Las Vegas does cafés and diners right
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If you are like me, there’s something about getting a menu as long as your arm that gives you a thrill. And the counter! Having your server sliding your plate under your nose is so nice. Vegas really does cafés and diners right, although you’ll find that each has a slightly different twist.
When Sadelle’s Cafe (Bellagio, 702.693.7356) was introduced in Vegas, it was to much anticipation from fans of the New York restaurant. The bagel is king here, and you’ll find it all over the menu, in the place of the ubiquitous toast, and the recipe for those bagels was painstakingly developed from the original restaurant’s signature item. And with windows looking over the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, the location is hard to beat.
One of the most striking cafés in Vegas, The Kitchen (Resorts World, 702.676.6963), looks like a high-end restaurant, with a nod to midcentury modern design. Dishes are based off classic café items, granted with a high-end touch, with N.Y. steak and eggs; veggie frittatas; nachos, burgers and chicken, plus a buffet for breakfast and weekend brunch.
Over at The Pantry (The Mirage, 702.791.7531), breakfast is served all day, and you’ll want to order a fluffy stack of Pop’s buttermilk pancakes. It’s a signature item, available in three varieties, and is just delicious. White chocolate brioche French toast and Belgian raised waffles round out that section. And that diner classic, the grilled cheese sandwich, can be ordered with roasted tomato soup for dipping.
If you want to go big, go to Hash House a GoGo, which has several Vegas locations (Rio, 702.777.2761, Plaza, 702.386.2594, and The Linq, 702.254.4646). And big is the best descriptor for the “twisted farm food” you’ll find here; many of the dishes come with a steak knife keeping it all together. Best bets are the sage fried chicken and waffles and the Tractor Driver Combo, which comes with eggs, protein, or potatoes and one buttermilk flapjack. That “one” is almighty huge. And I always order mac and cheese with a massive side of taters.
Café Hollywood (Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, 702.732.1222) has movie memorabilia scattered about and a menu sourced from a bunch of different cuisines (chicken tenders with Creole dipping sauce, pork belly ramen, tempura shrimp and plenty of burgers, plus croissants that are soaked in crème brûlée batter).
Actually, French toast is a pretty big item on most café menus, and Zeffer’s Café (Sahara Las Vegas, saharalasvegas.com) recently added Grand Marnier French toast, with berries, candied orange and Grand Marnier whipped mascarpone. They also added avocado toast, and that’s honestly something every café should stock. This version is given extra panache with green goddess dressing, daikon sprouts and togarashi seasoning. Celebrity chef Alicia Shevetone will be hosting a pop-up six-course dinner on Sept. 16, so if you are making a return Vegas trip, it would be worth it to book this now.
For a more Italian feel to your meal, Zeppola Cafe (The Venetian, zeppolacafe.com) recently opened with goodies like ricotta pancakes, arancino Siciliano with San Marzano sauce and a variety of Italian pastries based on family recipes (the Biamonte family first opened a N.Y. bakery during the pandemic). For sheer number of choices, pop into the Grand Lux Café (The Venetian, 702.414.3888, and The Palazzo, 702.733.7411), a sister chain of The Cheesecake Factory. The menu is the same at both locations, and I’m partial to The Palazzo location. It’s hard to go wrong with anything you order, but the Asian chicken nachos are phenomenal (I love them without chicken), and the Specials Card has great limited-time options. On that menu, order General Tso’s cauliflower, which is incredible (I ate an entire dish of these without sharing!). They also have brunch items like the chilaquiles, which are smothered in cheese, eggs and black beans.
You may not always find $1.99 ham and eggs, but you are certain to find a lot to love at Vegas’ cafés.
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