In this weekly update, food and beverage reporter Bob Barnes fills us in on noteworthy restaurant openings and closings, special dining news and events and culinary news about delicious bites around Las Vegas worth knowing about.
Upcoming Events
La Mona Rosa
October 4
La Mona Rosa in Fremont East will celebrate National Taco Day with a whopping 14 tacos created by Chef Isidro Marquez-Castillo including spicy, savory, sweet, or somewhere in between, for every palate to enjoy. The tacos can be purchased individually, but the best way to sample them is the Taco Package. Available from 5 to 10 p.m. and priced at $40, it includes your choice of 10 tacos and a round of chips and salsa for the table.
Special tacos for the day that you don’t often see include Nopal — grilled cactus with charred Mexican onions, tomato and queso cotija; Hongo & Epazote — sautéed mushrooms & poblano peppers with mole amarillo and epazote; Pancita— pork belly in ancho/guajillo adobo with charred pineapple, cilantro and morita sauce; and Zanahoria en Adobo —sauteed heirloom carrots in dobo guajillo, avocado, quesillo and salsa macha. There are also more traditional tacos like Carnitas, Tinga, Steak Asada and Pollo.
Bottomless Margaritas with a garnish board are $40 per person. To reserve your ticket and to view the complete tacos list, click here.
Locale Italian Kitchen
October 9
Locale Italian Kitchen, located in the heart of Mountain’s Edge, will host a five-course wine dinner featuring Banfi Wines from Tuscany, available from 5 to 8:30 p.m.
The pairings are Miniature Baked Potato with creme fraiche and Kaluga Caviar; choice of Mozzarella di Buffala with arugula pesto and pickled shallot or Big Eye Tuna Crudo with Gala apple and basil paired with La Pettegola, Vermentino, Toscana 2022; Stuffed Pappardelle with butternut squash and lemon-brown butter sauce or Wild Mushroom Farrotto with Black Truffle and petite greens matched with Aska, Bolgheri, Rosso, 2019; Grilled Bavette with aerated tomato Hollandaise and charred broccolini, Pan Seared Alaskan Halibut with crispy spinach and Pommery aioli or Grilled Quail Scarpariello with spicy Italian sausage and pickled cherry peppers paired with Castello Banfi, “Magna Cum Laude,” 2019; and Pistachio Crème Brulée with Sicilian pistachios and persimmon puree matched with Banfi, Rosa Regale, 2020.
The cost is $125 per person. To reserve, call 702-330-0404.
Vegas Unstripped 2023
October 14
Vegas Unstripped, a chef-driven curated food event featuring one-night-only dishes from 30 of the most inspired and acclaimed local Las Vegas chefs, is returning to full strength for the first time since 2019, after pandemic cancellation in 2020, social distancing limitations in 2021 and cancellation in 2022 due to restaurant labor and supply challenges. Held on California St. between Casino Center and Main St. (with the entrance on Casino Center) from 7 to 10 p.m., the event will include the chefs’ one-off creations, craft cocktails from top bars, wine, beer, live entertainment and art experiences.
Created in 2018 as a reaction to the Strip-focused Vegas Uncork’d event (now defunct), Vegas Unstripped initially only invited chefs working off-Strip, but for the first time this year, Unstripped is welcoming chefs regardless of where they cook. Participating chefs include James Trees (Esther’s Kitchen, Al Solito Posto, Ada’s Food & Wine), Geno Bernardo (The Summit Club & Geno’s), John Arena (Metro Pizza), Saipin Chutima (Lotus of Siam), Bruce Kalman (Soul Belly BBQ), Marty Lopez (Scotch 80 Prime), Gina Marinelli (La Strega/Harlo Steakhouse & Bar), Jamie Tran (The Black Sheep), Giovanni Mauro (Monzu Italian Oven & Bar), Joe Valdez (Table 34/Batch Hospitality) and Matt Meyer (138°).
All-inclusive tickets are $150 per person in advance with sales limited to about 1,000 attendees, who must be at least 21. For the complete list of chefs and to purchase tickets visit www.vegasunstripped.com.
More Dining News and Delicious Bites Around Las Vegas
Double Zero Pie & Pub
Double Zero Launches New Happy Hour
Double Zero Pie & Pub has announced its new happy hour Wed.-Sun. from 4-5 p.m. and late night from 9-11 p.m. Everything on the food and drink menu is priced at $7. The bites include Truffle Chips with pecorino cheese and truffle aioli; Pickled Things—marinated olives, piparra peppers, lemon pickles and 20-month-aged parmesan chunks; and Goat Cheese Balls with corn honeycomb, Marcona almonds and cherry gastrique. The drink specials are draft beer, wine and select cocktails.
BrewDog Las Vegas
BrewDog Launches Happy Hour and Sunday Brunch
BrewDog Las Vegas at the Showcase Mall on the Vegas Strip has launched a new happy hour and Bloody Mary Sunday. Offered Monday through Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m., the happy hour offers 16 oz pours of BrewDog beers for $7 and cocktails including espresso martini, Manhattan and Elvis Paloma for $10.
The food deal is two-for-one from the Nibbles & Small Plates menu, with the likes of Chips & House Guacamole, Crab on Toast, Wood-fired Flatbread, Yorkshire Pudding & Gravy and Bang Bang Chicken. The Bloody Mary Sundays start promptly upon opening at 10 a.m. and last through noon, offering $5 Bloody Marys accompanied by a brunch menu with items such as Full Scottish Breakfast, Breakfast Tacos, Cornflake Crusted French Toast, Korean Bacon Sandwich and Buttermilk Blueberry Pancakes.
To view the cocktail menu click drinks menu and for the two-for-one Nibbles & Small Plates click food menu.
Green Valley Ranch Resort Spa & Casino
Green Valley Ranch Resort Spa & Casino Returns Fall at the Terrace Pop-Up
Green Valley Ranch Resort Spa & Casino has announced the return of its outdoor pop-up lounge, Fall at the Terrace. Situated at The Backyard Terrace and running from Sept 15 through Nov 11 on Fridays and Saturdays from 4 to 11 p.m., the fall-themed outdoor lounge offers festive drinks, light bites and special events in a decorated atmosphere filled with picturesque autumn hues, whimsical décor, bright colors and falling leaves.
The bites include Pumpkin Hummus with piquillo pepper gremolata ($14); Salted Zucchini Chips with basil aioli ($10); Fall Harvest Charcuterie with cured meats, dried fruits and toasted nuts ($22); Fall Harvest Cheese Tray with assorted cheese and crackers ($20); Prosciutto Wrapped Figs ($12); Pumpkin Terrine with dark chocolate and Chantilly cream ($11); and Pecan Bar with salted caramel puff and berry tart ($12).
Several cocktails priced at $16 are offered, such as the Autumn Equinox with Avion reposado, crème de cassis, apple, lime and ginger beer; and the California and World Traveler wine flights (five wines) are both $38 each.
Walk-ins are welcome and reservations are available with a food and beverage minimum of $150 for pergolas and $100 for other tables reserved in two-hour blocks. For more info and to make a reservation visit www.greenvalleyranch.com/eat-and-drink/fall-at-the-terrace.
