*** Note: closed as of June 2017*** There was a lot to like about Standard & Pour after my visit back in early September. The cocktails Gin City ($12) and Handsome Dan ($12) were great. The former being less sweet than the latter. The date and bleu cheese jam ($12) is a must-order. Part savory,… Continue reading Standard & Pour
Tag: Small Plates
Inyo Asian Variety Restaurant
***Update: business closed*** The buzz may have died down from their opening, but the food at Inyo is still better than most on Spring Mountain road. My unquestioned favorite items are the chicken wings. Flash fried, no breading, with hints of sweetness covering meaty wings, the Japanese tebasaki wings ($4.95 for 4) are superb. Kushi… Continue reading Inyo Asian Variety Restaurant
Tapas by Alex Stratta
***Update: business closed*** When a restaurant’s two biggest issues are price and food, you’re in trouble. I never had the opportunity to dine at Stratta’s Michelin-starred restaurant at Wynn/Encore, but expected much from his new tapas place in Angelo Sosa’s former Poppy Den spot in Tivoli Village. Dinner for two was over $100, a bit… Continue reading Tapas by Alex Stratta
Lago
Lago, Julian Serrano’s third Las Vegas restaurant, occupies the other end of the spectrum from his first — Picasso. While the latter celebrates works from the past in an upscale environment, Lago takes a more casual approach in an often criticized modern setting that is reminiscent of the headquarters of some evil villain from a… Continue reading Lago
Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar
Hearthstone has taken a page out of the HoneySalt playbook with a look full of rustic and homey elements that make for a cozy dining environment. The transformation of the space formerly occupied by Hachi is remarkable. The space is more inviting with its dark decor, open kitchen, two long bars, a lounge area and… Continue reading Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar
808 Tapas East-West Infusion
***Update: business closed*** With my Groupon about to expire, it was time to try this Hawaiian style small plates and sushi restaurant located in the revitalized strip mall at the corner of Sahara and Fort Apache roads. The best items were the ones with bold flavors with ingredients that masked the quality of the fish.… Continue reading 808 Tapas East-West Infusion
The Sparklings
Talk about an extreme makeover… they did an amazing job renovating the spot formerly occupied by Nagoya. What once was dark and dingy is now open, airy, and elegant. The food was hit or miss. The light and fluffy Crispy Gnocchi ($7.50) had great flavor and a nice variety of textures with the creamy pesto,… Continue reading The Sparklings
The View Wine Bar & Kitchen
***Update: business closed*** In 2012, The View opened in Tivoli Village with Johnny Church at the helm and the place was oozing with the potential for greatness (or at least… very good-ness?). Church has worked for the likes of Charlie Palmer, Bradley Ogden, Michael Mina, and Gordon Ramsay. Unfortunately, his stint didn’t last long before… Continue reading The View Wine Bar & Kitchen
Rx Boiler Room
I’m all for the gastropub fad sweeping through the city, especially with the transformation of the upstairs of RM Seafood (which didn’t exactly strike my fancy) to Rx Boiler Room. Better to have more celebrity chef gastropubs than burger places, in my opinion. The whole steampunk motif is cool although it looks like they spent… Continue reading Rx Boiler Room
La Cave Wine and Food Hideaway
Here’s a review that’s long overdue. I dined at La Cave Wine and Food Hideaway a couple months back for Father’s Day. Created by Michael Morton, co-founder of the N9ne Group, La Cave is an underrated small-plates restaurant at the Wynn. Their weekend brunch is an all you can eat feast served butler style —… Continue reading La Cave Wine and Food Hideaway
Zaytinya
Zaytinya is still one of my favorite spots to eat whenever I’m back in DC. This Jose Andres spot rarely disappoints. On this visit, we dined with a party of six and were seated at a secluded table against the wall to the right of the kitchen. My favorite dish was the Portakal salatasi —… Continue reading Zaytinya
Yonaka Modern Japanese
What a novel idea (at least compared to the Strip)… a restaurant whose concept focuses on innovative and artistic food as opposed to the dining atmosphere. Dishes here are equal parts substance and style with ingredients that work together. Some combinations might seem odd, but most work brilliantly. And, they’re not just a million random… Continue reading Yonaka Modern Japanese
Graffiato
Graffiato has gotten plenty of hype since opening in 2011 and, for the most part, lives up to it. Located in Washington, DC’s Chinatown — across the street from the Verizon Center — it is chef Mike Isabella’s first restaurant since departing as executive chef at Jose Andres’ Zaytinya. Isabella, of course, is known from… Continue reading Graffiato
Johnny Smalls
Quantity wins out over quality here. While there are some good items, as a small plates (tapas) restaurant it pales in comparison to Jaleo, Julian Serrano, and other spots around town. But, for $20 (with a Hard Rock hotel players card) you can get the “all you can eat” option and knock yourself silly. For… Continue reading Johnny Smalls
Kyara Japanese Tapas
Without ever having been to Ichiza or Raku I can’t say where Kyara fits in the hierarchy of Las Vegas izakayas. But, I can tell you that I’m a fan. Not only is the food delicious, but the layout of the restaurant is inviting yet intimate, with it’s small, separate dining areas surrounding its open… Continue reading Kyara Japanese Tapas
Bar La Grassa
Here’s a restaurant that lives up to it’s hype. No wonder why it’s a tough reservation… just ask Bob Harper (http://www.startribune…). It’s a good thing we wanted to eat there on a Monday night. I called in the afternoon and was able to get a reservation for two with no problem for that night. Parking… Continue reading Bar La Grassa
Fleur by Hubert Keller
Last year I took my wife to Fleur de Lys for her birthday and we had one of the best meals we’ve ever had. A year later, we’re back. Although now it’s just called Fleur and the concept has changed to a more casual eatery serving small plates (don’t call it tapas… it’s not a… Continue reading Fleur by Hubert Keller