If that hulking, brand-new stadium alongside I-15 didn’t clue you in, Las Vegas is a full-on sports town now. And though we can’t cheer on our new NFL team from the stands, we can gather at a new sports bar inside locals favorite Palace Station.
Tailgate Social, from Clique Hospitality, is a sports lover’s dream, featuring more than 30 high-definition TVs tuned to every game imaginable and amplified by a sound system that puts you courtside or basically out on the field. The vibe is convivial and high-energy, complemented by an outstanding food and beverage program.
“Tailgate Social was created initially, conceptually to replicate tailgating,” says Keith Eure, director of operations for Clique Hospitality. “You think of fun with your family and friends before a big game, all in support of your home team. … We put an actual Volkswagen bus in there as our tailgate, which is our order pickup window. But the whole concept is just a fun, elevated sports bar concept. There’s not a bad spot to watch those big-moments kinds of games.”
The keyword is elevated, which holds especially true for the food menu. Start with the appetizer section, where you’ll find an outstanding spicy ahi tuna and crispy rice ($15)—sushi grade tuna with spicy chile garlic and roasted garlic ponzu. Familiar bar-food fare is here, too, like the share-friendly Monster Nachos ($12, with an option to add on steak or chicken) and chicken wings served crispy style ($12-$23) with a choice of sauces including signature Buffalo, spicy Korean and chipotle lime. Potato skins ($12), pretzel bites ($10) and a barbecue chicken quesadilla ($10) are also on offer.
You’ll want to hang for a while, so next comes rib-sticking fare, like handcrafted sandwiches and burgers, served with house-spiced crispy french fries. The Maine lobster roll ($28) is straight-up indulgence: New England lobster salad atop a warm griddled brioche bun, comforting for East Coast transplants. You can build your burger any way you want ($16) thanks to a slew of toppings and sauces, but start with the Tailgate Burger ($14), an 8-ounce wood-grilled patty with roasted garlic balsamic butter, Swiss provolone cheese blend and grilled onions on a toasted brioche bun.
Beyond burgers, entree selections include grilled fish tacos ($16), truffle pasta ($15) and sliced New York steak ($38), approachable fare for which Clique Hospitality—which also operates Bottiglia, Borracha and Hearthstone, among others—is known. There’s pizza, too, and a giant, shareable stromboli appropriately called Holey Moley Big Ass 4 Foot Stromboli ($55), stuffed with pepperoni, sausage, roasted peppers and mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
Along with screens and food, beverages complete the sports bar holy trinity, and at Tailgate Social, the selection is vast, ranging from cocktails and wine to beers on tap and by the bottle.
“We have an inedible drink and beer selection with 20 beers on tap, including Ryan Reaves’ 7Five Training Day, a delicious golden ale,” Eure says. “We have some excellent specialty cocktails that we actually [serve] on draft to ensure consistency every time you try them. We have an incredible buzzer beater cocktail that’s a Casamigos-based cocktail with a little hibiscus to it that’s very easy to finish.”
However you watch sports right now, Tailgate Social provides a space to celebrate the big wins—and soak up the tough losses—in the company of a few friends. Like all restaurants in town, its 3,000-square-foot space is currently capped at 25 percent capacity, but the experience still feels as large as a stadium full of people.
TAILGATE SOCIAL Palace Station, 702-221-6513. Monday-Friday, 5 p.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
