AL SOLITO POSTO
Poached tuna nicoise salad, stuffed French toast, Belgian waffle and a prosecco bar cocktail at Al Solito Posto
James Trees’ new neighborhood classic could have busted out a blockbuster brunch menu at any time during its rookie season in 2021—and the restaurant’s regulars have certainly been calling for it—but the kitchen took its time. The resulting rollout of Italian dishes was conceived by Trees and new chef Steve Young, balancing lightness with rich satisfaction. Bring the gang and share large-format carafe cocktails to complement lobster-topped eggs Benedict ($38), Belgian endive and farro salad ($16), stuffed French toast ($19) and cheesy polenta with succulent braised beef cheeks ($32). Sandwiches grab the spotlight, ranging from meatball parm ($17) to an East Coast-style Taylor ham, egg and cheese classic ($16). Brunch served Saturday & Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tivoli Village, 702-463-6781, alsolito.com.
BOOM BANG
Eggs Per Elia, Tumbleweed Cinnamon Bread, a coffee roll and a Jack Rose cocktail at Boom Bang
Sundays in Green Valley are a lot tastier these days. This energetic new neighborhood bistro is serving up brunch favorites like Dutch pancakes ($15), salsa verde-saturated chilaquiles ($16) and steak and eggs ($25) with creative twists, including the Oishii Shrimp Roll on fresh brioche ($19) and a black truffle scrambled egg tart ($19). Beware addictive sweet treats like the coffee roll ($6.50) and Tumbleweed Cinnamon Bread ($5.50), or get ’em both and balance things out with two different styles of bacon ($4-$7) and a San Marzano tomato bloody mary ($13). Brunch served Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. 75 S. Valle Verde Drive #160, 702-478-6200, boombang.restaurant.
CASA CALAVERA
Catrina avocado toast, carne asada chilaquiles, the Juanito Cakes Stack and cocktails at Casa Calavera
There are lots of Mexican brunch options around town but only one with a sandy beach patio. A margarita, sangria, michelada or daiquiri feels mandatory beside the Virgin resort pool, but the Oaxacan Mule ($15) with Patron Silver and ginger beer, is another great fit. Similarly transportive: the ahi tuna tostada ($18) with creamy avocado and aji amarillo salsa and the Baja fish tacos ($3 for one or $18 for a combo plate). Consider sharing a stack of yellow corn pancakes ($15) with whipped butter, maple syrup, chocolate sauce and berry compote for dessert. Proceed carefully on Sundays—happy hour begins when brunch ends. Brunch served Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Virgin, 702-522-8000, taogroup.com.
EL DORADO CANTINA
El Dorado Cantina’s Macho Benedict
Now three locations strong, this Mexican food favorite is approaching institution status thanks to its long hours, ingredient-driven menu and cozy restaurant spaces, particularly the expansive patio and high-energy dining room at the Tivoli Village destination. A brunch mission to El Dorado must include Huevos Divorciadios ($14)—fried eggs on fresh corn tortillas with avocado, refried beans, queso fresco and fresh-roasted salsas. Fight hangovers with chorizo, bacon or steak breakfast burritos ($16), and satisfy that sweet tooth with a fluffy churro waffle with caramel plantain sauce ($14). Brunch served Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Multiple locations, eldoradocantina.com.
FUHU
Ube pancakes at Fuhu
Chef Joseph Elevado, formerly of Social House and Andrea’s, serves brunch with a pan-Asian twist at this sexy new eatery in the heart of Resorts World’s nightlife district. Fuhu sparks the vibe with a chic aesthetic and a thumping playlist of EDM and trap remixes tailor-made for the adjacent clubs. Two cherry blossom trees frame the restaurant’s entryway and shade its people-watching-friendly patio. Inside, artwork of a bellowing Bengal tiger lurks along the walls next to a large kitchen window, where you can peek into Fuhu’s culinary process.
Adventurous types will love Fuhu’s variety of hot and cold dishes, including a section for sushi rolls and dim sum. Kick it off with the special nigiri platter ($45), featuring an assortment of bluefin tuna, salmon, snapper and scallop. Then wash it down with your choice of an oyster shooter ($12) full of sake and tangy ponzu sauce, one of Fuhu’s specialty cocktails or bottomless mimosas, bloody marys and marias ($35 for 90 minutes).
The hot fare sets itself apart with several vegan dishes, a short rib eggs Benedict ($36), tamarind chili octopus ($21) and a snow crab scramble ($28) that’s incredibly generous with the crab. You’ll savor every bite of the four-stack layer of ube pancakes ($16) dusted with coconut shavings for a satisfying crunch. The condensed milk drizzled on top of these purple-hued cakes provides a balanced sweetness plain sugar could never match. Elevado also nails it with the chilaquiles ($23), a dish topped with two fried eggs over a mound of shredded, flavorful chicken and tortilla chips dusted with cotija cheese. With fare this good, it’s not hard to drag yourself out of bed. Brunch served Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Resorts World, 702-676-7740, zoukgrouplv.com.
THE GARDEN
The New Vegas Brunch
One of the city’s most popular gay nightlife destinations is also home to the Bottomless Drag Brunch, a rager that can stack up to any daytime bash on the Strip. Ticket packages range from $65 to $120 depending on your drink and table preferences. Resident queens including Jaymes Mansfield, Alexis Mateo, Coco Montrese, Chevis Regal and Desree St. James will make sure you get your money’s worth. And you’ll have too many mimosas, so be sure to load up on delicious entrée options like sweet potato hash with soy chorizo, avocado toast with sun-dried tomatoes and the Hangover Burger with bacon, over-easy egg and pickled shallots. And amp things up with a Cinnamon Toast or Blueberry Upside Down shot, in case you’re not already fully overwhelmed by the sights, sounds, snacks and sips here. Brunch served Saturday & Sunday, noon-5 p.m. 1017 S. 1st St. #180, 702-202-0900, thegardenlasvegas.com.
KASSI BEACH HOUSE
You don’t have to wait for the weekend to enjoy a bottomless brunch experience. Virgin’s stylish Kassi Beach House serves Fleur de Mer’s Côtes de Provence rosé and La Marca prosecco every day starting at 11 a.m. ($45 per person), alongside a mouthwatering food experience. The relaxed, beachy ambiance is worth a visit alone; the restaurant’s terracotta arched entrance, wicker lamps and overall earthy decor bring the coastal Italian vibes, setting the tone for the cuisine. Kassi’s pizzas are becoming the talk of the town and are appropriately available at brunch, including the soppressata ($22), with cured pork, chili, honey and mozzarella—a work of art. Kassi’s version of avocado toast ($15) also sings, topped with radishes, fennel, basil and pistachio crumble. This is the all-week-long brunch the Vegas scene deserves. Brunch served daily, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Virgin, 702-693-4000, kassibeach.com.
LA NETA
There’s a reason this clubby new restaurant and lounge refers to its Sunday brunch program as “Let’s F*#k’n Brunch.” Everything about the place is bold and brash, and that attitude has attracted a party-ready crowd to Downtown Summerlin. That translates into some memorable people-watching, alongside the elote avocado toast ($15), campechana seafood cocktail ($24), Trash-quiles ($23) and Wake and Cake coffee pancakes ($16) with boozy Licor 43 frosting. Come for the food and drinks, stay for the party, which can include bottle service, if you’re interested. Brunch served Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Downtown Summerlin, 702-476-5484, lanetacocina.com.
PEYOTE
Corner Bar Management’s new Downtown oasis boasts one of the best-looking open-air patios in the neighborhood, so if you’re brunching, skip the window seats and head outside. Stay hydrated as you soak up some rays with a list of fresh cocktails including the spiced pear Bellini ($13) and crimson mojito with chai-infused rum ($13). Imaginative takes on mid-morning favorites are next up, like the soy chorizo toast ($15)—a Spanish twist on traditional avocado toast—and the baked challah French toast ($16) served with creamy amaretto mascarpone. One of Peyote’s primary strengths is its wood-fire cooking, so the steak and eggs ($28), featuring a grilled strip loin, is another must-try. Brunch served Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Fergusons Downtown, 725-210-0306, peyotedtlv.com.
SMOKE & FIRE
Barbecue joints can do brunch, too, and this one is lighting the fires with $19 bottomless mimosas and bloody marys. Smoke & Fire is known as much for its stellar sliders and burgers as its savory smoked meats, and brunch brings new offerings like breakfast sliders ($14) with fried eggs, cheese and smoky bacon or sausage on Hawaiian sweet rolls. If the specials include the bacon jam burger ($18), get it, and if not, check out Tony’s Brisket Sliders ($19), topped with pepper jack, crispy onions and jalapeños. S&F also does chicken and waffles right, served with butter, blueberry syrup and hot sauce on the side so you can get creative at your table. Brunch served Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 3315 E. Russell Road, 725-214-5398, smokeandfirelv.com.
SPAGO
Wolfgang Puck’s Strip institution has always been recognized more as a power lunch go-to, but when it moved to Bellagio and built a beautiful new fountain-side patio, it added Baller Brunch Destination Supreme to its résumé. Start with oysters with peppercorn apple mignonette ($26) or a lobster and shrimp cocktail ($49) with lemon herb aioli, then move on to bacon, egg and leek pizza ($27), a king crab omelet ($36) and one of the Strip’s best burgers ($29). You can also get Puck signatures like smoked salmon pizza ($39) and Chinois chicken salad ($26), but this feels like an all-out experience worthy of new exploration. Brunch served Friday-Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Bellagio, 702-693-8181, wolfgangpuck.com.
SUGAR FACTORY
From left: Chicken and Waffles, Pink Unicorn Hot Chocolate, Banana Nutella Lovers Pancakes, Lucky Charm Blue Latte and the Pink Cloud Pancake Stack at Sugar Factory on Harmon Corner, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022.
Sugar Factory’s new Strip location at Harmon Corner is three stories of fun and whimsy. A rock-climbing wall, neon signs and other colorful decor provide plenty of Instagrammable opportunities. Though sugary treats take center stage, the Factory also offers a menu of savory appetizers and entrees like eggs Benedict ($18) with Canadian bacon, hash browns and asparagus. The chicken and waffles ($28), served with a side of warm maple syrup, makes for another excellent choice. And give in to temptation by trying at least one over-the-top sweet sensation.
Strawberry Cheesecake Overload Pancakes ($25) arrive decked out with cheesecake bites, fresh strawberries, strawberry topping and whipped cream … and a slice of cheesecake and a strawberry ice cream bar sit atop the stack(!). The impressive list of drinks—alcoholic and non—includes the Miami Tropical Punch ($40), which will keep the party going with its refreshing blend of pineapple juice, tropical mai tai and piña colada flavors, El Recuerdo white and gold tequilas and spiced rum. And the Pink Unicorn Hot Chocolate ($7.50), a rich white chocolate-flavored beverage topped with whipped cream and colorful marshmallows, is a fun way to warm up a cooler weekend on the Strip. Brunch served Saturday & Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 3717 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 725-777-1216, sugarfactory.com.
WALLY’S
Imagine a cozy-yet-refined Strip dining space with all the wine in the world and an everyday brunch menu, a spot so casual, it doesn’t accept reservations. It’s real, and it’s at Resorts World, ready to serve your leisurely weekend meal any day of the week. If you’re not ready for wine, sip on the truffle negroni ($22) or the exceedingly fresh-tasting house bloody mary ($23). Fill up on a stacked Italian hero ($15), or keep it light with citrus-rubbed hamachi and bigeye tuna sashimi ($32). Go seasonal with a squash pizzetta ($24) with goat cheese and pumpkin spice puree, or indulge with the BLTA Benedict ($32) topped with bacon so thick and smoky, it’s a meal all by itself. Brunch served daily, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Resorts World, 702-676-6966, wallywine.com.
