There aren’t many restaurants more “under the radar” than Divine Cafe at Springs Preserve. It’s out of the way for most tourists visiting the Strip or Downtown and it’s a destination most locals don’t think of when looking for a meal, unless you’re also visiting the exhibits at Springs Preserve. Originally created as a catering and events company, Divine Events moved their kitchen and cafe from an industrial park in the southwest to the Springs Preserve space, formerly occupied by Wolfgang Puck. While catering is still the bulk of their business, the cafe is poised to make some noise. With a kitchen led by Steve Piamchuntar (former chef and owner of Nosh & Swig) they’re serving up some surprisingly good dishes for lunch and brunch.
Chef Steve has brought his refined skills and whimsical and modern touch to this cafe. With their recently changed menu they’re offering a diverse menu with plenty for adults and kids, alike. Standard American fare like caesar salads, burgers, and pizzas are available. While the burger ($9.50) was decent, non-typical dishes make this place shine compared to other cafes in town. Singapore chicken cups ($9.50) are lettuce wraps with balanced sweetness and savoriness, making it a great dish to start a meal. Following that was a chili mayo covered tuna tataki dish ($12) atop tatsoi greens and sesame coated crisps. Nicely constructed, it provided an early wake up call to the palate with its modest heat.
The pressed chicken milanese ($11) is a must. It eats like a sandwich but has flavors that are fitting for any larger meal. Arriving on a cutting board, with ingredients piled high, you can assemble the breaded chicken, prosciutto, and arugula between naan for some handheld enjoyment or go the knife and fork route.
For brunch the pan dulce french toast ($8) was great. More like a creamy bread pudding with bread soaked through with custard, it’s perfect for those wanting to satisfy their sweet tooth early in the day. And, to polish off a meal try the root beer float ($6). It’s accompanied by an Oreo dusted churro that’s as good as any you’ll find in town.
My meal was fully comped, but I did tip appropriately. They’re typically only open for lunch or brunch, but are open Thursday evenings and have happy hour specials along with live music. With views of both the Strip and Downtown Las Vegas in the distance, their patios make the space even more enjoyable. Fans of the chef may miss the edge he brought to his own restaurant, but there’s enough good eats here to satisfy. Their target demographic will appreciate the safe approach with a few eye-catching and palate pleasing dishes thrown in to make this place a destination and not just an afterthought after touring the Springs Preserve.
4 Stars
Springs Preserve
333 S Valley View Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89152
(702) 822-7700
