Day boat scallops
Get a taste of old-time Vegas downtown, where Oscar’s Steakhouse harkens back to the days when the mob ruled Vegas and Oscar Goodman, for whom the restaurant is named and was once mayor and chief cheerleader of Las Vegas (his wife, Carolyn, serves in those roles now), got his start. As you enter, check out the photos of Oscar and assorted stars and celebrities.
You could make a stop at the bar (happy hour is 5-7 p.m., hint, hint) and order up a cocktail, including the Hizzoner, with Bombay Sapphire gin and a jalapeño—that’s it, and you’ve got the signature drink he was almost always seen drinking.
You’ve got choices, though, and you’ll notice inventive naming that references both Goodman’s background as a mob lawyer and Nevada in general. Try the Pearalegal, with Goslings Black Seal rum, spiced pear liqueur and sour apple, or the Defendant, with Larceny bourbon and Bauchant orange. The Ranch Hand features Frey Ranch bourbon, one of only a few spirits distilled in Nevada, and honey syrup. Go ahead and take that drink to your table. You might be seated at one of the plush leather booths under the glass dome or out on the elegant new patio looking onto Fremont Street across Main.
Like the cocktail menu, the dishes here often bear colorful names with references to the past, like Sal’s jumbo shrimp cocktail with spiced cocktail sauce. (Have you ever wondered if it’s a big little shrimp, or a lotta little shrimp, or not even a shrimp at all? It’s a big little shrimp, a really big little shrimp, up to four times as big as other, bittier shrimp.) You can get crab and lobster cocktail as well, plus oysters on the half shell.
Other great appetizers and salads include No Nose’s Mob Meatballs, with house-made ricotta, Parmesan and basil, Crazy Phil’s Onion Soup and Vinnie F’s Steakhouse Wedge, with Point Reyes blue cheese and peppered bacon.
You’ve got your choice of entrées, like seared day boat scallops with caviar beurre blanc and melted leeks. Day boat scallops are revered for their freshness, and are harvested in a 24-hour period. But decadent braised short rib “Rossini,” with Hudson Valley foie gras, branzino, Skuna Bay salmon, lamb chops and Mary’s organic chicken offer everyone their favorite.
Creamed corn
The name game’s back with the beef selections—Carolyn’s 16-ounce prime rib, Joey C’s 8-ounce filet mignon and Oscar’s 24-ounce bone-in ribeye are some the most popular. But they do get bigger. Jonny’s 44-ounce tomahawk and the 40-ounce porterhouse may bring tears to your eyes. Accompany one of those with Sheriff Ralph’s Mashed Potatoes. Broccoli almondine, creamed corn, and mac and cheese (lobster optional) round out sides.
Classic desserts like cheesecake, chocolate cake and carrot cake will give you the excuse to linger a while longer—perhaps while you indulge in another Hizzoner?
Plaza, 702.386.7227. plazahotelcasino.com
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