Off the Strip Bistro and Bar: Please Tell Me What You Think You Are


One of the things I most look forward to when visiting Las Vegas is eating at restaurants and earning Open Table points (I’m a point whore, remember?). Particularly exciting to me is a restaurant that offers 1,000 points for dining as opposed to the typical 100. Well, Off the Strip Bistro and Bar came up as a 1,000 point restaurant and I was quick to book it. Typically restaurants will offer 1,000 point tables at odd times or when they are desperate and trying to attract business. Further research showed that all dining times for this restaurant for the next week were available for 900 point bonus. Maybe I should have taken that as an omen?

Off the Strip has an original location on Southern Highlands Parkway, southwest of the Strip, and now this shiny new outlet at The Linq, which opened in December 2014. From The Linq (the shopping arcade), the place presents itself quite nicely with a sign that spells out the name in light bulbs and a patio for seating.

bobz_offthestrip2_92015
Exterior as seen from The Linq (the shopping arcade)

There’s an unobtrusive door to the left of the patio that opens into the host station and dining room. From The Linq (the hotel), it’s sort of on the d/l and doesn’t stand out. I entered from The Linq (the hotel) and had to walk through the dining room to the host station. Attended by no one. Quickly enough a server came by and was able to seat me. The restaurant has two stories. The first floor, where the dining room is, has two levels. According to my server, they are considering putting an upscale steakhouse upstairs. I can’t imagine that happening. The upper level has two bars and the majority of tables, and the lower has additional tables and an exhibition kitchen, i.e., a kitchen with a window.

That stands for Off The Strip. Get it?
That stands for Off The Strip. Get it?
One of the bars
One of the bars
Lower level of the dining room with the exhibition kitchen
Lower level of the dining room with the exhibition kitchen

There was music playing while I was there, a combo of jazz and blues. It’s a very understated dining room with wood floors and wood-paneled bars, brick accent walls and a mixture of high top tables. I hate high top tables – the seats are inevitably uncomfortable, and there is no reason for their existence. Can you tell I have an opinion about them? And then there’s the light. Or lack thereof. I think that the lighting wouldn’t have bothered me as much if the menu wasn’t white lettering on a black background.

White font on black background. Ugh!
White font on black background. Ugh!

Why, why, why? It’s not because it’s a sexy dining room. People older than fifty will eat there. Turn up the lights or change the font color! Not that I have an opinion about that, either. The place was pretty dead, but I was there at 6:30 pm (I had a show later) and by the time I left at 7:30 pm it was busier.

The problem that I have with Off the Strip is that the menu seems to try to please everyone. It’s discordant and doesn’t have a rhythm to it. Under Table Starters ($10-$15) are such things as hummus, wings, and calamari. And then Rolled NY Strip with asparagus. Huh? Legends ($19-$26), which are entrees, include Rigatoni, Chicken Parm, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Eggplant Parm and, of course, more Italian favorites like meatloaf and beef stroganoff. What? Additionally you can choose from the Fresh and Fit section ($11-$25) which offers salads, salmon, grilled Mahi and a roasted chicken breast. Come again? Then there is the Steaks and Chops portion of the menu ($26-$39) which has the usual suspects of meats. And finally Between the Buns ($13-$15) which includes a hamburger choice and three sandwich options. The whole menu seemed scattershot and schizophrenic to me, with no identity.

The server turned up and provided good, if insincere, service. I have this weird thing about always wanting to connect with my server (I used to be one) so when one is insincere I feel slighted. Silly, I know.  There must not have been any specials as he didn’t offer any. After using the flashlight on my phone in order to see the menu, I decided on the Giant Meatball ($10) and the Garbage Ensalata ($15) which is composed of mixed greens, salami, provolone, capers, hearts of palm, cherry peppers, mushrooms, bleu cheese, feta, olives, shrimp and a balsamic dressing.

The meatball was served with a steak knife, and I wondered why. It was huge, so I thought that maybe it was a marketing gimmick: “Look, our meatball is so big you need a steak knife!” Perhaps, but I suspect that the real reason is that it’s one tough meatball.

Big, tough meatball served with a big, tough knife
Big, tough meatball served with a big, tough knife

Granted a meatball of this size can be difficult to get right: to cook it thoroughly you risk making it tough. But since this is a specialty of Off the Strip (it’s Chef Al’s secret recipe!) I’d have thought it would be near perfect. Toughness aside, the meatball had good flavor, and the marinara was perfect: slightly chunky, a little spicy and not too sweet (sorta like me).

The Garbage Insalata had a terrific balsamic based dressing served on the side. The salad was chock full of the ingredients listed on the menu, but there was no discernible flavor from anything. The salami was very mild, the feta wasn’t very tangy, the shrimp was bland and the hearts of palm cut too finely. Additionally, the whole thing sat on a sort of sad pile of greens: there weren’t enough to consider it an entree sized salad.

Garbage Insalata with a side of flavor, which was desperately needed
Garbage Insalata with a side of flavor, which was desperately needed

The whole meal set me back $27.03 including tax plus tip: that’s not bad for 1,000 Open Table points. But I doubt I’ll go back. The menu is confusingly diverse but not compelling. The dining room is too damned dark; the service was efficient but not personal. And, finally, there are too many great restaurants on the strip (Tom’s Urban, 800 Degrees, Julian Serrano, Gordon Ramsey Pub, SEA at Bally’s) to try this one again.  But thanks for the 1,000 points!

Previous post Getting to Know: New Writer, Cathy Vo
Next post Would You Still Visit Vegas if the Drinks Weren’t Free?