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.

Burgers and ice cream go together like cream and sugar. One of the newer burger palaces is located near Anthem in Henderson, Burger Joint. It sits in an Eastern Avenue strip mall and you have to look closely to find it, but don’t hesitate to make the search.
 
Each burger is made with certified black Angus beef that is organic, grass-fed and brought in from Eugene, Oregon. Chicken is hauled west from Englewood, Colorado and is all natural. Even the buns are specially baked in a local artisanal bakery to their rigid standards.
    
The Classic burger includes the usual toppings plus white American cheese and secret sauce. I sampled the Bleu Cheese offering that was cooked to perfection. 

By: Bob Gourley
 
Psst Buddy! I know a great speakeasy where you can hang out, enjoy some traditional Italian cuisine and even listen to live music. Capo’s Speakeasy is a tribute to those mobster hangouts that were part of the Vegas landscape before the corporations took over.
 
In order to enter, you first have to push a doorbell alerting the staff. Then a well-dressed individual will open a small window and ask you for the password.
 
Once inside, you will no doubt sit at one the red leather booths that are part of the nostalgia theme.

By: Bob Gourley
   
Nora’s is one of those places just about anyone who has lived in the valley for any length of time has an opinion about. Those who visited the old location in the small mini-mall on Flamingo would inevitability tell tales of trying to find a place to park and then afterward waiting for a long time for a seat.
    
But now that Nora’s is sitting in a brand-new building with a ton of parking, opinions are even more positive than ever. The new digs will remind you of an Italian villa in Tuscany.