Restaurant Week
LAS VEGAS
It’s that time of year again where the impoverished such as myself have the annual opportunity to dine Michelin starred restaurants without forgoing their month’s rent. Yes, Restaurant Week is in full swing and as always, there are some standout deals, and there are some duds.
What is Restaurant Week?
Restaurant Week starts the first week of June and lasts ~12 days. It is an annual event where hundreds of Las Vegas’ most prestigious restaurants create a discounted prix fixe menu with a portion of the proceeds going back to the community via Three Square Food Bank. It is an amazing opportunity to sample places you’ve always wanted to go AND give back to the community. According to Three Square, more than 10 million meals have been provided to Southern Nevadans since Restaurant Week’s inception in 2007.
How Does It Work?
Easy. Simply choose from the selection of restaurants that are participating in the event. A full list is available on their website. The list is extensive so be prepared. You can narrow down your choices by price point, locations, cuisine type, and even donation amount. Pop in to said restaurant during any of the featured days and simply let them know you’ll be participating in Restaurant Week. That’s it.
Where should I start?
As a self-proclaimed fatty, I mean foodie, this is my ninth time shoving my face full of five star meals. There’s really no way to go wrong as all of these restaurants are the best that Vegas has to offer at an amazing price point. Below are some of my absolute favorites, and no, this is not a paid advertisement. I just love to eat.
AL SOLITO POSTO
Al Solito is located in Tivoli Village and is a one of a kind. I’m happy to see some of my favorites on the menu, such as the calamari and the carpaccio. This year I’ll be trying the squash blossoms, a first for me. Anytime I go, I indulge in the Branzino piccata, which IS on the RW menu this year. Just make sure to ask for a side of the housemade pasta for the leftover sauce, you won’t be disappointed. The rigatoni is also spectacular. Pop in during happy hour for the best Old Fashioned I’ve ever had.
DEL FRISCO’S
An aboslute Las Vegas staple. This place is located in the Howard Hughes circle and has been there since I moved here in 2002. Every time I’ve been, I indulge in the wedge salad and the filet, med rare of course. However, I suspect that the salmon is probably to die for and if I can make it this year, I will be indulging in that with a side of the dynamite shrimp.
JING
I’ve only eaten here off the regular menu, and it was amazing. Why haven’t I been back? It’s too fucking expensive so for $60, this dinner menu is a steal. I can tell you the yellowtail is exquisite and all the entree options are a terrific value. If you’re having some pre-dinner drinks, check out the Drunken Buddha.
LAWRY’S
Their lunch menu at Lawry’s is short and sweet and for good reason. Lawry’s does Prime Rib, period. $40 and you get everything that Lawry’s is best at: spinning salad, prime rib, creamed corn, creme brulee. That’s all you need to know.
MON AMI GABI
French dining with a view of the Bellagio fountains. Ambiance is spectacular, food is amazing. This year it looks like they’ve switched it up a little. I can say the onion soup and baked goat cheese are both exceptional. Their usual lunch staple, the warm chicken and brie sandwich, is suspiciously missing. The french dip is a close second. As for dinner entrees, your guess is as good as mine, but I can say I’ve never had anything I didn’t like (except the deviled eggs).
Places I didn’t love…
ECHO & RIG
Echo & Rig’s quality has gone down since Covid. We were there recently for lunch and that’ll be our last time. This year’s RW menu is available only 11-3pm for lunch, and I’m disappointed to see a steakhouse with no steak options.
EL DORADO CANTINA
Otherwise known as the home of the famous 1942 shot for $5. Well, it’s not $5 anymore and every time we go, the food is just ok but the price is astronomical. Even this year’s lunch at $40 is rather absurd. Cheese enchiladas with rice and beans? Come on.
GOLDEN STEER
We did this one last year and I hate to say the quality has gone down significantly now that they’ve become so popular. We had the famous Ceasar, which was good, and the shrimp cocktail, fine. Our steak was a little chewy and a tad overcooked. Not a big deal at Outback but when you’re talking about the Golden Steer, it’s a problem.
LETICIA’S
Don’t get is twisted. I love their food. But since they’ve moved into the Santa Fe Casino, service gets worse every time I’m there. And I had these motherfuckers cater my rehearsal dinner I liked them so much (that was 2013). The quesabirria tacos are fire as well as their signature Queso tacos with shrimp but it’s hard to ignore the terrible service so do yourself a favor and order to-go.
NORTH ITALIA
We were literally here last week and it has recently been added to our list of places we’re probably never going again. The stromboli was ok. The Eggs in Purgatory was, uh, an experience I guess. I can’t get down with the brunch scene because the food is mediocre at best and a bottle of rose is $54. The best thing we had was a meatball for Cutie. You’re paying for location and theme and the cuisine just doesn’t hit the mark unfortunately.
Don’t forget - it’s for a good cause!
In the end, it’s all for a good cause and it’s a great way to get out and try some new things. It’ll be great and you’ll fall in love with the place -or- it’ll be mediocre and you’ll never go back. But either way, you get out, you get a little liquored up, and you get to explore some new shit in the city, and that’s a win every time.
We’ll be out and about this week trying some new spots ourselves, and we’d love to hear some of your experiences as well. Good, bad, or other, leave a comment and let us know what you think!!