Therapy.
Mango Ricky – Camarena Reposado Tequila, Mango Puree, Lime, Organic Agave, Salt Rim
If You Like Pina Colada’s – Banana Rum, Caribbean & Coconut RumHaven, Coconut Crème, Pineapple, Pineapple Juice
Signature Salad – Watermelon Radish, Apples, Candied Walnuts, Blue Cheese Crumbles, White Balsamic Vinaigrette
Devils on Horseback – Bacon Wrapped Dates, Truffle Goat Cheese, Almonds, Romesco Sauce
Birria Empanadas – Braised Beef filled Pastry, Red Chili Lime Sauce
Chicken Meatballs – Jalapeno Cilantro Pesto, Grana Padano Cheese
Fred & Mark’s Croquettes – Crispy Fried Mac & Cheese Croquettes, Tomato Bacon Jam, Sriracha Aioli
Creamy & Crabby – Artichoke Lump Crab & Parmesan Dip, Bread Crumbs, Blue Corn Tortilla Chips
Chicken & Waffle Slider – Red Velvet Waffle, Buttermilk Battered Fried Chicken Breast, Red Pepper Remoulade Slaw, Vanilla Maple Syrup
Indian Fry Bread – Honey
In The Gnudi – Baked Ricotta Cheese, Truffle Fig Jam, Toasted Almonds, Cranberry Batards
The “Big Sexy” – 8oz Australian Wagyu Beef Patty, Boston Bibb Lettuce, Roasted Tomato, Brie Cheese, Scallion Mayo, French Fries
Duroc Chop – 14oz Bone-In Duroc Pork Chop, Apple Jam, Red Potato Mustard Mash, Roasted Pork Jus
Campfire S’mores – Hershey Semi-sweet Chocolate, Brown Butter Graham Cracker, Caramel, Charred Marshmallows, Bacon
Crumbled Carrot Cake – Brown Sugar Gelato, Lime, Candied Pecans, Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting
My 3 Best Friends – Triple Decker Waffle, Brown Sugar Gelato, Peanut Butter, Hot Fudge, Strawberry Sauce, Cashews, Graham Cracker, Fresh Fruit, Chantilly Cream
Perhaps dumb luck, or the unlikely result of having recently seen former Chef Daniel Ontiveros at Scotch 80 Prime, but whatever the reason it was Thursday evening that two guests sat down to dinner at Therapy. exactly four years (to the day) after the first time, though much has changed both for the Restaurant and DTLV since.
Now old enough to be considered one of East Fremont’s staple eateries, the lengthy build-out of a space formerly housing a Dollar Store still looking fresh and attracting crowds of tourists for both Food and Drink, it is under the direction of General Manager Maria Horta that day-to-day activities are coordinated, and thanks to the spaces’ “Relapse Nightclub” those hours frequently extend well past midnight.
Offering lunch and dinner, plus recently weekend Brunch, it was at the tail-end of Happy Hour that business began to pick up, service friendly yet professional while offering their suggestions as well as thorough explanations of plates from recently promoted Executive Chef Chris Robyn.
Originally themed as a gastro-pub, but since taking on global influences spanning from Mexico to the Native American Cuisine Chris has been cooking for several years as a corporate Chef for one of the Nation’s largest casino groups, it is rightfully with Cocktails that many nights at Therapy. begin, both a $12 Mango Ricky and frozen Pina Colada performing well and pairing nicely to the “Signature Salad” of Apples, Candied Nuts and mixed Greens plus Bleu Cheese.
Still maintaining several day one dishes, both Devils on Horseback and tender Chicken Meatballs highlighted by vibrant housemade Sauces, it was unfortunate that “Birria” Empanadas featuring Beef rather than Goat were strictly one note inside over-thick Pastry, though “Fred & Mark’s” Croquettes offered three fun bites thanks to fried Pasta topped in smooth Sriracha with a sweet and savory reduction beneath.
Moving next to “Creamy & Crabby,” at $17 not cheap but entirely justified by its sharable size and plenty of freshly picked Meat, suffice it to say that time plus an appearance on “The Travel Channel” have seen Chicken & Waffle Sliders improve tremendously in terms of taste and texture, though if one is looking for Therapy.’s best dish that honor still belongs to “In The Gnudi” with creamy gobs of Ricotta made sticky with Figs.
Not about to forget Chef Robyn’s years as Corporate Executive Chef for Bachi Burger, The “Big Sexy” featuring eight ounces of expertly-cooked Wagyu on a springy Bun with Brie and Scallion Mayonnaise, it is in strong competition with The Kitchen at Atomic that Therapy.’s Pork Chop finds itself for best in town, though the “Mustard Mash” can at times be a bit overpowering.
Onward to Dessert, and showing off Indian Fry Bread served as part of the recently-debuted “Senor Shorty” en route, Therapy. currently features two old and two new sweets, the Campfire S’mores in cast iron decidedly rich in comparison to deconstructed Carrot Cake that rivals any in Sin City, though the real showstopper is titled “My 3 Best Friends” and features Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Strawberry Belgian Waffles heaped with nine scoops of Brown Sugar Gelato plus a trio of Sauces, Nuts, Fruit and Whipped Cream.
FOUR STARS: Somewhat forgotten with the abundance of recent openings in Las Vegas, Therapy. nonetheless continues to lure in guests with fair prices and food that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Still a little too “everything to everyone,” at least part of that the result of a revolving door of toques, the promotion of Chris Robyn to Executive Chef promises good things to come given his interest in both Hawaiian and Native American culture.
RECOMMENDED: Signature Salad, Devils on Horseback, Creamy & Crabby, In the Gnudi, Duroc Chop, Crumbled Carrot Cake, My 3 Best Friends.
AVOID: Birria Empanadas, ordering My 3 Best Friends without at least three friends at the table.
TIP: Open Sunday through Thursday from 10:30am to 11:00pm, Friday & Saturday 10:30am till midnight with Relapse Nightclub continuing until 4:00am Tuesday through Saturday after closing.
WHAT THE STARS MEAN: 5 World Class, 4 Excellent, 3 Good, 2 Fair, 1 Poor.
www.therapylv.com
