Hailing from Los Angeles, I’m a Mexican food snob. So Macayo’s Mexican Kitchen, Vegas’ chain of MexAm restaurants, would not customarily be my first choice. Frankly, their food is tasty enough, but is as Mexican as I with my red hair and freckles. But my in-laws live in Vegas and, party animals that they are, they have a trunkful of these cute margarita glasses that not only guarantee you a larger pour of one of my favorite elixirs, but also a deal ($3) on the tab. After a couple of these, it really doesn’t matter that the salsa has no zing and the cheese is an unnatural shade of yellow. All is well in the world. And family? They’re the greatest.

www.Macayo.com

Pahrump, this town is quirky. It is located about 30 minutes from Las Vegas. Generally Pahrump is known for its carnal pleasures which are legal here but it also offers a genuinely unique dining experience with its Pahrump Valley Winery. To underscore how unusual a winery is in this area of the country one must remember we average 4 inches of rain. The tiny winery offers a tour and has a charming dinning room with a solid menu. It makes for a refreshing quick getaway from the city.

Are you very hungry and nearly broke? Perfect. Check out Felipitos on the corner of Tropicana and Maryland. A walk up window or drive thru, open 24 hours a day, and enough grease to clog a horses artery’s. What’s not to love?

Felipitos

(702) 739-8585

1325 E Tropicana Ave

Las Vegas, NV 89119

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Botero is the fine dining steakhouse in the newly opened Steve Wynn casino Encore. The ambience is based on the Colombian artist Fernando Botero’s work.The art work and sculptures all feature his signature corpulent human form. Which I guess could either make you feel guilty while eating or you could go with the whole BBW (Big Beautiful Women) school of thought. We certainly did. For an appetizer we ordered the lentil soup and the carrot and ginger soup and the crudo. The lentil soup was smoky flavored and the light carrot soup had a creamy mouth feel without the use of dairy due to its silky pureed texture. The carrot soup needed just the slightest touch of cracked black pepper on top to help bring out the full flavors and aid with a little crunch. The crudo had 3 different kinds of fish. Each were tasty but the fish with the Meyer Lemon was my favorite.

The steaks offered are available with pepper rub, chimichurri style or traditional. The waiter told us the pepper rub is quite thick. The we ordered entrees were a rib eye traditional with chimichurri on the side and salmon pinwheels with cauliflower. The chimichurri sauce was a little like an infused oil, strong oregano flavor. It was a good thing it was ordered on the side as it might have been overwhelming if it had been all over the steak.

The rib eye was good, not great. It was a high quality steak but it could have been more tender and had slightly more marbling. The caramelized onions served with the steak were fabulous. The salmon was served on an unflattering plate it looked like a pair of salmon boobs. Again the protein-salmon was good but not great. The salmon felt to manipulated, cat food resembling for me to truly love it. The flavors were balanced but uninspired. I should have gone with Michael, the waiters, recommendation and ordered the halibut.

The sides were amazing. We ordered Roasted Bone Marrow and broccoli with garlicky tomatoes. This was the first time I had tried bone marrow. I loved it. It went well with the sweet onion and crunchy crostini. A definite try again dish. The broccoli was absolutely perfect. The wine selection was extensive.

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Overall, I give Botero an 8 of 10. The surroundings were beautiful and unique, the wait staff was attentive and informed without being pushy or presumptuous and the food overall was tasty. However you gotta take off a couple points for not falling in love with the steak at a steakhouse! I wouldn’t be opposed to going back but with all of the amazing places to eat in Vegas I would try my luck with another fine dining restaurant. Check out the menu on Botero’s website

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Yayo Taco is really low key. Located across from UNLV. On various nights it has a DJ & it always has hundreds of tequilas to choose from. It reminds me a little bit of the taco shops you run across on Southern California beach’s. Decorated with the random writings and pictures of prior customers. Leave your own mark if so inclined or play darts or foosball.

Yayo has many unique variations on the taco including great vegetarian choices too! Its always been a fun place to get together to chill over a drink and some budget friendly Mexican eats.

4632 S. Maryland Parkway

Las Vegas, NV 89119

(702) 262-0201

I have eaten at Trader Vic’s on the strip, Planet Hollywood, several times and really like the place. It’s got a good vibe especially for a chain restaurant. The food is tasty, service adequate but best of all it has a great outdoor patio for people watching on the Strip. We spent a wonderful night watching the Miss America pageant contestants parade into the casino. When I ordered the above Pink Peppercorn Ahi Tuna I was surprised. The chef told me the tuna is Saco yellow fin tuna ordered from the local International Market. It was a different style tuna than I was used to and very bright in color. The fried rice egg roll was a little bland. Not a favorite of mine. The steak special was $36. Steak with shrimp and onion rings. We also got lobster pot stickers and calamari. For those of you out there who don’t like the tentacles in calamari you will be pleased there are none to be found at Trader Vics. Overall, this place has a great location, same food level and service as a Joe’s Crab Shack. Take this place for what it is fun not gourmet and the meal experience will be satisfying.

Ugh! Peanut Butter paste strikes fear into the hearts and stomachs of many. Consider yourself warned. Keep current check out the latest from the FDA.

Located in Henderson a romantic Italian restaurant. It offers outdoor patio, formal dining room with full bar, upstairs a banquet room and a cafe for quick orders. It is very beautiful and the food is good. It’s really a much more romantic and thoughtful choice than Olive Garden. The cafe also offers a full counter of gelato. I would try here again. Le Golosita is nicely tucked into a strip mall so there is plenty of parking. Happy hour is 11am to 6pm offering free pizza and Italian specialties with half price well drinks and half price draft beer. Happy hour Bar X-Press lunch is served in 10 minutes or less.

Le Golosita

9500 S. Eastern Ave.

702-216-4080

www.legolositarestaurant.com

Donna Maria

The best tamales in Vegas. That’s a bold statement but Donna Maria’s delivers the goods. I got the Red Pork and Green Chicken. The chicken was spicy just the way I like it. The tamales are available to purchase, by the dozen, ready at a moments notice. They were a great hit at my super bowl party. Located on the strip and in Summerlin.

910 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

702-382-6538

3295 N. Tenaya Way

702-656-1600

www.donnamariatamales.com

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