Ryan Perras is managing one of the city’s hidden gems. Tucked away off the casino floor of Palace Station (just a few minutes off the Strip), you’ll discover Little Tony’s. The Italian restaurant comes from world pizza champion and restaurateur Tony Gemignani and his Pizza Rock brand, a popular locals favorite. Perras worked for the company when they opened their first Vegas restaurant downtown. “I fell in love with the brand, the company,” said restaurant manager Perras. “The product is amazing.”
Now Perras helps head up the Little Tony’s outpost, where the same delicious pizza is served, but the gem here is the huge selection of whisky and bourbon. “When we opened the place up, we wanted to have an extensive collection,” Perras explained. “Some of the whiskies you’re not going to see anywhere else in town.” And Perras should know. A longtime Las Vegas resident (born in El Paso, but moved here from Alaska) Perras has worked in the food and beverage industry for more than a decade.
When Little Tony’s opened, he said, he wanted to make the place even more special by offering an extensive cocktail program. Guests can make their own Old-Fashioned, get cocktails and beer on draft and try Prohibition era-style and specialty cocktails. But the focus is on whisky and bourbon, Perras said.
“We have four different styles of Pappy Van Winkle, Japanese whiskies, different scotches from different regions, different bourbons from different areas and distillers, seven styles of scotch—some are smokier, heavier, fiery, mellow, some taste of vanilla,” Perras said. “All of the things you could possibly think of, we tried to plug in, so that we could have something for everyone.”
The Saint
The Saint
For a taste of Little Tony’s signature cocktails try a favorite, The Saint. The crisp-tasting libation mixes Hendrick’s gin, St-Germain elderflower liqueur, fresh-squeezed lime juice, Angostura bitters, fresh mint leaves that have been double strained, and splash of Crabbie’s ginger beer and Fernet-Branca. If you’ve come for the whiskey or bourbon, be prepared to peruse a big menu, and feel free to ask for guidance. Some labels from the well-rounded list include: Eagle Rare 17-year, Knob Creek Single Barrel, Lock Stock & Barrel Rye. Suntory Hakushu Single Malt 18-year and Redbreast.
