Recently opened, the Durango Resort and Casino is the latest offering to Las Vegas, near our first Ikea. While I have yet to sample the furniture store's iconic Swedish meatballs, checking out the Durango was a big priority. The food hall is small and features different tastes and options. The part that I liked about the design and feel of the place is that you have a choice between fast, casual options and restaurants that seat and serve you. Choosing between those ways to dine while you visit makes it nice.
We split our tour of the place into two separate visits. Here's a quick rundown of how it went.
You or Mi Sushi
We tried a few dishes at this new outpost of Yu of Mi. The first was their miso soup, a warm, satisfying start to the night. Next, we got an order of their black miso cod tacos. They were melt-in-your-mouth tender with a rich, sweet, but savory sauce. We couldn't resist trying one of our all-time favorites: yellowtail carpaccio, which pairs the tender fish with serrano peppers and a garlic ponzu sauce. In short, it's amazing.
Fiorella
The story of this place starts in 1892 when Luigi Fiorella opened his sausage shot in Philly in the city's historic market. More than a century later, Marc Vetri restored it to its original glory. The new space in Durango has been created to celebrate the legacy. For a behind-the-scenes peek, sit at the counter and watch the pasta-making process up close. Their house-made focaccia tempts you with their pillowy texture when first seated. Dip it in olive oil and peruse the menu. We decided to try their mafaldine the past, shaped like the edges of a lasagna noodle twirls around your fork with a creamy short rib and horseradish sauce. It is a truly unique dish worth ordering.
Shang Artisan Noodle
The latest outpost of this Chinese restaurant celebrates the ancient practice of making noodles. They make hand-pulled and knife-cut noodles. You can watch through a window in the kitchen to watch the skilled chefs create them right before your eyes. We tried the Shang beef noodles, a steaming bowl of rich broth, braised beef brisket, and veggies. You can choose your noodles. We chose hand-pulled and loved it. The silky broth was full of flavor, and the noodles were a tender and comforting experience. Prince Street Pizza
This is a takeout experience, steps away from the other restaurants. They have round options available but are known for their square-shaped pies. We tried their vodka sauce square pizza. The crust was nice and crispy, but we weren't knocked out by the sauce and felt it could have used some extra cheese or meat topping. Ai Pono Café
This is another fast-casual space. Chef Gene Villiatora is on a mission to bring authentic Hawaiian street food to the community. He's bringing the trend he started in Orange County to Las Vegas. We ordered the Ahi Katsu plate. All plates come with macaroni salad and an Asian salad. The dish is Japanese-style breaded ahi served rare topped with miso hot mustard and a sweet soy reduction. The fish was perfect with a tasty crust and tasty tender center, and it was complimented by the sauces they drizzled it with. I could have been more impressed with their take on macaroni salad; as a card-carrying macaroni salad lover, that was a letdown.
Uncle Paulies
This sandwich shop is bright and reminiscent of a New York-style deli. We tried the Paulie. This sub is generously stuffed with turkey, fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, oil, and balsamic. It was good. If we were to order it again on a return visit, I'd add more dressing and ask to have it toasted.
Irv's Burgers
A Los Angeles institution since 1950, this burger joint has been extremely popular at Eat Your Heart Out. They offer breakfast sandos and burritos, dogs, smash burgers, fries, and fun fountain shop options from shakes to floats. We ordered a just-for-you burger and customized it with hatch chilis, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and Irv's sauce, which is like Thousand Island dressing but heavy on garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. It was a greasy, drool-worthy delight.
I didn't get the opportunity to try out the Oyster Bar, Vesta Coffee Roasters, or Neilsen's Frozen Custard, but I have heard nothing but good things about all of them. Eat You Heart Out may have converted this food nerd into a food hall enthusiast. I will be back to conquer the rest.