Forget the fish for a moment. The 1962-vintage neon sign for defunct Vegas bar Davy’s Locker—rescued from the trash by Derek Stonebarger, and lovingly restored—is one of the most prominent elements of Nevada Taste Site, a new taproom and kitchen just two doors down from Stonebarger’s bar/vintage shop hybrid ReBar. But if you look past its eminently Instagrammable glow, you’ll discover two even brighter lights beckoning you to call: a menu of delicious Thai-inspired bar bites and a draft beer list that’s more than two dozen strong and crafted exclusively in-state.
Chef Nikki Hughes’ small plates are top shelf. The chicken satay skewers—curry-spiced and tender, served with cucumber salad, jasmine rice and a side of peanut sauce—is a perfect $10 counterpoint to your local pint. Ditto the baked chicken wings ($9), available with your choice of spices from honey BBQ to mango habanero, and the Thai lettuce wraps, larb salad-styled romaine lettuce bites filled with carrots, onions, scallions, shallots, peanuts, lime sauce and your choice of chicken ($9) or shrimp ($11). There are even a few tasty vegan options, notably an Asian spring salad with ginger dressing ($6, with chicken or seared tofu a little extra) and vegan beef sliders ($10) topped with carrots, cucumber, cilantro and sweet chili.
And the beer list is a living legend. Here you can enjoy all-star rotating selection of drafts from CraftHaus, Great Basin Brewing, Joseph James and many other Nevada brewers. Like that restored neon sign, the beer list is another labor of love from a bar owner who can’t seem to quit making them.
NEVADA TASTE SITE 1221 S. Main St., 702-381-0812. Monday-Tuesday, 5-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-midnight; Sunday, 11:30 a.m.- 10 p.m.