Restaurant News
Urban Grill hails itself as “upscale but casual” and it seems an apt description. Located at 9510 S. Eastern in Las Vegas, the large free-standing building sits near the street but within a large shopping plaza that contains a Big-Five store, Budget Rental Car office and a BJ Brewhouse restaurant. While somewhat incongruous that a fine dining establishment would locate here, the venue does allow for plenty of parking, and makes for easy access.
Once entering, guests will find four distinct areas: A glassed out private dining area on the right, available for private parties, a nice patio for alfresco meals, the main dining room, and further on, an attractive bar with a soaring ceiling and several television sets.
The bar area has a very roomy long bar, booths and even some stadium seating, making it somewhat unique and a perfect place for watching various sporting events on the three large televisions set above the bar. It’s a little reminiscent of a scaled-down version of Emeril Lagasse’s sports bar at the Palazzo. One important distinction is that Emeril Lagasse usually has a sizable cover charge and packed crowds for any significant sporting event, while Urban Grill has plenty of room without a cover. Another important difference: Urban Grill usually mutes the sound of the televisions in deference to diners. Occasionally, for important sporting events and more often during the day, Urban Grill will turn on the volume.
Style with affordability: Twin Creeks Steakhouse & the Urban Grill...
Located in the Silverton Casino Hotel at 3333 Blue Diamond Road, the Twin Creeks Steakhouse provides diners with Las Vegas Strip style ambience and culinary adventure, save with more realistic prices.
Step from the casino floor through Twin Creeks double doors and you immediately have the feeling that you’re in a special place. An inviting bar and lounge area awaits patrons. This area has an attractive long bar, high top tables and plush booths. Seductive, low lighting adds a feel of intimacy to the room. It makes for a great place to savor cocktails or appetizers before dinner. The bar/lounge area has full service in case you’re too comfortable to move into the main dining room.
The lounge opens up into a large main dining area, which continues the romantic mood. A somewhat stunning, decorative rock wall, lit by rotating colors, creates a unique and lovely backdrop. Flower arrangements, candles and paintings help instill elegance.
Urban Grill’s long bar...
Subtle mood lighting and lots of wood trim that adds a sense of intimacy to the main dining room. There is also a view of the kitchen through a thick glass that allows for viewing but insulates noise of the food preparation from the guests enjoying a meal.
The menu offers a diverse selection of items that should provide something delectable for almost any taste. Entrée meat offerings include Korean spare ribs, bourbon ribeye, filet mignon, apricot glazed pork chop, buttermilk fried chicken and rosemary chicken, ranging in price from $17.00-$28.00. They also list seared Pacific salmon and pistachio crusted sea bass as fish entrées. All the aforementioned dishes come with interesting side dishes. Three different pasta entrées rounds out the main course meals.
For lighter fare, Urban Grill has six different salads priced at $10..0-$13.00, and eleven different creative appetizers priced between $9.00-$11.00. Some of those appetizers include jumbo crab cakes, crispy asparagus rolls, pork lettuce raps, street tacos, pork sliders and Mandarin chicken wings. Some appetizers and well cocktails are discounted during happy hour, which runs 5-7 pm and then again from 9 until closing time daily.
The ownership loves wine, and this passion has encouraged the creation of an eclectic wine list that allows diners to select reasonably priced wines that pair well with the food menu. The wine list contains mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc, but also has some bottles of Syrah, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Chianti and Pinot Gris. Bottles begin at $30.00 for a Chardonnay and run up to $95.00 for a bottle of Veuve Cliquot. The Cabernet Sauvignon averages around $55.00 per bottle. Urban Grill also serves 14 different wines by the glass, ranging in price from $8.00-$14.00. As a consideration to wine lovers, they encourage carry-in bottles by charging a mere $15.00 corkage fee. Compare this to Strip establishment, which routinely charge $35.00-$50.00 for this accommodation.
The restaurant opens its doors daily for lunch and dinner. Lunch seems like a rea bargain, with most dishes going for $10.00 or less. Occasionally, Urban Grill will feature live entertainment. This usually occurs on the weekends, and can range from a live singer in the dining room to salsa dancing in the glassed out dining room area. Check with the restaurant to ascertain upcoming events. For reservations or further information, call Urban Grill (702)432-3200, or go to their website at www.urbangrilllv.com.
Twin Creeks Steakhouse in the Silverado Hotel & Casino...
The decorative wall in the main dining room...
The main dining room...
For starters Twin Creeks has a nice selection of creative appetizers ranging in price from $12.00-$16.00. Appetizers and certain cocktails are discounted 50% during happy hour, which runs from 8-10 pm. Some of my favorite appetizers include seared the ahi tuna, pan seared scallops, mushroom ravioli and crab cakes.
The bar and lounge area...
Twin Creeks prides itself on its steak and seafood, and the menu offers a good variety of both. One may order from the “Classics” selection, which includes an entrée, bread, and choice of two side dishes, or from the a la carte menu. Some of the entrée choices include filet mignon, ribeye, various size cuts of prime rib, chicken Milanese, lobster, king crab, or surf and turf options. These complete dinners range in price from $23.00 to $65.00 (for the filet and crab legs). Most steak options run less than $30.00. Compare that to comparable places on the The Strip. I might add that the house salad that accompanies the “Classics” full dinner is quite large and delicious, and could serve as a full dinner for a light eater.
The a la carte menu features more steak options, and the fresh fish selections appear only as a la carte items. The fresh fish items include grilled swordfish ($25.00), cedar planked salmon ($24.00), Chilean sea bass($39.00), and stuffed scallops($24.00). They have an array of side dishes on the a la carte menu also. Some, such as the truffles potatoes ($10.00), seasonal forest mushrooms ($8.00), lobster mashed potatoes ($14.00), crab & Bernaise sauce ($7.00), and caramelized onions ($3.00) prove quite innovative. The caramelized onions and forest mushrooms make nice complements to any steak.
Twin Creeks has a varied wine list with selections that should placate most wine lovers. It also features wines in varying price ranges, making it possible to enjoy a bottle of wine with dinner without breaking the bank. They have a nice list of sparkling wines and champagnes, ranging in price from $37.00 to $495.00. Seventeen white wines, with eight those Chardonnays, grace the menu. Examples of some of the Chardonnays include Concannon at $28.00, Justin at $34.00, and the excellent Cakebread from Napa for $72.00. In keeping with its theme as a steakhouse, Twincreeks focuses most of its wine list on red wines, and features about forty selections. Jordan, Silver Oak, Nickel & Nickel, Jarvis Chimney Rock comprise some of the better known Cabernet Sauvignon on the list. It also features some nice bottles of blends, Merlots and Zinfandels. Red wines range in price $28.00 to $225.00, with the price per bottle averaging about $55.00. Twin Creeks makes many of the wines on the list available by the glass. The wine list changes periodically. One suggestion would be to include the vintage for the individual bottles listed. As a courtesy to guests, Twincreeks allows carry-in bottles for the very reasonable corkage fee of $15.00. Wine lovers should take note of that important courtesy.
All things considered, Twin Creeks provides a pleasant exception to the expensive Strip establishments that often make fine dining financially challenging. If you seek great food, good service and lovely surroundings, Twincreeks certainly provides the venue. Note that Twincreeks opens its doors only for dinner, beginning at 5 pm. For reservations or further information, call the Silverton at (702)263-7777, or go to their website at www.silvertoncasino.com .
