JALEO BY JOSÉ ANDRÉS THE COSMOPOLITAN
For Spanish flavor with contemporary flair, you can’t do better than Jaleo, a stylishly casual eatery in The Cosmopolitan. Colorful and creative, this attractive venue knows how to get you in the mood for gustatory delights, with a large open-kitchen area where you can watch paella experts create their signature dish atop a large wood-burning grill (you can even sign-up for a paella class). Get ready for lots of tasty tapas, with much emphasis on jamón Ibérico made from acorn-fed beef in Spain. Refresh with wine and other liquid offerings served from a 25-ounce porrón, a pitcher designed for Spanish wine (but which you can use here for other favorites as well, including thirst-quenching, ice-cold sangria). Chef José Andrés has been named one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People” and an “Outstanding Chef” by the James Beard Foundation, in no small part due to his influence in popularizing small plates and molecular gastronomy. You’ll see what the hoopla is about when you dig into his patatas bravas, addictive potatoes with spicy tomato sauce and alioli. For an enjoyable overview of Spanish delicacies, consider the José Experience, a tasting menu with options like the cono de sobrasasada y queso (a cone of soft Spanish chorizo, goat cheese and local honey) and the sexily named bikini (toasted ham and jamón Serrano sandwich with spiced mustard alioli). 3708 Las Vegas Boulevard South. Tel: 877-893.2001. www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/restaurants/jaleo
Paella at Jaleo
OSCAR’S STEAKHOUSE PLAZA HOTEL & CASINO
If you’ve ever felt like enveloping yourself in the Las Vegas glamour that Sharon Stone’s and Robert DeNiro’s characters relished in the movie Casino, Oscar’s is the place to do it. In fact, this glitzy, retro-modern downtown venue actually served as a backdrop during one of the movie’s pivotal scenes. Named after former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, Oscar’s Steakhouse is set dramatically inside a giant, glass-enclosed pedestal at the Plaza Hotel & Casino, at the foot of Fremont Street. Long-time favorites like Joey C’s Filet Mignon and Johnny Quinn’s Crab Cake are still top choices, but a recently debuted new menu has upped the ante with an array of imaginatively named options, including Fat Herbie’s Wild Mushroom Soup, Big Chris’ Osso Bucco (with braised veal), and Nick & Cork’s Italian Market, which features Creminelli charcuterie from Utah, including freshly sliced salami, prosciutto, and capicola paired with domestic cheeses. Oscar’s has also revamped its cocktail menu, with new specialties including the Defendant (bourbon, Bauchant liqueur, lemon juice, simple syrup and bitters) and the Sazerac (rye whiskey, bitters, absinthe, and simple syrup) complementing long-standing drinks like The Hizzoner, made with Bombay Sapphire gin and jalapeño. If you’re planning a cultural night downtown, take note: The Plaza Hotel and Oscar’s offer a free shuttle service to The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, so you can easily combine a satisfyingly hearty dinner with a live performance. 1 Main Street. Tel. 702-386-7227. www.oscarslv.com
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