This weekly update covers noteworthy restaurant openings and closings, dining news, culinary events, and entertainment news
Events
Ferraro’s Ristorante — March 7
Ferraro’s Ristorante will host a wine pairing dinner featuring the wines of Vallepicciola Toscana with Winemaker Alessandro Cellai, who will serve as the guest of honor for the evening.
The menu will include:
- Sicilian Red Shrimp Carpaccio with strawberries, citrus vinaigrette, espelette, and micro herbs paired with Perlinetto Rosé Pinot Nero 100%
- Tuscan Tomato and Bread Soup matched with Chianti Classico Riserva Sangiovese 100%
- Oxtail and Marrow Ravioli with Sangiovese reduction and aged balsamic paired with Vallepicciola Rosso Grand Cru Sangiovese 100%
- Herb Crusted Lamb Loin with eggplant relish and dark chocolate Merlot reduction matched with Quercegrosse Merlot 100%
The dinner will begin at 6 p.m., and tickets are $195 per person (plus tax and tip). Seating is limited to 40 guests, and a credit card is required to secure reservations. To RSVP, call 702-364-5300.
Nicco’s Prime Meats & Fresh Fish — March 12
Durango Casino & Resort is launching Nicco’s Patio Series at Nicco’s Prime Meats & Fresh Fish, kicking off with Golden Hour & Spritz on Nicco’s newly refreshed patio from 5 to 7 p.m.
Priced at $45 per person (plus tax), guests will enjoy live music and a spritz pairing with unlimited bites from Nicco’s Golden Hour menu, including Prime Rib Poutine, Fritto Misto, Oyster Rockefeller, Chef’s Ceviche, Nicco’s Giardiniera, Burrata, Onion Rings, Chicken Wings, and Hand Cut Chips & Dip.
To purchase tickets, click here. Additional dates for the Patio Series will be announced this spring.
Guerrilla Pizza Company — March 13
Guerrilla Pizza Company, the only Detroit-style deep dish pizza shop by a Detroit native, will host a grand opening party from 5 to 8 p.m., celebrating its first brick-and-mortar location.
Chef Robby Cunningham and Las Vegas businessmen and restaurateurs Steve Mardirossian and Joe and George Djavairian (all Detroit natives) will be joined by Mayor Shelley Berkley and Councilwoman Olivia Diaz for a ribbon-cutting at 5 p.m. Once the ribbon is cut, festivities will continue with tunes from Adam the DJ (aka Pretty Done) and special giveaways throughout the evening, including pizza, gift cards, swag, and more. All guests will receive a complimentary cup of Superman Ice Cream (signature swirl of red, blue, and yellow ice cream). The full menu of Detroit-style pies, wings, poutine tots, and salad will be available for purchase during the celebration.
Harlø Steakhouse & Bar — March 14
Harlø Steakhouse & Bar will welcome back brunch, available only on March 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The refined three-course prix-fixe dining experience by Chef Gina Marinelli, priced at $75 per person, will include:
- choice of Smashed Avocado and Smoked Salmon Toast, Nicoise Salad with olive oil poached tuna, Greek Yogurt, Deviled Eggs, Tuna Tartare, or Jumbo Oishii Shrimp Cocktail
- Brunch Burger with bacon, tomato jam, Lobster Thermidor with Maine lobster tail, Carbonara with house-made tagliatelle, Shakshuka with Calabrian chiles, Crispy Cornish Hen with semolina waffles, 8 oz Creekstone Skirt Steak & Eggs, or Monte Cristo Brandy and Market Salad
- Carrot Cake, Basque Cheesecake, or Chocolate Cake
Additionally, a three-course prix fixe kids menu will be available for children 12 and under for $25, including choice of Market Fruit Platter or Peanut Butter Toast; Cheeseburger with fries, Buttery Noodles with parmesan, or Scrambled Eggs with bacon; and Milk and Cookies, Seasonal Ice Cream, or Gelato.
À la carte enhancements will also be available, including the Fire or Ice seafood plateau, a selection of steak sauces, and optional pairings such as Maine lobster tail, seared foie gras, and bone marrow.
For more info or to make a reservation, visit harlosteak.com or OpenTable.
Legacy Club — March 14
The Legacy Club at the Circa Resort & Casino will host Skyline Sips, a wine tasting event featuring unlimited sips and views from the 60th-floor rooftop lounge.
Held from 1 to 4 p.m., guests will be guided by knowledgeable sommeliers while indulging in unlimited wine tasting from renowned vineyards, including Gallo Wines, Prestige Beverage Group, Deutsch Family Wines, Foley Family Wines, Constellation, Wagner Wines (Caymus), and Campari. Also included are a custom wine glass keepsake, artisanal charcuterie, and live music.
Tickets are $125 per person (including fees). To purchase tickets, click here.
Want more events? Check out our new Food Events Calendar at foodandloathing.vegas/calendar-of-events. It’s quite extensive, with one or more listings for virtually every day.
Pick of the Week
Value and Friendly Service at Rustic House
Rustic House describes itself as a non-smoking, family-friendly gaming bar and restaurant with epic projectors and TVs both inside and outdoors, that’s not so much a bar with poker machines as a restaurant with poker machines.
After visiting the Silverado Ranch location with my friend and photographer Bill Bokelmann, he said it reminded him of the Cheers TV sitcom (“where everyone knows your name”), and I had to agree. Guests are pleasantly greeted upon entry, and servers place a cocktail napkin on the table with their name written on it, so you’ll definitely know their name. What also stood out to me was a relaxed, mellow vibe, comfortable seating, a reasonably priced upscale food and beverage menu, and delightful, friendly service.
The menu is quite broad with pretty much something for everyone. It’s laid out into sections: Starters, Salads, Breakfast, Mexican, Entrees, and Steaks. Standout Starters are the Philly Fries (reminded me a bit like poutine, but an upscale version with generous amounts of shaved rib eye, onions, mushroom, and a signature cheese sauce), Tuna Chips (Cajon-seasoned tuna with citrus soy atop won ton chips with wasabi), and Quesadilla (definitely large enough for a meal, choice of chicken or steak with guacamole, pico de gallo, and sour cream).
A full range of breakfast favorites served daily from midnight to 11 a.m. includes Build Your Own Omelets, Breakfast Burrito, Chicken Steak & Eggs, and French Toast crusted with cereal flakes. On weekends, you can also opt for bottomless Aperol Spritzers, Mimosas, Ketel One Vodka Bloody Marys and Screwdrivers for $25 from 7 a.m. to noon.
The Steak section is far beyond most gaming bars, with this restaurant serving cuts of 16 oz NY Strip, 18 oz Bone-in Ribeye, and 6 or 10 oz Filet. All are offered at half price on Sundays, bringing the prices down to $21-$28.
Entrees are varied, with a selection of sandwiches, burgers, and wraps like the Al’s Steak Dip loaded with shaved prime rib and horseradish spread served with au jus and Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Wrap with tzatziki sauce and kalamata olives; Italian specialties like Chicken Marsala and Rigatoni Vodka; and seafood dishes such as Maple Mustard Glazed Salmon, King Crab, and Lobster Tails.
Another way Rustic House is enticing its customers to return again and again is its specials, with food and beverage specials for every day of the week. They include nightly happy hour with 50% off all drinks from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., daily happy hour from 4-6 p.m. and midnight to 6 a.m. with all local beers for $5 and 50% off several appetizers, Monday & Thursday $30 Steak and 9 oz King Crab, Wednesday & Saturday $25 Steak & Lobster, Thursday 50% off select wine bottles, Friday St. Louis Style Ribs $18 for half rack or $28 for full rack, and Sundays 50% all steaks.
Rustic House it to be commended for carrying a large selection of local beers, with 10 pouring during my recent visit including Able Baker Atomic Duck IPA; Bad Beat Bluffing Isn’t Weisse; Big Dog’s Dirty Dog IPA, Las Vegas Lager and Red Hydrant Ale; CraftHaus BrickHaus Amber Ale and Evocation Saison; Lovelady 9th Island Pineapple Sour; and Tenaya Creek Trailhead Canyon Pilsner.
If the aforementioned daily specials aren’t enough to entice you, the extremely reasonable prices should. Starters range from $13 to $19, breakfast items are mainly $14 to $17, sandwiches are all below $20, and entrees are mostly $18 to $27.
There are three Rustic House locations: Boca Park (8820 W Charleston, Suite 105), Summerlin South (9775 W Sunset Rd, Suite 106), and Silverado Ranch (9821 S Eastern Ave, Unit B).
For more info and to view the complete menu, visit rustichouselv.com.
Dining News
St. Patrick’s Day Specials at PT’s Tavern
PT’s Tavern will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with festive food and drink specials available across participating locations from Thursday, March 13, through Monday, March 17.
Specials available at all PT’s Tavern locations include $11 Reuben Egg Rolls, $12 Drunken Skins, $14 Jameson Snack Size Wings, $5 Coors Light Green Beer, $4 Jameson shots and cocktails, $5 Guinness pints, $6 Irish Slammer, $7 Jameson Mule, and $6 Green Tea Shot.
Additional food specials available only at Sean Patrick’s locations are $10 Irish Disco Fries, $17 Bangers & Mash, $19 Fish & Chips, and $19 Corned Beef & Cabbage.
For a list of locations, visit ptstaverns.com.
Cantina Contramar Sets Opening Date at Fontainebleau
Last September, during Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Fontainebleau hosted a pop-up with internationally acclaimed Chef Gabriela Cámara, founder of the legendary 27-year-old Contramar in Mexico City. Now, the resort is bringing iconic Mexico City dining to Las Vegas with the opening of Cantina Contramar on March 28.
The opening marks Chef Cámara’s first restaurant in Las Vegas and will feature her signature seafood dishes, such as fresh ceviches and aguachiles, seasonal tostadas, specialty whole-fish preparations, and new creations that are twists on Mexican cantina classics.
Located on Level 2 of the Promenade next to Komodo and near the Promenade Food Hall, the space was designed by world-renowned Architect Frida Escobedo. The décor is inspired by traditional Mexican cantinas with a bright, expansive space featuring an open kitchen, a comal station, and a bar as focal points.
The culinary program will be complemented by a selection of custom cocktails and small-batch sipping tequilas from Casa Dragones as well as a flight of the brand’s aged expressions.
For more info, visit fontainebleaulasvegas.com/dining/restaurants/cantina-contramar.
Cabo Wabo Cantina New Daily Brunch
Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo Cantina at the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, with Strip-side patio views, has launched a new brunch, served daily from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Highlights include Chilaquiles con Huevos with fresh tortilla chips layered with red or green sauce, Oaxaca cheese, onion, cilantro, Mexican crema and cotija cheese, and two eggs ($17.99); Breakfast Burrito with scrambled eggs, potatoes, chorizo, queso sauce, and cheddar and jack cheeses served with a fresh fruit bowl ($19.99); and Breakfast Quesadilla with scrambled eggs, bacon, avocado, tomato, onion, cilantro, and cheddar and jack cheeses served with Cabo Wabo potatoes ($19.99).
The cocktail lineup includes bottomless mimosas and bellinis for $32.99 per person and a five-liter margarita made tableside, combining 3 Tres Blanco Tequila, triple sec, sweet and sour, fresh lime juice, agave nectar, and orange juice, starting at $98.
To view the complete menu, visit CaboWaboCantina.com.
Brio Offering Seafood Specials Menu
Brio Italian Grille at Town Square is welcoming the season with a new limited-time Seafood Specials menu, available through April 5.
The Italian-inspired seafood lineup, each paired with a suggested wine, includes:
- Salmon Portofino Salad—flaked grilled salmon, spinach, orzo, black olives, grape tomatoes, pickled red onions, and feta tossed in a pesto vinaigrette ($26.99) Suggested pairing: Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc
- Cod Picatta—pan-seared cod topped with roasted grape tomatoes and capers finished with a velvety lemon butter sauce, served with herb spaghetti and broccolini ($29.99) Suggested pairing: Terlato Vineyards Pinot Grigio
- Prawn Butter Pasta—spaghetti with sautéed shrimp tossed in a rich prawn butter and charred tomato sauce, garnished with chives ($24.99) Suggested pairing: Iconoclast Chardonnay
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, Gemini takes over the pod! Or, at least, the centerpiece with “Girl Dinner,” the brainchild of Scotch 80 Prime Chef Marty Lopez. Also, Al talks to the OG of TV chefs, Martin Yan, who came to town for Lunar New Year at the Suncoast. We get the lowdown on the latest at D’Agostino’s with Dan Thompson, another pop-up coming from Walbert Castillo, listen in on the grand opening of SMKD in Henderson with Alex Reznik, and learn from Eric Gladstone all about the 8th edition of Vegas Unstripped coming in April. And, of course, a Happy Hour Report from Happy Hour Vegas’ Andrew Morgan.
To listen, click here.
Entertainment News
Opportunity Village Springfest at the Magical Forest
Springfest at the Magical Forest, located at 6300 West Oakey Blvd, a 10-day celebration to benefit Opportunity Village, will run from March 13-22.
This inaugural springtime all-ages event will be open daily from 3 to 9 p.m., featuring themed activities, roaming entertainment, scavenger hunts, arts and crafts stations, and special springtime surprises, such as a car show and open-air markets. Opportunity Village is offering free admission during the all-ages events, with $5 ride wristbands available online or in person.
In addition to the all-ages activities, evenings will feature a variety of 21+ ticketed events, including live music, live comedy, line dancing, a luau, karaoke, a magic show from Mac King and friends, and a Farm to Forest food experience from Via Brasil Steakhouse.
Attending Springfest at the Magical Forest directly supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Southern Nevada, as the proceeds enable Opportunity Village to provide workforce training, direct employment, community integration, day habilitation services, and community housing.
For a full events calendar and to purchase tickets, visit OVSpringfest.org.
