Jennifer (Jegunda/Fluff/Kind of A Big Deal) picked a place for
dinner and she did exceptionally well, even if the restaurant didn’t
quite measure up. What was great about the place was that it taps
into the history of an ever disappearing Las Vegas in ways all of
the flashy new “superchefs” will never hope to achieve. Where they
don’t make the grade was on the plate. |
|
What I loved about the place is the stupid amount of history on display. Signed pictures of diners past ranged from Michael Landon to Elvis to anyone under the sun with a known name in that era. A highlight, and I need to apologize for my honesty here, was our visit from Gordy. In all honesty, Gordy is approximately 2.4 months from serving as understudy to Gollum from Lord of the Rings fame. He sidled over to our table, asked where we were from and gave us an accordion backed rendition of Across the Field…the Buckeye’s Fight Song. I don’t know how old Gordy is. I can only hazard a guess. I do know he has serenaded a 42 year history of Vegas Celebs…and us night after night. If I am capable of that at whatever age he might be…I will consider myself blessed.
|
The Minestrone Was Passable |
Better Than Expected Salad |
||
Average Garlic Bread |
Then Things Took A Turn The Wine Wouldn't Fix |
The menu is also unique in a positive way. You order an entrée and
everything else is included. This included two carafes of wine (one
red; one white) a choice of Minestrone soup or salad, a pile of
garlic bread, a pasta side if you order other than pasta and
Cappuccino…plus whatever you actually order. Jen ordered spaghetti
with meat sauce; Steph, Ziti with meatballs; I, Chicken Parm; and
Mother Dear Fettuccine with Seafood Sauce. |
|||
Sauce = Blechhh |
Meatballs Yes; Sauce Blechh |
||
Chicken Fine...Sauce...You Get The Point |
Sauce Was Much Improved In Seafood Blend |
||
The sauce which is the base for nearly every dish at Battista’s did absolutely nothing for me, disappointing at best. The meatballs were fairly good. The salad was overdressed but the dressing was light enough for forgiveness, the garlic bread consisted of large square of pretty goodness, the soup was ehhhh. Oh yeah, the sauce infected everything in it’s boring, sad sort of way. The chicken was passable but was slayed by the sauce. The side of pasta was murdered by the sauce. The only redeeming factor was the addition of the seafood helped the sauce to some degree making it mildly edible. If the food lived up to the history, Battista’s Hole in the Wall would be an instant 42 year hit. Unfortunately, Gordy and the walls far outpace the food.
Everything finishes with a unique cup of "Cappuccino" which lands
somewhere between a lightly sweet hot chocolate and familiar
cracker. More desserty than your typical coffee concoction.
|
Yes, Steph...it does taste a little like Graham Crackers |
Ratings | |||||||
Food |
Service |
Ambiance |
What's Best |
What's Worst |
Overall |
||
D | B | A+ | B | F | D+ | ||
Gordy, Free Wine & Cappuccino | Blechh |