6 Restaurants to Check Out in Downtown Las Vegas

Dining Downtown Las Vegas The exciting transformation of Downtown Las Vegas continues as more retailers and restaurants come to the area. As the community continues to grow, we are able to experience some of the most amazing new food the entire city has to offer. No matter what you are looking for, you are likely to find it right here in Downtown Las Vegas. So come down today to check out some of these great restaurants.

VegeNation

As one of the few truly vegan restaurants in the city, VegeNation is sure to get you excited about healthy eating. Featuring a wide variety of different types of cuisine, you can get everything from Vietnamese pho to Mexican and Italian dishes all made with 100 percent plant-based products. Don’t forget to also check out their signature “juicetails” featuring local distilled liquor and cold-pressed juice while you are there!

Carson Kitchen

This Downtown favorite, located at Sixth and Carson streets features a perfectly crafted menu of new American food with a unique twist. The restaurant also has a garden-style rooftop patio for an outdoor dining option. Designed for sharing with your party, the menu features favorite items including crispy chicken skins, bacon jam, sandwiches, flatbreads and much more. The restaurant also features a wised variety of beer, wine and stiff specialty drinks.

Le Thai

Frequently lauded as one of the best restaurants in Las Vegas, Le Thai is a small restaurant that delivers big flavor. Located across the street from the El Cortez, the restaurant features a large outdoor dining space complete with a misting system for those warm Vegas nights. Le Thai is best known for its delicious three color curry complete with strips of fresh daikon, carrot and basil. Other must-try dishes include the short rib fried rice, awesome noodles and fried bananas.

La Comida

La Comida, located on Sixth street, is a rustic yet chic interpretation on a traditional Mexican cantina. The vast restaurant features a large indoor dining area complete with interesting furniture and light fixtures along with a comfortable outdoor dining area as well. The menu features plenty of tasty Mexican classics such as Pozole, Mexican street corn, ceviche, tacos and much more. Take some time to sample one of the over 100 tequilas on the menu or one of their famous fruit margaritas.

Therapy

This hip new restaurant, located in the Fremont East District, touted as a “gastro-lounge” gives a whole new outlook on American cuisine.  The restaurant features both tapas-style dishes that are meant for sharing, along with individual entrees, and something called cast iron s’mores, which sounds worthy of a trip on its own. The restaurant caters to everyone with offerings like a wagyu beef burger, charred kale salad, steak tartar, Scottish salmon and much more.

Monta Japanese Noodle House

Monta Japanese Noodle House serves “KURUME” style Tonkotsu Ramen, with a broth made from selected pork bones and the unique soy sauce imported from Japan. The prices are great and the portions are large, pick up any of their delicious Ramen bowls downtown. Downtown Las Vegas is quickly becoming the place to be if you are looking for uniquely delicious food offerings. Make sure to stop and check out one of these new restaurants next time you are looking to try out something new.

5 Pieces of History Worth Visiting in Las Vegas

Las Vegas History Las Vegas boasts a rich history, and the city offers up plenty of opportunities to step back in time. Throughout the years, Las Vegas has undergone several shifts in identity leaving traces of each change behind. From the Wild West era to mobster playground, and now a gambling mecca, Las Vegas is more than just neon lights and craps tables. If you’re looking to experience something a little different next time you visit, here are 5 pieces of Las Vegas history sure to change the way you think about the city.

Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort

Serving as the very first permanent structure in the valley, the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort was built in 1855, strategically located near a spring fed creek.  The original structure was a 150-foot adobe fort intended to serve as a mid-point regrouping area on the trail from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles. Today, a small portion of the original structure still remains just east of Las Vegas Boulevard. Make sure to take some time to check out the visitor center of the state park for great details about this historic place.

Railroad Cottage District

The rail services in the area helped Las Vegas develop into the city it is today. In order to provide housing for those building the rails, the San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad built a total of 64 cottages in what is now Downtown Las Vegas. Although only a handful of cottages remain in the original district, the area remains on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and is sure to bring you back in time.

Famous Neon

Vegas Vic is the unofficial name for the famous neon cowboy located outside of a souvenir shop that was formerly The Pioneer Club. This staple of Downtown Las Vegas since 1951 measures in at 40 feet, and can wave and talk. Located directly across Fremont Street is another famous piece of Downtown neon known as Vegas Vickie. She is a seated cowgirl with a leg kicked over Fremont, erected in 1980, who now sits over the Glitter Gulch Neon Sign. In 1984, Vic and Vickie were married in a fun ceremony covered by local news. For more pieces of Vegas neon history, be sure to check out the Neon Boneyard.

The Bellagio Fountains

Since their first show over 15 years ago, the fountains at Bellagio have become an award winning staple of Las Vegas. This amazing (and free) fountain show takes place at regular time intervals every day and featured over 30 different combinations of water movements carefully choreographed to a variety of popular songs. The fountains are located on an 8-acre manmade lake and feature over 4 thousand lights and over a thousand nozzles. For another amazing free show, make sure to head down to The Mirage for the famous volcano show!

Hoover Dam

One of the most well-known manmade landmarks resides just outside of Las Vegas on the border of Nevada and Arizona. The Hoover Dam, completed in 1935 to control flooding and irrigation along the Colorado River, was built from 5 million barrels of cement and 45 million pounds of reinforced steel. This amazing artificial wonder of the world created Lake Mead, the largest manmade reservoir in the U.S., now a mecca for outdoor activities in the area. Make sure to take some time to check out some of these amazing historic sites next time you find yourself looking for something different to experience Downtown.

5 Unique Shopping Destinations in Downtown Las Vegas

Dining Downtown Las Vegas

Source: Vegasseven.com

Downtown Las Vegas is one of the most unique areas in the city. Over the past couple of years, and still continuing today, the area has undergone a massive transformation to make it a truly captivating destination for locals and visitors alike. One of the many things making Downtown so unique is the one-of-a-kind shopping presented by the wide array of boutiques located throughout the district. Whether you are looking for a special Vegas-themed antique, the perfect book for the gambler back at home or a highly coveted record, the shops in Downtown Las Vegas have you covered.

11Th Street Records

The perfect stop for the music lover in your group, 11th Street Records is dedicated to buying, selling, trading, and even recording records. The store boasts vinyl listening parties, in-store parties and performances, live streaming webcasts of these performances and much more. Stop in and do your part to help support the music industry and community today.

The Writer’s Block

The Writer’s Block is the only independent bookstore in the entire city and is much more than just that. The shop boasts not only an amazing selection of unique books, but also books from larger publishers, a collection of children’s books, apparel, collectibles and a book machine that prints, binds and trims paperback books in 5 minutes.

Retro Vegas

Just up the street from the Plaza, Retro Vegas is the place to go if you are looking for one-of-a-kind Vegas antiques. This massive shop is full of both Las Vegas themed collectibles and general mid-century antiques, and enough variety to fit into any price point. While you are there make sure to check out the famous pink kitchen. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, simply saunter up Main Street for over 10 more different antique shops to peruse.

The Gamblers General Store & Book Club

For the widest variety of gambling related products, including books, The Gamblers General Store is your go-to in Downtown Las Vegas. For over three decades, this Downtown staple has specialized in providing all your gambling needs including personalized chips, high-quality cards, dice, poker tables, memorabilia and much more. If you are searching for a book about gambling, check out the over 3,000 gambling books available at Gamblers Book Club.

Container Park

What good would an article about shopping in Downtown be without a mention of the amazing Container Park? This one-of-a-kind open-air shopping area is made entirely from shipping containers and contains enough activity to keep everyone in your group (especially the kids) occupied and entertained for hours. No matter what you are looking for, you are sure to find it here. Don’t forget to check out some of the mouth-watering food and drink options while you are here. No matter what you are looking to buy or do, Downtown Las Vegas has it all.  So make sure to give yourself ample time to explore this district the next time you are in town!

What to Expect When Dining at Oscar’s

Oscar's Steakhouse Las Vegas

Source: Vegasmagazine.com

Come on In

It isn’t a trip to Vegas unless you’ve dined at Oscar’s. Flirt with all the showgirls you want, but you haven’t done Sin City without the signature steaks and cocktails that await you at the only dining establishment that’s earned the name of the Happiest Mayor on Earth. And while you’re here, you may even get to meet the legendary mob-boss-turned-mayor, Oscar Goodman himself. Located in the iconic glass dome of the the jewel of Downtown – the Plaza Hotel and Casino – it’s a true Vegas experience worthy of any appetite.

Take in the View  – Inside & Out

The all-glass dome of the Plaza used to be home of this Downtown classic’s pool. This was a scene where you wanted to be seen…and not much has changed to this day. From your table, you’ll be treated to views of the iconic Fremont Street Experience. Inside, enjoy the glitz and glam of old-school Vegas with mood lighting and classic jazz. While you’re here, take in some of Oscar’s rare photographs of vintage Vegas, along with memorabilia from Mr. Goodman’s 12-year tenure as mayor.

Did We Mention the Broads?

Can you beat beauty and brains? No way. The Broads of Oscar’s are beautiful dinner hostesses and companions who can regale you with tales of Vegas history, recommend must-do Vegas attractions (although you’d be experiencing one during your conversation), talk sports, debate politics – anything you want. They were inspired by Oscar Goodman’s “booze and broads” trial back when he was a mob attorney, and the Bacchanal Room at the old Caesars Palace where guests were invited to party with the Goddesses. Oscar’s Broads are there to enliven your experience…after all, nothing complements a great dinner like sparkling conversation with a beautiful companion. As the man himself says, “I’d take one Betty over 100 showgirls any day.”

Eat and Drink Like You Own This Town

Oscars Steakhouse Steak The crowning jewel of Oscar’s is the amazingly varied food menu and classic drink offerings. As a fine dining steakhouse, Oscar’s offers a variety of perfectly aged cuts which are then seared over a 600 degree grill to ensure they are flavorful, juicy and tender. Adding to the unmistakably Las Vegas glam feel, Oscar’s offers jumbo shrimp, crab legs and lobster tail to complement any of the already delicious entrees. All of the side dishes at Oscar’s are made from scratch with only the highest quality ingredients. Featuring staples such as smashed potatoes and steamed asparagus to less-expected offerings such as roasted corn brulee and onion strings, you are sure to find something you love. With a full bar, you can opt for a classic cocktail or one of the many signature and hand-crafted Las Vegas inspired drinks at the restaurant. Don’t forget to try Mr. Goodman’s signature Bombay Sapphire martini while you’re here. Oscar would insist on it.

So When Are You Coming?

Hopefully your appetite is whetted for the quintessential Vegas dining experience, courtesy of beloved Mayor and famed mob attorney Oscar Goodman. Just remember, if you haven’t been here, you haven’t really been to Vegas. Cheers!