Grand Café at Green Valley Ranch

By: Bob Gourley

I don’t know how many times my wife and I have been sitting around on a Saturday night wondering where to get dinner. We have many times wound up at the Grand Café at Green Valley Ranch Hotel and Casino.

There are many reasons why and topping the list is an expansive menu of food choices. The offerings remind me of upscale coffee shops, and the added benefit are the prices, low for just about everything.

You can get meals 24 hours a day and if you are arriving in the morning check out the Chilaquiles de Carnitas, a huge of plate of Mexican-style goodness. Corn tortillas, refried beans, pork carnitas, eggs, sour cream, avocado and salsa all come together in this one. And it is priced at $10.99.

---

Protein is on the docket when you order the Sirloin Steak and Eggs for $8.99. The meat is grilled with two eggs, hash browns and a piece of toast. For the healthy at heart, an acai bowl has mixed berries, kiwi, banana, toasted coconut, honey and peanut butter.

At lunch or dinner, a shrimp cocktail is embellished with signature sauce. Nachos are a combination of chips, zesty cheese sauce, black beans and tomatoes. A chicken cobb salad is everything you like about this Los Angeles creation with iceberg lettuce, grilled all-natural chicken, chives, Applewood smoked bacon and more.

Sandwiches are another area where the cafe soars. The Lux Turkey Club has triple-stacked meat, bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo. A combo with half a sandwich and a cup of soup or house salad is filling. Burgers are plentiful, a particular favorite is the offering with a generous turkey patty.

When it comes to entrees, the roasted prime rib is hard to beat. For $17.99 you get a generous slab (12 ounces) of meat, a baked potato and seasonal vegetables.

I see a lot of ribs on tables when I visit. These baby backs can be ordered half or a whole rack with BBQ beans and corn on the cob. At $10.99 and $14.99 they are a real bargain. Spaghetti and meatballs are awash with fresh marinara, basil and parmesan cheese.

Boarding Pass holders love to eat here because of the Blue Plate Specials that change from time- to-time. The recent slate includes Chicken Cordon Bleu on Mondays for $9.99.

Crispy-fried breast of chicken is stuffed with ham and swiss cheese. Mashed potatoes and vegetables are on the side. An all-American turkey dinner on Wednesdays includes traditional stuffing, mashed potatoes and stuffed vegetables.

Desserts are everywhere - and I mean that literally. For not only can you order off the menu, but a huge display counter of baked goodies is right by the check-out counter. There are giant cookies, pastries and other sweets that can be consumed at the table or taken home for a late-night snack or breakfast.

Wine prices are another part of the bargain theme. Murphy-Goode Fume Blanc is just $8.00 a glass and Cambria Benchbreak Chardonnay will not hurt your wallet at $10.00.

The next time you are at Green Valley stop in. You won’t be disappointed.

Grand Café, Green Valley Ranch Hotel and Casino, 2300 Paseo Verde Pkwy., Henderson. (702) 617-7777. www.greenvalleyranch.sclv.com.