With the advent of reality television came a generation of celebrity chefs. Many of those chefs built empires in Las Vegas, and all continue to do well on reality TV. But few have been as purely fun to watch as Guy Fieri. He’ll never be mistaken for a Michelin-starred chef, true, but Fieri has figured out something very valuable over his years on such shows as Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Guy’s Grocery Games and Guy’s Ranch Kitchen: When it comes to restaurants, go big or go home. Given his massive success, it’s likely Fieri will be homesick for some time to come.
His philosophy is on full display at Guy Fieri’s Vegas Kitchen & Bar at The Linq Hotel, where flavor is the main ingredient on a menu that truly has something for everyone. There’s plenty of barbecue, sure; likewise with Mexican food and piled-to-the-sky burgers. But you’ll also find Thai and Japanese influences here, a clear by-product of Fieri’s worldwide travels and discoveries.
Hail Mary, Bloody Mary
Before you get started though, you have to order a cocktail, and there’s no better “everything but the kitchen sink”-type of Guy Fieri experience than the Hail Mary, Bloody Mary, packed so full of food it could practically serve as your meal—bacon, sausage and Guy’s Fries fight for space with jalapeños, pickles, pepperoncinis, olives, lemons and lime. If this doesn’t prepare you for the flavorful delights to come, nothing will.
Appetizers are ideal for sharing, although you may want the whole plate of Tuna Poke Won-Tacos, chock-full of sashimi-grade tuna, a mango-jicama salsa and seaweed salad, for yourself. Ditto with the tempura-battered lobster lollipops, served with SMC (super melty cheese) fries coated with roasted garlic and lemon aioli. SMC also pops up in Trash Can Nachos, a Vegas favorite with house-smoked pork, as well as chipotle barbecue sauce.
By the way, if you’re a vegetarian, you needn’t shy away. Yes, there are beef bombs like the award-winning Bacon Mac ’N’ Cheese Burger, piled with applewood bacon, six-cheese macaroni and cheese, SMC (of course!) and onion straws, but there are also healthier options like Morgan’s Veggie Burger, made with black and white beans, jalapeños, oats, garlic, chickpeas, black olives, red bell peppers and artichoke hearts.
The “Big Eat” section of the menu is designed to fill you to the brim, highlighted by lobster tacos, tequila/lime-marinated lobster tail topped with mango-radish slaw, salsa verde and pink chili mayonnaise.
What? You actually have room for dessert? Good on you, because finishing one of these at the end of a Guy Fieri meal will earn you some serious bragging rights. If you’re hardcore, The Cheesecake Challenge dares you to dust off an entire half of New York-style cheesecake piled with pretzels, hot fudge and potato chips. For something slightly less daring (and for those who are 21-plus), the Seven-Layer Dark Chocolate Whiskey Cake is exactly what it sounds like, covered in rich frosting, whiskey créme anglaise and salted whiskey caramel sauce.
The Linq Hotel, 702.794.3139
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