Sin City is home to a lot of restaurants and bars, but there are tons of hidden gems that the majority of Las Vegans aren't unearthing. To help guide us to these potential discoveries, we've enlisted some of our city's food players to share their recommendations for a weekly feature dubbed Dining Confidential. Know a chef who wants to share some top dining spots? The tipline is open.
Joe Leininger became the executive chef at Triple George Grill and Mob Bar in Downtown Las Vegas after a career that started in Manhattan and led him to a catering operation in Maplewood, N.J., and a stint in Seattle as the chef for Rainforest Café. When his love of the rain ran out he moved to Las Vegas and worked as chef for Ruth's Chris steakhouse. Now he finds inspiration from the farmers markets in Vegas, using the produce the same day to create the daily specials. While he one day aspires to do a cooking segment on the Today show with Al Roker and appear on Iron Chef, for now he shares his favorite places to dine in Las Vegas.
Where do you enjoy eating when you're not working?
Diego at the MGM Grand, Ventano Italian Grill & Seafood in Henderson and Cut at the Palazzo.
What dishes are most memorable?
At Diego, I get the carne asada and I enjoy it because of the tequila-laced roasted cactus and onion salsa and grilled green onions.
I go to Ventano for the eggplant rollatini because it is always consistent.
Cut is a very interesting take on a steakhouse and the bone marrow flan is incredible.
Why do you enjoy going there?
I go to Diego because of all the different margaritas you can get and I get free guacamole.
I go to Ventano for the view of the Las Vegas Valley.
Cut: I always try to make it there when I am in LA.
· All Dining Confidentials [~ELV~]
Joe Leininger [Photo: Triple George]
