Restaurant Insider

Restaurant Insider By Victor “Vegas Vic” Royer

Johnny Rockets Rocks Route 66

One of the first places I visited when I rocked into Hollywood many years ago, was Johnny Rockets. This 1950's burger joint was Boffo, as the saying goes - meaning it was Tops! I loved it then, and never forgot about it, and my experience there.

Fast forward now to the recent G2E Gaming Convention in Las Vegas - where all the great new slots are shown each year - and what do you know? There's also a Food and Beverage Pavilion in this convention, and right there I found Johnny Rockets. In fact - if I remember correctly - I ran into their booth on the main convention floor. And I was floored, alright!

Johnny Rockets has to be one of the best burger joints anywhere. And I didn't even know that they had restaurants in Las Vegas. So now I do!

If you want a great burger, fries, all the stuff of which dreams are made - well, head over to Johnny Rockets and you'll travel back in time to the great eats just the way they were served with rock'n'roll in it's heyday.

In Las Vegas, Johnny Rockets restaurants can be found right inside the hottest casinos, at the Venetian, Flamingo, Bally's, Mandalay Bay, Excalibur, Silverton, and in the local's places like Palace Station and Aliante. There is also one on Paradise Road, 4480 Paradise Rd. Suite #800, and at the Fashion Show Mall on the Strip, and also one at the Meadows Mall
4300 Meadows Lane.

Johnny Rockets Route 66 Offers Drive-Thru

And now Johnny Rockets announced their Route 66 concept, comprised of four innovative prototypes to serve American families at home and on the road.

Established in 1926 as one of America’s original highways, Route 66 became the major path for those who migrated west, and it supported the economies of the communities through which the road passed. No company is better suited to resurrect the nostalgic brand than Johnny Rockets, which was founded on Classic Americana and opened its first location down the road from the culminating point of Route 66 in Santa Monica.

“Johnny Rockets launched exactly one year after Route 66 was officially removed from the highway system in 1985,” explains James Walker, chief development officer of Johnny Rockets. “We feel privileged to have the opportunity to re-introduce the Route 66 brand to the new car culture generation through our already cravable food in what we are sure will be a cravable environment.”

The Johnny Rockets Route 66 concept will take the form of four distinct prototypes: drive-thru, drive-in, food truck and pop-up. Through enhanced operational efficiencies and technology, the Route 66 concept allows guests to enjoy Johnny Rockets’ made-to-order burgers and hand-spun shakes while they are on the road or being entertained at the classic American drive-in. Johnny Rockets anticipates some of the first prototypes to debut as early as Q4 2014.

For more information about Johnny Rockets Route 66 or to see renderings, visit www.johnnyrockets.com/Route66

Budget Gourmet

In this section of our Restaurant Insider, we profile some of the Great Restaurants of Las Vegas, and Great Deals on Meals. We update this section as new information becomes available, so check with us often for these deals and great meals.

Downtown Delights - From $2.50 to $13.99

The D: American Coney Island offers a great meal that includes either a hot dog or a hamburger along with fries and a drink for under $10. The D Grill, which replaced the buffet, also offers many meal options for under $10.

The Gold Coast: They have a Night Owl Steak and Lobster special for only $11.99. The meal comes with mashed or French fried potatoes or rice, plus your choice of either a house salad or soup. This special is available at the Cortez Room from 8:30 p.m. to closing. This special is also available at Billy Bob's Steakhouse at Sam's Town from 8 p.m. to closing. A beverage purchase is required.

The Gold Coast also has some of the lowest buffet prices in Las Vegas: Breakfast is only $5.99, lunch is just $7.99 and dinner, featuring prime rib, is just $9.99. Prices are for B Connected Player's Club members only, so be sure to sign up before going to the buffet.

Fremont Hotel and Casino: The Prime Rib buffet at is just $13.99. It's available on Sunday, Monday and Thursday nights. Also check out Lanai Express. They offer a 99-cent shrimp cocktail and a two-item Chinese combo that comes with chow mein and fried rice for only $6.99. Also at the Fremont, Tony Roma's offers an $11.99 steak and lobster dinner from 9-11 p.m. Dinner comes with a potato and veggie. There is also an $8.99 prime rib dinner special from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Main Street Station: New Buffet Specials. The Saturday and Sunday Champagne Brunch is just $10.99. T-Bone Tuesday is $13.99, and Steak and Scampi Thursday night is $13.99. Also check out the many-happy hour specials at the Triple 7 Brew Pub, all under $7. They include Korean short ribs for $5.99, Triple 7 wings for $6.99 and sirloin black bean chili for $5.99.

EL Cortez Hotel and Casino: Cafe Cortez has the great 24-hour $5 burger, potato chips and beer special.

Casino Royale: A footlong hot dog for $1.50 is available in the food court. And after you get your hot dog, head over to the main bar and get yourself a $1 beer. Not a bad combo for only $2.50 total.

Mermaids Casino and Bar: Located on Fremont Street, for only 99 cents you can get a chocolate covered banana, a Nathan's hot dog, a deep fried Twinkie or a deep fried Oreo. You can also get a $5.49 chicken slider meal that comes with fries and a drink. Mermaids also serves HUGE frozen daiquiris in souvenir glasses. Refills are half price.

Elsewhere in Las Vegas

Bahama Breeze, at 375 Hughes Center Drive, offers 20 entrees under $10 at lunch. The choices include six new rice bowls, sandwiches, burgers, tacos, meal size salads and more.

Silver Seven's: Formerly the Terrible's Hotel and Casino, every Sunday they offer a Play and Eat special. Earn just 300 points for a free breakfast or lunch buffet, or earn 600 points for a dinner buffet.

Ferraro's Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar, at 4408 Paradise Road now has "Love Your Lunch" specials priced at $9.95 per dish. Selections include penne parma (penne with cream, pancetta, green peas and parmigiano), salmone pesto (salmon with light basil pesto and cherry tomatoes) and chicken marinara (chicken breast in a stewed tomato sauce). All specials include a choice of a house salad or soup of the day.

On The Strip

Luxor Hotel & Casino: To celebrate the Jabbawockeez new show, PRiSM, Rice & Company and Tender Steak & Seafood at the Luxor are offering new dinner and show packages. Rice & Company's prix-fixe menu with show ticket includes an appetizer, main course and dessert, with prices starting at $101 per person. Tender also offers a three-course prix-fixe menu with show ticket, starting at $104 per person. All prices include taxes and tip.

Venetian - Palazzo: Rockhouse, inside the Grand Canal Shoppes, is introducing "Taco Tuesdays," with weekly day-long food and drink specials featuring $1.50 tacos. Choose from either chicken fajita, mahi mahi, and spicy sauteed shrimp.

Celebrity Chef - Rio and Paris, Las Vegas

Celebrity chef Steve Martorano, whose famed meatballs have been winning over fans for years at Rio LasVegas, will soon open a new restaurant at Paris LasVegas. It will sit in the space occupied by Le Provencal, in the hotel's Le Boulevard shopping and dining area.The restaurant will offer Italian-American fare and boast a large bar area. The new spot is expected to be reminiscent of Martorano's original restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Steve Martorano says,"Opening a second spot in Las Vegas lets even more hungry folks enjoy my food, my music and a good time." Menu items will include tried-and-true dishes that have made Martorano's at Rio so popular, such as the eggplant stack, South Philly cheesesteak and pasta dishes.

New in Las Vegas

Bally's Las Vegas is welcoming BLT Steak, which is set to open in early 2014. It will replace the legendary Bally's Steakhouse, a Las Vegas original, best known for its signature popovers-warm, airy golden Gruyere-laced dough puffs-served before every meal. These irresistible bites make it so hard to stop after one.The restaurant's "blackboard specials" highlight the best seasonal dishes incorporating local ingredients.

"BLTSteak is a restaurant that is known around the country for its quality food, commitment to service and inviting atmosphere," said Jeffrey Frederick, Caesars Entertainment regional vice president of food and beverage in Las Vegas. "We look forward to bringing a restaurant of this high caliber to Bally's guests and offering the first BLT Steak in LasVegas to the local community." The restaurant will feature rich wood finishes and neutral tones highlighted with amber, tangerine and stainless steel accents. The fireplace will be the dining room's centerpiece. BLT Steak joins Bally's revitalization which includes VERONIC Voices, Drai's After Hours and the Bally's South Tower renovation.

Harrah's Las Vegas: Carnaval Grill has opened next to the casino's race and sports book, with service at a walk-up window and a small seating area. Carnaval Grill also serves customers outside at the wildly popular Carnaval Court.The menu features hearty munchies, including items like street tacos (choose from adobo chicken, pulled pork or beef); chicken wings (from "Sticky Sweet" to "Give Up the Ghost"); potato skins and nachos. The menu also has sandwiches, burgers and dogs, with a few salads and wraps.

Cigars and Cognac

I don’t smoke, but even as a non-smoker there are times where I can appreciate a fine cigar, especially when it is combined with a classic, wonderful French cognac of good quality. When you visit the Monte Carlo in Las Vegas, be sure to check out the Cigar and Cognac Lounge, located just above Andre’s French restaurant. If you don’t know anything about great cognac, or cigars – don’t worry. The specialists and experts there will tell you which cognac goes best with which cigar. Then sit and enjoy, and mellow out.

This is the perfect end to a wonderful dinner at Andre’s. You can experience Andre’s French cuisine on the web, with a virtual tour, at this link: http://www.montecarlo.com/restaurants/andres.aspx

Bites at Bellagio

Triple A and 5-Diamond dining awaits you at Bellagio’s many restaurants. Partake in the Epicurean Epicenter where award-winning Chefs personally instruct you in the culinary arts, while three experiences sommeliers provide the perfect wine to accompany your dining selections.

Outdoor dining is available on the patio just in front of the famed Dancing Fountains, featuring fine cuisine from Picasso, created by the world-renowned culinary artistry of Chef Julian Serrano, presenting dishes from France and Spain.

Then there is the Prime Steakhouse, where Chef Jean-Georges Vongerich thrills your palate with delectable mouth-stimulating experiences of the finest beef in the world.

These are only a few of the fabulous selections of fine restaurants you will find at the Bellagio. You can visit the restaurants even if you are not a guest of the hotel, except for the Pool Café, which is available for hotel guests only. Reservations are highly recommended, and well in advance of your anticipated visit. Many of these restaurants can be booked solid for several weeks in advance, especially during the busy summer months, and over weekends ad holidays.

You can experience all of Bellagio’s great restaurants on the web, with a virtual tour, at this link:

http://www.bellagio.com/restaurants/

Happy dining!