Take a Culinary Trip Through Southern Nevada – KNPR.org
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Take a Culinary Trip Through Southern Nevada
Nevada Public Radio | By Debbie Hall, Published November 19, 2025 at 10:41 AM PST
Chuck Wagon buffet line at the Flamingo.
Enjoy tasty bites from the past to the present
According to Guinness World Records, Madrid’s Sobrino de Botín has been serving meals since 1725, making it the world’s oldest continuously operating restaurant. Las Vegas, by contrast, is known more for reinvention than preservation. Here, the neon never sleeps, buildings come and go, and trends flip with every season.
Las Vegas has always been a city built on bold bets—and not just at the tables. While today’s Strip dazzles with celebrity chefs and global cuisine, the city’s culinary scene had humbler beginnings, shaped by saloons, sandwiches and sheer grit.
Officially founded on May 15, 1905, Las Vegas began as a dusty railroad town, just a mile from an earlier Mormon settlement dating back to 1855. With the arrival of the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad, a new boomtown emerged—bringing with it an appetite for entertainment, lodging and something stronger than water.
The city’s first bar is widely believed to be the Arizona Club, which opened that same year. It quickly became a fixture in the fledgling downtown, serving whiskey to thirsty railroad passengers and workers carving out a new life in the Mojave Desert.
Beyond The Strip
Downtown Summerlin Delivers Delicious Dining
A vibrant walkable urban destination in the heart of the master planned community of Summerlin®, Downtown Summerlin® is serving up the city’s most tantalizing fare. With over a dozen fine dining and fast causal options to please, it’s a one-stop for all things delicious. Read on for a few favorites worth checking out.
La Neta Cocina y Lounge
The upscale dining destination offers a modern twist on authentic Mexican cuisine, complimented by a vibrant atmosphere and exceptional service. Whether in the mood for a lively happy hour, a romantic date night or a festive brunch, La Neta Cocina Y Lounge delivers an unforgettable experience.
Frankie’s Uptown
A local favorite that recreates an iconic old school tavern vibe, Frankie’s boasts the friendliest staff in the neighborhood. From a full bar with signature cocktails and happy hour specials to live music on select nights to their signature Stroll and other must-try eats, you can’t go wrong with a night out at Frankie’s Uptown.
Grape Street Café & Wine Bar
Boasting a California bistro-style cuisine with Italian and Mediterranean flares, the neighborhood favorite offers a dynamic center bar with a variety of wine, beer and spirits for all to sip, savor and enjoy.
JING
Since opening in 2019, JING Las Vegas has been one of the most recognized and highest rated restaurants in the Valley. Dine on premium steak, seafood, and an extensive wine list prepared by Chef Thomas Griese. The world-class dining destination blends a globally inspired cuisine with a high-energy ambience that starts with dinner and ends with a late-night vibe that’s contagious.
Trattoria Reggiano
Centered around family, friends and tradition, Trattoria Reggiano sources local, responsibly grown ingredients into every entrée. Guests are treated to a true Italian experience in a traditional street-side Trattoria setting.
Harlo Steakhouse & Bar
At Harlo, you’ll enjoy a classically elegant steakhouse with an elevated ambiance for a discerning clientele unlike anything else in Las Vegas. Chef and Partner Gina Marinelli brings her culinary excellence ensuring every dish is expertly curated and beautifully crafted.
Hungry? Visit summerlin.com for all the delicious details.
Just steps away, the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino, also built in 1905, welcomed guests with comfort and excitement. During Prohibition, it even featured a hidden bar, keeping the party alive when the law tried to shut it down. While booze flowed freely in Vegas’s early days, food was another story.
Before the Strip, before buffets and long before fine dining, meals in Las Vegas were little more than an afterthought. In the early 20th century, culinary offerings were limited to home kitchens, bar-top sandwiches and the occasional boarding house stew. Dining out was a big-city luxury—not for a raw, sunbaked town in the desert.
That began to change in 1931, when two transformative events reshaped Southern Nevada: the legalization of gambling and the start of construction on the Hoover Dam. With new workers flooding into the area, demand for food and drink skyrocketed. While most eateries remained informal, the seeds of a dining culture were slowly being planted.
Even in this ever-changing landscape, a few local legends endure—like one still serving steak and whiskey just off the beaten path.
Located in North Las Vegas, the Hitchin’ Post Saloon & Steakhouse holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the Las Vegas area. Opened in 1948, the Hitchin’ Post is a genuine piece of Old Vegas history—one that predates the Rat Pack era, the megaresorts and even the iconic “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign.
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