By: Bob Gourley
 
It almost feels like Zorba the Greek should be entering the building. The feel and food at Meraki Greek Grill is authentic and delicious. Nestled into a busy shopping mall, the place is often crowded with folks on their way to Summerlin and surrounding areas.
    
Of course, you can find a fitting Hummus on the appetizer list with a mix of garbanzo beans, tahini and lemon. But there are some other more exotic tastes like Tirokafteri made with Greek feta cheese and spicy roasted peppers. For those who like to experiment with different spreads you can order a sampling plate with pita.

By: Bob Gourley
 
A lot of folks love breakfast anytime of the day. And that is one of the main draws at The Pantry inside the Mirage Hotel and Casino.
 
In fact, the menu is laden with so many choices you could visit several times a day and not order everything. This is an open and cheery place with a dining area that is awash in white and earth tones plus a bar area for a casual cocktail before seeing one of the shows like Terry Fator or Matt Goss. The emphasis is on American comfort food items made from the freshest ingredients available.

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.

By: Bob Gourley
 
Many of us like sameness, especially when it comes to dining out. I’m guilty of it too going to the same restaurants and ordering the same things.
 
It is great to try new places and dishes and there are times when you have to. On New Year’s Eve, my wife and I were headed to our favorite Mexican restaurant. We arrived and found that it was closed.
 
We continued down the road and saw a sign for a place we had not heard about or seen reviewed: Macayo’s on Charleston. I’m sure there are many of you who not only know the place but love it, but it was a first for us.

By: Bob Gourley
 
Nevada may not be known for its wineries but we are blessed with a great one in nearby Pahrump. The Pahrump Valley Winery is a gem just 60 miles away. Not only will you find a nice variety of award-winning wines but they also have a restaurant that is “note” worthy.
  
Symphony’s splendid views of the estate vineyards are available in a large atrium that soothes the soul. Both lunch and dinner are served with white linen table clothes and a pleasant ambiance.

By: Bob Gourley
 
The LINQ is full of unique places to dine but until recently there was no BBQ. That has changed with the opening of Virgil’s Real BBQ. This is the newest location of a small chain that also has outposts at Times Square in New York and at Atlantis in the Bahamas.
   
 “Real BBQ” means different things to different folks but the menu at Virgil’s should toe the line for smoked-flavor fans. On a recent visit, not everything was perfect but for the most part if you know what to order you will enjoy not only a good meal but the live music that accents the experience well.

By: Bob Gourley
 
Prime rib has been a staple of Vegas diners since the early days. Billboards of juicy meat was a great temptation for those making the trek across the desert on Interstate 15 and was also used as a low-price lure to get travelers into the casinos.
     
But the great distance between bargain beef and high-end meat is a large one. Quality is certainly the number one concern for the management at Lawry’s The Prime Rib. For not only will you find some of the most succulent beef you have ever tasted, but the entire experience is unique. You won’t find anything like this anywhere else.

By: Bob Gourley
 
Destination restaurants dot the landscape of the dining scene in the valley. Those are the places that are great for special occasions like anniversaries, birthdays and wedding dinners.
    
Milos at the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Casino fits the bill as a destination place, but their prefix lunch menu makes it possible to dine there often without breaking the budget. The emphasis is on gourmet Mediterranean food and not only is it a comfortable place to enjoy a meal, but there is a lot of eye candy while you are waiting.