by VICTORIA HENLEY
CTFashionMag.com
Dominating the Las Vegas skyline, the Strat Hotel, Casino and Skypod proudly holds the title of the tallest structure in the state of Nevada, standing at a staggering 1,149 feet.
A long-standing landmark location where the Las Vegas Strip begins and ends, the Strat Hotel, Casino, and Skypod has evolved (since its inception in 1992) as one of the premiere entertainment destinations in Las Vegas, offering panoramic views of the city from the Skypod, high thrill rides that allow adrenaline junkies to sky rocket 160 feet straight into the air at speeds of 45 miles per hour, as well as the SkyJump, where guests can plummet 108 floors from the very peak of the Strat tower. The aforementioned are just a few of the many exciting experiences waiting to be had at the Strat Hotel Casino and Skypod as the property has also become acclaimed for its top-notch entertainment scene and cuisine.
Accompanied by Lynn Henley, I visited the Strat Hotel, Casino and Skypod for a stellar dining and comedy club experience that you absolutely must try for yourself on your next trip to Las Vegas.
MCCALL’S HEARTLAND GRILL
Featuring an atmosphere that is, at once, warm, inviting, and effortlessly elegant as well as a menu filled with an extensive array of comfort foods, presented with an upscale twist, McCall’s offers a luxury dining experience without the attached luxury price tag that one might expect to find in a standard upscale Las Vegas steakhouse.
Offering an impressively diverse roster of options including seafood, flavorful pastas, sumptuous side items and an excellent lineup of whiskeys, wines, cocktails and bourbons, McCall’s prides itself on offering a wider array of selections than your average steakhouse to please the palate of a larger variety of guests.
Although Lynn and I do not consume red meat, we felt right at home at McCall’s as the large menu’s offerings are specially curated by the chef to pair with one another exquisitely and to satisfy a wide variety of cravings.
Of course, McCall’s Heartland Grill is known far and wide for its premium quality steaks, offering a world famous special of Prime Rib from the Midwestern region, aged up to 35 days and slow roasted with Kosher salt, cracked black pepper, garlic and rosemary. Also available as a signature steakhouse item is a 20 ounce bone in or Chef’s Cut, served with a house baked potato, creamy horseradish, and au jus.
Selecting only a choice few menu items from the extensive menu was challenging; However, our choices complemented each other sublimely and are highly recommended to try for your next dinner outing in Las Vegas.
DRINKS
Raspberry sweet tea is recommended by Lynn as the non-alcoholic beverage option.
COCKTAILS
Special thanks to the immensely talented bartender, Jose, for whipping up these divine libations.
Blame it on the Tequila: The Don Julio Blanco Tequila, Grand Marnier Orange Liquor, honey jalapeno syrup, pineapple juice and seasoned rim.
House Sangria: Macerated fruit paired with red or white wine. We chose red.
APPETIZER
Spinach Artichoke Dip: Featuring artichokes, spinach, cream and mascarpone. Not your average artichoke dip; it is served with warm pita bread. Bursting with tender artichokes, this appetizer is hearty enough to be a meal of its own. )
SOUP
Clam Chowder: Traditional New England style. Unexplainably rich and creamy.
SALAD
Wedge Salad: Iceberg lettuce, bacon, blue cheese dressing, and roasted tomatoes)
ENTREE
Each entree is served with warm, flaky King’s Hawaiian bread rolls, adorned with house-made garlic butter seasoning. It is made in house daily)
Petite Twin Lobster Tails: Served with drawn lemon butter and tender broccolini.
We added sides of a loaded baked potato and an incredible Lobster Mac and Cheese , which was brimming with flavor and chockful of expertly blended meaty cheeses and fresh, tender, lobster meat.
DESSERT
Classic Creme Brulé: Featuring a fluffy pudding- like interior, with a crisp, delicate, sweet layer of sugary goodness atop. McCall’s Creme Brulé is one of the best versions of this delicious French treat that you will find anywhere.
Our server, Dean, was extremely helpful, hospitable, and knowledgeable about the food and beverage options, while master Chef Andrew Bateman applies his special brand of culinary magic to enhance the flavors of even the most standard menu offerings. While each of the food items were superb, McCall’s Heartland Grill particularly excels in cream sauces, serving up some of the most unbelievably delicious cream-based dishes you’ll try in your life.
A perfect location for date night, a special celebration or a pre-show dinner, McCall’s Heartland Grill is a surprisingly affordable Las Vegas “Must Try” dining establishment that truly offers something for everyone.
WEBSITE: https://thestrat.com/restaurants/mccall-s-heartland-grill?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=yext
PHONE: (702) 380-7790
LA COMEDY CLUB
Located in a charming, intimate theater in the retail space of the Strat Hotel, Casino, and Skypod (soon to relocate to a large, ballroom style show space on the main casino floor beside McCall’s Heartland Grill), LA Comedy Club was the very first to bring some of the top names in comedy– including Aziz Ansari, Felipe Esparsa and Loni Love– to the city of Las Vegas. Featuring a multi-genre line up of unique, talented, wildly funny and highly original comics nightly, LA Comedy Club is the premiere comedy lover’s destination to see stellar comedy with a fresh perspective by numerous comics per show, leading up to a headliner, which you can always guarantee will be a decorated comic with impressive credentials such as Comedy Central, HBO and more.
It is owned and operated by entertainment entrepreneurs, Joaquin Trujillo, who has produced a remarkable 7,000 plus comedy shows and has served as senior executive for Chippendales for the Las Vegas market. Trujillo added live concerts to his impressive resume in 2017; and Matt Chavez, who wears many hats as the co-owner, producer and booker of the LA Comedy Club in Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Live Comedy Club. The LA Comedy Club has built a fast reputation as a premiere destination to enjoy some of the funniest comics in the city at a remarkable value.
The back-to-back gold winner of “The Best of Las Vegas” award in 2020 and 2021, LA Comedy Club holds customer experience at the highest regard offering some of the lowest prices in town as well as some of the friendliest staff you’ll meet, all working hard to ensure an optimal evening for everyone in attendance.
LA Comedy Club features special deals you’ll be hard pressed to find elsewhere including free parking for guests onsite at the Strat and several experience options available to suit a variety of needs.
GENERAL ADMISSION : Seating by maître’ d, First-come, first-serve in GA line.
VIP ADMISSION: Seating by maître’ d. Skip the GA line, and choose from best available seating upon arrival.
VIP + ALL YOU CAN DRINK : Seating by maître’ d, all-you-can-drink includes top brands like: Bacardi, Jack Daniel and any domestic or import beer.
We highly recommend the all-you-can-drink VIP option so you can savor the LA Comedy Club’s great selection of wines, beers and liquors. My top choice is the bartender’s recommendation of Screwball Peanut Butter whiskey with just a splash of amaretto while you enjoy the show.
We had the opportunity to take in several shows at the LA Comedy Club while in Las Vegas, enjoying hilarious acts from standout comedy superstars, including resident headliner Butch Bradley (who can be seen in the upcoming movie “Reagan” with Dennis Quaid) delivering a fast-paced, high-octane, laugh-a- minute set; Paul Ogata, a highly acclaimed headliner who has earned accolades such as “Funniest Asian American Comedian in the US” by Take Out Comedy Competition, and appearances on many television shows, most notably “Live at Gotham” on Comedy Central, the syndicated “Comics Unleashed” and CBS’s The Late, Late Show; as well as Bret Ernst (as seen in “Tacoma FD,” Vince Vaughn’s “Wild West Comedy Show” and “Cobra Kai,” the TV series.
Other memorable and very funny comics include Stoner Rob (with a laugh out loud act and a tone reminiscent of Cheech and Chong), Kris Tinkle, Emcee, Jason Outlaw and Spiro Siavelis.
WEBSITE: https://www.bestvegascomedy.com/
PHONE NUMBER: (702) 275-1823
Victoria Henley writes Backstage Pass for iHeart Radio and CTFashionMag.com.