It’s Rachel Diehl filling in for your regular Las Vegas Dining & Entertainment News columnist, Bob Barnes, while he’s on a much-deserved vacation. He’s left some big shoes to fill, but I’m going to do my best to keep you in the loop.
Without further ado – here’s what you need to know!
Events
The Night Shift Cocktail Competition Finale – Sept. 29
It’s the final countdown! *Insert epic synthesizer riff here*
All year, bartenders have been competing to serve the best of the best cocktails in the city during after-hours Night Shift Cocktail competition events held at Esther’s Kitchen. And now, it all comes down to this… semifinalists and runners-up have been invited to compete in the finale for the ultimate prize: the winning cocktail will be featured on High Stakes’ seasonal menu. Lucky for those who are not night owls, the finale starts at 6 p.m. at High Stakes on the 50th floor of Rio Hotel & Casino. Come for the cocktails, and enjoy the epic views!
Join this free event and watch the finalists battle it out while sipping on a welcome cocktail upon arrival, complimentary bites curated by High Stakes Chef Shawn Wallace, a cash bar, and beer and shot stations. It doesn’t get any more local Vegas than this. RSVP to secure your free seat.
Shout out to Tucker St. John, Beverage Director at Esther’s Kitchen, who was recently named Best Cocktail Community Builder by Las Vegas Weekly for producing and coordinating this competition.
National Coffee Day – Sept. 29
National Coffee Day is just around the corner, and if you’re like me and drink Lorelai Gilmore amounts of coffee, you probably already have your “Luke’s Diner” of coffee shops that you frequent. But National Coffee Day provides a fun opportunity to venture outside your comfort zone and try something new. Luckily, Neon Feast has you covered with a solid list of locally owned and beloved coffee shops, and Food and Loathing has you covered with a handful of Coffee Day promotions happening, including:
Locally owned and operated franchise of Jeff’s Bagel Run is offering free regular iced/hot coffee or $3 off an espresso beverage when you scan your Jeff’s Bagel Run app at purchase. Haven’t been to Jeff’s Bagel Run? Check out our coverage of the opening from earlier this year to get the scoop on this craft quick-service bagel shop. While you’re there, try their new limited-edition releases including a lox spread with chunks of smoked salmon and capers, plus fall favorites like a pumpkin bagel, pumpkin spice cream cheese, maple brown sugar cream cheese, pumpkin spice cold foam cold brew, and more!
Urth Caffé is running two promotions for National Coffee Day, exclusively at two locations: The District at Green Valley Ranch in Henderson and UnCommons in Southwest Las Vegas. Guests who make a purchase and show proof that they are following @urthcaffenv on Instagram will receive a raffle ticket. After National Coffee Day, each location will select 5 winners who will receive mystery bags filled with items such as gift cards, coffee beans, and Urth retail items. One lucky grand prize winner at each location will receive 31 free coffee coupons, redeemable for hot or iced espresso drinks. Winners will be announced on Oct. 2 on the coffee shop’s social media channels.
Additionally, as part of the celebration, Urth Caffé is offering teachers and first responders a complimentary drip coffee or cold brew all day on Sept. 29 as a thank you for their work in the community – just show your work ID or badge.
Makers of the iconic poop emoji donut, Pinkbox Doughnuts, are celebrating the occasion by offering free premium drip coffee to new and existing members of the Pinkbox Perks loyalty program, plus 50 percent off specialty coffee drinks, including lattes, cappuccinos, mochas, nitro cold brew, and more. Not already a member – don’t worry – you can sign up that day at any Pinkbox Doughnuts shop to still score these perks.
They’ve also launched a new doughnut as a fun and delicious tribute to National Coffee Day. The aptly named Wake Up Call is a raised ring doughnut frosted with coffee icing, available now through September 30.
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.
Dining News
CraftHaus Arts District Launches Permanent Bookshop Partnership With The Book & The Bean
Speaking of coffee, CraftHaus Arts District will soon be slinging a cuppa joe in addition to its delicious craft beers. The taproom is getting a glow-up with a new permanent bookshop, in partnership with The Book & The Bean. And because you can’t have books without coffee, CraftHaus Arts District will soon be extending its hours to open at 8:00 a.m. to accommodate a new coffee program featuring local Dark Moon Coffee Roasters and including cold brew on tap, matcha, pour-over coffee, drip coffee, and seasonal creative drinks. Another Las Vegas favorite, Carl’s Donuts, will supply fresh pastries, donuts, and bagels daily. Breakfast egg items will also be available.
Be on the lookout on CraftHaus’ socials for information on a grand reveal coming in early October. They’ll also launch the Haus Work Club, a membership for remote workers, freelancers, creatives, and entrepreneurs, featuring a remote workspace, member discounts on food and beverages, access to weekly networking happy hour events, and other CraftHaus perks.
Natural 21 Game Lounge Celebrates 1st Anniversary, Launches New Menu
On the heels of celebrating its 1st anniversary, haven for nerdy board gamers Natural 21 Game Lounge just launched new menu additions. With Chef Michael Flores at the helm, this game lounge takes its food and beverage program seriously. A few standouts include:
- Spam Fries – Deep-fried spam served with spicy ketchup.
- Diego Dog – ¼ pound all-beef hot dog, bacon, avocado, salsa fresca dashed with cotija cheese. Served with your choice of fry.
- Pulled Pork Sandwich – Slow-smoked pork topped with cheddar jack cheese, coleslaw, fried onions, and BBQ Sauce on a Brioche Bun. Served with your choice of fry.
- Chicken Cordon Bleu – Fried chicken cutlet, black forest ham and Swiss cheese on spring mix, tomato, red onion and Dijon mustard on garlic French bread.
- Cuban – Slow-smoked pork, black forest ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and chef’s mustard on toasted French bread. Served with your choice of fries.
- Pizza Pretzel – Pretzel topped with mozzarella and pepperoni, served with marinara sauce.
- BBQ Mac – Queso mac topped with your choice of pulled pork or chopped tri-tip, cheddar jack cheese, fried onions, and BBQ sauce.
- Cajun Chicken Pasta – Chicken breast, garlic, onion and red, yellow and green peppers sautéed with Cajun queso sauce, served over elbow macaroni with garlic knots.
- Chicken Parmesan Sandwich – Breaded and fried smoked chicken patty topped with mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce on garlic French bread. Served with your choice of fries.
Also, just in time for football season, they’ve started offering pickleback shots that have leveled up the pickleback game for me FOR-EV-ER. If you thought chasing whiskey with pickle juice was a game changer… wait until you try their new pickleback shots. A shot of Molly Malone Irish Whiskey chased with a shot of New Orleans Dill Pickle Flavored Vodka for only $9 during football games, $12 all other times. Because my alcohol needs more alcohol.
Pro Tip: Don’t skip the Liliana’s Necromancer cocktail while you’re there. This delightfully smooth drink features Chicken Cock Whiskey and Huckleberry Moonshine (made at the Mob Museum’s Underground Speakeasy & Distillery) blended with hickory-smoked vanilla for a smooth, smoky, berry-kissed sip.
595 Craft and Kitchen Introduces Weekend Brunch
A local favorite craft beer gastropub, 595 Craft and Kitchen, will now open early on Saturdays & Sundays, serving brunch from 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. With a menu that includes many breakfast staples as well as Asian-inspired dishes, plus “Mini-Me Options” for the young aspiring foodies, this brunch is a must-try! In addition to a $30 Bottomless Booze package, here’s a peek at a few dishes:
- Breakfast Burrito – Scrambled eggs, cheddar, breakfast potatoes, and pork belly lardons. Served with crema and salsa.
- Breakfast Bánh Mì – Scrambled egg, SPAM, pickled vegetables, jalapeño, cucumber, and cilantro. Served with house-seasoned chips.
- Chilaquiles – Tomatillo salsa, cotija, cilantro-lime crema, and two eggs with an optional add-on of chipotle-lime chicken.
- Fried Chicken & Waffles – Buttermilk fried chicken, Belgian Liège waffle, and Fresno chili–infused maple syrup.
- Loco Moco – Brown gravy, fried egg, furikake seasoning, and green onion over umami rice. Choice of hamburger or SPAM.
- Hangover Cure – Chopped burger, new school American cheese, bacon, caramelized onion, pickled Fresno chilies, fried egg, and fry sauce on a bed of fries.
- Vietnamese Steak & Eggs – Marinated flank steak, tomatoes, green onion, red onion, and two eggs. Served with dipping bread, pickled veggies, and pork pâté.
“Mini Me Options” for foodie guests 13 and younger include:
- Cheese & Egg Quesadilla
- Scrambled Eggs & Waffles
- Cheeseburger & Potatoes
Norms Las Vegas Celebrates 2nd Anniversary, Adds New Seasonal Dishes
Despite being in plain view on Charleston & Decatur, Norms is one of my favorite “hidden gem” diners, so naturally I had to attend their 2nd Anniversary Party. Although Norms is a chain restaurant, they did a great job giving the party that small-town, local diner feel, reflecting their commitment to the local community. Listen to our own Al Mancini talk to Norms CEO Mark Politzer on the latest podcast episode of Food and Loathing.
Congresswoman Dina Titus and Councilman Brian Knudsen were both on-site to give their congratulations. The restaurant also invited the marching band from the community’s local Clark High School to perform for attendees. Guests were grooving to the sounds of celebratory songs like “Happy,” “Signed, Sealed, Delivered,” “Hooked on a Feeling,” “Believer,” and many more.
The first 100 guests got free food, and 25 lucky guests could step inside the cash grab machine and grab prizes valued at up to $5,000 in 10 seconds.
I’ve been a fan of Norms Las Vegas for a while now, and here are a few standout dishes I recommend:
- K Town Breakfast Skillet – Kimchi fried rice, grilled diced Spam and two eggs any style, served with toast or hot cakes.
- This is a limited-time item, so run, don’t walk to try it! It’s my favorite item currently on the menu. The kimchi gives it a great kick, but it is not overwhelming, so it’s a very approachable dish no matter your food preferences. If you’re a big fan of kimchi, ask for extra on the side.
- Korean BBQ Smothered Fries – Crispy fries topped with jack and cheddar cheese, chopped BBQ beef, kimchi, sriracha drizzle, scallions and furikake.
- Also a limited-time item. Big chunks of juicy, tender, chopped BBQ beef mixed with all the umami flavors of the breakfast skillet but served over fries instead of rice. It’s a perfectly balanced dish.
- Mediterranean Omelet – Bell peppers, onions, zucchini squash, cherry tomatoes, spinach, basil, marinara sauce, and feta cheese.
- I was surprised to see marinara sauce on an omelet, but this works surprisingly well and is a craveable comfort dish.
- Fish & Chips – Fried whitefish strips, French fries, tartar sauce, and fresh lemon.
- The move here is their house-made tartar sauce, which features fresh capers and dill mashed in. While the fish is also on-point, it’s really just a tartar sauce delivery system.
- Quesadilla Omelet – Chorizo, onions, bell peppers, jack and cheddar cheese, and tomato in a quesadilla-stuffed omelet topped with red chile sauce and pico de gallo.
- It’s like a Quesadilla burger, but make it a drool-worthy breakfast.
Pick of the Week
Petite Boheme Now Offering Bar Bites
As a self-professed James Trees evangelist, Petite Boheme is one of those bars I just keep going back to whenever I’m in the Arts District. It has a rotating seasonal cocktail menu featuring some of the most creative drinks in Las Vegas, and that’s on purpose. Each bartender is invited to submit an original drink to be featured on the menu. I enjoy bellying up to the bar, asking the bartender to tell me about their creation, and watching their eyes light up as they talk about it before I take a sip. But one thing has always been missing: food… That is, until recently.
Petite Boheme just launched a Bar Bites menu created by their sister restaurant and next-door neighbor, Bar Boheme. Naturally, I had to try it.
The clear winner of the night was the French Onion Grilled Cheese, made with the famous Esther’s Kitchen sourdough bread, gruyere, and finely grilled sliced onions served with a side of frites. James and team, if you’re reading this, please add a small side of tomato soup or consommé for dipping to make this absolute pure perfection.
Another standout dish was the Smoked Trout Dip featuring caviar, dill, and creme fraiche served with crackers. This dish reminds me of the Smoked Salmon Crepe Cake on the brunch menu at Bar Boheme, and it no doubt borrows some of the same ingredients.
The new menu features elevated bar bites at prices so approachable, you’d think you hit the happy hour jackpot. Check out the full menu here.
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.
Fontainebleau’s Cantina Contramar hosts Gemini and Al this week, with Chef Gabriela Cámara joining them for an extended interview about The Strip’s new Mexican hotspot. We also check in with Norm’s CEO Mark Politzer at the Las Vegas location’s Second Anniversary Party, and speak with Paris Las Vegas’ Vice President of Food and Beverage Aymeric Brillaud about the brand new afternoon tea service at The Bedford by Martha Stewart. And Jeff Ramsey of Wynn’s Mizumi shares his thoughts on one of the best parts of the Revelry Festival, The Feast. Plus a Happy Hour Report from Happy Hour Vegas’ Andrew Morgan, news, restaurant reports and more.
To listen, click here.
Entertainment News
“Working 9 to 5” for Charity
The shows at The Venue are honoring Dolly Parton’s legacy of giving with special discounted packages and a specialty cocktail, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Storied Inc., the Las Vegas chapter of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
In a playful nod to Dolly’s iconic song “9 to 5,” all participating packages feature special “925” pricing, with 9/25-inspired deals throughout the weekend of Sept. 25-27. Faaabulous! The Ultimate Drag Brunch Show, Punk Rock Brunch and Haunted Brunch are offering specialty-priced show-only tickets for $9.25++ (pricing usually $39.98, $29.98, and $35.98, respectively, plus taxes and fees). Guests of Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding can enjoy two regular admissions for $92.50++ (normally $159.90++). To snag the deals, enter promo code DOLLY before checkout on the show’s website. Up to $5 from each ticket sold will benefit Storied, Inc.
Additionally, for all you lovers of a good cocktail, The Venue invites you to gulp down a Cup of Ambition featuring vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry juice, and soda water, garnished with a pink sugar rim and a slice of lemon. The specialty cocktail will be served to guests at the newly named Box Office Bar for $14.99, with $5 from each drink sold benefiting Storied, Inc.
Vegas Loves Salsa – Marc Anthony Announces 2027 Residency Dates
On the heels of his debut at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, four-time GRAMMY® Award winner and eight-time Latin GRAMMY® Award winner, Marc Anthony, has just announced an extension of his “Vegas…My Way!” residency. The 2027 dates include Feb. 12, 13, 17, 19, and 20, with a return in the Fall for shows on Sept. 10, 11, 17, 18 and 19, coinciding with Mexican Independence Day Weekend.
The 2026 shows have been a hit with fans, as Anthony takes audiences on an immersive journey through more than three decades of chart-topping hits, backed by his dynamic 14-piece live band. The show takes place at BleauLive Theater, and the party continues at Nowhere Lounge, the official after-party destination. The lounge is hosting “VEGAS… MY WAY! Late Night Sessions,” featuring music sets curated by longtime Marc Anthony collaborator and producer Motif for guests to dance the night away to.
Tickets go on sale Friday, Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. PDT. Citi cardmembers can access a presale Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 10 a.m. through Thursday, Sept. 24, at 10 p.m. PDT at citientertainment.com.
