Slater’s 50/50
50/50 Sloppy Joe Sliders – Slow-cooked 50/50 Beef and Bacon Blend, Potato Chips, Shredded Cheddar, Pickled Jalapeños, Green Onions, Grilled King’s Hawaiian Rolls
Slater’s Vampire Dip – Roasted Garlic, Artichoke Hearts, Melted Cheese, Sourdough Bread Bowl, Crispy Pita, Carrots, Celery
Slater’s Pick Two – Bacon Mac and Cheese Balls, Crispy Onion Rings, Tapatio Ranch, BBQ Sauce
The Slater’s 50/50 Hot Dog – Bacon-wrapped 50/50 Hot Dog, Poppy Seed Brioche Bun, Onions, Relish, Mustard, Ketchup, Slater’s Bacon Ketchup, French Fries
24K Burger – 1/2lb Australian Wagyu Beef Patty, Brioche Bun dusted with 24-Karat Gold, Billionaire Bacon, Bacon Jam, Baby Arugula, Roasted Garlic Aioli, Truffle Cheese, Demi Glace, Side of Sweet Potato Fries with Pumpkin Sauce
Pork Belly Benedict – Crispy Pork Belly, Poached Eggs, Chipotle Hollandaise, Freshly Baked Buttermilk Biscuits, Tater Tot Country Potatoes
Fried Chicken + Bacon Pancakes – Fluffy Pancakes with chunks of Bacon, Fried Chicken, Country Gravy, Sunny-side Up Eggs, Maple Syrup
Originally opened by Scott Slater in Anaheim Hills in 2009, and now occupying 467 East Silverado Ranch Boulevard since July, it was in search of someplace showing the NCAA Tournament that Slater’s 50/50 was visited on Sunday, a “Wake N’ Bacon” Breakfast beginning at 9:00am on Weekends strangely ending at 11:00am but owner Andy graciously agreeing to prepare a couple items thirty minutes late in addition to some of the Lunch & Dinner choices.
Famous for their blend of 50% Beef / 50% Bacon, and now inhabiting three States including their lone Las Vegas franchise, it is between walls of taps that guests enter suite 100 of the Southeast commercial center, a hostess podium straight ahead offering seating at a banquette with full view of at least a dozen televisions plus the bustling kitchen.
Showing sports with the sound off, pop radio overhead loud enough to be heard but not disrupt, it was with greetings from an inked female sever who stated Breakfast ends “at 10:30” that Water was poured and menus distributed, her apologies noteworthy as she tried to make the situation better by offering alternatives including some specials.
Disappointed but not dissuaded, miscommunications overcome while Appetizers were being prepared, it was beginning with a stack of Onion Rings and Slater’s Bacon-imbued Fried Macaroni and Cheese that light Batter proved noteworthy, a follow-up of Ground Beef and Bacon with Potato Chips added for crunch also enjoyable and certainly better than the average family’s “Sloppy Joe night.”
Convinced to try the Vampire Dip by two regulars, fears of late-day reflux unfounded as the roasted Heads are nicely tempered by a Cheese blend and pureed Artichokes, it was finishing off all but a quarter of the Bread Bowl that The Slater’s 50/50 Hot Dog arrived, the eponymous ingredient here packaged thick and snappy with a Sonora-style wrap plus plenty of Condiments so that diners may dress it as they like.
More impressed by Slater’s Fries this time, both classic Spuds and those made from hand-cut Sweet Potatoes crisp and well salted, it was at the request of a friend that Slater’s $24 “24K Burger” arrived spotlight-ready, a dusting of edible Gold making for fun pictures while the Sandwich itself shines thanks to finely-ground Australian Wagyu that stands up well to truffled Cheese and Bacon while the buttered Brioche Bun maintains its structure admirably in the face of Aioli and Demi-glace.
Waiting a bit longer for Breakfast items, made-to-order Hollandaise with more smoke than heat largely responsible, it was likely an effect of time that saw “crispy” Pork Belly a little flaccid atop Buttermilk Biscuits, though Tots in a tangle of Onions and golden-fried Chicken with Two Pancakes, Country Gravy and plenty of Bacon proved well-worth getting up early on a Sunday for.
FOUR STARS: Although Slater’s 50/50 seems to be missing out on an opportunity to differentiate itself from local competition by cutting Breakfast so short, a decision ownership claims is due to an overwhelming demand for Burgers by 11:00am, both Food and environment remain enjoyable while service and expediting have both improved since opening.
RECOMMENDED: Slater’s Vampire Dip, Bacon Mac and Cheese Balls, Sweet Potato Fries, Fried Chicken + Bacon Pancakes, 24K Burger (or building your own a la carte without the Gold.)
AVOID: As above, the Pork Belly was not crisp and those sensitive to Salt may find Slater’s 50/50 Hot Dog a bit heavy-handed.
TIP: Open 11a-10p Monday through Thursday, till midnight on Friday and Saturday with Brunch also offered on weekends beginning at nine o’clock, though whether the stop time is 11:00am as listed on the website, 10:30am as quoted by staff or otherwise per phone remains nebulous.
WHAT THE STARS MEAN: 5 World Class, 4 Excellent, 3 Good, 2 Fair, 1 Poor.
www.slaters5050.com/locations/las-vegas/
