As has been glamorized in such movies as Casino and Bugsy, Las Vegas was a much different town when the mob was involved. (Some would say it was a much better time!) And while that chapter in our history may be firmly closed, you can still go back in time and revel in the history of mobbed-up Vegas at Bugsy & Meyer’s Steakhouse, as much a great restaurant as it is a great tribute to a bygone era.
The entrance to the venue is actually the “back way,” in the form of a faux bakery (the way gangsters used to enter restaurants back in the day), which leads to a variety of sights—a see-through kitchen where you can see desserts being prepared or meats aging, archival photos of Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky, a raw bar, and a vast dining area that has a ’20s and ’30s vibe thanks to designer Jonathan Adler, with retro touches like a custom beaded flamingo piece (which reportedly took nearly 100 hours to create). If you ever wanted to get that speakeasy feel, this is the place to be.
Speaking of which, a great experience has been made even greater with the addition of The Count Room Live, a new speakeasy-style entertainment experience that will feature a fun mix of live “Prohibition pop” performances by The Moonshiners from 8-11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings, as well as a build-your-own Old-Fashioned beverage cart (choose your spirit).
These Old-Fashioned explorations are also available in the main dining room, as well as many other libations, such as the Bramble On, a delicious blend of Hendrick’s midsummer solstice gin, lemon juice, Tattersall blueberry liqueur, Angostura bitters and apple chip. It’s a great way to prepare your palate for the meal ahead.
Classic steakhouse staples abound on the appetizer menu, from a seafood tower that goes on forever with Maine lobster, Alaskan king crab, poached shrimp and East and West coast oyster selections, to 17th century onion soup smothered in Gruyère gratin. A true highlight here is the hand-cut prime beef tartare, one of the best examples of this staple that we’ve encountered on the Strip, amplified by truffle crème fraîche and served with pan-toasted country bread. Please share!
The steaks range from wet-aged to dry-aged and hit every popular cut, from filet mignon and prime bone-in ribeye to tomahawk ribeye. Other great main courses include free-range roasted chicken, domestic lamb chops, pan-seared Scottish salmon and seared diver scallops. Sides are, as you would expect, all the classics, from Brussels sprouts and sautéed onions to potato gratin and asparagus, but if you want to go a bit fancier, try signature sides like truffle potato purée, truffle Parmesan fries and lobster mac and cheese.
There are plenty of great desserts, but we highly recommend one of the most unique on the Strip, Single Barrel. Caramel mousse is combined with date cake, toasted pecans and vanilla gelato, accompanied by warm salted caramel whiskey. Like the restaurant itself, this dessert is memorable and one you’ll be telling all your friends about.
Flamingo, 702.733.3111
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