Week 47 Lilly's Thai and Vietnamese Food

Welcome back! Can you guys believe it is almost already May? In a few weeks Brett and I will be celebrating our one year anniversary. Wow, how time flies. Good thing we are the happiest we have ever been. :) Don't forget to like our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/thenewlywedsguidetovegasrestaurants

Also, you can find our blog on the Las Vegas Informer under the local interest section. Definitely check out this paper; it is awesome! http://lasvegas.informermg.com/


What Teray Says...


So this week I decided to go with a place that I have seen on Groupon, and normally the places are spot on. This week, um....not so much. From the outside, Lilly's looks like a casual place which it is. When we went in we were seated right away, and there was only one other party in the whole place. Within the next half an hour to forty minutes, the place filled up. I would know this because this is how long it took to get our first appetizer. Oh, I will get to that in a minute. 


I am assuming all of these people had a Groupon and the staff was not prepared because for a full restaurant, you should have more than one waiter. Anyway, back to the food. We wanted to order both Vietnamese and Thai spring rolls to compare the two. The waiter didn't seem to know what we said and I had a funny feeling something crazy would happen. Well, we only were brought the Thai spring rolls, not the Vietnamese one. With how long the first set took, we figured after 10 minutes not getting the other ones that we wouldn't even bother. They were good...but definitely nothing special, hence why I am not elaborating.

As for the food, I ordered drunken noodles and Brett ordered some Vietnamese thing. He couldn't pronounce it and we took pictures of the menu, because we knew for the life of us, we would not remember what was in the food. About an hour later, we finally got our food. People all around us were complaining about the service and the orders being wrong. There seemed to be other people in the back; you would think they would come out and help! 

One of these is what Brett ordered

I ordered the Drunken Noodle. It was very spicy which I liked, but again like I said, nothing special. It came with chicken, but it didn't say that on the menu. I am glad that I like chicken, because if I were a vegetarian or some other thing that is hip, then this meal would have not been for me. Poor Brett, I can't even describe his. He was so hungry after, we had to stop at Von's and he bought donuts. You know it is bad when you have to stop for more food after you ate out at a restaurant. 

Brett's mystery meal

My Drunken Noodles

The only highlights of this meal was the dessert and the company. For dessert we had mango sticky rice and green tea ice cream. I am glad he actually remembered to bring both this time, but again...how great could it have been that we had to stop at Von's afterwards.

Overall, as you can see...I am not pleased. I normally feel bad even saying bad things about places, but I have to rate Lilly's 1 out of 5. Just because I liked the dessert is why they got one point.


What Brett Says...


Another Groupon decision.  We opted to go to "Lilly's Thai &Vietnamese Restaurant," they are located at Sahara and Tenaya.  I will save everyone time by giving my rating and then explaining it.  I don't want you to waste time on this place even by reading this review, I give you the option how far to take it.  I am giving them a whopping ZERO out of a MILLION.  I wouldn't send my worst enemy here.  I cannot think of a single reason to go here.

The physical restaurant is in a strip mall, not the greatest part of town...not the worst either.  The place is awkward on the inside, the layout is not conducive to a good time and you feel wither segregated or crunched.  The decorating was boring; usually I spend time taking it all in, that was done in the first 3 minutes.  It also seemed to be kinda dark.

The food was kinda decent.  The Thai spring rolls were alright, probably they highlight of the experience.  I ordered a Vietnamese dish that according to the menu had different forms of pork.  That equaled out to be 4 small pieces of pork with some cold noodles and some random veggies.  Upon leaving the restaurant I had to stop and actually get something to eat.  Teray ordered a Thai dish, turns out the menu doesn't represent the actual food you get.  Hers was alright but nothing like what the menu described.  Even the desserts we ordered were just alright.  I would like to tell you about the Vietnamese spring rolls we ordered but we are still waiting for them at this moment.

Obviously the last thing that needs to be tackled is service.  They don't actually have anyone there that can be classified as a server.  There was this one guy that kept coming to our table and whispering, I think he was also apologizing most of the time.  I really couldn't understand a thing he said, I kinda took the role of server and just kind of dictated what happened each time he came.  He obviously is incompetent since he didn't bring us everything we ordered, we even made it easy by pointing to the menu as we ordered it.  The only reason this guy even got a tip was because we weren't trying to wait for him to figure out how to make change.

So, if somehow you missed it...Lilly's is horrible, simple put there is no redeemable quality.  The only chance they have is if they close down and new owners come in and they just happen to like the name Lilly.

Patty's Closet Outfit of the Week
Thanks to Patty and Juan of Patty's Closet for providing me with my outfit of the week this week. I love a great fit and flair dress as I call it, especially the nautical stripes which are such a great trend for the summer. This dress is a stretchy material, but again it cinches at the waist to give you that hourglass figure. The back is crisscrossed straps which are open, but you can wear a bra if you need to. This perfect summer staple can be dressed up or down and is available at the Rainbow location. Oh and btw, my necklace is from Sparkle by Patty's Closet ;)

If you are busty like me and need to wear a bra, all you need to do is use some fashion double stick tape to cover the bra area :)

As you know Patty's Closet and Sparkle have many stores around the valley. Check out their facebook pages for updates and pictures of new shipments which are Tuesdays and Fridays. http://www.facebook.com/PattysClosetLV  and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sparkle-by-Pattys-Closet/160713480701946


Also, Patty's is now online!!! My outfit for this week-end will be from there, so you can get it anywhere you live!! http://shop.ilovepattyscloset.com/


Until next time, cheers to moving up and great accomplishments <3 

Week 46 Rambo's Kitchen

Hi Everyone :) Welcome back. Now that the weather is getting warmer one of my favorite things to do is go out to eat. I am excited we get to continue this adventure with you. Don't forget you can always find us on The LV Informer http://lasvegas.informermg.com/ ; we are under the Local Interest section.


Oh and of course if you haven't already, you need to like our Facebook page (please ;) )))


http://www.facebook.com/thenewlywedsguidetovegasrestaurants


What Teray Says...


To be honest, because Brett and I have both been so busy with school, and buying things for the house, the next couple of weeks we were and still are looking for places that we can eat on a budget, but still enjoy and leave satisfied. Last week while flipping through the Entertainment Book, I came across a coupon for Rambo's Kitchen. Rambo's is not far from our new house, and we both have mentioned on previous occasions that we want to eat there, we figured that was the perfect place to try.

Rambo's Kitchen is located on Ft. Apache and Patrick. It is a 1960's themed diner and when you walk in there is just pop culture decor of the 1960's everywhere. No, it is not too overwhelming; it is awesome. There diner also has a beachy, surfer vibe.  You wouldn't think so, but it really is the perfect mix. You can see what I am talking about in the pictures below. 

There are so many choices on this menu. You can have breakfast, lunch, or dinner anytime of the day. They also have a special each night. On Saturday when we went it was all you can eat spaghetti and meatballs. I would have gotten that but I went with the chilly cheese burger instead, because I was craving something super bad for you and comfort food after a crazy week. While on the topic of my  meal....it was amazing. It was one of the rare times that we went out and I finished the whole entire meal. There was so much chilly but not to the fact it was making a huge mess. The added bonus was that the sides of homemade chips (which if they sold by the bag I would be one fat girl) and macaroni salad were perfection. One of the best burgers I have had in Vegas. Brett ordered the Monte Cristo, but it was not in sandwich form...it looked like these little pastries. Inside those pastries was everything that would go on the sandwich; Brett will explain more, but I took one bite and it was to die for! 

Oooh I am talking out of order, one of the best things about this place is that while you are waiting you get to choose activities, games, or toys to play with. Brett and I had many rounds of Barrel of Monkeys. He did not have that game when he was a kid he said. Who doesn't have that game?! LOL, it is a classic. We really were into it as you could see from the pictures below. 

We were too full for dessert, but it looked like they had a lot of great choices. I think next time I would definitely try to leave room for the mini donuts. At the end of your meal, they bring you Bazooka Joe. I forgot about that gum. I loved it as a kid. Brett and I each read our comics like we were 5 years old. This place really brings out the fun kid in you. 

Overall, I absolutely loved, loved, loved Rambo's Kitchen. I cannot wait to go back their for breakfast and lunch and dinner and so on. The awesome thing is you can take out, and there is a coupon in the Entertainment book for buy one item, get one free. Without any question, I rate Rambo's Kitchen 5 out of 5. Everyone who reads there must check it out! 


What Brett Says...


Rambo.  Yes he is an American war hero, amazing movies.  Whenever you hear the name "Rambo" everyone gets the same image; Sly Stallone with a red headband and some weapon of destruction.  So naturally when Teray said we were going to "Rambo's Kitchen" you can image the joy and excitement that overcame me.  Then she told me it was a tie-die 60's diner I was a little disappointed but intrigued.  When I think of hippies and food I assume everything would be along the lines of munchies, not meals.  The fact that we had a buy one get one free coupon was going to sweeten the deal.

I have no idea how to explain the atmosphere inside the restaurant.  It is a strip mall diner, maybe 8 tables and and a takeout counter.  As for decorations; think Applebee's after a "pieces of flare" explosion set to the tone of tie-die meets pot head meets 60's musical greats.  There is stuff everywhere to look at, probably along the lines of a unorganized 60's media museum.  They also have a section dedicated to games, for the kids...or grown adults who like to play kids games.  When I say games I don't mean anything today's youth would have any idea how to play.  you have to go back to your childhood playing the games at your grandparents house from when your parents were kids.  They had Barrel of Monkeys, Go Fish, Old Maid, and other very old classic games.  The place is awesome.  The service was pretty awesome too.  Our server stuck with the theme; jean shorts and a tie-die shirt.  She was very friendly and was pretty cool considering we were a little overwhelmed by the menu and it took us forever to pick what we wanted.  She also made sure we were always topped off with water.  There were two servers working so I assume they split the place in half which is cool because even if they are full your server only has to worry about 3 other tables besides yours.

As for the food...I wish I would have had this back in the day when I was in search of that late night meal and/or munchies.  The selection is ridiculous, they have all you can eat meals and they serve breakfast all day.  If I remember correctly they were 6 or 7 pages of menu, nothing fancy but everything sounded good.  Teray got a chili burger with homemade chips, I managed to get a bite of it and can tell you that I approve...which means a lot since I grew up on coney dogs and burgers.  The chips were awesome, they beat out bag chips...thick and crunchy.  I decided to go in another direction and order off the "inner fat kid" breakfast menu.  If any of you have been to  a "Bennigans" you probably remember the Monte Cristo.  A Monte Cristo is a sandwich with deli meat (usually ham and turkey) and cheese on the inside of french toast.  Sounds amazing, right.  Now Bennigans and Rambo's Kitchen take it a step further and batter it then deep fry it.  Bennigans looks more like a deep fried sandwich while Rambo's looks like giant deep fried balls of goodness.  You get 4 of them and they are about 3" wide, they serve it with raspberry jelly.  I was blown away, best monte cristo I have ever had.  I use to make monte cristo's at one of the restaurants I cooked at and I in no way could have conceived this meal...amazing.  

Rambo's Kitchen knows what it wants to be and pulls it off nicely.  They aren't trying to be all fancy and stuff.  They keep the atmosphere simple, the menu simple, and most importantly they don't price gouge. 

For that they are they get a 5 out of 5.

Patty's Closet Outfit of the Week

Thanks to Patty and Juan of Patty's Closet for providing me with my awesome outfit of the week this week. Tribal prints are one of my favorite trends for the summer time. The reason I love this top the most though, is because of the open back! I wore it with a tank underneath because the weather is cooler right now, but when it gets warmer I would most likely tie the back and pair it with denim shorts. The shirt looks cute both tied and untied. The light, breezy fabric and bold print, should make you want to definitely add this to your wardrobe. This top is available at the Rainbow location.

If you don't know already, there are many Patty's Closet locations around the valley and they all have different things. Check them out: http://www.facebook.com/PattysClosetLV and their new shipments each Tuesday and Friday. They are also online now, which is beyond amazing. You can buy items by clicking right here: http://shop.ilovepattyscloset.com/

Until next time, cheers to working hard and playing hard. <3

Week 45: Ventano's

Hi guys! This week we chose our place for two reasons; one to eat closer to where our friends Trevor and Chelsie live and two based on recommendations on our Facebook page. I think you should like our page while you are at it, if you haven't already: http://www.facebook.com/thenewlywedsguidetovegasrestaurants?bookmark_t=page

While we are on the subject of websites, our blog can also be found in the local interest section of the LV Informer, which you can access here: http://lasvegas.informermg.com/ . The paper is pretty awesome, you should check it out if you haven't.


What Teray Says...
Anyway, as I was saying, our friends all suggested this place via our Facebook page, so we knew we had to try it out. Plus, I am always a sucker for a romantic Italian restaurant. I could eat Italian food everyday, but living in Vegas, you have to keep the figure in check, so unfortunately not an option. LOL. 


Ventano's is located in Henderson that has an amazing view of the city. Pulling up, it even looks great from the outside. There is an outside patio to eat on, but we were afraid it might get too cool at night to sit there, so we elected for inside. The decor inside is beautiful. There is a separate bar behind glass, lots of booths and tables and a great atmosphere. It definitely is a romantic place. :) Everyone was dressed up for the most part, so I was glad we were too.

We ordered drinks, and I didn't feel like typical wine that I always get because I felt like I was drinking a lot of it over the break. I asked the waitress what their best known drink was and she offered to make me a specialty drink; I trusted her and am glad I did. It was a combination of rum, pineapple juice, cranberry juice and something else, and it was freaking amazing. One was fine though, because I am not a juice fan normally. I try to keep the drinks with a lot of sugar out of my rotation. 

For an appetizer all four of us had heard that we needed to order the shrimp on a brick. Wow, the suggestions were correct. I am a huge shrimp fan and the fact that it was basically cooked perfectly was even better. It came with this amazing dill sauce. I think there were about 25-30 pieces of shrimp. This is definitely something you could share. 

In between our apps, drink, and dinner we got these amazing bread sticks in a brown paper bag, which too me was pretty awesome that they were so low key about the presentation. Most likely because those bread sticks 100% speak for themselves. They were amazing. Better than the Olive Garden and I think O.G. has the best bread sticks like ever. 


For dinner we all ordered something different. I ordered chicken francese because I have not been able to find it anywhere since Jersey and that is my favorite Italian meal. It came with linguine. Brett ordered a home made lasagna, which looked and tasted pretty awesome by what I gathered from one bite. Chelsie ordered this potato wrapped salmon and it looked amazing and Trevor ordered a shrimp dish, but I can't remember what it was. 


My chicken francese was one of the best Italian meals I have had in Vegas. The sauce was the perfect amount of lemon mix and the chicken was cooked to perfection. I had to stop the waitress and tell her I was from Jersey and that we know Italian food, and this was amazing Italian food. I think I could probably eat that meal and at Ventano's a few nights a week if my budget allowed for it. 

We were too full to order dessert, even though I would have liked to try something...I just couldn't eat anymore. One of the coolest parts of the meal is that when the sun set, they pull up the shades and there is this beautiful view of the strip. I tried to take the best picture that I could, but it was a better view in person. 

Overall, Ventano's was amazing and by far one of my favorite places that we have visited. For the food, the atmosphere, the great service and beyond; I without a doubt rate Ventano's 5 out of 5. 


What Brett says...


This week we were a little unsure of where to go.  We wanted to go to the Southeast part of town, it was brought to our attention we have neglected that area...just so happened to be by the people we were going out to eat with.  So we took our loss of an idea to Facebook and asked our followers.  Several people came to us with the same suggestion; go to Ventano's Italian.  So, we went to Ventano's.  Just an FYI...if you have an Entertainment Book there is a 20% coupon, we just so happen to leave ours at home.


I'm not entirely sure what they were going for with the restaurant, I got a wine cellar/Vegas bar/laid back/semi formal feel.  When you walk in they have these awesome candles that have tons of melted wax from other candles (wine cellar).  They also have a bar are that is a little livelier with televisions and video poker (Vegas bar).  Then comes the outside patio made for lounging (laid back), and finally the formal tables with the white folded napkins (semi formal).  I think they are just shooting their hopes to high, considering they have video poker and all.  I will say when the sun goes down there is an amazing view of the lit up strip.  


The service however was very on par with upscale restaurants.  I don't remember our servers name but she was amazing.  In a very non-overbearing way she made it feel like we were her only table.  She was constantly making sure we had water and our drinks of choice.  She was able to start short term conversations and she wasn't hovering the entire time.  She also made a custom drink for the ladies...more importantly she dealt with two guys that can be a little (alot) tough when we are together.  


Now for the food.  It was Italian, all you need to know right.  It was legit Italian, coming from someone that cooked at an Italian restaurant back in the day.  I guess it helps that a hot Italian Jersey girl endorses their food too.  We started with the shrimp on the stone, something everyone recommended.  I have to say it was flashy and sizzling, beyond that it was shrimp.  It was good shrimp but I don't think it was anything to have a following.  Now for my entree I went with something filling and old school.  Somehow after eating two bowls of Cinnamon Toast Crunch I managed to put down their lasagna.  It was amazing, quite possibly the best lasagna I have had in a restaurant.  The serving was large, everything tasted fresh.  I think the most important aspect of the lasagna is that they bake it on the plate they serve it on.  I understand that it is premade in the day, but you can tell when it is nuked and when they heat it in the oven.  I give the dish two thumbs up.


Overall I enjoyed the dinner.  The view is reason enough to at least stop in for a quick drink and app.  What hurt the experience was that the price tag was pretty high for a place that has video poker.  I think a 20% price cut would make the menu fit the atmosphere.  We spent about $53/person and there were people hangin out watching sports, others in shorts and a tshirt.  For me it just didn't vibe.  Based on food alone they get a 4.5 out of 5, service 5 out of five, view 5 out of 5, and physical restaurant 2.5 out of 5.  Overall I think they earned a 3.75 out of 5.  It just didn't vibe for me.


Patty's Closet Outfit of the Week

Thanks to Patty, Juan, and Jose of Patty's Closet for providing me with my outfit of the week this week! It is from the online store, which is beyond awesome, because anyone can get my look! The skirt is the perfect, classic girly, girly piece. I paired it with a white tank, a white short sleeved blazer (from the Rainbow Patty's) and light blue corked-heel pumps (from the Rainbow Patty's). I felt incredibly classy, and chic in this outfit. Pastels are a hit for spring, and you can never go wrong with a classic look that can be worn many occasions. This could also be dressed down with ballerina flats, a tank top tucked in, and hair in a bun :)


You can get this skirt, by clicking this link: http://shop.ilovepattyscloset.com/
Also, make sure to check out not only the Patty's Closet facebook page for all the newest items on Tuesdays and Fridays, but the Sparkle one as well!


http://www.facebook.com/PattysClosetLV
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sparkle-by-Pattys-Closet/160713480701946

Patty has put together this amazing charity walk coming up called "Walk in Your Party Dress" at Town Square on May 19th. It benefits Southern Nevada Children First. To join this great cause and look gorgeous while doing it, click the link below for more information. I hope to see you there! <3 


http://www.facebook.com/events/364916146893580/----Walk in Your Party Dress

Until next time, cheers to loving life! <3

Week 44 The Crackle Barrel- St. George Utah (A Vegas Road Trip)

Hi guys! This past week-end we headed to St. George Utah for a little road trip. Brett and I decided it would be appropriate for us to do our blog review there being many people in Vegas head to Utah for road trips all the time. 

Greetings from Mt. Zion

Remember, you can find our blog on the LV Informer under the Local Interest section...pretty friggin awesome :) http://lasvegas.informermg.com/ I know we say this all the time but it is so awesome to get messages, comments, emails, and actual conversations about the blog and suggestions. We really can't believe how many people a week read it and log onto our Facebook. It just is great! We are having so much fun with this and are happy you are too! http://www.facebook.com/thenewlywedsguidetovegasrestaurants

What Teray Says...


I never knew what the Crackle Barrel was until I moved here (even though there is not one in Vegas). I have heard many people talk about it as a stop in Utah and that it had a store attached, so of course I was going to want to go there. Brett said that Crackle Barrel is where he had his first meal before he left Michigan. I think it brought back sentimental memories to him (or maybe not...lol). 

Crackle Barrel is this old fashioned restaurant with a big porch on the front that has wood rocking chairs for sale. When you enter through the front, it is a store full of goodies, toys, trinkets, and decor. I loved a lot of things, but I am trying to get ready for swim suit season, so I had to ignore all the snacks that were screaming "buy me!" 

We were seated right away and the staff was very friendly. I was not super hungry so I decided I would order something small. Brett went for a traditional Crackle Barrel meal from what I heard...because he was talking with his friends about it and they all seemed to agree in the greatness factor of it. 

I decided to order a fried chicken salad. The salad consisted of lettuce, onions, croutons, fried chicken, cheese and hard boiled eggs. The portion was very big and the chicken was extremely crispy. I wish there was a little more variety of veggies in a salad, but because I wasn't super hungry...I didn't study the menu too much. I should have went all out even if I felt sick after and ordered traditional Crackle Barrel food because Brett's looked way better than mine. 

Brett on the other hand ordered chicken dumplings with 3 sides: macaroni and cheese, fried apples and corn muffins. OMG, I only tasted his but it was like food dream. I know that stuff is so bad for you, but it was mouth watering. I swear if I could eat all day everyday without gaining a pound, it would consume my life. LOL. I think I am a big person trapped inside a small person's body.  I am sure he will elaborate more on his meal. 

Overall, I rate Crackle Barrel a 3 out of 5. I compared it to a Perkins which I am used to back home in Jersey. I think if I ever go back there I will go all out and order typical country style food and if I did that it would be a way higher rating. The atmosphere was very cute and such a great treat to be away from typical Vegas hoopla. 


What Brett Says...


This week we did a couple things different.  The first is going to a restaurant that I have been to (in Michigan), but Teray had never been.  The second we went outside of the Valley but somewhere many Las Vegans go to.  We went to the "Cracker Barrel" in St. George, UT on our way back from Zion.  Taking a second to not talk about restaurants; if you have never been to Zion I highly recommend it.  It is only 3 hours north of Vegas but it blows Red Rock and Mt. Charleston out of the water.  We spent the day driving around and hiking...even some mid hike picnic action.  Zion is the perfect desert meets forrest, the mountains are amazing and it is very hikable.  Now back to the whole restaurant thing.  If any of you have ever been to a Cracker Barrel then you know no one should be without some CB in their lives.  This review will just tell you whether or not you should go to the one in St. George.  

If you have never been to Crack Barrel then you should know they are all the same when it comes to layout.  The outside has a large porch like a southern house, on the porch they have a bunch of rocking chairs that are for sale but you can sit on them.  When you walk in you enter a full out country store; they have everything from candy, to home decor, to toys.  The prices are pretty reasonable and the things I have bought in the past are quality.  The restaurant is off to the side and it is the country version of an Applebees.  There is stuff all over the walls, there is also a large fireplace in all the ones I have been in.  One of my favorite parts of Cracker Barrel is the game they have at the table.  I'm not sure what it's called but it is a brain teaser, you have a wood triangle with holes drilled in it (13 if I remember correctly).  There are 12 golf tees, you have to jump the golf tees and try to only have one left.  The best I did on this occasion was 2, which is awesome but not good enough.  The service was on par; our waitress took our order quick and got our food out quick.  She made sure we had everything we need, never had to wait for water. In true southern style she was friendly and made us feel welcome.

As for the food.  Most of my friends from the south agree that Cracker Barrel is legit, I tend to agree.  I personally ordered the Chicken and Dumplings; I had mac & cheese, fried apples, and corn muffins.  This meal is not for the kinda hungry, more for the "I spent the whole day hiking and I need to replenish everything I have in me" hungry.  I actually told a friend of mine from Missouri, a former NCAA lineman, that I had the chicken and dumplings.  His response was that they are the best next to his grandma's; This is about the perfect way to describe them.  No one can beat grandma's cooking, so to be second to a grandma is awesome.  This meal is the way to go, I'm just glad for my waistline that it is hours away.  Whats even more amazing is the fact that you get this giant portion of amazing food and it was like $9.  I'm not entirely sure I could cook this meal at home for much less.  Imagine getting a huge southern meal after you drained yourself for less then 10 bucks.  I wish more restaurants would have the quality and pricing plan of Cracker Barrel.

I am a fan.  The Cracker Barrel in St. George stands up.  Do yourself a favor and go to Zion then go to Cracker Barrel and eat the calories you burned.  Easily a 5/5.

Patty's Closet Outfit of the Week
Thanks to Patty and Juan of Patty's Closet for providing me with my outfit of the week this week. I LOVE this top! This top combines everything that is current at the moment: light fabrics, the vintage lace look, and a flowy fit that can be cinched at the waist for an hour-glass figure. I love this top because it can be worn dressy or casual. It zippers in the front too for a more conservative look for work. The top is available at the Rainbow location :)

Good news fashion lovers! Not only now does Patty's have many locations around Nevada and two fabulous Sparkle locations they now are online!!! How awesome is that?! It is great for me because people always reach out to me that don't live in Vegas and ask me if they can get those same clothes, and now they can!!! The following are websites that you should be liking!

http://www.facebook.com/PattysClosetLV--- the Patty's Closet Facebook page; here you can find all the newest outfits at each location. Shipments are Tuesdays and Fridays.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sparkle-by-Pattys-Closet/160713480701946 The Sparkle by Patty's Closet Facebook page-- they also post the new accessories from the stores each week.

http://shop.ilovepattyscloset.com/ -- The Patty's Closet Online Store

Speaking of the online store, this coming week my outfit of the week is provided by the online store, so stay tuned for that.

Until next time, cheers to Easter, Passover, or whatever you celebrate! <3

Week 43 Lola's A Louisiana Kitchen (Downtown Vegas)

Happy Spring fellow food and fashion lovers. Spring is one of my favorite times of year (especially when it is spring break). This blog is a little delayed because we just got back from UTAH. It was amazing; so different from Vegas. It is great to get out of town every once in awhile, but that review of eating there will be up later in the week. ;)


Remember, you can find our blog on the LV Informer http://lasvegas.informermg.com/ We are under the Local Interest section. I still cannot get over the fact that we are in a newspaper. Maybe one day it will sink in.


What Teray Says...


This past week I chose to go to Lola's  because I was absolutely craving cajun food. It is rare that I get a craving, besides fast food because I love food in general that when I want to eat something, I typically do. Lola's is a tiny place that we drive by all the time when we head downtown for things such as "First Friday." It is on West Charleston and as you get off the 15 if you see the neon clock you know that you have found it. 


Pulling up to Lola's they have outside and inside seating. On a typical warmer day I probably would have chose outside seating, but my last favorite thing is to be uncomfortable during a meal so I went with inside, because I wouldn't be too cold or too hot. 


We were seated right away and greeted by our server immediately. Brett decided to order a beer that is popular in New Orleans...can't tell ya what it was, and I went with just a basic Bud Light. As we decided what appetizer we wanted I checked out the decor which was filled with things with the New Orleans Saints and Mardi Gras items. It is a pretty cool vibe. I love restaurants exactly that size, not too big and not too small. 


For an appetizer we chose crawpuppies, because we have had them at another place and I really liked them. These are called craw puppies rather than hush puppies like some restaurants because they had crawfish in them and were absolutely delicious. You get five of them, so it is perfect amount for an appetizer. We each had two and then split one. I probably could have ate the whole plate myself, but had to save room for dinner. 

For our dinners, Brett asked the waiter before we ordered which was a big portion, because he was pretty hungry. I immediately knew what I wanted, because I wanted crawfish, but not the actually kind that you have to figure out how to eat. I wanted it ready for me to put my fork in. I cannot remember the name of what I ordered (and of course I threw the receipt away) but it was craw fish in a sauce with rice. It was actually pretty excellent, and I finished almost all of it, letting Brett finish a tiny bit of it. The portion size was very good and there was just the right amount of crawfish. 

Brett ordered a shrimp pasta dish. Although it was very good, it is not what I would have chosen at a cajun restaurant. It was more like something that would have been at an Italian restaurant. I think he should have ate something a little bit more with the theme, but the waiter steered him in the direction of this. He definitely wasn't full afterwards like told he would be. It was pretty good though. 

As for dessert, that definitely was the best part. I ordered the bread pudding and Brett ordered the sweet potato pecan pie. My bread pudding was out of this world. It has the perfect amount of sweetness and consistency. I ate about half of it, because I was full from dinner. Maybe next time I should start with the dessert. I took one taste of Brett's pie and know that if I ever go back to Lola's I would definitely order that for dessert, or maybe even venture on finding a recipe to make it on my own. 

Overall, I enjoyed the food at Lola's, but if I were comparing it and the other cajun place we have been to, the other one would totally win. I rate Lola's 3.5 out of 5. I think maybe next time if we sat outside and ordered different items, the rating may be higher. 


What Brett Says...

This week we got to check out a place that was on our original list of places to go, and for some reason never got to.  This week we went to “Lola’s Louisiana Kitchen” on Charleston just off the 15.  I drive by it 10 times a day and always see people enjoying their meal out on the patio.  Not to mention good Louisiana food is, well good. 

The restaurant looks awesome, it is a small place with a few tables inside and a few outside.  There is a small bar as well, unfortunately it is beer and wine only.  I would expect to see this place in the downtown area of New Orleans.  The atmosphere is upbeat and just gives off that vibe that you are in for something good.  The only downside I have to the restaurant itself is that the location.  It is close to the Arts District and the new Smith Center but you sit on the patio and you have a view of Charleston and all that goes up and down it.    It is by far a deal breaker but if you are choosing a place based on patio then this might not be for you.

The service was good however, this would be a reason to go.  Our waiter was friendly and welcoming; he also was personable and ready with suggestions.  The nice thing about his suggestions were the fact they weren’t the most expensive thing on the menu.  He always made sure we had drinks and refills on our water.  The food we ordered he felt would be complete only with a basket of bread…which was brought free of charge.  Unfortunately he did not fully comprehend the meaning of “I am starving and want a very large meal” when I said it.  He threw out a couple suggestions and lead me to a spicy shrimp pasta,  not exactly what I would have called large or filling.

Like I said it wasn’t that large of a meal but the spicy shrimp past was good.  Unfortunately we lost the receipt and it isn’t on their online menu so I have no idea what it is actually called.  But it is on their regular menu.  I would also not say that it is spicy, I was not given an option for level of spice but I assume they play it safe for all guests.  The size and spice level aside it was still a very good past dish.  There was ample shrimp and it was already de-tailed so you didn’t have to reach into your pasta to take the tails off your shrimp…this is usually a disappointment for me.  We also ordered their hush puppy appetizer which was pretty good, on the small side but it is an appetizer.  I also should note that the bread that was brought to us was amazing and hot.  It seemed to have come right from the warming oven and was a great addition to the meal.  For dessert I opted to have the sweet potato pecan pie…this in itself is reason to go here.  If you are downtown and are in the mood for dessert go here and get this.

All in all I would recommend Lola’s.  I would return if given a reason, I would try different things on the menu, except the dessert.  The location hurts it and the shrimp pasta was good but didn’t meet the needs at the time.  I would have also liked to see a full bar, sometimes beer and wine doesn’t cut it.  Overall I rate them 3.75 out of 5.

Patty's Closet Outfit of the Week
Thanks to Patty, Juan, and Yasmine Larsen of the St. Rose Patty's Closet for providing me with my outfit of the week this week. I was excited now that I have some afternoons free being done with my class that I could make it to the St. Rose store because it ranks in my top faves among the Patty's Closet stores.  This dress is my absolutely favorite style because of the silhouette. It is extremely flattering to all shapes because it accentuates curves while highlighting the smaller areas. The colors on this dress are vibrant and definitely pop for spring. The lace at the top is pretty delicate to make this dress very girly. This dress could be worn to a dinner date or a brunch with friends. This dress with belt included is available at the St. Rose location!!

Great news Patty fans! The store is now online too! How amazing is that???!! It has different items than in the stores but of course the same fabulous styles to meet all of your fashion needs. You can check out the website and online store at: http://shop.ilovepattyscloset.com/

Also, be sure to check out their Facebook page for all the latest updates and shipment items on Tuesdays and Fridays. Each store has different items! http://www.facebook.com/PattysClosetLV

Until next time, cheers to spring break!!!