Our visit was based on the recommendation of a former local and we were not disappointed.
Walking through the front door into the dimly lit interior you immediately get that feeling of an old time speakeasy they are going for. We followed the hostess to our table carefully as our eyes adjusted to the darkness. We set our reservation early to make sure we could take advantage of the half priced steaks on offer during Happy Hour so the room wasn't overly busy.
Our table had a reasonable amount of space from our neighbors but it might be time for some repairs. Someone had dug a hole in the fiberboard table top and while it didn't take away from our enjoyment I found it a little distracting.
Staff were friendly as we were offered water, drinks and an introduction to the menu. The food menu is limited but exactly what I would expect from a steak house. Appetizers, salads and entrees are limited to 2 pages with one dedicated entirely to steak and accompaniments. The steak portions on offer range from Huge to Feed Your Family for a Month so unless you have the ability to take leftovers home or are a big eater I would suggest sharing. My wife and I opted to share an 18oz ribeye so we could enjoy some sides and sauces without overdoing it. We opted for the button mushrooms, Whiskey shallot potatoes (as suggested by our server), Brandy Peppercorn Sauce and creamy horseradish. We also selected some cocktails from the fun list available in the menu. We were offered warm bread as we waited for our meal.
The cocktail list was the most enjoyable part of the experience. Cocktails are listed by Era and each one is accompanied with a little quip or story about its origins. There were some interesting ingredients that we had never tasted before and we enjoyed exploring many of the cocktails on offer.
The steak arrived and was cooked to perfection. Tasting the steak as it was prepared without any sauce was everything we expected. Tender with an excellent crust.
Trying the sauces was a little disappointing. We are huge horseradish fans and the creamy horseradish sauce was less horseradish and tasted more like it was just sour cream. There was so little horseradish using the name was misleading though it would probably be good on a baked potato. The brandy peppercorn sauce was fine but was basically a gravy with a few peppercorns floated on top. The fact these accompaniments cost extra made me expect to have something worth adding and I would expect much more effort to go into creating them but rather we just skipped them and enjoyed the steak all on its own. The button mushroom side was also a letdown. The mushrooms reminded me of something that came from a can with little to no additional preparation. The Whiskey Shallot Potatoes were definitely worth the price of admission though. Garlic was the star here and while they were not pretty to look at my wife threatened to lick the bowl when we were done. These are definitely a signature dish but prepare for the garlic.
This is a place all about the drinks and that is represented in the menu with most of it dedicated to their selection of cocktails and top shelf liquors. My wife continued with Gin based cocktails while I stuck to the namesake whiskey drinks including a tasty scotch cocktail. All of the cocktails had a complexity that I truly enjoyed. Herbs and Rye have an extensive whisk(e)y list at prices that seemed fair when compared to other specialty restaurants.
To cap off the meal we decided to try some of the Donuts we had seen pictures of in other reviews. There is no dessert menu so the waiter informed us there were only two options to choose from but that didn't matter, our minds were focused. The warm Donuts were very tasty and a perfect end to our meal.
All the staff were outstanding and friendly. They seem to truly enjoy working there and we enjoyed the experience very much. We will definitely be back on our next trip to Vegas but next time we will stick to the basics, steak and cocktails. Definitely try to be there for Happy Hour, it is absolutely...
Read moreMy brother recommended Herbs and Rye, a restaurant that serves American and Italian cuisine. He said the dimly lit atmosphere made for a unique dining experience. I was excited to try the lounge and its variety of expertly crafted cocktails, along with the delicious food. What stood out to me the most about Herbs and Rye was that it was not shrouded in darkness as I anticipated, there was enough illumination to truly enjoy the adornments. Let us dive into the appetizers that built up our appetite for the main course. We ordered calamari and when it arrived our expectations continued to be exceeded! The dish had a wonderful blend of crispy squid, tangy banana peppers, and a zesty aioli, we also ordered the distinguished dish of Linguine & Clams. The flavor profile of this dish was simply outstanding, with a perfect blend of white wine, garlic, and chili flakes, coming together in a way that truly elevated the flavor of the dish as a whole. The clams themselves were cooked to absolute perfection and paired beautifully with the linguine to create a seafood pasta dish that truly stands out from the rest. If you're in the mood for a truly delicious seafood/pasta, I highly recommend giving both dishes a try. One of the best ideas I've encountered in my three decades of existence the happy hour deal for half-priced steaks. When my brother and I learned about it, we both knew we had to give it a try and share our steaks. I ordered a succulent NY strip steak from the restaurant's menu and decided to add a little extra flavor by opting for the house rub. My brother ordered the flat iron steak with Peruvian chimichurri and peppercorn, Although the rub was quite spicy, it perfectly complemented the natural taste of the steak and enhanced it most delightfully. For sides, we chose asparagus and Sweet Potato Tots. I ordered some cocktails to go with my steak, I must say, I was thoroughly impressed by the meticulous selection of cocktails on offer at Herbs and Rye. It's not every day that you come across a bar that offers such an extensive range of libations that spans the decades, allowing you to immerse yourself in the unique flavors of each era. I tried a new cocktail called Vieux Carré and loved it. The menu had many interesting options to explore, and it was a unique experience. If you like strong drinks, you won't be disappointed with this one. However, I didn't expect to get slightly intoxicated from it, so it's important to drink responsibly and avoid excessive consumption to avoid getting too drunk. The next drink I was unsure, so while perusing the cocktail menu, my attention was immediately drawn to the Vesper. This iconic drink was originally crafted for the 1953 James Bond film Casino Royale. My brother ordered a Saturn cocktail, crafted by renowned Tiki bartender Popo Galsini, which is exceptional. Made with gin, lemon juice, passion fruit syrup, falernum, and orgeat, it's smooth and invigorating. Garnished with an edible blossom and orange twist, it's served in a wooden tiki mug. Truly remarkable. I had an exceptional dining experience at Herbs and Rye recently. The menu offered a wonderful selection of delectable seafood options that were expertly prepared and delivered with a perfect balance of flavors and textures. The cocktails were exceptional, each one crafted like a work of art by a passionate and skilled bartender. The team at Herbs and Rye takes great pride in their craft, and it shows in every sip and every bite. What made the experience unforgettable was our server who was dynamic, engaging, and truly passionate about providing the best possible dining experience. She had a deep knowledge of the menu and the ingredients and provided expert recommendations. It was clear that she cared deeply about making our dining experience the best it could be. Overall, I highly recommend Herbs and Rye to everyone seeking a unique and unforgettable dining experience. Whether you are for a romantic dinner or a late-night adventure, this restaurant...
Read moreI was really disappointed with my meal at Herbs and Rye. I always make sure to try different restaurants on my trips to Vegas and this place has strong reviews so I was anticipating having an awesome dinner. First let me say the redeeming quality about this restaurant was the service. The service team hit all the marks and you could tell they took pride in their work. I love Busta Rhymes but not while having a steak dinner. My husband ordered a gin fizz which was weird, but I guess that’s what you get when you order a cocktail from 1895. I ordered a glass of Tempranillo which tasted cheap it had no tannins whatsoever. They brought bread to the table and it tasted like cheap grocery store bread. We ordered a French onion soup, which regrettably the worst onion soup I had ever had. I have never in my life sent back a French onion soup, usually even the mediocre ones are still worth eating. I guess there’s a first for everything. I knew the soup was suspect when it arrived at the table pale as a ghost. There was no browning or bubbling of crisp cheese, it looked like the cheese was melted with a hair dryer, barely melted limp cheese. I took a bite of the soup trying to look past the sad cheese, and was greeted with crunchy onions. They were hardly cooked. The broth tasted like it was flavored with tomato paste. It was inedible. When our server checked in with us about the soup we let him know the onions were crunchy and we did not like the soup. He politely took away the offending soup. Next we had the aglio olio pasta. When the menu reads artisanal pasta, you think hey they make the pasta in house. Our server said they were known for their pastas and they were imported from Italy so now I know im getting a dried pasta which was fine but you figure it will be a nice bronze cut spaghetti. This pasta came out absolutely swimming. I think there was more sauce than pasta in the bowl. The pasta was so over cooked I would describe the texture as gummy. Also the menu said it was spicy but there was not even a hint of heat. We also ordered a ribeye steak, a four sauce flight to sample their sauces, garlic mash and garlic spinach. The steak was cooked nicely on the inside but had no char or sear on the outside. The sauces were ok except for the red wine glaze, which was extremely sweet. The sides were just ok. I would say this is not a spot for foodies. I couldn’t imagine going to this restaurant during non happy hour times and paying twice as much. There are just so many great food experiences to have in this town, this place is...
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