Naked City Tavern
Bacon candle, basil powder, olive oil powder, sweet balsamic, Himalayan salt, crusty bread
Dutch baby, cast iron skillet, vanilla cream, huckleberries
Chilaquiles, avocado crema, sprouts, radish, sunny side egg
Bacon Risotto, farm egg, sorrel, chicharron
Hot mama, ham, salami, provolone, brioche, alfredo, sunny side egg
The rebel , pepperoni, sausage, ham, salami, tomato, fresh basil, mozzarella
Maple porchetta, naked city tavern maple-sage sausage, pork belly, crispy red potato
Nutella French toast, brioche, blackberry, huckleberry
Yellowtail & ahi crudo, pickled blue berry, truffle, Calabrian chile, basil, fennel pollen, Himalayan salt
Foie-co, foie gras, duck confit, uni crema
Art of Flavors chocolate gelato, cherry juice, shaved chocolate, mint oil, vanilla cream and mint powder
Having been fortunate enough to assemble the first Chefseries event at Naked City Pizza on Paradise, and subsequently attending a brunch where Chef Christopher Palmeri further showed off some of the concepts planned for Naked City Tavern, it was with four restaurant savvy friends from near and far that Brunch was enjoyed at 6295 South Pecos Road in the old Blind Tiger Bar & Grill, the interior as yet largely unchanged from the previous resident while the food is already quite great.
No doubt a man whose talents are critically underrated by local “experts” who have long overlooked Palmeri’s hard work, dedication and creativity that has transformed Moondoggies into an Off-Strip destination and continued to develop at Naked City Pizza on Paradise, Naked City Tavern is the young Chef’s first foray into 24/7 dining and with menus slowly being released during the current soft opening all signs seem to indicate that Off-Strip all-hours dining is about to evolve in a direction never seen before.
Recently showered in deserved praise by one local writer, Christopher and brother Michael’s story earning them the cover of one of Las Vegas’ weekly Mags, a quick look at Naked City Tavern shows high likelihood for being a great place to watch sports while enjoying a beer or partaking in some Video Poker, and with a mixed crowd including some rough-looking locals as well as a whole troop of motorcyclists present as early as 11am there already seems to be a buzz brewing, the All-Night and Morning menu just one week into its debut.
Known already for Wings, Fries, Pies, Meatballs and more, those options available at all times, Naked City Tavern’s 10p-11a Menu offers a concise dozen-or-so additions and kicking off with the now well-known “Bacon Candle” those familiar were once again impressed by the inspired riff on Oil and Vinegar’s evolving flavors while those experiencing it for the first time equally reveled at the concept, the novelty not lost on even those who’ve traveled far and wide.
Tossing in a few items from the upcoming Dinner menu, the Crudo Combo a beautiful rendition with Fennel Pollen and Pickled Blueberries particularly well placed in juxtaposition to the Chiles and preserved Truffles, Palmeri admits that the “Foie-co” may have come about in the setting of a bit of drinking, the city of Las Vegas in that case once again benefitting from the results of inebriation as crispy duck confit finds itself paired with slices of Duck Liver in an umami-rich union beneath smooth Uni Cream.
Never one to take the path of least resistance, his hand-shaken butter just one example along with house-smoked Bacon, handmade Maple Sausage and crackling Chicharrons, previously seen items from the Overnight Menu included the textbook Risotto that outperforms many Casino-based fine-dining establishments for just $11 as well as the Italian-riff on a Croque Madame entiled “Hot mama” that features Ham, Salami and Provolone stacked on Brioche beneath Alfredo and a runny Egg, a dish that almost seems *too* rich for one person, as too does the glazed Porchetta stuffed with the aforementioned Sausage that some felt was a touch too sugary, but none denied was texturally on-point.
Never particularly a fan of Chilaquiles, a predilection for sweeter breakfasts no doubt involved, Palmeri’s version at Naked City Tavern is offered either Sunny Side or Scrambled, the Avocado crema and fresh Sprouts plus Radish adding levity atop Tortillas that stand up to the weight of their toppings, much as the springy Brioche dredged in custard does to a slathering of Nutella along with housemade preserves of Blackberries and Huckleberries.
Admitting that he is not particularly one to indulge in sweets when showing me the menu a couple months back, but agreeing that a Breakfast menu would not be complete without some items in that vein, Chef Palmeri could not help but take the road less traveled when coming up with his Pancakes, completely eschewing the buttermilk flapjacks served at every other 24/7 space and instead presenting a Dutch Baby that comes across almost savory thanks to the use of Vanilla Cream and more of the Huckleberries, one of the soon-to-be-launched desserts showing a similar sort of restraint by offering Doug Taylor’s Chocolate Gelato from Art of Flavors along with Cherry and Chocolate sauce plus light Mint accents that come across subtly and linger on the palate.
FOUR AND A HALF STARS: Probably overinflating the overall rating by a bit simply on the strength of the food, Naked City Tavern represents something new for both Chef Palmeri and the city of Las Vegas, an off-strip 24/7 spot by someone with a passion for the product, and that is exactly the sort of thing that locals should be thrilled to support.
RECOMMENDED: Dutch Baby, Bacon Risotto, Hot Mama, Yellowtail & ahi crudo, Foie-Co…and all those Naked City Pizza Classics you know and love.
AVOID: Seats too close to the bar are prone to smoke, and the noise level will need a little bit of softening as the high ceilings and hard surfaces reflect a lot of sound. As far as the food, solo diners probably should avoid the Hot Mama for health purposes while the sweetness in the Maple Porchetta could benefit from the same sort of subtlety practiced in the Dutch Baby. Also, don’t order the Chilaquiles with scrambled Eggs…that is just silly.
TIP: The overnight menu will go until 1pm on Saturdays and Sundays, per Palmeri, while the dessert menu will be offered 24/7 just like all the Naked City Classics.
WHAT THE STARS MEAN: 5 World Class, 4 Excellent, 3 Good, 2 Fair, 1 Poor.
http://www.nakedcitylv.com/
