Al and Gemini spend much of this yearend episode reviewing the reviewers. They critique the 'Best Of' lists complied by Desert Companion, Las Vegas Weekly and Eater. Also, stunning news from the owner of two popular Asian restaurants. Chef Bank Atcharawan is stepping down from Lamaii to focus on his health and his future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Table 34 has been under the Batch Hospitality brand for nearly a year. There is also new ownership at Graze Kitchen, the plant-based joint at South Buffalo and Warm Springs. Al talked to the owners of both establishments about their plans for 2024, from new menus to new restaurants. And, as usual, Al, Gemini and Rich share their recent dining experiences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Seoul Bird Korean Street Food serves up fried chicken strips, sandwiches and more inside the Proper Eats Food Hall at Aria. It's Chef Judy Joo's first Vegas venture after two successful outlets in London. Joo is also a cookbook author, an Iron Chef in the UK (despite being a born and bred New Jersey girl), and a veteran of the flagship restaurants of both Gordon Ramsay and Thomas Keller. Gemini sits down with Joo at Proper Eats, and does some proper eating of Seoul Bird's signature dishes....

The first ground-up casino in years built especially for locals is up and running. Station Casinos opened Durango Casino and Resort earlier this week. Al got a big preview of the property's food and beverage offerings from Executive Chef Danny Ye. And Rich was there for the ribbon-cutting and very "cozy" slot and video poker play in the huge space that's filled to capacity with machines. Also: It's Patisserie Manon and Sammy's for Gemini, The Hard Hat Lounge and Kura Revolving Sushi for Al,...

It's been about three years since Chef Todd Harrington challenged himself to make a knife - with no knowledge of how to do it. Now, his one-of-a-kind works of art are the prized tools of chefs and cooks all over. Al went to Chef Todd's home to get the full story - and, it turns out, a knife! Also: news of two sudden closings, some holiday wine paring events, and of course, lots of sharing by Al, Gemini and Rich about meals of the past week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

The holiday week is a good time to share a couple of interviews about new items on Zouk's patio and the first expansion of The Golden Steer in decades. Al, Gemini and Rich share several restaurant experiences in the past week, including yet another great breakfast place and a 'Spukie,' a Chicago-inspirated Polish dog and Italian Beef. And Al shares the Facebook post that inspired hundreds of shares and likes: his 'post-game' comments on Formula One's visit to Las Vegas, and what F1 needs to...

F & L has been talking about it since before it was barely an idea. And now the winners of J Dapper's "win a diner" contest are open for business. Winnie & Ethel's co-owner Aaron Lee sits down with Al, Gemini and Rich to explain the journey: learning about Dapper's contest, preparing their entry, making the finals, cooking some of their creations and winning the prize: a spot in Dapper's Huntridge development for a classic Vegas diner. And, after sampling a few items, it's clear to...

Al, Gemini and Rich share their dining adventures for another week, including a deep dive into Pizzafest. Al's guest is chef-turned-photographer and taste-tester Louiie Victa, who talks about her new book for Eater.com: "Eater: 100 Essential Restaurant Recipes." And... after a two-week unsuccessful hunt for McDonald's Mambo Sauce, Rich decides to make his own - and inflict it on Al! And Rich promises that will be the last-ever reference to Mambo Sauce. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

The patio at Mon Ami Gabi, the excellent French restaurant right along Las Vegas Boulevard at the Paris Hotel/Casino, could be one of the best places to watch this month's Formula One race. Al spends time with Chef Vincent Pouessel to get the lowdown on what he's offering that night, how much it costs, and how the property dealt with the demands of F1. Also: Al shares his big-deal dining of the past week, which includes Ferraro's, Ocean Prime and Lemon Tree Market and Café. Rich actually went...

There’s no Dean Martin singing about the moon to hitting your eye like a big pizza pie, but there is some great pizza at Brent Stanford’s new place, Amari, in UnCommons on Durango Drive. From the glass-enclosed wine room, Chef Stanford shares his story of coming to Las Vegas, working in some big-deal kitchens, and making the move from The Strip to the new office/residential/commercial/food center at the 215 and Durango. And he pops out a couple of great dishes, including lobster pasta and his...

Back after a one-year break, Vegas Unstripped was back this month. Chefs from all over Las Vegas (maybe EVEN The Strip) converged on California St. in the Arts District to show off items that are NOT on their regular menus. Among the people stopping by to chat with Al and Gemini: Rick Moonen, Bob Cranston, Gina Marinelli, Jackson Stamper, Jeff Weiss, John Arena and the always shy and retiring James Trees. Enjoy!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wolfgang Puck was the first big-time celebrity chef to open a restaurant in Las Vegas. His empire has expanded all over The Strip. But now Puck has opened a place in The Arts District: 1228 Main. Puck's culinary director for Las Vegas, Dustin Lewandowsky, joins Al, Gemini and Rich to talk about how the place morphed from bakery to pasty shop to coffee to breakfast to lunch and dinner - all before it even opened! Also: Al heads back to Fine Company in Summerlin, Gemini gets an huge salad at...

Main St. Provisions owner Kim Owens joins Al to talk about the big change in the kitchen: the exit of Executive Chef Patrick Munster. Taking over is a veteran of that kitchen: Adrian Garcia. Kim talks about the changes that Patrick made in the past year, but says we’ll have to wait a bit to taste what Adrian has planned. As for dining in the past week: Al talks about his visits to HaSalon at the Venetian, Jayde @ 16 at the M Resort, and the pop-up preview of Prince Street Pizza, the legendary...

A longtime fixture of fine dining on The Strip, Roy Ellamar is now cooking in the burbs. He's running Fine Company, a new all-day spot in Downtown Summerlin. Al, Gemini and Rich sit down with Roy at the restaurant to talk about his history in Las Vegas and elsewhere, the items on the brunch/lunch menu (soon to include dinner), and what spurred his move from the very upscale "Harvest by Roy Ellamar" at the Bellagio to a more modest, more casual place in the burbs. Also: lots of dining...

Al's away this week, but before he left he talked to the people behind El Segundo Sol, the venerable Tacos & Margaritas joint right on Las Vegas Boulevard at the Fashion Show Mall. Wesley Pumphrey and Ryan Richardson talk about the restaurant's recent revamp, and how they keep the prices in check. And they share insight into Lettuce Entertain You, the Chicago-based restaurant company that also owns dozens of restaurant concepts, including several in Las Vegas: Joe's, Mon Ami Gabi, Eiffel...

Al's away this week, but before he left he talked to the people behind El Segundo Sol, the venerable Tacos & Margaritas joint right on Las Vegas Boulevard at the Fashion Show Mall. Wesley Pumphrey and Ryan Richardson talk about the restaurant's recent revamp, and how they keep the prices in check. And they share insight into Lettuce Entertain You, the Chicago-based restaurant company that also owns dozens of restaurant concepts, including several in Las Vegas: Joe's, Mon Ami Gabi, Eiffel...

Al and Gemini sit down with Natalia Badzo and Brian Beuchner, the husband and wife team behind Big B's Texas BBQ. He's from Texas and she's from Estonia. Also: historically anti-sports Al hits not one but three sports bars, and tries the brunch at Casa Playa. Gemini, fresh from a quick trip to the mouth of the Columbia River, heads back to former podcast venue Little Avalon Coastal Café. And stick around for the news to learn all about.... The Monkey Mixer! Learn more about your ad choices....

Al and Gemini sit down with Natalia Badzo and Brian Beuchner, the husband and wife team behind Big B's Texas BBQ. He's from Texas and she's from Estonia. Also: historically anti-sports Al hits not one but three sports bars, and tries the brunch at Casa Playa. Gemini, fresh from a quick trip to the mouth of the Columbia River, heads back to former podcast venue Little Avalon Coastal Café. And stick around for the news to learn all about.... The Monkey Mixer! Learn more about your ad choices....

With Chef Marty Lopez in the kitchen and Jorge Pagani running the front of the house, Scotch 80 Prime has been going strong since the Palms reopened about 18 months ago. The steakhouse is one of the brands at Palms that came long with the change of ownership after Covid. The two talk about Scotch 80 Prime's place in the Vegas steakhouse universe, and how they brought an international flair to a traditional steakhouse. Also: the mostly un-sporty Al hits two sports bars in one day. Gemini goes...

Al and Gemini sit down with one of the area's newest food writers, Danica Stockton. She shares her journey to the Vegas food scene, a couple of favorite places and what she's observed in her year or so of covering the town. Also: a new barbecue deal, free wine tastings, Bourbon & Blues in the daytime atop Circa, & 25th Anniversary specials at Bellagio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Al has a long chat with Chef Brian Howard, co-creator of Sparrow + Wolf and Half-Bird Chicken & Beer. They talk about Half-Bird's coming expansion and new items on the menu at Sparrow + Wolf. But the focus is on Brian and partner John Anthony's efforts to make their places safe spaces for their people. Both were recently featured in Fortune magazine for their work on breaking the cycle of mental illness and substance abuse that plagues so many in the hospitality industry. Also: Al, Gemini...

Al, Gemini and Rich pig out with perfect pig, and many other delights, atop the Whiskey Bar inside Mizunara, which is inside The Sundry Food Hall at UnCommons - the new restaurant/residential/office complex at Durango, just off Interstate 215. The Executive Chef of the entire food hall, David Varley, explains how they reinvented the concept thanks to Covid. Yes, he says, you will have to use a QR code with your phone. But that means you and your friends won't spend 30 minutes apart as each...

All three of the Cocktail Collective bars at Venetian and Palazzo are getting makeovers. But Dorsey also has a new name: Juliet Cocktail Room. Al, Gemini and Rich hang out on the comfy couches of Juliet and talk to the man who made the switch: Ryan Labbe of 8182 Group. Also: Al shares his thoughts on lunch at Amari in the UnCommons development. He also speaks with Buddy Valastro on the 10th anniversary of his namesake restaurant at Venetian. Among her meals in the past week, Gemini focuses on...

Bad Beat Brewing is the site of today's episode thanks to founder/owner Nathan Hall and head brewer Tom Harwood. Both share their journey to Henderson's Booze District - both starting out as home brewers who now profit from their passion. Gemini finally gets to Sundry, and samples a lot of items at the new food hall near the Durango Curve. Al shares lots of thoughts about HaSalon, the new Israeli/Mediterranean creation of chef Eyal Shani in the Palazzo. And Rich, doing a bit of advance work...

Al, Gemini and Rich are in the same room for the first time in nearly two months, and are celebrating by breaking open a bottle of Frey Ranch's new "Farm Strength Uncut Bourbon." That means 124 proof, or more than 62% alcohol. Rich returns from his world tour by hitting two semi-new Chinese joints inside casinos - with mixed results. Gemini is all over the map, sampling Mexican, sushi, Irish, and even a smoothie. And Al checks out Tequila Cantina, the new collaboration of Nice Hospitality and...