***Update: business closed***
The super restaurateur couple Elizabeth Blau and Kim Canteenwalla are slowly building their empire with their second restaurant, Made.LV in Tivoli Village. In the spot formerly occupied by Bottles and Burgers then Hops and Harvest, they’ve refined the space into a comfortable, casual environment serving their take on comfort food.
Must orders include a half rack of ribs as tender and smokey as expected, brushed with a sweet and tangy BBQ sauce. The bacon cheddar biscuit that accompanied it was amazing, trumping any childhood memories of devouring cheddar biscuits from that chain seafood restaurant I won’t bother naming. I’m a fan of the mac and cheese, mainly because the inclusion of pork makes everything better.
The black mission figs were a refined dish of nuanced flavors that almost seems out of place among the comfort food, but a welcome sight on the menu nonetheless. The creamy smokey bleu cheese fondue with thick cut salt and pepper chips is yet another must. Even those who aren’t crazy about the often pungent cheese will fall in love with this dish. The talent in the kitchen is clearly evident with those dishes, as well as the Canteen banh mi with its house made pate. The flavor of the pate, however, was so dominant that it may turn off some.
Returning to more traditional American comfort foods, there are smoked and flash fried chicken wings available in salt and vinegar, sriracha, buffalo, and BBQ flavors. The buffalo wings were too subtle and didn’t pack enough heat. Another American staple, the crab cake, was somewhat underwhelming, mainly because of my irrational east coast bias and general preference for larger chunks of meat like jumbo lump.
As with Honey Salt, Made.LV has a kid’s menu, making it one of the top destinations for families wanting a quality meal. They were willing to prepare their kid’s chicken breast entree without BBQ sauce for my picky eater, although it took them two tries to do so.
After three visits the improvements they’ve made in their first month or so are evident. The execution and service have gotten better each time. Pricing may turn off those used to chain restaurant pricing, but their location in Tivoli is to blame as I’m sure rent isn’t cheap. Let’s hope Blau and Canteenwalla have found the formula to thrive in a location where others have failed.
4 Stars
Tivoli Village
450 S Rampart Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89145
(702) 722-2000
