Flavorful Fish and Chips and More: Village Pub

By: Bob Gourley
 
The Vegas valley might be located in the desert, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have some of the best fish and chips anywhere.
 
The folks at Village Pub, with several locations in the area, have been serving up their version for the past 40 years. They are also a favorite at Ellis Island Casino just off the strip.
     
What makes them so good? First of all, they use Icelandic cod, not Pollock as some do. Then they immerse them in beer batter made from their signature handcrafted brew.

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Seasoned steak fries are included along with homemade tartar sauce and lemon wedges. It is a bargain at $9.99. In fact, I dare anyone to find one as good for the price anywhere.
     
Most locations also serve up smoked ribs that are equally as good as the fish and chips. They are slow smoked and fall off the bone.
     
The large menu is full of American favorites with a few other options to spice things up. The Village Pub Pot Pie is baked to order and is filled with white meat chicken and fresh vegetables cooked in rich, creamy gravy encased in a flaky pastry crust.
    
Other specialties of the house include chicken fried steak. A pork cutlet is hand-breaded and fried to a golden brown. Also on the plate is freshly-made country sausage gravy, garlic mashed potatoes and sautéed vegetables.
    
Pasta is nicely represented with the perennial favorite - chicken parmesan. And the 8-ounce chicken breast is covered with seasoned bread crumbs smothered in marinara sauce and Italian cheese blend.
 
Linguini is a fitting plate-mate. Baked penne pasta is made with sun-dried tomato cream sauce and Italian cheeses.
    
Half a dozen burger choices will satisfy your craving for beef. The Smokehouse is a half-pound of meat goodness that also has cheddar, crispy bacon, onion rings and lettuce doused with BBQ sauce sitting inside a sesame bun.
    
For dessert why not indulge with a root beer float made with Ellis Island handcrafted root beer and French vanilla ice cream? A warm brownie topped with ice cream and all of the fixings is another option.
   
Dinner specials are the norm with entrees like corned beef, prime rib and turkey featured on different days of the week.
Breakfast is served daily until 2:00 pm. One of the best deals in town is two eggs cooked any style with breakfast potatoes and toast for just 3.99.
 
Corned beef hash is a throwback to the past. This selection includes two eggs and a choice of crispy breakfast potatoes or sweet potato tots.
 
Golden brown buttermilk pancakes are a tasty pick along with cinnamon vanilla French toast. The order is made with two slices of thick-cut Texas toast dipped in cinnamon vanilla egg batter topped with powdered sugar and syrup.
 
There is also a country edition of eggs benedict made with two buttermilk biscuits, sausage patties, two eggs and country sausage gravy.
   
Good food and affordable prices go hand-in-hand at Village Pub.
   
Village Pub, various locations throughout the valley, open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. www.villagepubcasino.com.