Buca di Beppo – Las Vegas, NV

Since today is my birthday I thought I’d kind of focus the restaurant around my favorite type of food.  I absolutely LOVE Italian Cuisine. Pasta, love it.  Bread, love it.  Sadly it loves me too and as I’m getting older I’ve noticed my metabolism getting WORSE.  Come back my 20-year-old Metabolism!  Anyway besides the point!
The first time my mom took me to Las Vegas we ate at a restaurant called Buca di Beppo.  This is served family-style, meaning, one dish will feed 2-3 people.  Heck yeah, :).

Now the first time we went, we ate at the one on 412 East Flamingo Road.  It was near the hotel we stayed at which was just a few short blocks off the strip.

Lucky for you and me there are 2 locations in Las Vegas.  We ate at the one located at the Excalibur on the Strip this particular visit.

  • Hours:
    Sun – Thurs: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
    Fri & Sat: 11 a.m. – midnight
  • Happy Hours:
    Available Daily from:
    2 p.m. – 6 p.m. & 9 p.m. – close
    $5 quick bites
    $5 cocktails & import beers
    $3 domestic beers

(more…)

Grand Lux Cafe – Las Vegas, NV

While we were out in Vegas, we looked for Emeril’s restaurant.  Long story short, I will NEVER go to that Sports bar to eat, ever.  I had a horrible experience.  If you’d like I’d be more than happy to share my experience, but if not, I won’t bore you!

So we left there (without eating) and wound up at the Grand Lux Cafe which is a sister company to The Cheesecake Factory.  It is located in the Venetian Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

I kind of had my heart set on one entree, however, when I saw this Margarita Pizza, I was sold.  And boy was it yummy!
Margherita
With Fresh Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella (more…)

Maggiano’s Little Italy – Las Vegas

**Pulled off my Recipe Blog**

As I mentioned in a few previous posts, we recently went to Las Vegas.  It was such a great treat to get away from the everyday bump and grind of daily life.

Every now and again, hubby and I come up with gift cards to different places.  One of the places we came up with a gift card to was Maggiano’s Little Italy.  We didn’t know what it was, neither of us had ever eaten there, however Italian food, I’m in!  It just so happened to be in the Fashion Show Mall right next door to Treasure Island where we were staying.  If you’ve never been to Vegas, a lot of the larger intersections have crossing bridges.  You either go up via escalator, stairs, or elevator, cross the intersection above, and then go back down to the street sidewalks.  This place just happened to have a cross intersection right there from TI to Fashion Show Mall.

Again, I didn’t think to do restaurant reviews until after I ate here so here is their storefront via their website.

You’ve also seen me mention before that when we try new places, hubby and I try to get different things.  We both almost ordered the Chicken Parm but decided on different things.  My other option was the Fettuccine Alfredo, but Hubby decided on Chicken Marsala and I went with the Chicken Parmesan.  We both love Chicken Parm and think the best is at Zio’s, so we had to see how this compared.  I’ll tell you, it was fabulous dawling!  It compared!

(more…)

Serendipity III {Las Vegas} & Frrrozen Hot Chocolate

Do you remember the 2001 Romantic Comedy Serendipity starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale?  Well back in 2005 for my college graduation present from my mom, she took me to New York City.  One place on my must-see list was Serendipity III.

 

Do you remember that Frozen Hot Chocolate they ate/drank in the movie?  I wanted to try one of those so badly!!!

A few years ago I googled on the internet trying to find that fabulous Frrrozen Hot Chocolate recipe when I stumbled across this cookbook that had the recipe in it. (more…)

Canter’s Delicatessen – Las Vegas

My mom’s job takes her all over the US and really the world.  She’s traveled abroad to Canada, Mexico, Brazil, England, Germany & China along with many states here in the US.  With that being said, she’s eaten at a lot of good and not so good restaurants along the way.
When I started dating my husband in 2009, mom found out he loved Ruben Sandwiches.  Since then, anytime she would go to Las Vegas she was always talking about the Ruben’s at Canter’s Deli and telling my husband he needed to go there someday and try them.

via

(more…)

Milo’s Cellar – Boulder City, NV

Recently my husband and I went to Las Vegas for a short getaway. He’d never been and the last time I was out there I was 20, 2 months before I turned 21. Truthfully, it was about the same time of year even almost down to the weekend, but not quite. In 2003 I was there the weekend before finals for a day and a half.  This time it was the week following finals and we were there a bit longer.

I’m pleased to say we did absolutely nothing.  Ok maybe that’s partially a lie, we saw a show, Jubilee at Bally’s, one of the last true Las Vegas-style shows.  We ate, we lounged by the pool, we walked everywhere. And did I mention we ate?  I always said if I ever made it back out to Vegas I WAS going to Hoover Dam, don’t worry we went.  And did I mention we ate?

I’m so glad we walked everywhere or else I would have gained 15 lbs I swear.  One of my biggest complaints about Vegas {and really it’s only minor} is they don’t know what Sweet Tea is.  Someone from the South, please move there and inform them – Stat!

Otherwise, it was a very relaxing trip.  On Friday while we were out there, we got a rental car (get this for $1, what a deal!) and headed for Hoover Dam.  I plugged the directions into my iPhone and it took us through this cute little town of Boulder City.  If you’ve ever seen the movie Cars, it reminds me a lot of their town. I know there had to be an interstate somewhere to bypass the town but I’m so glad that the directions took us through this town.

On our way back to Vegas from Hoover Dam, we knew we had seen a cute little restaurant in Boulder City so we made it a point to go back and try some “local” food.  It wasn’t on the Vegas Strip, it had to be local, right?!

Milo’s Cellar Sidewalk Cafe, Wine Bar & Retail Liquor was the cute little cafe.

Sadly I didn’t think to do restaurant reviews until after I was home from my trip so I got this photo via their website.

The food was outstanding.  They open at 11 am.  We were there during lunch so we went for the sandwiches. Here’s what we ordered: {Oh I might mention my mom was out there for work so she was able to join us!! That’s why 3 entrees :)}

(more…)

My Newest Addiction

Do you remember back in November when I went on the Showboat Branson Belle?

Well, one of the options they served for dinner was coffee.  I am not (or should say wasn’t) a coffee drinker, but something told me to try it.  I absolutely love the smell, but the taste wasn’t my friend.  Anyway long story short, it was included in the meal, I got some just cause, hubby did too, and now, we’re coffee drinkers.

So this last week while I was living it up (also known as relaxing after a stressful semester) I got the chance to try……

Starbucks

Ok so a few years ago at Christmas time I had an Egg Nog Latte, but… now that I’m a “coffee drinker” I wanted to try Starbucks.

(more…)