Rooster Boy Cafe has a feel, look and ambience that are wholly un-Vegas. It’s the kind of place where Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep could have deep conversations in The Bridges of Madison County. And maybe that’s why it will become a big hit for the breakfast and lunch crowd looking to start the day with something out of the ordinary.
Chef Sonia El-Nawal has worked with a who’s-who of renowned restaurateurs, including Julian Serrano and Jean Georges. As both a pastry chef and main chef, she has run the show in hit restaurants throughout the world—Paris, Brussels, New York City and Mexico City to name a few. Now she’s brought her recipes to Lake Jaqueline at Desert Shores, the scenic northwest Valley outpost that also houses unique restaurants Americana and Marche Bacchus.
Her menu shows her worldly influences. From Back Home ($10) reflects her Lebanese heritage, combining labneh (thick Greek yogurt), cucumber, tomato, radish, olives, zaatar spice blend, boiled egg, flatbread (made in-house) and olive oil. Meanwhile, Mi Corazon ($13) is the chef’s take on a Mexican hangover cure—chilaquiles made with tortilla chips, red or green salsa, shredded chicken, avocado, onion, tomato and crema.
There are granolas, toasts and most interestingly, galettes. Hearkening back to her time in France and her pastry background, the chef prepares the sweet and savory filled flaky pastries with everything from zucchini, thyme and roasted garlic to prosciutto, figs and caramelized onions. They’re worth the trip to Lake Jaqueline. Or Madison County. Whatever.
ROOSTER BOY CAFE 2620 Regatta Drive #113, 702-560-2453. Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m; Friday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
