Viva Las Vegas: Happy Hour at the Stratosphere

I have said it before and I will say it again, I am firm believer in Happy Hour specials.  Considering how expensive eating in Las Vegas can get, the Happy Hour deal becomes a must.  Even high end restaurants in Vegas have a happy hour and many of those offer food as well as drinks at discounted prices.  So, what Kathy and I did for dinner two of the nights in Vegas is have larger brunches and then took advantage of Happy Hour specials at Level 107 Lounge at the Stratosphere and Sea Blue for smaller evening noshes.  

Level 107 Lounge at the Stratosphere

This was a double bang for buck.  The Stratosphere has best view in Las Vegas.  Located well at the end of the Strip, the Stratosphere offers panoramic views and you can see all of Las Vegas for miles.  To go up to the tippy top of the Statosphere, where all the rides are, costs money; but, to get to the lounge and see the same view, is free.  A quick zip up 107 floors in an elevator that goes three floors per second and you are on top of Vegas.  Plus, with your drinks and appetizers, you will get the added entertainment of watching people who are sky jumping off the building zip past the windows.  That is what I call dinner theater.

The Happy Hour special at Level 107 Lounge is pretty fantastic.  They have "2 for 1" martinis (with the proviso of it is two of the same martini and you are technically not allowed to share).  Plus, you also get half-off all appetizers.  For a drink, I got the Mango Madness Martini; for food, Kathy and I split the Duck Sliders “Banh Mi” on French Rolls and the Roasted Tomato Fondue.  If we had been in a splurging mood, Level 107 offers the Tower Trio—Foie Grois, Jumbo Lump Crab, and Seared Scallop.  At $39, even if that was a half off option, that would have been splurge for another post.  

The Mango Madness was a bright and lively martini.  It was a little tart and a little sweet, but had a slighty thicker texture than most martinis, making me feel like I had a little bit of a healthy fruit to my alchohol—the alcohol isn’t as bad for you if there is fruit.  At least, that is how I interpreted nutrition classes. 

The Duck Sliders and Roasted Tomato Fondue where also tasty.  I really liked the freshness that the carrots, cucumber, and cilantro gave the duck,  The duck itself was tender and flavorful.  My only complaint was that they left the duck breast fat on, which is fine, but didn’t really seer it to render out a little flat and give the fat a little better texture.  A crispy skin would have really complimented the crunchy vegetables and would also avoid having a soggy piece of fat to chew.  The Roasted Tomato Fondue was my favorite of the two dishes.  My notes say in big letters, “Yum!”  The three cheese combination made a gooey cheese that was rich and creamy.  Then, the combination of roasted tomatoes and red peppers gave a full and strong flavor that stood up well to the cheese and just soaks into the generously oiled crostini.  I’ve had good tomatoes sauces before, but adding the red pepper just gave the sauce a little more smokiness, sweatness, and unctuous quality that took the sauce to another level (no pun intended .  . . well, a little intended).

When I in Vegas again or giving Vegas recommendations, I would gladly send people to Level 107.  If you want to go full-fund in, I’d recommend the restaurant section that slowly rotates and gives you a chance to take in the whole view.  But, double-handing martinis while eating half-off appetizers, watching sky jumpers, and watching the strip slowly light up, isn’t bad for a cheap alternative.

Happy Hour at Mockingbird

Although I do love Staunton dining, one thing that restaurantours never quite got in the spirit of is Happy Hour.  In traveling in other towns and living in Harrisonburg for a couple of months, I know what a great deal and event happy hour can be.  Cheap food.  Cool drinks.  Lots of, well, happiness. 

This great sense of deal is usually missing from Staunton’s Happy Hours.  However, the big exception is Happy Hour at Mockingbird Restaurant and Music Hall.  Available Tuesday through Saturday (4:00-6:00), Mockingbird has the most spirited Happy Hour in town.  What makes their Happy Hour so indicative of  what is at the heart of this ritual is lots of cheap drink options and tasty food to accompany.  Also, just out of pure foodie altruism, there is usually a snack to munch on.  One time it was bread sticks, but last time I went it was homemade potato chips that were seasoned with what I think was Old Bay.  They were very thin, crunchy, and tasty. 

The way Mockingbird’s Happy Hour works is on a three tier system of food and drinks.  This line-up is going to change as of July 1^st, but currently stands as the following . . .

• $3: Drinks—Well Drinks, Selected Draft Beers, Lionhead Lager (which is actually $2); Food—Sweet Potato Fries or Hand-Cut Potato Fries
• $4: Drinks—Wine by the Glass; Food—Bruschetta, Oyster and Clam Rockascino, Beer-Battered Mushrooms
• $5: Drinks—Cocktail Special; Food—Three Cheese Pizza or White Garlic Pizza

I am a bourbon girl and so the $3 well drink is all I need, although knowing $4 wine is an option means I can be upscale if I want to.  I usually would get the Sweet Potato fries because they are the best in town.  Not necessarily because the fries are so above par (they are cut thin, which makes them more savory than sweet), but because they come with a peanut dipping sauce for which I would kill to have the recipe.  It is amazing!  It is creamy, savory, and just slightly peanutie.  Delectable.  

Last time I went, I decided to experiment with the Oyster and Clam Rockasino.  The name is from a combination of Oyster Rockefeller and Clams Casino.  The oysters are creamy and cheesy and are topped with spinach and pancetta.   Being served this way, the oysters are melt in your mouth.  The clams, which were a little chewy, are still prepped in a flavorsome combination of bread crumbs, yellow and red peppers, and cheese.  At the center is some spicy arugula and a green I couldn’t identify, so you can have a bit of spicy greens to offset the creamy seafood.  And, remember, only $4 . . . $4.   

But don’t just come to Mockingbird for Happy Hour.  It is has a great trivia night every Tuesday and a Rock’n’Roll trivia once a month (and I wish they would add a film trivia once a month as well).  There are tons of really talented bands that come through the music hall as well as a really fun Local Mic Night and a Local Mic Youth Night.  Saturday’s and Sunday’s feature a Farmer’s Brunch and there is Sunday Supper that night as well.  Some come for Happy Hour and then come back for the rest. 

On the Road . . . Sarasota (Pt. 2): Tapas Night

Ceviche Tapas – #1 Restaurant in Sarasota that reminded me that good food speaks for itself
 

Pipirrana = Fabada beans,

crispy cucumber in
 Jerez vinegar, capers,
tomato, sweet peppers
 and onion


This was a random find when looking at a website that gives the Top 10 list for food deals in Sarasota.  Most of the food deals were because of a website, www.restaurant.com, that provides $25 gift certificates for as little $2 and $3.  Ceviche Tapas, though, was one of the few restaurants on the list with weekly deals.  Tuesday through Friday, they offer a Happy Hour special of discounted tapas and cheap sangria, beer, etc.  All day every Tuesday, they offer “Tapas Tuesdays” which features around 15 cold and 12 hot tapas, all for $4, as well as $4 sangrias in red, white, and sparkling. 

   

Ceviche Tapas offered a light, complex, and flavorful plate every time.  I went with my boyfriend and another friend late Tuesday night, around 10:30, and we each picked three tapas.   I got two cold tapas, the Pipirrana and Mejillones Ahumados, and Flan.  The Pipirrana was simply dressed and let the natural freshness of the cucumber, and sweet peppers, the firm smoothness of the fabada beans, and the tang of the capers and Jerez vinegar shine through.  Then, the Mejillones Ahumados  let the naturally dense and complex flavor of the smoked mussels resonate, creating a create texture contrast to the surrounding raw tomatoes and onions.  The flan--best flan I’ve ever had. 



Mejillones Ahumados = Smoked Spanish
mussels with tomatoes and onions

My boyfriend had three hot plates, the Chorizo y Pimientos, Croquetas de Pollo, and Calamares Fritos, and another friend ordered Salmon a la Gaditana, Esparragos, and Calamari. The calamari was crunchy and tender; the salmon was melt in your mouth smooth and was in a sauce that you wanted to sop up all of with the bread.  The coquette was a scene stealer because I have never had a croquette so rich and yet so light on the palette.   



 Even though tapas are usually small plates, the portions were substantial and each plate offered a different texture, taste profile, and sensory stimulation.  Oh, and lest I forget, you could couple each course with a $4 sangria, bursting with fruit and intoxicating goodness.  Everyone agreed that it was the best food find in town and didn’t break the bank.  For around $20 plus tip, I got three tapas and two sangrias and a really happy belly.

Ceviche Tapas Menu Descriptions:

Chorizo y Piementos = Five types of chorizo sausage sliced with roasted tomatoes and sweet peppers

Croquetas de Pollo = Fresh chicken and Serrano ham folded into béchamel and deep fried

Calamares Fritos = Tender squid lightly dusted in a seasoned flour and fried crispy, served with lemon and paprika aioli

Salmon a la Gaditana = Grilled Norwegian salmon served with leeks and saffron sauce

Esparragos = Fresh grilled asparagus with field greens and aioli