Oscar Goodman is heavily woven into the fabric of Las Vegas history. As a defense attorney, Goodman represented some of the most notorious crime figures in history, including Meyer Lansky, Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal and Anthony “Tony the Ant” Spilotro. (Goodman even played an attorney in the 1995 Martin Scorsese movie Casino, defending a character loosely based on Rosenthal.)
He was also mayor of Las Vegas from 1999 to 2011, during which time he also became a spokesperson for Bombay Sapphire gin. (In an unforgettable moment, when speaking to an elementary school class, he was asked what he would want if stranded on a desert island. His answer: “Gin.”)
In a way, Oscar’s Steakhouse is a perfect reflection of everything this man is: It’s got plenty of old-school charm, it celebrates gin cocktails, and many of its menu items are named after mob figures. Oh, one more thing: It’s absolutely unforgettable.
Your experience starts with the destination itself, inside the Plaza’s iconic glass dome. The immaculately appointed room is extremely welcoming; You really want to spend time here just enjoying the vibe. And with signature cocktails like the Q 1908, made with Empress gin and fresh lemon, and the Hizzoner, made with Bombay Sapphire gin (and more Bombay Sapphire!) and a slice of jalapeño, that’s easily accomplished.
With your taste buds awakened, time to dig into some of Oscar’s cleverly named appetizers like Johnny Quinn’s crab cake, served with stone-ground mustard and citrus remoulade, Crazy Phil’s Gruyère-topped onion soup and No Nose’s mob meatballs, smothered with house-made ricotta, Parmesan and basil.
Then you’re ready to murder an entrée (or two). We personally recommend the braised short rib “Rossini,” served with celery root, horseradish and heirloom carrots, Oscar’s Black Angus burger, on toasted brioche with American cheese and “Plaza” sauce, and Skuna Bay salmon, topped with Romesco sauce. Accompany any of these with Sheriff Ralph’s mashed potatoes, thick-cut fries or crispy Brussels sprouts.
And you shouldn’t skip dessert
here! The deep-dish chocolate cookie is our personal favorite, but you can’t go wrong with classics like crème brûlée, New York-style cheesecake and carrot cake.
Plaza. 702.386.7227. plazahotelcasino.com
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