Nora's Cuisine

I haven't contributed to my blog in the past few weeks, so this time I thought I'd offer an up entry that is worth three in one.

Nora's Cuisine , on West Flamingo and Jones is "Triple G-Rated" because of its fine food, enjoyable atmosphere and reasonable prices. Whenever my Dad comes to visit he insists we go to Nora's.

Those of you from the East Coast know it's hard to find good Italian like you would in New York's Little Italy or Boston's North End. This is going to be your best bet. You have to go on a Friday or Saturday because those are the nights they have live jazz . Usually piano, bass, drums... and sometimes guest artists as well. The music starts at 9 pm. Be sure to make a reservation at least a few days in advance because if you don't you probably won't get in.

It's always crowded on weekends. Ask to sit on the bar side. That's where most of the fun is. You can also order food right from the bar. Nora's is a family owned business, and you know it from the moment you walk in. Owner Giovanni Mauro will sometimes sing opera with the musicians. He's fantastic. The first time I heard him it reminded me of when Uncle Junior sang on an episode of the Sopranos.

Here's what I recommend for dinner: First, you must order the warm chocolate cake. Trust me on this. It takes about an hour to prepare so you have to order it ahead of time. Try the antipasto salad, then for main course I'd go with the Frutti Di Marre (Seafood Pasta) or the Baked Ziti. I guarantee a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Balboa Pizza Company

Let me begin by saying I've never actually had any pizza at Balboa Pizza Company ... but I liked this place from the get go. Maybe it's the Southern California in me. This place feels different, beach-ish... and laid-back. If they could add the smell of the ocean, maybe truck in some sand, you'd swear you were on the coast. This alone however does not a "G-rated" entry make. The food I have tried is great! Pizza bread sandwiches are a must. A bucket of Balboa Chips or Maui fries as a side... all I can say is, "dude... right on!" 

Did I mention they're open 24 hours? If you're a late-night snack person, this place will leave you satisfied. No servers after midnight, but order whatever you want from the bar. They'll hook you up. Balboa Pizza Company is located in The District at Green Valley Ranch .

Calico Tanks

People often ask me, why do you live in Las Vegas? Anyone who's lived here for any significant period I'm sure gets this all the time. Yes, it's the weather. Yes, it's the nightlife. Yes, it's the excitement of a 24-hour city. And, yes it's the ability to occasionally get away-from-it-all. A perfect escape for me is to go on a hike. Since I've lived in Las Vegas I've had the opportunity to go on several. One of my favorite spots is Red Rock Canyon. There are nearly 2-dozen marked trails, with varying degrees of difficulty to chose from. This weekend I chose the Calico Tanks trail, which starts at the third stop of the 13-mile Red Rock loop. It's pretty easy, only about 2 1/2 miles round trip. The scenery is spectacular and I'm not gonna lie... it's a great "date" hike. The trail veers up a canyon and at certain points you may even have to climb some rocks (nothing very steep). It lets out at a large, natural water tank. Continue along the rock-edge looking down at the water all the way to the opposite side. From there you'll find a great view of the city... and a perfect spot for that "date lunch" you just happened to pack.

If you leave early your chances of seeing wildlife are pretty good. On past Red Rock hikes I've seen Big Horn Sheep, Coyotes, Wild Burros and Roadrunners. This time all I saw was a tiny Red-Spotted-Toad. Still very cool.

The Bagel Cafe

Breakfast anyone? My first meal in Las Vegas was at The Bagel Cafe over on Buffalo and Summerlin Parkway. I had flown in for a job interview with Channel 3 late the night before and the news director at the time suggested we go there for breakfast the next morning. I won't say this is what sold me on Vegas but it definitely helped.

I'm all about an occasional "big breakfast". And when you go to The Bagel Cafe you want to go big...or go home. This is not one of those on-the-Strip, over-priced pancake houses. This is an authentic, New-York style deli and cafe. In my opinion you won't find a better bagel in town. The homemade Baked Challah French Toast are huge. My absolute favorite though is the Nova Benedict. It comes with home potatoes. If you like salmon and you like Eggs Benedict, trust me on this one. I've also tried their Over-Stuffed Sandwiches for lunch. The pastries are as close to "East Coast" bakery style as you're going to get here. I've had the Éclairs and the Cannolis. These definitely tip the "G-scale"... and will likely add a few digits to your home scale as well.

Obviously I accepted the job. Now, 7 years later I'm still putting back bagels and Benedicts like nobody's business. I've suggested to my bosses here at Channel 3 that we open a remote office at The Bagel Cafe... I would be the correspondent of course. Still waiting on an answer.

Yellow Brick Road

Do you ever wish you could go back in time? One thing I'd do if I could turn back the clock is attend more live concerts. Most people who know me know I like many types of music, including classic rock. And while I've never really been a big fan of "tribute" bands, Yellow Brick Road is absolutely "G-list" material.
Believe me when I say you'll think you're listening to the real thing. From the Beatles to Bon Jovi, from The Rolling Stones to Rush, these guys do it all. Check out this YouTube clip of them covering Led Zeppelin, youtubeclip. Brody Dolyniuk is the lead singer. His range is amazing. Few people can sound like Journey's Steve Perry and not miss a note. Mark Cole is the lead guitarist. He can shred like Eddie Van Halen used to. You really have to see them to believe it.
Yellow Brick Road performs every Friday and Saturday at 11pm for "free" at The Railhead inside Boulder Station. Be advised, it's crowded, it's loud, it's smoky... it's rock n' roll.

The Artisan

...emphasis on "Art". At first glance this off-Strip hotel doesn't appear much like a Vegas hot spot, but step inside and you'll feel like you're in a different part of the world.
The decor is interesting, dark and beautiful all at the same time. The lounge is open 24 hours, which is great for those of us who tend to work late nights. The walls are adorned with framed artwork by classic and contemporary artists. Very chic! In the lounge you'll also notice some hanging frames. And I mean just the empty frames, no paintings. It makes for good conversation, as does the ceiling which is covered with small, framed mirrors. The only thing seemingly out of place are the flat screen TVs that shine excessively bright in an otherwise dim-lit environment. Not exactly feng shui. On the weekends it's crowded and a louder atmosphere complete with DJ. During the week it's more chill, quiet and relaxing. A jazz pianist or guitarist would put this place over the top. Carey is the bartender. Ask him to make you his "Black Orchid Martini". The Artisan Hotel gets a "G-rating" for its uniqueness and because you will look cool when you take someone there for the first time.

Sushi Fever

Everyone has a favorite sushi spot in this town. Mine is Sushi Fever near Sahara and Durango. Ask to sit at the sushi bar, it's more fun than the dining room.
Of course they have all the traditional sushi and sashimi plates, but in my opinion these guys are a cut above (pun intended) when it comes to their "chef's specials". Not exactly traditional Japanese fare.
The chef's specials menu boasts such favorites as the "Mistake Roll", "The Mountain" and the "Screaming O". Yes I am abbreviating... and yes it really is on the menu. The main ingredient in the "Screaming O" is seared ahi tuna. It comes over a bed of shredded daikon (a type of radish) and drenched in a sauce with ingredients they will not disclose. All I can say is, "G-licious."
If you're a fan of sake, make sure you order some for the sushi chefs. They're allowed to drink on the job and they swear the food tastes better when they're in a happy mood. Kampai ("cheers" in Japanese).

Red Rock Resort

By now most of you have already been to Red Rock Resort, Station Casinos' newest property on the west side of town. This is a favorite spot of mine because I live nearby, and because it offers a little something for everyone. If I have visitors in town, I can drop them off for a few hours and I know they'll be just fine.
One of my favorite restaurants there is Tides Oyster Bar . Let me preface by saying I've always been a big fan of the original Oyster Bar at Palace Station. I still think they're the best in town. If you go there ask for Greg. He's the chef, and if I'm not mistaken he's been steaming and stewing delicious seafood for at least 20 years. Tides has a very similar menu, everything from fresh-shucked oysters, to seafood pastas, to gumbo. My absolute favorite though is the "House Roast". It's a combination of Lobster, Shrimp and Crab all sauteed in a tomato cream sauce. You can choose your level of spiciness from 1 to 10. 10 of course being too hot to eat. I generally go with a 7. This trio of seafood goodness is about as good as it gets. And they don't skimp on the shrimp if you know what I mean. Try it!
This may surprise you but if you're looking for something fun to do on a date, consider BINGO. Red Rock offers games every odd hour until 11pm. When my date suggested we give it shot, I skeptically said, okay. Honestly, I don't think I'd played BINGO since I was about 9 years old at our Church Fall Festival growing up. I was out-of-practice to say the least. It was challenging, we laughed, and I would definitely go again. The crowd was mostly seniors, but there was also a good contingent of college students. Something I found interesting: The seniors were all using the latest BINGO technology, electronic score cards, etc. The younger set on the other hand, was using the "old-school" paper score cards and ink dobbers. I was a part of that group. Yes, I did get to yell "BINGO" once. I was a little hesitant because I wasn't quite sure I actually had all the numbers. I was definitely intimidated amongst all these obvious pros. Upon further check, I did in fact have the correct configuration. I won 50 bucks.
Finally, if you're looking for something to cap-off the evening, go check out the outdoor lounge at T-Bones Chophouse. Just walk through the restaurant and go through the back doors out to the patio. There's no charge. You'll find yourself in a beautiful, poolside environment. There are couches and a fire pit. There's also an outdoor bar if you care for an adult beverage. It's perfect for quiet conversation. During the week it's usually not very crowded. This place will remind you why we live in Las Vegas and not in a city where soon it'll be too cold to sit outside.