As much as I love a good Bellini or mimosa, nothing beats a well-crafted bloody mary. Some spots have been known to go all-out with their versions (I still have an internet image seared into my mind of a whole fried chicken served in a pitcher of tomato juice), but a great one requires no such fanfare. The classic method calls for vodka, tomato juice, dashes of Worcestershire and Tabasco, pepper and a wedge of citrus.
The New Vegas Brunch
Plenty of local bars and restaurants make a mean mary in this manner, and others up the ante with memorable new twists. During my weekend adventures, I’ve discovered a number of new favorites. Take the Big Bear Bloody Mary at Timbers Bar & Grill (1450 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway, 702-492-0027, timbersgaming.com), for example. An off-Strip neighborhood gaming bar might not be the first place I’d expect to find a spicy classic, but this cocktail uses Absolut Peppar vodka and its own house-made mix to turn up the heat. The pickled green bean and pepperoncini add extra bite.
The new Fuhu at Resorts World (702-676-7740, zoukgrouplv.com) offers both mary and maria. The Belvedere Bloody Mary, infused with Szechuan peppercorn, comes with a plump, skewered shrimp that I purposely save for last after it has soaked in all those flavors. The tequila-based Szechuan Maria features similar ingredients, but the tajin-coated rim leaves a satisfying tingle on my lips.
There’s an entire bloody mary cart at Good Morning Kitchen (5587 S. Rainbow Blvd., 702-867-7129, goodmorningkitchenlv.com). This brunch hot spot serves a sleek and classy bloody topped with a pepperoncini, cherry tomato and olive. But if you go for the cart, you can customize your spice levels and garnishes, and it remains tableside so you can drink to your heart’s content.
Park on Fremont (506 E. Fremont St., 702-834-3160, parkonfremont.com) features one of the most fun versions around—a meal in a Mason jar. The Derby Breakfast Club combines a house-made mix with Tito’s vodka, muddled and crispy bacon, a pickled egg and a sweet, hickory-smoke finish. You’d be surprised how well these ingredients work together.
The Green Monster at Toasted Gastrobrunch (9516 W. Flamingo Road #100, 702-638-9500,
toastedgastrobrunch.com) also doubles as a bloody mary meal. The cocktail gets its stark green hue from a special house recipe, arriving complete with stuffed olives, celery, shrimp and bacon in the glass. It also has your choice of gin, vodka or tequila, but it’s delightful to drink even without the alcohol.
Click HERE to subscribe for free to the Weekly Fix, the digital edition of Las Vegas Weekly! Stay up to date with the latest on Las Vegas concerts, shows, restaurants, bars and more, sent directly to your inbox!
