Benny’s Smoking BBQ vs Ellis Island BBQ

Blonde4ever compares the deliciousness of Benny’s Smokin’ BBQ vs. Ellis Island 

I have always been a closet BBQ eater. To my way of thinking, there was no way to consume BBQ ribs in a tidy manner. I usually wound up looking like a caveman with sauce smeared across my face: very unladylike. So BBQ was something I did in secret, behind closed doors, until I discovered Ellis Island BBQ ribs. What initially got me in the door was the fact that I had a Las Vegas Advisor coupon where two people could eat for the price of one, but what brought me back time after time was that moist, smoky meat just falling off of the bones.

A trip to Ellis Island BBQ became de rigueur for every trip; that is until my affections began to turn towards downtown. As my trips became less Strip centered and more Downtown centered I found it more difficult to get back to Ellis Island for a meal. I don’t drive and have some issues walking so unless a friend with a car volunteered to take me there, I did not get to go. There were some trips where no BBQ was consumed. Sad but true. Therefore I was thrilled when Benny’s Bullpen at Binion’s turned into Benny’s Smoking BBQ in 2014. I can only assume that they were copying the Ellis Island meal as their dinners came with similar sides; beans, corn bread, cole slaw and corn at Benny’s and beans, cole slaw, corn and that fabulous root beer at Ellis Island.

You may have noticed from my other articles that I am really not a fussy eater. I suffer from the same condition that most mothers do, I am happy with almost any meal as long as I don’t have to cook it. It could be a hot dog; I don’t care. As long as I am not the one preparing it, is the best hot dog on the planet. To ask me to compare the two meals is futile because they both taste awesome to me. The meat is always tender and lean. Both places offer additional BBQ sauces to use if there isn’t enough to suit you on your plate already. Both meals are very reasonably priced. Benny’s is just $13.99 for a full rack of ribs with your Binion’s card. You can also pay with your comp points if you have some built up. You can see a pdf of their menu here.

Ellis Island charges $14.99 for their full rack with their player’s card. You can see a pdf of that menu, here.

I make sure to have at least one ribs meal at Benny’s on every trip now. My desire for their taste has overridden my desire to look ladylike. The last visit was on Halloween night, and the place was so busy we couldn’t get a table. We managed to find a seat at the bar, but I was puzzled as to how they were going to serve our dinners on a video poker screen. I was surprised when the bartender pulled out these wooden ledges that fit securely on the railing of the bar for us to eat on. I never knew those existed.

It is good to know that regardless of whether you are a Strip or a Downtown person, you are always close to a bargain plate of delicious ribs.

[Photos: Fremont Street Experience, Tripadvisor, Ellis Island, Blonde4ever, Vital Vegas, Kodidog]

Blonde4ever

Bonnie, aka Blonde4ever, is the admin of one of our favorite Vegas forums: LasVegas4ever. She covers a large spectrum of topics from her personal experiences in Las Vegas.