This weekly update covers noteworthy restaurant openings and closings, dining news, culinary events, and entertainment news.
Events
Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab — September 9
Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab at the Forum Shops at Caesars will host a five-course wine dinner featuring Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars with special guest Ben Palos, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Brand Manager.
Courses are:
- Reception with Guado Al Tasso Scalabrone Rose
- Heirloom Tomato Salad with avocado and basil paired with Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Aveta Sauvignon Blanc
- Seabass with charred lemon vinaigrette and frisee matched with Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Karia Chardonnay
- Filet Mignon with bone marrow butter and crispy onions paired with Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon
- New York Strip with peppercorn sauce and charred broccolini matched with Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Fay Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Door County Cherry Bread Pudding with vanilla ice cream paired with Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Ptolemy Dessert Wine
Guests will also have the option to purchase wines to enjoy at home. The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with the reception, followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are $195 per person ($258.78 including event fee, tax, and tip). To purchase tickets, click here.
Ferraro’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar — September 13
Ferraro’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar will host its next Taste and Learn wine pairing dinner with authentic Italian small plates crafted by Executive Chef Mimmo Ferraro, with this session spotlighting the family-produced Tommasi Family Estates, which has grown into one of Italy’s leading wine producers, with vineyards across Tuscany, Lombardy, Montalcino and more.
Courses are Lugana “Le Fornaci” paired with Grilled Squid with arugula, fennel, and citrus herb vinaigrette; Valpolicella “Rafael” Classico Superiore matched with Amarone Risotto and Chicken Liver Ragú; Valpolicella Ripasso paired with Roasted Bone Marrow with spicy salsa verde and crostini; and Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico matched with Braised Short Ribs with sunchoke purée and gorgonzola cream.
The dinner will begin at 5 p.m. and tickets are $150 per person (all inclusive). To make reservations, call 702-364-5300.
La Fontaine — September 13-14
This Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Fontainebleau will present a celebratory brunch collaboration between globally renowned Chef Gabriela Cámara and La Fontaine Executive Chef Laëtitia Rouabah.
Served from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and priced at $115 per person and $55 for children 10 years or younger, guests will have access to both an à la carte menu designed by Chef Cámara and buffet-style La Fontaine options conceptualized by Chef Rouabah. Guests can choose one appetizer and one entrée from the à la carte menu, in addition to the buffet menu.
The à la carte menu features Ceviche Contramar with white fish and pico de gallo; Tostada Contramar with marinated tuna, chipotle mayonnaise, fried leeks, and avocado; Pescado Al Pastor Tacos with Pastor-style fish, onion, cilantro, and pineapple; Torta Ahogada served as a pork confit sandwich with salsa roja; and for dessert, a trio of Panqué de elote, Merengue, and Mini Buñuelos.
The buffet includes seasonal fruits and berries, overnight oats, and yogurt parfait; Toast Station with smoked salmon, bagel, cream cheese, red onions, capers, and sliced tomatoes; Slow-Roasted Prime Rib with au jus & peppercorn sauce; and an Oyster Bar offering freshly shucked East and West Coast oysters.
The complete menu can be found here, and reservations are available online.
Pick of the Week: The Oak Room
The Oak Room at The District at Green Valley Ranch is situated in a spot that has been the home of Due and Proper, Al’s Garage, and Ritchie McNeely’s. This 24-hour upscale grill now offers a comfortable environment for enjoying great food, a wide variety of spirits, sports viewing, gaming, and some incredible deals.
Part of the Fine Entertainment group and located adjacent to PKWY The District, the room’s relaxed vibe is enhanced by dark wood floors and tabletops, camel and pastel green tones, a 70s and 80s music playlist, upholstered booths and chairs, and an amusing wall filled with historic Guinness ads (likely retained from its former Irish pub venue days).
The bar not only has several TVs for sports viewing, but also displays the extensive spirits list, with more than 70 whiskies and several tequilas. If one desires to sample a variety, there are six flights including tastes of wine, tequila, whiskey, dessert spirits, and a mix of spirits. There are also some unique cocktails, such as That’s Me Espresso with Buffalo Trace Bourbon, espresso, brown sugar syrup, and chocolate bitters.
Some recommended starters are the Crispy Shrimp with Gochujang-lime drizzle and pepper relish, Cheeseburger Egg Rolls with cheese bistro sauce, Clam Chowder with generous bites of clam, and the clear winner: Street Corn Nachos with cotija and pepper jack cheese, roasted corn, black beans, and roasted poblano peppers.
Reasonably priced entrees include Hot Honey Chicken Platter with chicken tenders, hot honey drizzle, coleslaw, pickles, French fries and a biscuit; and 14 oz Chile-Rubbed Pork Chop served with mashed Yukon Gold potatoes and asparagus.
Thank me later for advising you to save room for dessert, for the House-Made Peach Cobbler with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce is so good my wife had to order an additional one to take home.
One of the best deals around is likely the $12 lunch deal. Available Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., your choices include soup or salad, as well as half Chicken Panini or Prosciutto and Fig Panini sandwiches, or a choice of one full entrée: Steakhouse Burger, Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich, Chicken Parmesan, Chicken Linguini, or Shrimp Scampi.
Another excellent value is the happy hour served Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday through Thursday from 9 p.m. to close with $7 Crispy Shrimp, Cheeseburger Egg Rolls, Onion Rings, and Street Corn Nachos; and 50% off bottles of Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc and Daou Cabernet, glasses of White Peach and Red Sangria, Modelo and Coors Light drafts, and House Mule and House Margarita.
Another good time to show up is on Friday nights, when live music is performed (described as old school but hip with guitarist/singer Patrick and violinist Moira) beginning at 8 p.m. As this is quite a popular weekly event, you might want to reserve a booth by clicking here.
Your dining experience will be enhanced if you happen to be served by Iris and get to chat with The Oak Room GM Ryan Catelo, who are both delightful to talk to. Ryan wears several hats, overseeing not only The Oak Room but also PKWY Tavern, The District next door, PKWY Tavern Marks, and PKWY Tavern Volunteer.
For more info and to view the complete menus, visit oakroomlv.com/oak-room-at-the-district-at-green-valley-ranch.
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.
Last week’s show helps you gear up for football season, as Al speaks to representatives of Flanker, Ri Ra, Dawg House and Stadium Swim to find out what they’re planning, and lists seven other great venues for viewing sports. Andrew Morgan continues the football-centric episode with a look at sports bar happy hours. Jeremy Ford talks about Stubborn Seed’s a la carte menu, we speak to one of the partners at the brand new Pachi Pachi, Paymon Raouf tells us about Paymon’s entertainment schedule and introduces us to one of the musicians, and we revisit an interview with Ellie Parker as the Main St. Provisions chef announces she’s headed to Hell’s Kitchen. Plus: lots of news, and restaurant reports from Partage, Durango Social Club, Stubborn Seed, and more.
To listen, click here.
Dining News
Happy Hour Vegas Newsletter
If you’re looking to save money on dining and want to know about the best happy hours in the Las Vegas area, you’re missing out if you are not subscribing to the Happy Hour Vegas Newsletter.
Andrew Morgan does a thorough job compiling lists of up-to-date happy hours with all the details. The lists are arranged geographically with 10 regional breakdowns, by days of the week, and by type of venue, such as rooftop, sports bar, speakeasy, cheap, and sushi.
To sign up for the newsletter and view the lists, visit happyhourvegas.com.
Palms Casino Resort Closing Three Celebrity Chef Restaurants
Palms Casino Resort has reached a mutual agreement with Chef Luke Palladino (Laguna Pool House & Kitchen), Chef Marc Vetri (Vetri Cucina), and Chef Michael Symon (Mabel’s Bar & Q) not to extend existing contracts for their respective restaurant operations.
Each of the celebrity chefs gave a statement about their restaurant’s closing:
“Las Vegas is a city built on reinvention, and after thoughtful conversations with the Palms team, we’ve agreed this is the right time to close the restaurants at Palms Place. I’m grateful to my team for their hard work and creativity, and to the homeowners and guests who supported us along the way,” said Chef Luke Palladino.
“My team and I are proud of what we created together at Vetri Cucina. Thank you to everyone on our team, Palms, and the Las Vegas community. We’re going to miss the 56th floor, but we’re grateful for the experience and opportunity,” said Chef Marc Vetri.
“Being part of the opening and reopening of such a legendary location like Palms Casino Resort has been nothing but a joy. We are excited about the future for both us and them, and we wish everyone there continued success as they have always done right by us and their patrons, and it will always be one of our favorite resorts in Las Vegas,” said Chef Michael Symon.
Palms Vice President of Food and Beverage Gregory Van Stone said, “We are grateful to Chef Luke and Chef Marc and their teams for their partnership and for the experiences they’ve created for our homeowners at Palms Place and guests at Palms. To have Chef Michael and the Mabel’s team present during our history-making opening in 2022 was extraordinary, and the culinary experiences they provided our guests the past three years were some of the most memorable. Their contributions have been a valued chapter in our story.”
Mabel’s final day of service will be September 12; Laguna Pool House will be closed after October 12; and the closing date of Vetri is still being determined.
Rí Rá Celebrating Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day
At the authentic Irish pub Rí Rá at The Shoppes at Mandalay Place, it seems every day is St. Patrick’s Day. Still, as it does every year, its week-long celebration, Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day, will not only offer a special menu but also donate 20 percent of the proceeds to benefit HELP of Southern Nevada. This local nonprofit assists low-income families, homeless youth, and other individuals to help them reach self-sufficiency through direct services, training, and referrals.
Available from September 15-21, the unique Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day menu featuring authentic Irish dishes includes:
- Corned Beef Wontons: house-brined corned beef, shredded and mixed with cream cheese, honey, and crushed red pepper, folded into a wonton skin, flash-fried, and served with Thai chili sauce ($15.75)
- BBQ Chicken Flat Bread: flatbread with Guinness BBQ sauce, shredded mozzarella, grilled chicken, and green onions ($14.75)
- Chicken Kiev: chicken breast stuffed with garlic herb butter, breaded, fried, and topped with melted Irish cheddar and served with garlic roasted Red Bliss potatoes and sautéed asparagus ($22.75)
- Jameson Honey Shrimp: six-piece grilled shrimp sauteed in Jameson honey sauce with white rice, red and yellow bell pepper, onion, broccoli, and green onion ($24.75)
- Strawberry Rhubarb Pie: sweet and tangy mix in a flaky pie crust ($7.95)
Entertainment News
Drake Bell — September 18
Actor and musician Drake Bell will be coming back to Easy’s Cocktail Lounge, the speakeasy hidden inside Proper Eats Food Hall at ARIA, for a one-night-only musical performance.
Drake Bell is an American actor, singer, and songwriter who started acting at age five and appeared in commercials and shows like Home Improvement, Seinfeld, and Jerry Maguire. Best known for his roles as Drake Parker on the Nickelodeon show Drake & Josh and for voicing Peter Parker in The Ultimate Spiderman, Bell also wrote the Drake & Josh theme song, “Found a Way.”
Doors will open at 8 p.m. and guests arriving throughout the night will be welcomed with a complimentary bourbon tasting provided by Maker’s Mark. Bell’s performance will begin at 11:30 p.m., and he will stick around for a meet and greet at 12:30 a.m.
There is no cover charge for standing room General Admission, but given the popularity of the night, table reservations with a minimum are recommended and can be made here.
