This weekly update covers noteworthy restaurant openings and closings, dining news, culinary events, and entertainment news.
Events
Sparrow + Wolf — July 14
Not too many restaurants celebrate Bastille Day with a special menu, but Sparrow & Wolf will do exactly that for the eighth year in a row. For one night only, Chef Brian Howard and the team will transform the cozy neighborhood spot into a white-tablecloth French brasserie—with a twist.
The special menu will include several French favorites such as Pate en Croute with pistachio pesto, pea tendrils, and orange zest; Tarte Flambee with caramelized onion, bacon lardon, and gruyere mornay; Escargots from Burgundy with green curry butter and brioche; Foie Gras Torchon with pineapple chili compote and Lilikoi butter; Lyonnaise Salad with duck confit, frisée, 63-degree egg, and warm banyuls vinaigrette; Loup de Mer with brown butter, almonds, capers, green grapes, and haricots verts; and Dry Aged Roast Lamb Saddle Au Poivre with petit pois, pomme puree, and truffle.
To view the complete Bastille Day menu, visit sparrowandwolflv.com.
BJ’s Brewhouse — July 15
The five Southern Nevada BJ’s Brewhouse locations will host a five-course beer dinner featuring the beers of Lagunitas.
The dinner will include a welcome beer of BJ’s Piranha Pale Ale; Ahi Poke paired with Lagunitas A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ IPA; Honey-Crisp Chicken Salad matched with Lagunitas/BJ’s collaboration Cool Tricks IPL; Buffalo Chicken Deep Dish Pizza paired with Lagunitas IPA; palate cleanser of Lagunitas Non-Alcoholic Hoppy Refresher; Slow-Roasted Tri-Tip with white cheddar mashed potatoes and garlic-roasted vegetables matched with Lagunitas Maximus Colossal IPA; and Strawberry Shortcake Pizookie paired with Lagunitas Beast of Both Worlds IPA.
The dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $45 in advance and $50 the day of the event (plus tax and tip). A designated driver option for food only is $30. To purchase tickets, click here.
Pick of the Week
El Luchador Mexican Kitchen + Cantina on Stephanie just south of Warm Springs has been bringing authentic Mexican food to the area since its opening in late 2021, and the menu by Executive Chef Lorena Telles, who was born and raised in Cuernavaca Moreles in Mexico (where she attended culinary school), is full of Mexican cuisine staples.
Named for the masked Mexican Luchador professional wrestlers, the décor pays homage to them, with a wall displaying custom Luchador mask artwork. There are also red brick walls, wood paneling, hardwood flooring, an open kitchen, windows allowing for natural light, and a long bar with four large-screen TVs.
One of the staples on the menu is the tacos, with seven varieties such as tempura shrimp, al pastor, carnitas, chicken tinga, and carne asada. Another authentic option is the Birria section of the menu, with choices of tacos, burritos, and quesadillas served with a bowl of savory consommé that is excellent for dipping or pouring onto your dish. The menu also includes house-made guacamole, nachos, burritos, enchiladas and fajitas, and all entrees are served with Luchador rice and frijoles, ensuring you won’t leave hungry. Consider upgrading your burrito or enchilada with one of three flavorful sauces: Mole, Salsa Roja, and Salsa Verde.
The drink menu features ample libations from Mexico, with dozens of tequilas and mescals and beers, including Pacifico, Negro Modelo, and Dos Equis.
Serving sizes are generous, and prices are reasonable, with most items priced under $20. Even greater bargains are available during lunch, with numerous discounts on most of the menu. If you choose to sit at the bar, you can get an all-day happy hour with $4 tacos, $8 quesadillas, $9 nachos, and several drink specials such as 16 oz margaritas for $8 and draft beer for $4. In addition, there are daily specials such as $3 margaritas on Mondays, $3 tacos on Tuesdays, several service industry deals on Wednesdays, and $3 draft beer on Thursdays.
Hours are Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Dining News
Tailgate Social at Palace Station is offering a New England-style lobster boil special. Priced at $26 and available throughout July, the special features a whole Maine lobster with Littleneck clams, Andouille sausage, Red Bliss potatoes and corn on the cob served with melted butter.
The lobster boil can be paired with a variety of beers from local Las Vegas breweries, such as UNLV Rebel Spirit Golden Ale and Hop Vegas West Coast IPA from CraftHaus Brewery, Chantilly Cream Ale from Las Vegas Brewing and Tailwagger Wheat from Big Dog’s Brewing.
Tailgate Social is open Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
PT’s Tavern is offering several food and beverage specials in July in its dozens of Southern Nevada locations.
Beverage specials include cans of Cali Squeeze Blood Orange for $5, Firestone Walker 805 pints for $6, and Patron and Watermelon Red Bull Margaritas for $10; and on National Tequila Day on July 24, Patron Silver shots and Patron Silver cocktails will be $5.
The food special is PT’s snack-size wings with fries and a Jameson shot or cocktail for $15.
Entertainment News
The Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails, the rock saloon where live music is played nightly at The Cosmopolitan, will host its fourth installment of The Battle of the Bands with performances every Monday night from July 15 through August 12 from 10:30 p.m. until late.
Hosted by Ben Carey, Barbershop’s resident star and former guitarist of Savage Garden and Lifehouse, four 16 prospective bands will perform 30-minute sets for a panel of three local celebrity judges rotating weekly. Contestants will be judged on song choice, performance, and crowd interaction to determine which band from each night will move on to the final round, with any potential ties voted on by the crowd.
At the end of the final night on Monday, August 12, one band will be crowned winner and receive a $5,000 cash prize and a 6-month residency at The Barbershop. Bands wishing to participate can register for entry here.
Shin Lim Moving to The Palazzo Theatre
With The Mirage closing on July 17 as it prepares to rebrand as the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Guitar Hotel Las Vegas, the popular magic show Limitless, starring Shin Lim, was temporarily without a home. Not any longer, as the America’s Got Talent two-time winner’s close-up magic show is relocating to The Venetian’s The Palazzo Theatre.
Tickets for Lim’s show go on sale as early as next month, and the show will begin its Palazzo Theatre residency in October. In a press release, Lim said, “We’re honored to move Limitless to the larger and newly renovated The Palazzo Theatre and have an opportunity to build a new set after so many amazing years getting to entertain fans at The Mirage. We’ve been hard at work on an all-new show, and we can’t wait to welcome fans this fall.”
