Last Sunday, my friend Bryan Rabin was visiting from out of town and expressed an interest in taking it back to the old school.  So, we headed to Downtown Las Vegas, where we indulged in dinner and a show at the Plaza Hotel & Casino (located at 1 Main Street: How old school is that?!?!) and had ourselves a fantastic time.

First, we attended the early show (7pm) of Miss Behave’s MAVERICKS, the in-your-face, burlesque variety show produced and emceed by the charismatic Amy Saunders (the titular Miss Behave herself) that goes down Wednesday through Sunday nights in the glamtastic Plaza Showroom.  This was my third time at MAVERICKS, and due to Saunders’s insistence on continually changing the line-up of talent, it possesses that quality I’ve dubbed “Go Back-ability” (where, as a local, you don’t mind going back to a show repeatedly).  The highlights this time included a bizarrely brilliant burlesque Gorilla strip-tease, a hilariously demented take on Swan Lake, a soaring, almost operatic rendition of “Luck Be A Lady Tonight,” and madcap feats of juggling and hula-hooping, and we were both living for all of it.

After the show, we traversed the casino floor, then took the escalator up to Oscar’s Steakhouse, where we were shown to a prime table along the window of the iconic dome-shaped restaurant, looking down the Fremont Street Experience.  Named for Oscar Goodman—a former mob lawyer turned popular two-term Las Vegas Mayor, who played himself in Martin Scorsese’s Casino (1995), Goodman was dubbed the “Happiest Mayor in the Universe” and served as a spokesman for Bombay Sapphire Gin (though one wonders how much the latter had to do with the former)—Oscar’s Steakhouse is steeped in OG Vegas vibes just the way you’d want it to be.

And bring your appetite because the Oscar-approved menu is filled with the classic steakhouse fare we all love.  There’s an array of shellfish starters, some great salads, a bunch of delectable appetizers, a variety of steaks (Domestic!  Dry Aged!  USDA Prime!  Wagyu!), a number of seafood options, and some absolutely tantalizing desserts.

As for Bryan and me—and based on the advice of our delightful server, Nina—we started with the Short Rib Ravioli (with pecorino and bordelaise), Johnny Quinn’s Crab Cake (with stone-ground mustard and citrus remoulade), and Sal’s Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail (with spiced cocktail sauce).  The Short Rib Ravioli was tender, with the pecorino adding a nice tang, while Sal’s Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail featured three very jumbo shrimp with a piquant cocktail sauce in a shout-out to classic Vegas.  Meanwhile, I have no idea who Johnny Quinn is, but based on his namesake dish, he appreciates that the secret to a great crab cake is combining huge chunks of crab with minimal breading and a zesty remoulade, and that makes him tops in my book.

We both opted for Oscar’s Black Angus Burger (with two Black Angus patties, American cheese, fried onion rings, pickles, and “Plaza” sauce, on a toasted brioche bun), though I got mine with bacon.  Comme d’habitude, I was left with little doubt that Oscar’s Black Angus Burger is one of the five best burgers in town.  I’ve heard it described as a grown-up version of a Bob’s Big Boy, and it’s become a go-to for me at Oscar’s.

And while the Deep-Dish Chocolate Chip Cookie—a large chocolate chip cookie, prepared and served in a skillet, and topped with ice cream—is absurdly delicious, we were just too full to even consider ordering dessert.

It was a great night chasing the ghosts of Vintage Vegas, and one I highly recommend recreating yourself.

Miss Behave’s MAVERICK’S | Oscar’s Steakhouse
Plaza Hotel & Casino
Downtown Las Vegas
Click HERE for info

Get into it!
#PlazaLV