boheme from 8 to 11 a.m.
Following its debut in June, the bakery pop-up continues to offer guests the monthly opportunity to purchase Esther’s Kitchen’s famed sourdough bread, Bar Boheme’s Parisian baguettes, Al Solito Posto’s focaccia, and a rotating selection of croissants, pastries, and other special sweet and savory baked treats.
Guests are encouraged to arrive early as lines form quickly, due to high demand. Bar Boheme is in the Arts District at Main and Imperial.
AMARI Italian Kitchen & Wine Shop — August 27
AMARI Italian Kitchen & Wine Shop at UnCommons will host The Art of Amaro: Make Your Own Italian Amaro.
During the immersive class, guests will learn from a guest ambassador representing one of Italy’s premier amaro producers about the history, craftsmanship, and culture behind Italy’s iconic digestivo. After tasting a welcome cocktail and a curated selection of individual botanical infusions (including citrus peels, herbs, spices, roots, and florals) to explore how each ingredient contributes to the balance and complexity of an amaro, participants will create their own unique recipe, make a label, and fill a 350ml bottle to take home. Throughout the evening, a selection of chef-prepared small bites will be served.
The class will run from 3 to 5 p.m., and the cost is $74 (plus tax). To purchase tickets, click here.
NEW: Food and Loathing Events Calendar & Weekly Newsletter
For even more events, check out our new food-centric events calendar at foodandloathing.vegas/calendar-of-events. It’s quite extensive – because we know you love options! – with one or more listings for virtually every day.
AND, make sure you never miss reading this column and other interesting reads! Sign up for the weekly Food and Loathing newsletter, which comes out every Thursday. To get on the list, visit foodandloathing.vegas/newsletter.
Pick of the Week: Mott 32
Mott 32 Now Offering Power Lunch
Mott 32, the acclaimed Chinese restaurant known for its authentic Asian cuisine of regional dishes from Cantonese, Szechuan, and Beijing, has established itself as one of the top fine dining Asian venues on the Vegas Strip. Now the upscale eatery on the casino floor of The Palazzo has launched a lunch service ideal for client lunches, business travelers, celebrations, or just an elevated lunchtime meal.
A helpful aspect of the restaurant is the fact that there are always team members present who speak Cantonese and Mandarin, and the menu is printed in both Mandarin and English. One of those team members is Executive Chef Jin He Liu. The 35-year-old has been in the US for 14 years, and after spending time at Wing Lei at Wynn Las Vegas honing his fine-dining preparation experience, he opened Mott 32 in 2018, then worked at Wing Lei at Fontainebleau as Chef de Cuisine before returning to Mott 32 as Executive Chef.
Some of the items available exclusively on the new lunch menu include Milk Tea, Noodle Soups (Spicy Beef, Wonton, and Shredded Duck Vegetable Rice Vermicelli), Signature Pineapple Bun with BBQ Iberico Pork, Crispy Soft Shell Crab Cheung Fun, BBQ Pork Cheung Fun, and Red Dates Steam Cake.
A great way to experience several of the lunch offerings is to indulge in one of the $38 or $68 prix fixe lunch menus. The Express Lunch Set includes a choice of starter such as Traditional Iberico Pork Shanghainese Soup Dumplings and Signature Crispy Sugar-Coated Pork Buns; soup choice of Wonton, Hot and Sour with assorted seafood, or Minced Beef Egg Congee; main course selection such as Stir-Fried Shanghainese Noodles and General Tso’s Chicken; and dessert choice of Rose & Valrhona White Chocolate Panna Cotta or Red Dates Steam Cake. The $68 Exclusive Lunch Set includes the same four courses but with some more upscale options like Wagyu Beef Puff, 5-piece Dim Sum Platter, King Prawn Har Gow, Shredded Peking Duck Salad, Signature Smoked Black Cod, and Alaskan Crabmeat Fried Rice with flying fish roe.
There are also several à la carte lunch options, several of which are also on the dinner menu, including 42-day Apple Wood Roasted Peking Duck, most of the dim sum selection, Braised Eggplant with minced pork and chili peppers, Signature Lobster Ma Po Tofu, and Stir-Fried Australian M6 Wagyu Sirloin,
If you want your fill of dim sum and Asian small plates without stopping, check out the Limitless Dim Sum Brunch offered Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. It’s priced at $68 per person, and it’s all-you-can-eat with a two-hour time limit.
Accompanying the authentic fare is one of the most extensive cocktail and spirits lists I’ve seen. Cocktails exclusive to lunch are the Shin Lim Sparkle with Prosecco, Yuzu Liqueur, and chrysanthemum; and Silk & Thistle with gin, orgeat, and Apero. The huge whiskey list has offerings from Japan, the US, Taiwan, Scotland, and Canada; and there are several choices of sake, brandy, vodka, gin, rum, and tequila.
After the closure of the casual Hong Kong Café last year, Mott 32 is the only Chinese lunch option at The Palazzo. Now you can enjoy upscale lunchtime dining without an upscale price, as in addition to the reasonably priced prix fixe offerings, there are numerous menu items available for less than $20.
For more info and to view the complete menus, visit mott32.com/las-vegas.
Dining News
Andiamo Steakhouse $60 Prix Fixe
Andiamo Steakhouse at the D Las Vegas is offering a three-course prix fixe menu for $60.
Offered twice daily from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and 10 to 11 p.m. it includes choice of Caesar Salad, Iceberg Wedge, or Italian Chopped Salad; Steak Diane with two 3 oz filet medallions with wild mushroom brandy cream sauce and truffle whipped potatoes, 6 oz Grilled Salmon with herb roasted farro and pistachio pesto, Chicken Picatta in a lemon caper white wine butter sauce over capellini, or Shrimp Scampi with garlic lemon butter sauce over house made linguini; and Tiramisu with espresso and Kahlua dipped lady fingers or Cheesecake topped with fresh berries.
Oscar’s Steakhouse “All Day Happy Hour”
Oscar’s Steakhouse inside The Plaza Hotel & Casino is offering “All-Day Happy Hour,” Monday through Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m. (open to close) in its expansive lounge.
Available through Aug. 27, the food menu includes No Nose’s Meatballs with house-made ricotta and basil pesto ($12), Sal’s Shrimp Cocktail ($3), Oscars Chopped Salad with avocado and tomato ($8), Caesar Salad ($8), 6 oz Skirt Steak with chimichurri ($25), Chilled Seasonal Oysters ($3 each), Steak Fries ($9), and Oscar’s Famous Burger ($19).
Drink specials are Pour Decisions bartender’s rotating cocktail special ($12), House Red, White & Sparkling wine ($9), well cocktails ($8), and Bud Light and Michelob Ultra ($5).
Happy Hour is also available in the lounge on Friday through Sunday, from 5 to 7 p.m.
The Spot Weekday Specials
The Spot, located at 8410 W. Desert Inn Road, near Durango Road, has introduced a weekday pre-happy hour and expanded happy hour menu.
Available Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the pre-happy hour features buy-one-get-one-free well liquors and select beers. Happy hour follows from 3 to 6 p.m., offered exclusively in the bar, featuring jumbo brined Chicken Wings tossed in choice of BBQ, mild, hot, honey sriracha, sweet chili lime or lemon pepper dry rub ($8 for six wings); Brussels Sprouts with creamy garlic sauce and parmesan ($10); house-made Hummus with chimichurri served with pita and vegetables ($10); Jalapeño Popper Cheese Dip with cream cheese, jalapeños, house bacon and a cheese blend served with crostini ($12); and The Spot Nachos topped with cheese, black beans, tomato, jalapeños, pickled red onions, avocado crema, cotija and cilantro ($10).
The Spot is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and offers weekend barbeque on Saturdays and Sundays beginning at 11 a.m. until sold out. For more info and to view the complete menus, visit thespotlv.com.
Washing Potato MIND2MIND Pre-Show Prix-Fixe Dinner Menu
Washing Potato, the dim sum concept at Fontainebleau, is offering a three-course prix-fixe dinner menu to complement the MIND2MIND show.
Available exclusively on show nights (Friday through Tuesday) from 3 to 6:30 p.m. and priced at $64 per person, it includes:
- appetizer choice of Chicken Pot Sticker, Pork & Chili Wonton, Scallop Shumai, or assorted BBQ Plate with roasted duck, barbeque pork, and roasted chicken (supplement $48)
- entrée choice of General Tso’s Chicken, Beef Chow Fun, Kung Pao Chicken, Sweet & Sour Pork, or Whole Maine Lobster wok-fried with XO sauce (supplement $88)
- Side of Bok Choy with Garlic, Choy Sum with Oyster Sauce, Gai Lan with Ginger & Garlic, or Yangzhou Combination Fried Rice (supplement $27)
Reservations are encouraged and can be made online.
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.
For this week’s episode, Gemini, Al, and Andrew are at Monzu Italian Oven + Bar, getting the lowdown from Chef-Owner Gio Mauro on the restaurant’s new summer menu and an unlimited pasta and pizza special. You’ll also hear local chefs Brian Howard, Erica Bell, Gary LaMorte, and Lorraine Blanco Moss comment on the new Anthony Bourdain movie, Tony. And Wayne Herman will explain Brezza’s digestif cart. Beyond that — a Happy Hour Vegas report from Happy Hour Vegas’ Andrew Morgan, and the news.
To listen, click here.
Entertainment News
Real Bodies 10 Year Anniversary Special and Community Art Showcase
Created by Imagine, REAL BODIES at Horseshoe Las Vegas features more than 20 real human bodies and over 200 anatomical specimens presented through immersive galleries that explore the systems, emotions, and experiences that define the human journey.
The exhibition opened in 2016 and is celebrating its 10th anniversary on the Las Vegas Strip by offering $10 off adult and youth general admission tickets (use promo code RBTENTH) through August 31. Adults may then take their ticket stub across to The Cabinet of Curiosities to enjoy the REAL BODIES Strawberry Smash cocktail with bourbon, lemon juice, strawberry puree, and a splash of soda for $10.
The anniversary celebration also marks the launch of a new artistic initiative that invites Southern Nevada artists to interpret the exhibition through their own unique perspectives. Ten selected artists will receive exclusive access to the exhibition to sketch, photograph, and study the anatomical specimens as inspiration for an original work in the medium of their choice. The completed pieces will be displayed during a special REAL BODIES 10-Year Anniversary Gallery Showcase on Thursday, Oct. 22. The ten artists selected to participate in the showcase will receive promotional exposure through REAL BODIES’ marketing channels and may also offer their artwork for sale during the event at their discretion. Artists can apply to participate online, with submissions being accepted through Aug. 15.
REAL BODIES is open daily to all ages, beginning at 11 a.m. Tickets and additional information, including the anniversary promotion and artist submission details, are available at RealBodiesVegas.com.
