Naked City Tavern Grand Opening Party
Crostini – In-house cured Duck Breast Proscuitto, Charred Black Mission Fig and Peaches, Pickled Ramps, Greens
Cauliflower – Fried crispy, shaved Summer Asparagus, Naked City Roasted Garden Sauce, Peccorino-Romano Cheese
Wee-size Stinger Pie – Roast Beef, Chicken Fingers, Sweet & Hot Peppers, Onions, Blue Cheese Dressing, Cheddar, Mozzarella
Officially fêting the launch of Christopher and Michael Palmeri’s latest venture, an affair that the Chef admitted he “had no clue” would generate the sort of crowd to not only fill the restaurant but parking lot as well, Thursday’s Grand Opening of Naked City Tavern was a joyous celebration of food and friends of the local dining community, noise level pushing skyward while the kitchen continued to execute well despite wait times over an hour.
Already visited once, and having seen much of the menu during preview meals at Naked City Pizza on Paradise, suffice it to say that for such an event the focus was more on the scene and people than the food itself, but taking a look at three previously untasted items the quality remains consistent, a classic Stinger Pizza featuring the Palmeri’s thick-crust topped in all-things Buffalo, the thinly-sliced Beef tender alongside the flavors of Chicken, Peppers and Onions with a blend of three Cheeses as hot and gooey as it was robust.
Offering eight additional items on the Chef’s Menu, several previously tasted and enjoyed, new plates included deep fried Cauliflower Florets served beneath curls of Asparagus and a light sauce sort of like Green Goddess that ate far more sophisticated than any traditional “bar bite,” the succulent Duck Prosciutto allowing the Fowl’s natural flavor to shine atop toasted Bread and a dollop of warm fruits all given a sense of levity by way of the house-pickled Ramps.
N/A: Not really fair to rate given the nature of the event, the Naked City team has once again defied labels with Naked City Tavern and I cannot wait to see what surprises will come next.
RECOMMENDED: Everything was good, as usual, but the Crostini was particularly well executed in terms of taste as well as texture, the use of fat, sugar and acid all featured with an eye on balance.
AVOID: N/A.
TIP: A 24-hour space, look for the Chef’s menu from 11a-11p Monday through Friday and 1p-11p on Weekends with the Overnight / Breakfast menu offered at other times, Naked City’s famous Pizzas, Wings and Fries offered around the clock.
WHAT THE STARS MEAN: 5 World Class, 4 Excellent, 3 Good, 2 Fair, 1 Poor.
http://www.nakedcitylv.com/
