Holy Donkey Sauce! The Mayor of Flavortown has opened his first Las Vegas restaurant smack dab in the center of the action on the Las Vegas Strip! That’s right! Guy Fieri’s Las Vegas Kitchen & Bar, located at The Quad Resort & Casino, is now open for lunch, dinner, and late night nibbles. It’s about time, don’t you think? After all, Guy did attend University of Nevada Las Vegas where he graduated in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management and all the other Food Network personalities seem to be flocking to our fair city, so it just seems natural that he gets in on the action, too.
The restaurant faces the famed Las Vegas Boulevard, so if you are taking a stroll down The Strip or want to take a break from shopping, you don’t have to travel deep into a casino to arrive at this flavor destination. Step inside the entrance to the 200-seat restaurant and vintage Las Vegas posters and artwork will greet you. If you have OCD like I do, you may also count that there are eight different types of lighting emerging from the ceiling and walls, an ample bar area complete with cowhide upholstered stools, industrial-like beams jutting across the ceiling, plank wood flooring, wood and brick-embellished walls, an outdoor patio area, tall top booths, tall top tables with metal stools, and regular old tables. Basically, it is a hodgepodge of design elements which is fitting because Guy is known for his unconventionality, crazy combinations of flavors, and larger than life personality; all of which are represented from beginning to end of your experience.
When we dined here mid-week for lunch, we didn’t have to wait long to be seated at all and we even scored a comfy tall top booth. We selected Victor’s Street Tacos and the Tatted-Up Turkey Burger for our lunch. This is what it looked like.
The tacos, which were surprisingly small, were packed with grilled chicken and came with sides of red salsa and guacamole. They were, simply stated, unremarkable. The Tatted-Up Turkey Burger, however, was totally mouthwatering. In fact I can declare that it was the best turkey burger I have ever had in my entire life! After all, you can’t go wrong with toppings like roasted poblanos, pepper jack cheese, and thick-cut ancho bacon cooked to perfection. When I saw that the burger came with Gouda cheese as well, I very nearly requested to leave it off as I have the tendency to want to make meals my own. I am so glad I ordered this just as it was described because it added an unexpected, but very welcomed, smoky and creamy texture to this burger. The potpourri of crinkle cut, shoestring, and waffle fries served with the turkey burger were also welcomed surprise.
The bar features a selection of 16 craft beers, varieties of Sonoma County wines, and, evidently, a frozen tap system shot bar delivering icy-cold shots to the patrons without diluting the taste of the liquor with ice. My drink of choice was iced tea. Unfortunately, it tasted instant. As a self-proclaimed ice tea snob, I think unsweetened flavored black tea would make a welcomed addition to the non-alcoholic drink menu and the perfectly square ice cubes used in the beverages.
The prices here are not those you would expect from a diner, drive-in, or dive. Rather, these are premium prices for a premium location smack dab in the center of the action. Appetizers range in price from $13 to $15 and burgers range in price from $18 to $20. A helpful hint: If you have a Total Rewards Card on hand, you shave $1 off each menu item ordered. That could make it worth the effort to get one. They are free, after all, and all you have to do is sign up at a kiosk within The Quad Resort & Casino.
Guy Fieri’s Vegas Kitchen & Bar, (702) 731-3311 thequadlv.com
