There is a classic diner, called Blueberry Hill, that is perfect for breakfast. It has been serving Las Vegas since 1987.
I was really hungry when I got there. I had just flown in from the East Coast and was ready to chow down.
I ordered the Crêpe Dealer. This breakfast came out on two plates. The three eggs I got over-medium. They were perfectly cooked. I was able to get bacon and sausage on the side.
The main reason I ordered this dish was because of the crêpes. I got two crêpes, but I did not want any filling. I just wanted to taste this sweet crêpe itself. They accented it with whipped cream and fresh strawberries on top. Now if you want filling in your crêpes, you have the choice of a four cheese blend or homemade fruit compote.
The Corned Beef Hash Omelet was also ordered. This was an interesting omelet. It’s huge. It’s a half pound of eggs, corned beef, sautéed tomatoes, onions, green peppers, and cheddar cheese. It took up almost the whole plate. There were even hashbrowns on the side and they were cooked crispy. This omelet could easily be shared by two people.
If you are an early riser or out late at the casinos, and you need a bite to eat, check out Blueberry Hill. They have a few locations around Vegas, so check out their website to find one near you.
If you’re looking for a fun mob themed Italian restaurant with an old-school Las Vegas lounge singer, you have to check out Capo’s.
The speakeasy style entrance to the restaurant is fun. You walk up to a red door, expecting someone to open it but then a door behind a phone booth opens up.
When you walk into the restaurant, your eyes will need to adjust because it’s extremely dark.
We were able to get a table up by the stage near the singer. He had a “Rat Pack” look to him and he sounded just like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. He was very entertaining.
The fresh bread came out as soon as we sat down. It was crispy on the outside and soft inside. It tasted wonderful after dipping it in the creamy olive oil.
I ordered a Cosmopolitan because why not I was in Vegas!
The Genovese Calamari was the best appetizer to start with. It came out with pepperoncini peppers that added a nice texture to the calamari.
The other great appetizer to share at the table was Ma’s Meatballs and Peppers. These oversized meatballs were covered in a lightly spiced sugo sauce (sugo means sauce in Italian). The meatballs were moist and seasoned well.
For my dinner, I ordered the Goodfellas Piccata. I got the chicken that was sautéed in lemon, butter, and white wine to make a delicious sauce, along with garlic and capers. The chicken was juicy and soaked in the flavor of the sauce. They served the chicken on top of creamy mashed potatoes. The potatoes captured all of the sauce as well, which made them irresistible. This was one of the best chicken piccatas I’ve had in a while.
The Da Don’s Lasagna is a customer favorite. Fresh made lasagna noodles were layered and stuffed with crushed meatballs, homemade Italian sausage, fresh ricotta cheese, and then topped with mozzarella cheese. They baked it until the cheese got crispy on top and then covered it in a red sugo sauce. The slice they served was a very generous portion. The blend of sausage and meatballs made the lasagna more filling than if it was just cheese.
I had to get a side of their Risotto. It was a mushroom risotto that was extremely creamy. This by itself could have been a meal.
We saved room for dessert, especially because we were going to share. Since we were an Italian restaurant, it was a must to order the Jimmy Two Times Tiramisu Tiramisu.
This homemade dessert was layered ladyfingers that were soaked in espresso and dark rum. Then they layered it with sweet mascarpone that added a creaminess. It had a calming effect against the strong flavor of the espresso. The sprinkle of cocoa powder on top helped add a nice finish to each bite.
If you were looking for a great meal that is off the Vegas strip, check out Capo’s. Make sure you make a reservation because they get busy.
If you head down to Fremont Street in old Las Vegas, you’re going to come upon a really interesting restaurant called Evel Pie.
This restaurant is themed for Evel Knievel. There are photos, bikes, and other memorabilia decorating the walls.
You order at the counter and when your order is ready, they call your name. Simply go up to the counter and pick up your food.
I ordered Grandma’s Meatballs. These are three large meatballs per order which is perfect for sharing. They’re served with Evel’s tomato sauce. The meatballs were tender with a lot of flavor.
You can order pizza either buy the slice or a whole pie. I decided to go after just a slice. I ordered the Cheesy Rider. It’s the plain slice of pizza with mozzarella cheese. It’s a classic and it really hit the spot.
They have a great happy hour from 2 to 6 PM so check them out if you’re on Fremont Street and want a little taste of old Las Vegas.
I have read about the Italian eatery called Eataly for a few years now. I was excited when I went to Las Vegas and got to visit their 37th location. It is located in front of the new Park MGM hotel and casino (formerly the Monte Carlo).
It smelled so good as soon as I walked through the door. It was so overwhelming I did not know where to start. I decided the best way to start was to just walk around and get the lay of the land.
Gran Caffe Milano
I started off here so I could get a glass of wine. I tried the Lambrusco. It is a sparkling spumante that looked a little like grape juice. It was sweet but not overpowering.
Il Fritto
I strolled over to Il Fritto because they were serving up a variety of arancini. I have never seen so many different kinds of rice balls. I ordered two different varieties.
They also gave me some fresh made Italian bread. Cutting open the crispy crust revealed the soft center. They had an olive oil station where I was able to mix fresh extra virgin olive oil with cracked pepper and Parmesan cheese. This was the perfect blend to dip my bread in.
Arancini Di Funghi – This was a mushroom rice ball. It was full of earthy flavor that was also creamy from the cheese they included.
Arancini Ragu alla Bolognese – The rice was mixed with a Ragu sauce that had pieces of tender meat throughout.
Pizza Alla Pala
I could not leave Eataly without getting a pizza. I got eggplant, basil, and mozzarella cheese on my pizza. They hand tossed the dough in the air. It was fun watching them do that. Then they placed the pizza in one of their wood burning brick ovens.
The pizza came out looking perfect. The crust was puffy with a slight char from the oven. The taste of the dough was amazing; it was light and sweet. It was great with the fresh mozzarella. The fresh basil added intense flavor that was fresh and inviting.
Il Gelato
Even with all the wonderful things I had eaten, I needed to finish off my Eataly experience with some homemade gelato. They make fresh gelato and sorbetto every day. There were so many wonderful flavors to choose from.
I did a double scoop so that I could at least try two
different flavors:
Pistachio – this
had full size pieces of pistachios that were directly from Italy.
Mint Chocolate Chip –
this had big chunks of creamy dark chocolate pieces.
Both gelatos were super creamy. The natural flavor was really intense.
There was one last thing I had to do before I left Eataly. There is a mosaic tile bull on the floor near the exit to the casino. This lucky bull is a replica of one that is in Milano. Legend has it if you spin three times on top of it you will have good fortune. So, since I was in Vegas I figured I would give it a shot.
If you are visiting Vegas there is plenty to do. I
recommend you put Eataly on your list. Check them out at www.eataly.com
I was invited to a special dinner when I was out in Las Vegas. A big group was getting together at Searsucker inside Caesars Palace.
The restaurant was beautifully decorated. Their were reclaimed wood signs on the walls that had a variety of inspirational quotes on them.
Since we were a large group, we had a fixed menu that was created by Chef Stephen La Sala. It was a selection from the menu. Each course was set up family style so we just shared it around the table.
First out was the salad. This was fresh field greens that was tossed with candied walnuts and goat cheese. The salad was covered in a champagne vinegar dressing. The dressing was great; it was sweet and tangy at the same time. The walnuts added crunch and sweetness. The goat cheese crumbled throughout added a creamy texture.
The meats and sides came out at the same time. I made sure I tried a little of everything. The flatiron steak was the first item I tried. The steak was very tender and juicy from the beer marinade they used. The flavor from the grill enhanced the savoriness of the meat. They also had some crispy potatoes on the side of this platter.
The next thing I tried was the chicken. This roasted chicken was seasoned with lemon and garlic. The chicken was extremely moist. There was a savory flavor to the overall chicken. They served blistered tomatoes on the side along with arugula that added a peppery element.
The also brought out a fresh salmon. They grilled the salmon perfectly creating a great sear on the outside. They served cannelloni beans with smoked bacon on the side. The bacon added a salty taste to the sweet, creamy beans.
There were two separate sides that they brought out to the table. The mashed potatoes were amazing, some of the best I have every had. The potatoes were tremendously creamy. They drizzled a little sour cream on top so it added even more creaminess and a little tang too.
The Brussels sprouts were delicious as well. They roasted the sprouts till they got crispy around the edges. They also included walnuts, which was a nice crunch factor. They tossed the sprouts with a Serrano vinaigrette before cooking them. This vinaigrette added extra savory flavor to the dish.
I really enjoyed everything that was on this menu. I would want to go back to try their regular menu. You should check them out at www.searsucker.com
Many years ago I visited Hash House A Go Go in Las Vegas after seeing them on The Food Network. Now they have expanded to several locations throughout the country. I was back in Vegas and visited one of their newer locations at the Rio Hotel and Casino.
I had worked up a big appetite for breakfast. It was hard to decide what exactly to order. After reading the menu a few times I decided to order the corned beef hash. The portion size was huge. It came out in a giant cast iron skillet.
The corned beef is made fresh so it does not come out as crispy as other hashes. The meat was tender and moist. They covered it with Swiss cheese. The flavor pairing of the meat and cheese was perfect.
They served a huge portion so I made sure I shared some. They also included seasoned potatoes underneath all of the corned beef and cheese. They make homemade biscuits that came on the side. The biscuit was flaky but also very dense. It was the perfect vehicle to spread their homemade strawberry jam. And I cannot forget about the two eggs. You can get them cooked any way that you would like.
Hash House A Go Go is known for their fried chicken. Lucky for me I also got to try Andy’s Sage Fried Chicken. This was another huge portion of food. It is hard to believe that one person could eat all this food.
The breading is extra crispy. They use cornflakes for the breading. That crispy layer helped lock in the juices from the chicken as it cooked. The chicken was very tender and moist. The seasonings they added to the breading carried through to the chicken.
Sprinkles cupcakes was one of the first cupcake shops to open at the start of the cupcake boom. They first opened in California and became a favorite among Hollywood elite. Now they have locations in 10 different states across the country.
Las Vegas is one of their newest locations. The shop is located by The LINQ. If you get there too early (or too late) they have a cupcake ATM to allow for that sugar craving to be satisfied.
They make all the cupcakes right there in the shop. It smelled wonderful as soon as I walked in. It was really hard to make a choice of which flavor to try.
To allow me to taste more than one flavor I ended up ordering their mini cupcake sampler. It came with three flavors of cupcakes:
Red Velvet – this was my favorite; it was extremely moist and the cream cheese icing was amazing.
Vanilla – this was a classic, sweet cupcake.
Chocolate – it included a cherry cordial ring and there were little chocolate chips throughout the cake.
This cupcake trio was the perfect way to try a few of their offerings. Plus it was a great value.
Check out www.sprinkles.com to see if there is a Sprinkles location near you. There is a reason the original cupcake company is still around. They are delicious.
I visited Naked City Pizza in Las Vegas many years ago. I remember enjoying their pizza and the atmosphere. On a recent trip to Vegas I learned they opened another location. This one is off Paradise which is not that far from the strip.
Since they make pizzas to order as soon as my waiter came to the table I placed my order. I got a quarter sheet pie with pepperoni and sausage.
While I waited for my pizza, I ordered the poutine. I was surprised to see this on the menu. I did not remember this from my visit to the other location. This bowl was perfect to share. The French fries were natural cut with the skin still on. They were fried up till extra crispy.
They tossed the fries with fresh ricotta cheese. Then they smothered it all in brown gravy. The gravy had oregano cooked in, which gave it an herby, savory flavor. The gravy went extremely well with the ricotta cheese. This combination made the poutine have an Italian flare. This was a great bowl of comfort food.
Before I could completely fill up on the poutine, my pizza came out. Since their pizzas are cooked on sheets there is not crust. This style of pizza reminds me what I would get in grade school for lunch.
The dough was slightly sweet and a medium thickness. They used a generous amount of sauce and cheese. The sausage was crumbled nicely all over the pizza. It was loaded with Italian seasonings. The pepperonis were small slices and were cooked till extra crispy. I could not help but pull some of the slices off the pizza. It was a great “slice” of pizza even though it was a square.
I really enjoyed what I ordered at Naked City Pizza. There were a few tables that ordered some chicken wings that looked good. I would want to go back and try some.
There is a wonderful tapas restaurant that I found off the strip during my last trip to Vegas. I had not eaten any tapas since my trip to Barcelona, so I was excited to try Firefly.
The restaurant was not that crowded yet when I arrived. I knew I was there early. The décor of the restaurant was a great blend and red and black, with some Spanish inspired artwork.
I had gotten there right when happy hour started, which I was thrilled about. They had a whole happy hour menu filled with cocktails and tapas.
I looked over the menu, my very cheerful waiter brought me some fresh bread and their homemade butter spread. This butter had almonds and honey throughout. The butter’s texture was smooth; the almonds were very fine within. The honey gave a sweet taste that was perfect on the fresh bread. I would love to have this butter on a warm toasted bagel.
While I chomped on the bread, I ordered a sangria. I could not eat tapas without a sangria. I started off with the sparkling version.
This sangria was extremely sweet. The bubbles from the wine added a little pop. They included a nice assortment of fresh fruit. This was the perfect drink to have when my first tapas came out.
The ham and cheese croquetas were filled with Serrano ham and Manchego cheese. A tomato aioli was drizzled on top. It reminded me of exactly what I would get in Barcelona.
The breading on the outside was very crispy. I had to slice into them so they could cool off a little. The inside was loaded with chunks of ham. The cheese made the entire bite creamy. The ham added a salty, meaty taste. They were a great starter and complemented the sweet sangria.
The next tapas that came out were the dates. These tender dates had their seed removed and replaced with an almond. This added great crunch when I took a bite.
Each date was wrapped in crispy bacon. The saltiness from the bacon complemented the sweet BBQ like sauce that was poured over the dates. They sprinkled blue cheese on top for added tanginess. This entire dish had wonderful savory notes.
It was time for another sangria. This time I tried the red. This one was slightly dryer compared to the other. I knew this would pair well with the last tapas dish, the Albondigas.
Albondigas are meatballs, that were covered in a Sherry tomato sauce along with a few roasted red peppers.
The meatballs were soft, moist, and tender. They had great flavor because of the sauce. The shaved parmesan cheese on top was an added treat.
Happy hour was a lot of fun at Firefly. I would go back to try all the other tapas on their regular menu. Check them out at www.fireflylv.com
Las Vegas really is the city that never sleeps. After seeing a late night show I was hungry. However, I was not quite sure what I was hungry for. As I traveled between Bally’s and The Paris Hotel I came across Yong Kang Street. This is a Chinese/Taiwanese restaurant that was nestled between shops that had the façade of a Paris street.
They were extremely crowded that late at night. I was really excited when I saw the dim sum carts moving around the restaurant. I could not wait to select a few things.
The Lo Mai Gai (sticky rice) was the first thing I pointed to. It had been years since I got to enjoy sticky rice. This rice is steamed in a lotus leaf. What makes the rice sticky is the actual type of rice used. It is glutinous rice that becomes very sticky when cooked.
I unwrapped the lotus leaf like wrapping paper on a Christmas present. The hot steam poured out very quickly. This type of rice is really easy to eat with chopsticks, so if there are folks out there that normally find chopsticks a challenge this is the dish for you.
The rice had a wonderful sweet taste. The saltiness came from the chopped up pieces of Chinese sausage that was cooked inside the rice. The flavor combinations were perfect together and a great start to the meal.
The next item I pulled off the dim sum cart was the Siu Mai. This is another type of Chinese dumpling that is a traditional dim sum dish. It is “open face” were part of the filling is exposed. I got the pork Siu Mai. The chopped up pork also had chopped up pieces of shrimp. They are then topped with a little salmon roe. When I took a bite there was a great, savory taste from the pork. The shrimp added a little extra texture. The wrapper did not add any flavor, it just help everything together.
A dim sum meal would not be complete without some steamed pork dumplings (or pot stickers). The pork filling was very tender and different from the filling in the Siu Mai. They mixed in some extra spices that had a slight peppery taste. The dumpling taste even better when dipped in the sweet soy sauce that comes with it.
Now all of these dishes sounded like a lot of food but they were all small bites that were perfect for sharing. I wanted one more thing for myself. I had to get the Hong Kong Wonton Soup. This is not your typical local Chinese restaurant wonton soup. What I love about Hong Kong style is in addition to the actual won ton dumplings, the chicken broth is loaded with noodles, fresh shrimp, bok choy, broccoli, and mushrooms.
The bok choy added crunch and the mushrooms added an earthy taste. The won tons were very tender and had lemongrass accents. This created an extremely fresh taste. The shrimp added more protein. The noodles had to be eaten with chopsticks because they were so long. They also soaked up the flavor of the broth. It is an extremely filling soup.
Yong Kang Street was an amazing find inside The Paris Hotel and Casino. I never expected to find this authentic Chinese / Taiwanese restaurant in-between French pastry shops. I loved this place. I wanted to go back in order to try some other dishes and to get more sticky rice!
