A Dine-Around Through Downtown's New Pawn Plaza and Chow

Al Mancini checks out the restaurants at Rick Harrison’s Pawn Plaza, just south of Gold & Silver Pawn Shop. At Smokes Poutinerie, “I stuck with the traditional recipe: fries, gravy and cheese curds … which was delicious in its simplicity.” He says Inna Gadda di Pizza from 34th Floor Hospitality’s Ralph Cautela is “pure Big Apple street pie.” Rick’s Rollin’ Smoke Barbeque & Tavern “concentrates on smoked meats, served alone, on sandwiches and in classic bar foods.” He liked the “wonderfully spicy” spare ribs, beef hot links, sliced brisket and chopped brisket point. Note, locals can score a 20 percent discount. For dessert, he headed to Rita’s Italian Ice for gelati, “a combination of mango ice and vanilla custard.” And at Pawn Donut & Coffee, he tried a panda Boston cream doughnut that “used icing and Oreos to replicate a panda face — as cute as it was satisfying.” [DTLV]

Chow. Photo: Amelinda B Lee

Sticking with the Downtown Las Vegas vibe, Brock Radke checks out Natalie Young’s Chow to try the Chinese food and chicken she dishes up there. He calls the egg rolls “crammed with shrimp, ham and celery, among other garlicky stuffing” a “must order.” He says the crispy Southern version of fried chicken features “lovely accoutrements” such as sweet corn muffins and pickled jalapeños. He prefers though the crispy thighs. “Overall, there’s more Chinese than American food, and the Asian stuff is a bit better.” [LVW]