Carson Kitchen

Anyone who’s been to Vegas knows it’s consisted of 3 parts…technically 4 if you consider Henderson in the mix. There’s the all and might Las Vegas Blvd Strip, Downtown, The other 2 million of us who actually live here (no, not in hotels on the strip) and previously mentioned Henderson. I’m a man of the people but when it comes to Vegas Downtown always has a special place in my hear and now…my belly.

Downtown is where locals and tourists can go to get hammered and drink tall boys without being bombarded by club promoters and those guys that flick the stripper cards at you and try to put them n your hand (because that works). Downtown almost went through extinction before the downtown revitalization project picked up and changed the way we see it. Not only did the properties and venues become cleaner, friendly and more local, but the food followed as well. I may be wrong, but in my humble opinion it all started with Chef Kerry Simon and Carson Kitchen.

I was able to visit last year earlier on in the restaurants life. During the meal the likes of Holly Madison and husband Pasquale Rotella dined with their daughter Aurora like it was no big deal. A listers? No. Big Deals for one of Vegas’ best-kept secrets? Absolutely. I don’t get star struck, this was no exception. What really blew my mind was the food.

This is no sandwich shop (although you can order them), this restaurant has a little but of everything and then some. It very Tapas-esque in the sense that they have a lot of small dishes to share with the addition of about ten main course entrees for you not to share. And I promise you, you will not want to share. I won’t even get into the drinks because that would take a whole other article and ain’t nobody got time fo dat. But I will say you can get a Miller Lite tall boy with your meal….Get the Miller Lite tall boy with your meal.

For starters, order the chicken skins. Its one of those gluttonous, semi-expectable moments where you can binge out on something you’ve always loved but knew was bad for you, just in a chip form. And you can dip them in chipotle honey. It was voted “Best New Bacon” for a reason…Whatever the fuck that means… My most resent trip was with friends so we ordered the menu. literally. The top winners would be the Killer Shrimp made with Ricotto pepper cream sauce and Thai chilies. Gives you that creamy sweet with the after thought a heat you will need more of. I also wont talk to you ever again if you don’t at least try the Bacon Jam and/or the Crab fondue. What’s that Tony? Bacon Jam? You misspoke right? You can preserve bacon, that’s not possible. Is this 21 questions? Is this real life? Is this going to last forever? No! And neither wills either of the 2 previously mentioned food items if you end up there with friends.

When It comes to the main course I promise you will NEVER go wrong with the Black Rice & Oxtail Risotto. There’s nothing like it. The black rice is (what’s a nice word for pleasantly gritty?) cooked to perfection each time I’ve had it. It doesn’t stop there. They braise and ox tail and sauté it with the parmesan cream sauce. When it comes to you, your primal instincts kick in. You’ll want to use your hands but you cant. You need a fork…or a spoon. Whatever gets in your mouth the quickest. The other table consensus winner was the Baked Mac and Cheese because that shit cray…Ain’t it Jay?...What she orders…? Dat Mac and Chay-za? In all seriousness, this is the best mac and cheese my lips have ever graced. I’m assuming butter and massive amounts of cheddars and cream were used in the making but it is also baked in their wood fire over sooo…..Creamy, creamy, cream, did I mention creamy? I know well enough to know that mac and cheese is no culinary feat but this one crosses that boarder. I’m assuming the whole reason why the menu lists it as a “secret” is because we don’t even want to know how many glorious calories it contains. But I’ll let you in on a secret, once it’s in your mouth, you won’t care…That’s what she said?...Kind of…? Never mind.

Honorable menu mention (it’s seasonal) the Fried Green Tomato Sandwich. I wish it was a year round menu, but that only adds to the appeal.