Category: Dining

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$5 Burger & Beer (18Bin)

A smashburger and a beer for $5? It’s not quite a Top Tenner, but it’s a good one in the Arts District.

A burger and a beer for $5? That has to be a bargain, right? Maybe not if the burger is a slider and the beer is Red, White, & Blue (wait, we like RWB), but that’s not the case here. You get a smashburger (the latest burger rage) that’s slightly larger than a regular McDonald’s burger, with cheese, pickles, and chipotle mayo. You might want another, so go ahead and order it; there’s no limit. It comes with a choice of a 16-ounce Michelob Ultra or 18Bin Blonde Ale. The deal runs Mondays-Thursdays from 11 am to 3 pm.

A Cool Place in the Arts District

Located in the Arts District at 107 E. Charleston, 18Bin is one of multiple bars/restaurants clustered in the area, including Berlin, Artifice, Taverna Costera, and Pepper Club in the English Hotel. While many of these bars are artsy types that don’t have TVs, 18Bin does and they’re tuned to sports when the games are on. The bar and tables are inside, with a big courtyard with seating outside. 

Bar
Dining
Patio

This is a busy hang on weekend nights, but mostly quiet during the day when the special runs. The full menu includes bar snacks, soups, salads, and sandwiches, with several vegetarian options; we had a decent ceviche for $13. 

The Verdict

This is an excellent lunch play and a reason to check out the Arts District, but it’s also a drinking play. The 18Bin Blonde is $9 by itself, so ordering the special gets you a $5 beer and however many hamburgers get lined up in the process. If you linger after the special, there’s “Yappy Hour” (bring your pooch) Mon.-Thurs. from 4 to 6 pm, with 50%-off beer, wine, and select appetizers. On Tuesdays starting at 7 pm, it’s all-you-can-drink margaritas and $3 tacos.

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Tacotarian

Our trip to Power Soul Café inspired us to finally check out Tacotarian, the vegan taco brand that, since launching here in 2018, has opened four locations in Las Vegas and one in San Diego. It has garnered some attention; in 2023, Tacotarian was named one of the 25 best vegan Mexican restaurants in the country by VegNews and placed #52 on Yelp’s Top 100 Taco Spots nationwide.

One venue is on S. Fort Apache way over by the big bend in the Beltway, another is way down on Blue Diamond near Silverton, the third is way out in Henderson, and the flagship is downtown in the Arts District on Casino Center Blvd. a couple of blocks south of Charleston. That’s the one we visited.

As you’d expect from a flagship eatery in the Arts District, this is a trendy spot — bright, open and airy, and full of Mexican colors, with greenery and a merch corner.

It’s also big, so it can seat everyone when it gets busy, which it does, especially for lunch. You order and pay at the counter and your meal is delivered to your table.

Tacotarian bills itself as flexitarian (sometimes vegan, sometimes not), so it’s not the usual vegan menu that relies heavily on Beyond Beef or Impossible products using such plant proteins as pea, mung and faba beans, and brown rice. Though they do include some of those, they also create their own proteins, with jackfruit (like a giant fig), seitan (made from gluten, the main protein of wheat), Gardein-brand chicken and fish (made of textured vegetable protein, a.k.a. TVP, soy concentrate, and flour), non-dairy cheese, plantains, even hibiscus flowers — essentially, meat-free versions of familiar taco fillings and flavors.

cauliflower ceviche

The food is pretty typical for a Mexican place, whether vegan, flex, or meat-based. The menu has antojitos, such as chips and salsa, nachos, guacamole, and elote ($5-$16), veg soup and salads ($6-$17), a couple of dozen different tacos ($4-$6, with a three-taco platter, the most popular choice, at $18), burritos ($11-$20), and desserts ($6-$9).

The difference is, as we say, in the proteins. For example, the carne asada is made with seitan, the barbacoa with jackfruit, and the chorizo with soy. You can also get alcohol at the Tacotarians — beer, margaritas, and specialty cocktails — unusual for a vegan restaurant.

We know this food isn’t for everyone, including ourselves. We’ve been through our soy, seitan, TVP, and Beyond Beef experiments, so none of that interested us. What did was the cauliflower ceviche ($6.99), marinated in lime juice, topped with cucumber, avocado, and pico, and served with plentiful chips. Not quite the real thing, but close enough in flavor and enjoyment. We also tried the Baja taco ($3.99), with avocado fried in beer batter, cilantro-lime slaw, and guacamole. Again, since we weren’t concerned with protein, it was a good regular taco to us.

The bill with tax, without tip, came to $11.90, which we thought quite reasonable for both the quantity and quality of the food. The meal, in the end, was tasty, filling, and affordable, a good one-off lunch.

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Power Soul Café

Promoting itself as the “world’s first certified gluten-free fast-food restaurant chain,” Power Soul Café is the brainchild of Las Vegan Dina Mitchell, who for 15 years was in charge of the west coast expansion of Tropical Smoothie Cafes, a franchiser with 1,500 locations nationwide. She wanted to branch out from smoothies and add healthy food items to her own brand and came up with Power Soul.

Three locations have opened this year, the flagship on Warm Springs Rd. near Durango in the southwest valley, one in Henderson (1469 E. Lake Mead Parkway), and the third right around the corner from our office at Valley View and Spring Mountain. We stopped off on a hot summer afternoon to see what it was all about.

It’s different. There’s no dining area or any seating neither outdoor nor indoor. You order from a walk-up window; scan the giant QR code for the menu or read it through the window behind the point of sale. The all-glass front allows you to see the food being prepared and it’s handed through out to you. You can also order in advance and pick up from self-serve refrigerated lockers, which are convenient, especially since the cafés are open 24/7.

The menu consists of two dozen smoothies ($7.49), acai bowls ($12.99), chicken nuggets ($5.99-$10.99) and vegan chicken strips ($5.99), eight pizzas ($12-$15), and various breakfast waffles and egg sandwiches ($3.99-$8.99). The online ordering system allows you to filter for keto and vegetarian and 60 or so allergens to avoid.

We ordered at the walk-up window and got a Soul Colada smoothie and an Ah-Sigh-Ee (for how acai is pronounced) bowl. Both were tasty and refreshing when we got them back to the office, though at 109 degrees out, it would’ve been unpleasant to consume them in the car or standing around the Chinatown parking lot. Nor would we have wanted to do that between December and March, especially with the potential for sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia (brain freeze) from these products. When it’s nice out, you can do so; otherwise, it’s best to have somewhere you can eat them, because you can’t do it at or in Power Soul.

The total bill came to $24.20 with tax and a $2 tip. It might sound a little steep for a smoothie and bowl, but they were fresh, healthy, filling, and satisfying.

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Capons at Fountainebleau


Josh Capon, a New York celebrity chef with a number of restaurants under his belt, is renowned on the East Coast for his Bash Burger, a perennial people’s-choice winner at the New York City and Miami Wine and Food festivals. Which is why we found ourselves at Fontainebleau yet again, to sample the burger at Capons in the Promenade Food Hall.

As an aside, we’ve been to Fbleau way more than we would have expected when it opened. But we can say this: The easy in and out of the parking garage and the free four-parking for everyone provide all the incentive we need to try what we can there, without spending two arms and three legs.

First, the name is pronounced “KAY-pons,” not kuh-PONE’s, the way we suspected.

The menu consists of three burgers — Capons Classic with lettuce, tomato, pickles, cheese, and secret sauce ($15), the Smoke Show that adds onion-bacon jam and onion straws, and the Blackjack with truffle aioli and potato sticks (both $16). There are also chicken sandwiches ($14-$16), chicken “tenderonies” with a choice of four sauces ($15), waffle fries and onion rings ($7), a dozen varieties of scooped gelato, soft-serve shakes, and sundaes ($7-$12), and a few adult beverages ($9-$10).

We sampled Capons Classic, which might not look like much, especially in the photos, but it’s made from a custom beef blend and the patty is extraordinarily juicy, with very fresh lettuce and tomato, a sauce somewhat like In-N-Out’s, and a bun that holds up fine, even under the onslaught of ooze. And this bad boy is good for a meal and a half, even without fries. We brought home half for later.

We also had to order a Topo Chico (“Little Mole”). We rarely see this sparkling mineral water in Vegas, but we’ve always liked it in Mexico, sourced and bottled in Monterrey since 1895. It’s $7 and worth it, at least to us.

The total bill came to $27.14, including tax and a $3 tip.

Yes, pretty steep for a burger and bottled water from a food hall. We’re not soft-pedaling that. But we do like Fbleau and Capons is among the few food items there that are (mostly) affordable for the likes of us non-jetsetters.

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Double Helix Wine & Whiskey Bar (Prime Rib Special)

The price of prime rib keeps going up, but good specials keep showing up, sometimes in places you wouldn’t expect. 

Double Helix Wine & Whiskey Lounge

On Sundays and Mondays, Double Helix at Town Square has a prime rib special for $24.99. Though salad and rolls aren’t included, it comes with mashed potatoes, a vegetable, and—get this—a shot of bourbon. The prime rib is a good cut, served with a horseradish sauce (not straight). The vegetable was sauteed spinach on our visit. It looks a bit skimpy without a salad, but it’s a full meal and the quality is a notch above the typical casino special.

The Shot

What makes this one especially noteworthy is the accompanying shot of bourbon, a nice touch that we haven’t seen before. The brand is whatever’s being featured that month. For us, Old Forester Rye. It’s not a full shot, more of a flight tasting, but it works well with the dinner.

The Venue

Double Helix is something of a Vegas insider’s hang, a good place for sipping wine and whiskeys while sampling small plates. It’s also cigar-friendly. The restaurant is located in the middle of the Town Square complex, closer to the west side, so best to park in the back lot bordering the freeway.

The Verdict

We liked this special and rate it one of the better prime rib options in town. There were a couple hiccups—we had to ask for a steak knife and remind the waiter to bring the bourbon—but overall and considering the price, this is a good value that can fit well with a comedy night at Wiseguys, a Pop Stroke outing, or a shopping trip. The restaurant is open 11 am-10 pm Sundays and 3:30-11 pm Mondays.

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Lucky House

[Editor’s Note: This is a guest review from friend of LVA George Antanakos.]

The closing of Chinglish out at Charleston and Rampart did away with the best dumplings and dipping sauce in the city and sent me on a hunt for dim sum outside of Chinatown.

Enter Lucky House Seafood Restaurant. Located on Durango just south of Flamingo, it opened early this year and as soon as I walked in, I knew it was authentic: Several gorgeous golden-brown roasted ducks hang near the entrance. Also, it’s a great sign when I’m one of the only non-Asians in the place and it was busy on a random Wednesday at 2 p.m., not exactly prime time.

We ordered up the dim sum and tried a couple of other dishes. We found the truffle and regular siu mai ($6 and $7, respectively) above average, but couldn’t tell the difference, so the regular is the play. The true dim sum stars at Lucky House are the shrimp; the har gow and shrimp-and-chive dumplings were sublime.

We also ordered the “roasted pork” entrée, which is actually pork belly. If you like juicy fatty belly with perfectly crispy skin, this is the dish for you. The kung pao chicken was the big surprise. It’s usually a disappointment, even in Chinatown, but at Lucky House, I tried unsuccessfully to recall another kung pao that even came close. I’m not easily impressed, but this is a must-eat version.

The bill came to $78.03 with tax, but not tip.

All in all, Lucky House is an excellent option and a hidden gem, especially if you don’t want to fade the traffic and parking issues in Chinatown.

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Buffet Update – October 2024

Cosmopolitan – The Wicked Spoon: Daily Brunch is now 8 a.m.-2 p.m. instead of 8 a.m.-3 p.m. for $47 on weekdays and $54 on weekends.

Circus Circus – Circus Buffet: This week’s buffet schedule is: Weekend Brunch is Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. for $24.95. Weekend Dinner is Friday, 4:30 p.m.-10 p.m. for $27.

Palms – A.Y.C.E. Buffet: Released their upcoming themed nights and holiday events:
9th Island Night – Saturday, September 28, 2024
Latin Night – Saturday, October 26, 2024
Halloween – Thursday, October 31, 2024
Veteran’s Day – Monday, November 11, 2024
Thanksgiving – Thursday, November 28, 2024
National Finals Rodeo (NFR) – December 5-14, 2024
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day – Tuesday, December 24 and Wednesday, December 25, 2024
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day – Tuesday, December 31, 2024 and Wednesday, January 1, 2025

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One Piece Café


Anime is a style of animation that originated in Japan and has become popular worldwide. “One Piece” is a long-running (1997) anime and manga (graphic-novel) series, one of the most popular in Japan. It chronicles the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat pirate crew as they search for the ultimate treasure known as One Piece. It combines elements of action, adventure, comedy, drama, and fantasy in various formats, including a TV series, movies, and video games.

posters along the waiting-line wall

“One Piece” opened its first U.S. fast-food cafe in Las Vegas in mid-May. It’s located in Chinatown at 5600 Spring Mountain Rd. (north side just west of Lindell). The U.S. fan base is huge, if the lines out the door, along the storefront, and around the corner were any indication. We finally got near the place after two months.

Even then, we waited in 112-degree heat with a dozen other people to get in the door, where the line continues. It took 35 minutes from the back of the line to the counter, then another five for the food.

It’s a two-store restaurant, with six four-tops in the front room; the 24 seats can accommodate the number of people waiting in line inside. In the second room are three high tables to stand at and 14 seats in two big booths.

Mostly, the second room is devoted to a wall-length “One Piece” mural and a half-wall selfie station. In all, around 38 can sit, 12 can stand. Everyone else, say “sayonara.”

The menu is fries ($5), beef skewers and pepper and egg friend rice ($10 each), tuna casserole, seafood fried rice, and beef curry ($16), burger and fries ($18), and the Mighty Meats platter ($30), along with a half-dozen desserts ($5.50-$25).

We ordered the beef skewers, a matcha mochi cookie (matcha is green-tea powder, mochi glutinous rice dough pounded into different shapes), and a yuzu (Asian lemon) lemonade ($6). It was … edible. The bill came to $23.30 with tax.

For that price, we could’ve gotten bigger, better, cheaper food at any of 10 other places within walking distance in Chinatown.

The food is more of an afterthought to the ambience, murals, and gathering of fans and, of course, the merchandise: T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, beanies, caps, plush dolls, keychains, lanyards, stickers, pins, jigsaw puzzle, all in the expensive range ($12 for a pin to $80 for a hoodie). Both the merch and food were flying out the door.

If you’re a fan of the show or culture or have kids in tow who are, this is the only place in the country to get a vicarious experience of “One Piece.” Or if you really want to see what all the fuss is about, check it out. Otherwise, it’s a pass.

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Parm Famous Italian

The original Parm Famous Italian casual eatery opened in Little Italy in Manhattan in 2011, a spinoff of the famed restaurant Carbone. The Las Vegas version of Carbone opened at Aria in late 2015, so it was a natural fit for Parm to occupy the space at Aria’s Proper Eats Food Hall that was vacated by the failed Shalom Y’All. Parm opened in May.

Parm is touted as “a great way to get a taste of Carbone’s acclaimed recipes if you can’t nab a reservation at the signature restaurant.” We could grab a reservation, but we aren’t anxious to pay $19 for broccoli, $20 for a bowl of minestrone, $36 for tortellini, $40 for clams, or $84 for veal parmesan.

Like all the outlets at Proper Eats (and the other Vegas food halls), the choices at Parm are limited. Appetizers include buffalo cucumbers ($7), meatballs ($10) and mozzarella sticks ($12). There’s one salad, a Caesar ($15). The pair of pasta dishes are spicy rotini and spaghetti and meatballs ($19) and the four sandwiches are a five-meat Italian combo, meatball parm, chicken parm, and roast beef (all $18).

None of the choices is particularly inspiring, at least to us. But to get even an inkling of the fare at Carbone and knowing that Parm has spread to six locations in New York, one in Boston, and all the way out to Las Vegas, we figured we’d give it a try.

We went for what’s described as the most popular and signature item, the chicken parm sandwich. It’s a breaded cutlet coated with tomato sauce and awash in melted cheese in a seeded Italian hero roll. Perhaps you can tell from the photo that we were underwhelmed at best. The cutlet was dry and tasteless, the sauce and cheese were average at best; what we liked most were the sesame seeds on the bun. Suffice it to say that we had trouble giving away the half-sandwich we didn’t want. To add insult to injury, the total bill, with tax and a $1.50 tip, came to $21.01. For that price, we could get a whole best-in-U.S. pie at Double Zero Pizza.

So this review is better spent reexamining the digital-ordering process on the Proper Eats kiosk screens in case you missed our original coverage (LVA May 2023). Here it is in photos.