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 excellent bites around Las Vegas worth knowing about.
Upcoming Events and Excellent Bites
El Luchador
September 6
El Luchador Mexican Kitchen + Cantina is offering to be your Fantasy Football Headquarters with a three-hour Draft Party Package.
Priced at $50 per person, the package includes select draft beers and Luchador margaritas, chips & salsa, large Luchador Salad, two enchiladas per person and two tacos per person, each with choice of chicken tinga, carnitas or adobo beef with refried beans and rice. There will also be access to free Wi-Fi. Parties must be booked in advance and must include a minimum of eight guests all 21 years or older.
To book a Fantasy Football Draft Party at the Henderson location (375 N. Stephanie St.) contact Benny Andrade at 702-478-6223 or benny@luchadorlv.com and for Mountain’s Edge (7825 Blue Diamond Rd.) contact George Morales at 702-260-8709 or george@luchadorlv.com.
Legacy Club
September 9
The Legacy Club at the Circa Resort & Casino will host Bourbon & Blues, a tasting event with music from a live blues band.
Taking over both indoor and outdoor sections of the 60th floor rooftop lounge from 4 to 7 p.m., guests will be able to sample a unique selection of bourbons paired with passed bites from Circa’s culinary team. Featured brands will include George Dickel, Bulleit, Jefferson’s, Old Forester, Sazerac, Heaven Hill and Wild Turkey. Trey Zoeller, Founder and Master Blender of Jefferson’s Bourbon, will be available to offer expert recommendations and interact with guests. Zoeller’s station will include Jefferson’s Very Small Batch, Jefferson’s Reserve, Jefferson’s Rye, Jefferson’s Ocean and Jefferson’s Marian McLain.
Tickets are $125 per person (plus LET tax and processing fee) and include tastings of the bourbons, passed bites and a souvenir glass. To purchase tickets, click here.
New Restaurant Opening
Carver Road Hospitality’s Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar is now open inside Mandalay Bay, having debuted on June 10. The 8,445-square-foot sports bar’s aspects are quite evident, with a shuffleboard table in the bar area, a massive 30-foot long by nine-foot-tall LED viewing screen and numerous TVs throughout both the bar and dining room. There are also comfortable couches and booths, three private dining suites, a private 20-seat karaoke room, a 24-seat dining patio and a takeout window offering grab-and-go food and drinks.
The menu is crafted by Carver Road Hospitality Corporate Executive Chef Daniel Ontiveros, the Cordon Bleu graduate known for his excellence at Carversteak in Resorts World and previous executive chef positions at Scotch 80 Prime and T-Bones Chophouse.
Consider the likes of Ahi Tuna Tartare Tacos with yuzu-guacamole and soy reduction; Petite Filet Mignon with truffled potato puree and red wine jus; Wagyu Double Smash Burger with bacon-onion jam; NY Steak and Fries with garlic chimichurri and Atlantic Salmon with miso chili glaze. You get the idea — this is not your typical sports bar fare. Of course, every sports bar will have wings, but Chef Daniel tells me the wings here—with choices of Spicy Korean Gochujang, Salt n Lemon Pepper and Buffalo—are not the average variety, as they are first brined, then baked and finally fried.
The beverage program also comes with an impressive resume, as it’s by legendary master mixologist Francesco Lafranconi, Carver Road Hospitality’s Vice President of Beverage and Hospitality Culture. Naturally, there are some with a Carver-esque essence, and even a cocktail that’s also served at Carversteak: the Mr. Lee Manhattan with Japanese Nikka Coffey Grain Whiskey, Angostura Orange Bitters and Lilett Blanc (instead of sweet vermouth). There are also boozy milkshakes, a very respectable whiskey selection (like Whiskey Pig Six Year Rye and Frey Ranch Bourbon) and more than 50 draft and bottled beers, including locals such as CraftHaus Hop Vegas IPA and Las Vegas Brewing Company Chantilly Cream Ale.
Special happenings include Taco Tuesday from 4 to 10 p.m. with $5 select draft beers, $8 margaritas and two tacos (choices of steak, shrimp or taco of the day) for $8; and Late Night Pizza Party nightly from 10 p.m. to close with Bianco (roasted garlic cream), Italian Sausage or Pepperoni pizzas for $20 each.
Although it’s technically located in the Shoppes at Mandalay Place, Flanker is off of the casino floor just before the escalators and steps from the walkway to Allegiant Stadium. Hours are 4 to 11 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Culinary News and Delicious Bites Around Las Vegas
Eureka! Launches New Menu
Eureka! at Fremont and 6th St. has rolled out new menu items to accompany its signature favorites, craft cocktails, local beers and small-batch whiskey.
The new items include Mandarin Chicken Salad with carrots, slivered almonds, oranges, cilantro and soy dressing; Bison Burger with spicy charred Fresno chile, bacon-infused jalapeño jam, smoked mozzarella and whiskey caramelized onions; and Chipotle Burger with Havarti-crusted bun, cheddar, guacamole and chipotle aioli. Signature favorites include Baja Fish Tacos with beer battered white fish, pico de gallo, coleslaw, chipotle mayo and lemon vinaigrette; slow cooked Barbeque Pork Ribs with truffle corn; and Napa Chicken Sandwich—grilled chicken breast, roasted Roma tomato, pesto aioli, Havarti, bacon and arugula.
The Hoppy Hour Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close features rotating taps for $5.50; house red, white or rose wine for $7; select cocktails for $8.50; Truffle Cheese Fries for $7; Mac N’ Cheese Balls for $7; Spinach Artichoke Dip for $8; and Eureka! American Burger for $12.
Forum Shops at Caesars Supporting Three Square Food Bank
Here’s to dining for a good cause. Nine restaurants at The Forum Shops at Caesars will show their support of the Three Square Food Bank with the 3rd annual Dine with a Purpose promotion. Throughout the month of September, which is Hunger Action Month, each restaurant will donate a portion of proceeds from featured dishes to Three Square. This year’s lineup and menu items includes:
- RPM Italian: Chicken Parmesan
- Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab: Cherries Jubilee Pie
- Sushi Roku: Toro Carpaccio, Rib Eye Wrapped Asparagus and Tokubetsu Roll
- SOL Mexican Cantina: Tequila flight and Vampire Taco
- Carmine’s Italian Restaurant: Carmine’s Salad and Frozen Big Berry Cosmo Cocktail
- TREVI: Pappardelle Alla Bolognese
- The Palm: NY Cheesecake
- Water Grill: Signature Oysters
- True Food Kitchen: Street Corn Flatbread, Tuna Tataki, Mango Tart, Fresa Rosado Margarita and Clean Watermelon Margarita
This is the third year of the Dine with a Purpose promotion, and last year The Forum Shops donated more than 18,000 meals to the community with funds raised from the event.
