Events
Sushi Roku — February 14
Sushi Roku at the Forum Shops at Caesars will offer a special five-course Valentine’s Day menu for $175 per couple. The dinner begins with appetizers of Tuna Tartare and a Seafood Platter with oysters, king crab and shrimp cocktail. Entrees include a Surf & Turf Toban and Filet Mignon and Scallops with sweet soy butter. Sushi rolls for the table consist of a Gensai Roll with cucumber, avocado and jalapeno topped with salmon, kizami wasabi, rice cracker and yuzu olive oil; and a Tuna Jalapeno Roll with spicy tuna and avocado topped with tuna sashimi, yuzu olive oil and cilantro. Guests will wrap up their dinner with an indulgent Strawberry Crème Brulée. Reservations can be made on Tablz or by calling 702-733-7373.
Spiedini Fiamma Italian Bistro — February 14
Spiedini Fiamma Italian Bistro at the JW Marriott/Rampart Casino will serve a three-course Valentine’s Day prix fixe dinner from 5 p.m. to closing. Priced at $69 per person, it includes choice of Fiori di Zucca (Calabro ricotta, lemon and shaved squash) or Lobster Bisque (with fennel soffrito, croutons and piment d’espelette); Scallop Raviolo with preserved lemon and caviar, Branzino Paupiette with potato and vin rouge sauce or Beef Wellington with prosciutto di San Daniele, mushroom duxelles, pomme purée and beef jus; and Strawberry Vacherin (fresh strawberries, almond crumble, strawberry and Saint Germain consommé). A limited a la carte menu will also be available.
Las Vegas Brewing Company — February 20
You don’t have to travel to New Orleans to get a taste of Mardi Gras. Las Vegas Brewing Company will celebrate Fat Tuesday by partnering with secretburger.com and Chef Crystina Nguyen from This Mama’s House, who will join LV Brewing’s Chef Hollin Rothmann to present a Nawlins menu. Served from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and priced at $68 per person a prix fixe includes Pimms Cup, Charbroiled Oysters, Cup of Gumbo with side of dirty rice, Shrimp Poboy with chips and King Cake. Extra sides available a la carte at the event include Fried Catfish, Fried Oysters, Fried Okra, Collard Greens and King Cake. Another option is to purchase a ½ dozen Charbroiled Oysters for $22 or $38 for a dozen. There will also be drink specials throughout the day and live music from 4-9 p.m. This is an all-ages event. If you require a large table or want to sit with friends, email [email protected].
Gaetano’s Ristorante — February 29
Gaetano’s Ristorante Owners Nick and Sarah Palmeri are partnering with Master Sommelier Joseph Phillips and Frank Family Vineyards to host their first wine dinner of 2024. During the dinner, Nick Palmeri and Phillips will guide guests through the pairing menu, which will feature several of The Frank portfolio’s best California wines paired with a special menu of California cuisine-inspired dishes. Pairings are Crab Cake with lemon white wine sauce and mixed greens paired with Chardonnay Carneros 2022; Duck Ravioli with port wine reduction sauce matched with Zinfandel, Napa Valley 2019; Roasted Prime Rib with herbed demiglace sauce and roasted vegetables paired with Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016; and Homemade Lemon Raspberry Posset matched with Rosè Brut 2016. The dinner will begin at 7 p.m. and tickets are $150 per person plus tax and gratuity. To RSVP call 702-361-1661 or email [email protected] to purchase all-inclusive tickets for $195. Credit cards are required to hold reservations and cancellations must be made 72 hours prior or a 50% charge will occur. This is a 21+ event.
Pick of the Week
TAG Global Spirits Awards — March 5-8
In addition to its renowned awards program, the 3rd annual TAG Global Spirits Awards will offer a lineup of events for consumer enthusiasts. Events include the Festive Judge’s Dinner featuring Ford’s Gin and Diplomatico Rum at Cleaver Restaurant on March 6 at 7 p.m.; Whiskies of the West Cocktail Competition sponsored by Garrison Bros., Woody Creek Distillers, Whistling Andy and Smoke Wagon (location TBD) on March 6 at 10:30 p.m.; TAG Spirits Awards Happy Hour with cocktails featuring Chopin Vodkas, Cedar Ridge Bourbon and G4 Tequia inside the Arcade Bar at Libertine Social at Mandalay Bay on March 7 at 6 p.m.; and the TAG Global Spirits Awards Pink Tie Party benefitting the Helen David Relief fund with more than 20 sponsored spirited stations, light bites, live entertainment and dancing at The Moon Event Space at the Palms Fantasy Tower on March 8 at 7 p.m.
After being open for more than 13 years at The Fashion Show Mall across from The Wynn, El Segundo Sol, part of the Lettuce Entertain You group, has transformed its space and upgraded its menu. The refreshed ambiance brings the allure of the Caribbean coastline matched with a Tulum vibe and an open and more flowing space, with lush greenery, rock walls, wood ceiling and a center bar with shelves displaying the 190 bottles of tequila and mescal that are now served here.
New to the menu are more seafood options including Tuna Poke Tacos on a crispy won ton with tamari, chili morita and avocado cream; Charred Octopus served with crispy Yukon gold potatoes, chimichurri and garlic aioli; Camarones Gigantes—colossal shrimp in a spicy garlic sauce with asparagus and chipotle crema; and Seafood Tower featuring shrimp, scallops, octopus, avocado and black salsa.
The build-your-own-taco has been replaced with an assortment of taco platters, such as Carne Asada with Creekstone Farms skirt steak and spicy molcajete salsa; crispy Mahi Mahi or Shrimp with three chile pepper coleslaw; Veggie Mixta, a vegan blend of peppers, onions, zucchini, squash and cauliflower; and the vegetarian Mushroom Rajas stuffed with caramelized onions, fire-roasted poblanos and garlic-roasted maitakes in a Manchego cream sauce.
The old menu lacked a burrito, but that’s been rectified, with the addition of the Burrito Mucho packed with cilantro rice, black beans, three cheese blend, guacamole, pico de gallo and choice of veggies and meat.
Margaritas are king here, with a bevy of selections that can be served on the rocks or frozen. There are also craft cocktails such as the Mezcal Mule with 400 Conejos Mezcal, agave, ginger beer and fresh lime.
Prices are definitely accessible, a rarity for a place situated right on the Vegas Strip, and the mall remains one of the last spots on the Strip offering free parking, which are likely reasons why El Segundo Sol is attracting its fair share of locals.
Hours are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily and happy hour is Mon.-Thu. 3:30-6:30 p.m. in the bar.
Dining News
Echo & Rig Adds Barrel Aged Cocktails to Its Beverage Program
Echo & Rig Butcher and Steakhouse by Chef Sam Marvin at The District at Green Valley Ranch location in Henderson has added barrel-aged cocktails to its beverage program. Manager Austin Harriman tells me they are making batches of Negroni and Manhattan cocktails and aging them in custom oak barrels from two to three months, depending on demand. After the aging process, the cocktails are transferred from the barrels to the restaurant’s cocktail kegs and are then served on draft. The process ensures consistency and the proper amount of water is added to compensate for dilution that would normally take place from stirring the cocktail when prepared the traditional way. I had the privilege to try the Manhattan, and though I am not much into cocktails, I found it to be outstanding and something I would order again and again. Note that this is currently only available at the Henderson Echo & Rig location.
The Golden Tiki Expands Food Menu
The Golden Tiki, Chinatown destination bar, has expanded its food menu. New items include eight Wings with choice of teriyaki lime, spicy black sesame honey, peachy pepper, jerk, 5-spice or Tiki’s choice sauce ($16); three Pork Sliders topped with coleslaw ($16); Double Stacked Coconut Shrimp Slider Trio topped with coleslaw and wasabi mayo ($16); Giant Meatball Slider Trio topped with coleslaw and wasabi mayo ($16); Tiki Thai Crunch Salad with cabbage, cucumbers, snap peas, cilantro and red onions mixed with a peanut satay dressing ($14); Cold Soba Salad with gluten-free buckwheat noodles with red onions, snap peas, cilantro & cucumbers tossed with a smokey sesame dressing ($15); Hawaiian Mac Salad-side bowl of house made traditional macaroni salad ($6); and Viva Lunch-shredded Kalua pork with furikake rice & Hawaiian mac salad ($16). The menu is available 24/7 except during weekend brunch hours (12-3 p.m. Sat-Sun).
Entertainment News
Treasure Island Debuts The Cove Bar & Arcade
Treasure Island has opened The Cove Bar & Arcade, a brand-new attraction featuring a variety of arcade games and a full-service bar. Located on the casino level across from the Mystère Theater, the venue’s arcade games and activities include air hockey, shuffleboard, a six-lane Duck Pin Bowling Alley, NBA Hoops, Fast and Furious and a state-of-the-art golf simulator. The 7,367 square-foot space offers 27 games 19 television screens and is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 to 1 a.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 11 to 2 a.m.
- El Segundo Sol Charred Octopus photo credit David Borzkowski
- El Segundo Sol decor pic courtesy of E Segundo Sol
- Gaetano’s owner Nick Palmeri, courtesy of Gaetano’s
- Gaetano’s wine dinner Master Sommelier Joseph Phillips courtesy of Gaetano’s
- GoldenTIki Interior courtesy of Golden Tiki
- Las Vegas Brewing Mardi Gras Madness flyer
- Treasure Island The Cove pic courtesy of Treasure Island
- Echo & Rig barrel cocktail pic courtesy of Austin Harriman
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Bob Barnes began his food and beverage writing career in 1998 as Regional Correspondent for Celebrator Beer News and wrote the Nevada Beer Nuggets column from 1998-2019. He was Editorial Director of The Las Vegas Food & Beverage Professional from 2012-2021 and has covered Las Vegas for Gayot since 2010. He continues to contribute to Gayot, writing the Gayot Las Vegas Restaurant News, features on new restaurants, and beer and spirit reviews. He also writes regularly for Off The Strip, The Vegas Voice, Neon Feast, and Las Vegas Magazine.
