Las Vegas Restaurants 9/07: Battista’s Hole In The Wall, The Garden Court Buffet, Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas, Lotus Of Siam, Triple Seven Restaurant and Brewery Bar

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Battista’s Hole In The Wall
(Behind Flamingo Hilton Hotel)
4041 Audrie Street
Las Vegas, NV
89109
(702) 732-1424 

Battista’s (30 years in Las Vegas) is a classic Old Las Vegas, Southern Italian Restaurant serving an All Inclusive Menu
All Inclusive Menu Features:
• Minestrone Soup or Italian Salad
• Complimentary House Wine
• Garlic Bread
• Pasta Side
• Homemade Cappuccino

Entrees include: Traditional Pasta Dishes ($18.95 – $24.95,) Veal, Steak, Shrimp etc. dinners ($26.95 – $34.95.) Click Battista’s website link for the complete menu and other information…

At Battista’s, in addition to having a first rate dinner, you will be entertained by a strolling Accordionist as you enjoy the “vibe” of old-school Las Vegas. The restaurant is warm and cozy; there are 78’s and 331/3 records hanging on the walls and all that jazz…There is (very) secure parking in front of the restaurant…
Next door, there is a small convienience-type store and adjoining bar with gaming machines – also operated by Battista’s…
Take me to The LVBC’S page on Battista’s (General information & review)
Battista’s Official Website, including full menu…

The Garden Court Buffet
At The Main Street Station Hotel
200 North Main Street
Las Vegas, NV.
89101
(1-800-713-8933)

The Garden Court Buffet has long been a favorite. All things considered: price, food, ambience, location etc. make this buffet one of the very best around.
“The all-you-can eat Garden Court Buffet is the ultimate in Las Vegas buffets. From the moment you step inside, you’ll enjoy the spacious surrounding with the vaulted ceilings and Victorian gingerbread decor. And the food is fabulous, too!”
“With seating for close to 500 guests, the Garden Court, is not only the largest buffet and truly the grandest in downtown, it has garnered many accolades in its short history. Repeatedly voted downtown’s best buffet, it’s been rated among the top five buffets in the nation.”

Food stations include: American, Southern, Southwestern, Pacific rim, Chinese, Mexican, Pizza and Pasta, Salad bar, Dessert bar and more.
Buffet prices are very friendly; for example, the “Seafood Galore Buffet” on Friday & Saturday nights is only $15.99, Mon-Fri breakfast – $5.99…

Several dozen ceiling fans, antique sideboards, “Victorian gingerbread decor,” and windows help make this room unique.
Take me to The Main Street Hotel’s Official Website
Take me to The LVBC’S page on The Garden Court Buffet (General information & review)

Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas
4510 Paradise Road (Across from The Hard Rock Hotel)
Las Vegas, NV 89169
(702) 853-BEER (2337)

Ocktoberfest Kick-Off: Keg-Tapping with Siegfried & Roy – September 15, 7:00 pm…
“Add a Bavarian flair to your next dining adventure at Hofbräuhaus Las Vegas. From live music direct from Germany, to authentic imported German beers, Hofbräuhaus Las Vegas offers a classic Bavarian atmosphere that lends itself to fun, daily.”
“German Engineered Taste” in every stein! Our Hofbräu beer is brewed using the original recipes handed down by Wilhelm V, the Duke of Bavaria, (over 400 years ago) and is imported direct from the breweries in Munich, Germany.”
On the menu: Bavarian specials ( for example: Sauerbraten, Steak, Pork Roast,) Sausage specials, Burgers and Sandwiches, Salads, Side Dishes, Kids Menu, Week Day Lunch specials and more…
Celebrity Ocktoberfest Keg Tapping events through September…
(Visit HB website for complete menu and other information)

Official Website of Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas

Lotus of Siam
In The Commercial Center
953 E. Sahara Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89104
Tel. (702)735-3033

I vaguely recall reading in a Los Angeles restaurant magazine that Lotus Of Siam was one of the best Thai restaurants in North America. It must be a good Thai restaurant – Mayor Goodman was sitting at the next table the last time I was there. It was prime time on a Saturday night…”Of all the Gin joints“…Imagine the Mayor dining in a Strip-mall restaurant on a Saturday night given the food choices Las Vegas provides…

In a “real-old-vegas-seen-better-days” mall off Sahara Avenue, The Lotus of Siam serves the Mayor of Las Vegas and other happy customers Thai food and other Asian specials..My choice is usually Pad Thai.
I found the following information from CityGuide. It is so informative, I thought I’d include it…
“Amidst the karaoke bars and Mexican eateries in the Commercial Center lies Lotus of Siam, one of those jewels that regulars adore but hesitate to tell anyone about lest it get too popular. Voted “the best Thai restaurant in the United States” by Gourmet magazine, Lotus of Siam serves Issan-style Thai food, which is milder than most food from Thailand. The secret is blending each course with seasonings, including ginger, lemon grass, lime leaves, and hot peppers, to create varying degrees of sweet, sour, bitter and salty flavors.”

“The menu lists 131 dishes; some are tried-and-true, while other unusual items are influenced by the cultures of Laos and Cambodia. Favorites include tom kah kai (coconut infused soup), panang curry and of course, pad thai. Some of the more unusual dishes include nua dad dew (a very spicy beef jerky), nam kao tod (Thai sour sausage seasoned with ginger) and nua sao renu (sliced charbroiled beef atop a bed of sliced cabbage). Patrons should beware that these dishes are very spicy, so make sure to try the coconut ice cream and sticky rice — it’s guaranteed to cool off your mouth. — Jack Herrguth”
Take me to the LVBC’S page for Lotus of Siam (General information & review)
Take me to Lotus of Siam’s Official Website (Full menu included)

Triple Seven Restaurant and Brewery Bar
In The Main Street Station Hotel
200 North Main Street
Las Vegas, NV.
89101
(1-800-713-8933)

The Triple Seven is a downtown gathering place for locals, as well as visitors. Huge brass tanks are in view at the rear of the room competing with Big-screen TV’s for attention…Decent Appetizers, Salads, Burgers, Sandwiches, Pizza, Ribs, Pasta, Seafood and more are served in this cool downtown oasis…
Standard tables & chairs as well as long tables for groups, and bar seating provide a configuration for just about any situation. The room is large…Dark woods and brass define the ambience…Gambling is available just across the foyer.
Triple Seven is open 7 days a week, 11:00 am – 7:00 am; Late Night: Breakfast is served midnight to 7am.

“Want to party? Happy Hour 3pm-6pm Monday-Friday.
Graveyard Special midnight-7am 16oz. MicroBrews $1
We have party packages for groups of 10-40,
$8.95 to 22.95 per person.”
Take me to The LVBC’S web page for The Triple Seven…
Take me to The Main Street Hotel & Casinos Official Website

Denver Restaurant Visits: Annie’s Cafe, Big Papa’s BBQ, Pasquini’s Pizzeria, Pasta Jay’s, Paulie and Deanna, The Red Coral and Torres Mexican Food

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First Visits:
Big Papa’s BBQ
6265 E. Evans Ave.
Denver, Colorado
80222 (303-300-4499)
Big Papa’s official website“…
“Love at first bite” It was the sauce that got me, so to speak. It was Maureen’s Memphis Sauce to be precise (there are four sauces to choose from: Suzy’s Carolina Sauce, Maureen’s Memphis Sauce, Heidi’s KC Sauce and Maggie’s Deep South Sauce.) We ordered St. Louis Style Ribs (9 bones of smoked St. Louis Style Ribs) with Cole Slaw & BBQ Beans ($15.29.) I actually had a trancendant-type expierience after a few bites. It could have been the ribs with the Memphis sauce or it could have been the BBQ beans which are equally outstanding ( huge chunks of meat swimming with the beans in an unforgettable sauce…Other entrees include: Baby Back Ribs, Beef Back Ribs, Bison Ribs, Sliced Beef Brisket, Pulled Pork and more…Beer and Wine are available…Big Papa’s caters…The dining room is rather plain, not unlike a fast food place…That won’t keep me away, maybe I’ll just do take-out…Big Papa’s has a second location; click the website link for the address, the complete menu, catering and other information…

Paulie & Deanna Italian Restaurant 4
2099 Wadsworth Lakewood, CO
80214-5740
(303-232-5888)
If one tries to find Paulie and Deanna’s on the web, one would think that there is no such place, however, the other evening I enjoyed one of the best Southern-Italian-red sauces that I’ve had in a while, so I know the restaurant exsists…It’s a small restaurant in a strip-mall on North Wadsworth Blvd. I had the sauce with a side of Homemade spaghetti noodles – big, thick spaghetti noodles with two meatballs, salad and bread…The pasta dish was preceded by the dinner salad with the house-dressing. The salad was fresh and chilled; the dressing was above par. The entree portion was huge, especially for the price: the complete dinner was around $8.00…The spaghetti dinner with regular noodles is a buck less. House wine is $4.00, other wines start at $5.00…Wine in carafes are available. Most basic Southern- Italian dishes are on the menu as well as sandwiches, pizza and more…Information for this restaurant is so elusive, I don’t have web-links for menu & other general information. Alas, I did not get a take-out menu nor even a matchbook…I guess I’ll have to return for the sauce – or the “gravy” as Paulie calls it, in his best Martin Scorsese flick voice…

Torres Mexican Food Restaurant in Denver
1597 S. Federal Blvd.
Denver, Colorado 80219 (303-934-8857)
Torres Mexican Food is an authentic Mexican cantina that serves the basic southwestern dishes: burritos, chile rellenos, enchiladas, tacos etc. as well as seafood dinner fare such as: Shrimp/Oyster cocktails, Shrimp Rancheros, Shrimp fajitas, Fresh oysters, Seafood soup, “Filete” Ranchero, Stripped bass, Tilapia…On my first visit, I had the Green Chile Plate ($6.95) which consisted of a large plate of green chile with big chunks of meat, rising like mountains in the Sea of Cortez, rice & beans and 2 large tortillas…The “regular” Margarita is small, however it is only about $3.75, so… The next step-up is $9.00 – that one is huge. Maybe there should be a mid-size Marg for about $5.00. Other brew prices are very reasonable. The restaurant is decorated like an Mexican coastal restaurant. The booths seem to be a notch higher in quality, so are the (table) chairs which are proudly emblazoned with the Torres name…Speaking of booths, take a booth in the lounge area; the lounge has a bunch of energy…This is a good discovery. Unless something happens to change my mind, this will be one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Denver. This is a restaurant where one feels comfortable, accepted and welcome; there is no hoity-toity arrogance. There is a second location (in a Strip Mall) at 2049 Wadsworth Blvd…

Previously reviewed restaurants:

Annie’s Cafe
4012 East 8th Ave. (Off 8th & Colorado Blvd.)
Denver, Colorado
80222
(303-355-8197)
Annie’s Cafe, since 1979, has offered comfort food and hospitality to the local Denver community.” Annie’s has been serving Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner all-the-while, however breakfast is the key word here: One of only a hand-full of really good breakfast cafes in Denver, Annie’s does it all and Annie’s does it right…From two egg breakfasts with meat, grilled potatoes and toast ($6.75) or French Toast ($5.50) to Huevos Rancheros ($7.25) as well as omelettes, bagels, pancakes, muffins and more, it’s all there…Click Annie’s website link for the complete menuAnnie’s leaves a jar of Peanut Butter on every table. As soon as you sit down, before you order, you can remove a dollop of PB with your knife and spread it on your spoon. If you can’t wait, you don’t half to at Annie’s…Food quality and proportion size are above average. Beer and wine are available…Family friendly, Annie’s is loaded with old movie-posters, kid’s metal lunch boxes, toy bake-ovens etc…
Take me to The Las Vegas Buffet Club’s page for Annie’s Cafe General information & review…
Take me to Annie’s Official Website Annie’s complete menu & other information…

Pasquini’s Pizzeria – Denver Highlands (opened – summer 2007)
2400 West 32nd Avenue at Zuni St.
Denver, CO 80211
303-477-4900
Pasquini’s is a long time favorite Denver restaurant…This location is new, but they have the same good food: NY Pizza, Pizzettas, Pastas, Calzones, Salads, Sandwiches, and more…This incarnation is another winner; the building is in an area that used to be Denver’s Little Italy, so it’s authentic…The restaurant is Yuppie heaven with a Vespa on the wall, three different seating areas, a full bar and lots of energy…Click the Las Vegas Buffet Club web link for the page on Pasquini’s or click the Pasquini’s Website link to go directly to their site…
Take me to The Las Vegas Buffet Club’s Website page for Pasquini’s……This link has general “review” information from the LVBC…
Take me to Pasquini’s Official Website……This is Pasquini’s Website with menu, locations & other information.
Pasquini’s on South Broadway took over the space next door and opened another room with a second bar, more tables and a patio…

Pasta Jay’s
1001 Pearl Street
Boulder, Colorado 80302
303.444.5800
Basically a Southern Italian, red-and-white-checkered-tablecloth restaurant, Pasta Jay’s offers: pizza (thin crust-California style,) sandwiches, salads, appetizers, entrées (most of the traditional Italian entrees,) nightly specials and more. Bar drinks, beer and wine are served; wine is available by the glass, 1/2 carafe or carafe.
Click the Pasta Jay’s Website link for their menu.
Take me to Pasta Jay’s Official Website… Full menu, locations & more…
Take me to the Las Vegas Buffet Club’s page for Pasta Jay’s…Review & general information.

The Red Coral
1591 S. Colorado Blvd.
Denver, CO 80222 (in the Boulevard Center 2)
Phone: 303-758-7610 or 303-758-0098
Fax Orders: 303-758-0105
The Red Coral is a Strip-mall restaurant that primarily serves Mandarin & Chinese food…On the last visit we had Sesame Eggplant ( 茄子– around $8.95.)…This is a small neighborhood restaurant with consistantly good food and wine at fair prices…The house wines are $3.75…Red Coral offers Carafes & 1/2 Carafes…For an appetizer, try the Vietnamese Summer Rolls (Steamed shrimp, rice noodles, cucumber, bean sprouts, lettuce, cilantro and mint leaves wrapped in rice paper, served with a spicy Asian peanut sauce) $5.95.
Take me to The Las Vegas Buffet Club’s page for The Red Coral