Mayor Goodman's Picks by Max Jacobson
Da Mayor
I recently visited affable Mayor Oscar Goodman in his large City Hall office, where he was generous enough to take a few minutes out of his busy schedule to discuss, what else, where he likes to eat.
Meeting the Mayor, you get the impression that this is one man, despite his current trim, who likes food. He’s a hale fellow, well met. In Yiddish, we might refer to him a fresser, Yiddish for big time eater.
The Mayor took office June 28, 1999, a few months before I got here, so it’s hard for me to imagine anyone else in the office. Only the mayor of Chicago, Richie Daley, can claim a longer tenure among the big city mayors of this country. I didn’t know that he adheres to an essentially Kosher diet; he eats no pork, and no shellfish.
He’s especially keen on the Downtown dining scene, which he feels has had a recent renaissance. “Everybody overlooks us,” he said, “but I could eat down here every day, and never run out of places to go.”
The Mayor is a Philadelphia native, a self-described “ethnic food guy.” Oddly enough, the first places he mentioned were slightly out of the Downtown sphere, at the corner of Rancho and Charleston; Nozomi, a Japanese place where he goes for sushi, and Mix Zone, which has Thai food. (He’s fond of the panang curry with chicken.)
In the same area, he likes to eat at Omelet House, where he holds meetings. “I have my own little booth there,” he told me, “and I love Betty, She is one of the best hostesses in the city.”
He also mentioned the new Mundo at the World Market Center. “I love the chips and salsa, and they know how to make a drink. Hispanic food is among his favorite ethnic cuisines. He mentioned three places, Casa Don Juan, Pepe’s on the corner of Fremont and Eastern (where he likes the machaca and eggs), and Salvadoreno, north of Downtown.
We mused about deli, when I mentioned the late Maxie Corsun, the proprietor of the vanished old Vegas deli, Max C’s. The grouchy Corsun used to rebuff his customers. “That was part of his charm”, the Mayor told me. “He mixed the sourdough starter for his bread with the juice from his Cole slaw, so it lasted forever.”
The Mayor also wanted to put in a word for his pal, Tony Sacca, who has the Vegas Rocks Café. His girlfriend, Josette, formerly of Josette’s Bistro, is the chef there. “It’s a neat place with good entertainment.”
I asked him how he felt about Lola’s, the new Cajun place at Holsum Lofts. “Great people,” he said, “and some of the most authentic Cajun food Las Vegas has ever seen. However, I don’t eat most of it. Maybe I can have a Kosher Po’Boy.” I suggested beef. “Yeah”, he enthused.
For Italian food, a mayoral favorite, he favors the artichokes and the chicken dishes at Chicago Joe’s. For lamb and steak, he likes the 2nd Avenue Grill at the Fremont, “a real sleeper”, as he puts it. Lastly, he felt the need to mention Triple George Grill, a San Francisco themed place. “I always order the same thing there, Joe’s Special.” For those of you not familiar, the dish is a ground beef, mushrooms and spinach skillet with scrambled eggs.
Just before we concluded, he mentioned his wife. “She’s the best short order cook in history,” he said, proudly. “Tonight, we’re having short ribs. Last night, we had spaghetti and meatballs. I’d rather eat at home than anywhere else, so we don’t eat out as often as we should.”
He eats out often enough.
Nozomi
2202 West Charleston Boulevard
Las Vegas, NV 89102
(702) 366-9119
Mix Zone Cafe
2202 West Charleston Boulevard
Las Vegas, NV 89102-2226
(702) 388-0708
Omelet House
2160 West Charleston Boulevard
Las Vegas
(702) 384-6868
Mundo
95 South Grand Central Parkway | Building A-116
in the Market Center
Las Vegas
702.270.4400
Lola’s
241 W.Charleston Ste.101
In the Old Holsum Bakery
Las Vegas, NV 89102
702.227.5652
Chicago Joe’s
820 South 4th Street
Las Vegas, NV 89101-6709
(702) 382-5637
2nd Street Grill
200 Fremont Street
inside the Fremont Street Casino
Las Vegas, NV 89101
(702) 385-3232
Triple George Grill
201 North 3rd Street
Las Vegas, NV 89101-2909
(702) 384-2761
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Just wondering why there were no addresses up for the Hispanic restaurants? “Casa Don Juan, Pepe’s on the corner of Fremont and Eastern (where he likes the machaca and eggs), and Salvadoreno, north of Downtown”.
I am curious as to the place on Fremont @ Eastern. I drive that corner almost every day, and only know of a small bus station (service to Mexico), a couple of daily/weekly motels, a traffic ticket place, Fresh & Easy Market, and a gas station. A little ways down Eastern is Hub Cap Annies, McDonalds, and Carls Jr. Details? Address?
Some more specifics would be appreciated. Also, the embedded links to Nozomi, Mix Zone Cafe, Chicago Joe’s, Omelet House, 2nd Street Grill, and Triple George Grill, as embedded, are all bad. Check the code.
I fixed the links. I believe the mayor is referring to Pepe’s Tacos. They have a few locations here in town. This is what I found online: 2490 Fremont Street, Las Vegas..Don Juan is located on Main near Charleston. Salvadoreno is also on Main: 720 North Main.
I wanted to say THANK YOU, Mayor Goodman and his beautiful wife, Carolyn. I had the pleasure of meeting you both and serving you both @ what was my establishment named Mix Zone Cafe. You both have been great to all of us. Again, thank you for the thoughtful letter and kind words in regards to our service food and music!
The address for Mundo is incorrect. It should read 495 S Grand Central Parkway Ste A116, Las Vegas, NV 89106
http://www.mundolasvegas.com