RUM, PIZZA, BURGERS. AND… CHICKEN PARM?!

The Starters

 ETR fave Ada's — boasting an impressive wine selection and the Arts District’s most enthusiastic sommelier, Kat Thomas — is known for its wonderful wine dinners. But they also have a full bar, which they’ll lean into July 23 when they host Spirits + Supper: A Rum Dinner Experience. The 5-course prix fixe dinner will feature food finely paired to rum from LV Distillery. With the rebirth of tiki bars, rum is having a moment, so consider this a perfect opportunity to enjoy a guided exploration of the spirit alongside the flavorful fare of chef Jackson Stamper.

Suddenly, sandwiches are stacking Las Vegas love. From cult faves like LA’s The Hat, to our very own Diamond Spur Provisions & Meats, Golden Boy Deli, and (our perennial under-sung hero) Panino, it seems everyone is craving a great ’wich, and the hype shows no sign of slowing. Rebellion Pizza — the New York-style pizzeria with two locations — is launching Rebellion Market next to its Henderson pizzeria. Some early “split-sandwich” shots on Instagram certainly look satisfying, but we’ll hold our thoughts until we sink our teeth into one of their creations.

Burgers are sandwiches, right? Irv’s Burgers (yet another LA transplant…) opens its third Las Vegas location ​July 9. Irv’s — an original smashburger spot that opened in 1946 along Rte. 66 — grinds beef daily and presses ​burgers to order on the grill. All three Las Vegas locations are in casinos (the new one at Green Valley Ranch), and all serve pastrami sandwiches  and hot dogs, plus a breakfast menu of burritos and egg sandwiches. 

 It’s hard to believe, but one of our favorite times of the year — the annual Las Vegas Pizza Festival — is on the calendar for November 14. And yes, we have already started our pre gorge-fest fast. Even though November may seem light-years away when it’s 108-F outside, the Industrial Event Space will soon be a cheesy wonderland of unlimited pizza tastings from the city's top pizzaiolas (Good Pie, Metro, Pizza Rock, Settebello, Solamente, and others), interactive experiences, photo ops, and festival merch. The lowest-priced ticket tier is already sold out, so grab your stretchiest pants and get tix today: vegaspizzafest.com.​Spilling the Tea

Did we inadvertantly trigger a New York Times investigation into the James Beard Awards? After our (well, John's) scathing critique of the selection of chef Sarah Thompson (of Wynn’s Casa Playa), we’re told the Times — which investigated the Awards in 2020, and again in 2023 — is considering another look at the process. Is pay-to-play going down? If so, is it hidden behind an apparently innocuous event-hosting grift, as John postulated? We’re confident the NYT will sniff it out…

Speaking of awards… Way back in 2004 (three years before the iPhone!), chef Alain Ducasse helmed the sexy and ornate Mix — a top-floor restaurant and lounge at THEhotel (don’t blame us). More than just a see-and-be-seen spot, Mix ​earned Michelin stars in 2008 and 2009. With its view, its crowd, and its notorious urinals overlooking the Strip, Mix was a hot ticket for a hot minute. But hot tickets eventually cool, so in 2015, after THEhotel rebranded as Delano Las Vegas, Mix became Skyfall Lounge. Now, after 11 years, it’s time for the sky to fall again. Sources suggest a July closing for a remodel and rebrand. It's hard to beat the view, so here’s hoping they can reignite the energy…

Pet Peeve of the Week

Drives me crazy when a single diner approaches busy bar seating and plops themselves right in the middle of three empty seats. Bonus points if they put a backpack, briefcase, purse, or shopping bag on an empty seat. Grrrr.

–JR

Order of the Week

Amari Chicken Parm​

Chef Nicole Brisson is back at Amari, and nowhere is her return more obvious than in a Chicken Parmesan that John would actually eat. (And enjoy!) A generous cut of breaded cutlet arrives under a blanket of melted mozzarella and a snowfall of Parmigiano, finished with bright house tomato sauce and fresh basil. It’s a winning version of an Italian-American classic that reminds you a James Beard semifinalist is back in the kitchen