Bob Barnes
In this weekly update, food and beverage reporter Bob Barnes fills us in on noteworthy restaurant openings and closings, special dining news, events and culinary news about delicious bites around Las Vegas worth knowing about.
Upcoming Events And Excellent Bites around Las Vegas
New Vista Wine Walk
September 2
New Vista will host a wine walk at Town Square from 5 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $40 in advance ($50 at the door) and include 18 samples of an eclectic mix of wine varietals at different tasting stations throughout Town Square, along with live entertainment and a variety of backyard games.
Each attendee will receive a commemorative souvenir wine glass, tasting card and map outlining the locations of the samples. All proceeds benefit New Vista Community, Nevada’s largest non-profit residential provider supporting people of all ages with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
River Rock River Pizza & Pasta
September 5
On National Pizza Day, from 3 to 5 p.m., Arizona Charlie’s Decatur will celebrate the grand opening of its new Italian restaurant River Rock Pizza & Pasta with a pizza cutting ceremony, live music, 50 free pizzas, games and giveaways. During the opening celebration there will be a pizza cutting ceremony of a larger-than-life pizza (at 3 p.m.) followed by the first 50 guests receiving a free 16-inch cheese pizza.
In addition, guests in attendance who are members of the Arizona Charlie True Rewards program will be entered into a raffle for the chance to win one of three prizes: one free pizza every month for a year, dinner for two at River Rock with an overnight stay in a suite at Arizona Charlie’s Decatur, and a Squier Stratocaster guitar by Fender signed by a member of the Goo Goo Dolls. During the celebration the restaurant will also invite guests to play “Toss the Meatball,” where they can toss a plush meatball on a pizza gameboard to win prizes such as River Rock T-shirts, pizza cutters and more.
River Rock spans 2,250 square feet and seats up to 108. The menu is highlighted by signature Neapolitan-style pizzas including the Brooklyn topped with meatballs, spicy capicola, pepperoni, red onion and ricotta; starters like Nona’s Meatballs and Shrimp Scampi Bruschetta; and entrées such as Baked Rigatoni Bolognese and Grilled NY Strip with a bacon-Marsala wine sauce.
Picasso
September 8 and 9
As a prelude to Bellagio’s 25th anniversary in October, Picasso Executive Chef Julian Serrano will collaborate with Chef Danny Lledó of Washington DC’s Xiquet for a luxurious five-course repast. Held in Picasso’s dining room and outdoor patio situated lakeside with picturesque views of the Bellagio Fountains, the dinner will be offered September 8 and 9 with seatings available from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Both of the Michelin-Star chefs will greet guests throughout the evening. Courses are Roasted Langoustine Salad with Romesco and citrus Dijon vinaigrette; Rémolo with Spanish cider beurre blanc, garlic puree, salmon roe, fines herbs and salsify chips; Arrós del Cranc with blue crab, opal seaweed, old bay tuille and Alicante rice; Tournedos of Colorado Lamb Loin with petite squash and sauce choron; and Opera Cake with variations of orange.
The special menu is priced at $195 per person (all-inclusive) with an additional classic wine pairing option for $150 per person or a premium wine pairing for $300 per person. To book, call Picasso at 702-693-8105 or visit Picasso’s website.
Lakeside
September 8
To celebrate National Bourbon Month, Wynn Las Vegas is partnering with renowned Jefferson’s Bourbon for a bourbon-pairing dinner with Jefferson’s proprietor and distiller Trey Zoeller, who will regale guests with tales of bourbon lore, recounting the many journeys of Jefferson’s Ocean Aged at Sea Bourbon and more.
Taking place at the property’s seafood-forward, fine dining concept Lakeside, the multi-course dinner curated by Executive Chef David Middleton will be paired with various expressions of Jefferson’s Ocean Bourbon along with cocktails crafted especially for the occasion by Wynn Resorts’ Master Mixologist Mariena Mercer Boarini. Pairings are Oyster Sabayon and Caviar paired with Jefferson’s Reserve Bourbon, Yellowtail matched with Mercy of the Sea cocktail, Lobster Agnolotti paired with Motion of the Ocean cocktail and Kuro Wagyu Sirloin matched with Jefferson’s Marian McLain Bourbon. Tickets are $275 and can be purchased here.
Culinary News and Delicious Bites Around Las Vegas
Tailgate Social Offering Winning Deal for Losers
Tailgate Social Sports Bar & Grill at Palace Station will again position itself as a place to enjoy football with more than 30 HDTVs positioned throughout.
Beginning Aug. 26, guests with a losing sports betting ticket will receive 20% off their bill (limited to groups of six or less, ticket must be presented before seating, and can only be used one time). Starting Sept. 2, Tailgate Social will open at 9 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday to accommodate football fans. During games Las Vegas Raiders fans will be invited to play “Rally for your Raider,” with each table being assigned a Raiders player at the start of the game and everyone at the table winning a round of shots when that player scores a touchdown.
There will also be a weekend brunch with dishes including breakfast burrito, chicken and waffles, steak and eggs, a breakfast sandwich and a breakfast plate. In addition to watching football, the restaurant also offers games such as pool, foosball, video poker and a vintage Midway arcade machine.
Cider Fest at The Shady Grove Lounge
The Shady Grove Lounge at the Silverton Casino will usher in fall with its inaugural Cider Fest. Running from Sept. 1-Oct. 31, several hard ciders with a range of tastes and styles will be available on tap. Also being offered is a menu of “festival favorites” to complement the ciders, including Apple Cider Puff Pastry made with ACE hard cider-infused apples and topped with pastry crumbs, caramel sauce, and vanilla ice cream; Disco Fries topped with gravy, melted mozzarella cheese, cheese sauce and shredded beef short ribs; Cheese Curds; and Giant Soft Pretzels.
Restaurant Closing
Just five months after its opening in the rebranded Horseshoe Las Vegas (formerly Bally’s), celebrity chef Martin Yan’s M.Y. Asia has permanently closed.
The 5,300-square-foot 150-seat restaurant, which had replaced Tequila Taqueria and was located just off of the casino floor, featured a fusion of authentic Asian cuisine and contemporary innovation and an open kitchen from which diners could watch a face changing kung-fu dance performance chef and chefs hand pulling noodles used in dishes such as Drunken Noodles. The menu also included items such as Thai Yellow Coconut Curry Chicken, Mu Shu Pork Tacos with Berkshire pork and pan-seared Chilean Sea Bass marinated in Jasmine tea with a miso ginger honey glaze. Horseshoe Las Vegas has not yet announced what the restaurant’s replacement will be.
