Penazzi's, Las Vegas, Harrah's

Penazzi Oyster Bar Harrah’s

It was wedding day in Vegas, and we needed a light lunch to tide us over till supper time. We didn’t want to walk to far as we still had to shower and change. We wandered across the street to the Mirage, but the restaurants that grabbed our fancy initially were only open for dinner. There was a New York Deli, but Kosher deli food didn’t grab our fancy.

We mosied back across the street and I knew of a place in Harrah’s casino that had grabbed my interest on my previous visit, but because of the squeamish factor of K4 and her allergies, we did not go there. The Husband, however, has no allergies and is not squeamish and was in fact, very intrigued. When we were in Mobile Al in 2005, we discovered we loved oysters and clams and mussels...all cooked mind you! And have recently been experimenting with making them at home.

So it was we ended up at Penazzi’s. It was a cool place - upscale, yet homey. The menu’s were the placemats. Very convenient. If you sit at the counter like we did, you can watch the chefs prepare the meals and talk to them. There are tables for a traditional sit-down meal.

For starters we ordered ½ dozen fried Malpeque oysters. Oh my god. These were huge! If you are familiar with the Japanese tempura style of cooking, this is how they were prepared. Absolutely fantastic. We then shared the Tequila Lime Shrimp with a black bean and corn salad. Again, delicious. Tangy, sweet, and cooked just right.

To conclude the meal the Husband had to try an O-shooter. Yes, an oyster shooter. He chose the Tequilia Lime shooter: a blue point oyster, tequila, jalapeno and mango. I really wish I had thought to take a picture! The whole thing comes in a 3 oz shot glass...I thought it looked alien and slimy. The gal sitting down the counter from us exclaimed out loud that it looked...slimy. The Husband decided he would take this in steps and first reduced the amount of liquid in the glass. Then he was able to toss the oyster back...except that he didn’t just let it slide down he chewed it! Lesson #1. Don’t. Chew. The. Oyster. When all was said and done, he was glad he tried it, but wouldn’t ask for seconds.

If I make it back to Vegas, and if Harrah’s is still standing (I heard they are slated for demo and re-building), I will go back here.