Carlos’ Kitchen

sad to learn Carlos is now closed. Had to learn the hard way. Carlos, if you are out there, let us know where your new restaurant is!

I’m SO sad that this place closed down. It had great potential and the food was really very good. I loved it even with the annoying bar smoke. A little marketing would have gone a long way. :(
Going to miss you Carlos, I really wish you a ton of success with your next venture!

Love the atmosphere and the staff is the perfect blend of warm and sass. Andrew was amazing! The food and drinks were perfect. Must try the rainbow cauliflower and the flatbreads are great!!! Going with a group and order some of everything is a great way to explore the menu. Small menu but everything has a purpose. And you must try the bread pudding. How do you make a donut even better. Tasting is believing. Cocktails of the house are worth trying. Enjoy!!!

We’ve been here in person a few times, once for lunch, once for dinner, and umpteen times for takeout.
The food is consistently amazing, and the prices make it a neighborhood joint you can afford to keep coming back to. The burgers are phenomenal, the nachos are a perfect substitute for dinner when you’re not that hungry but require munchies to go with your beer. Every time I’ve tried the special of the day, I have been shocked at how cheap the place is. My all-​time favorite is a bleu-​cheese steak alfredo type pasta dish that I have been craving for about a week now. I am normally not an alfredo person; they normally end up either slimy and watery, or so rich I feel sick halfway through the plate. I don’t even know how I ordered this alfredo, but it was perfect. I sopped up every drop of the sauce with my bread, and was still super sad when it was gone.
I’ve never had anything I didn’t deeply enjoy here, and the very small staff are always amazingly attentive, offer great suggestions (see entry: me eating alfredo) and make you feel like you’re in on some amazing secret.
Pros:
— Great food, great prices. Seriously, what more do you people want?!
— Warm, friendly, oddly «small town» atmosphere.
— Super easy parking, great location in town.
Cons:
— Attached to a sad and smoky, stinky bar, and some of the smoke leaks in. Ahhhh, Vegas.

Ok when we saw where it was we were very hesitant to even go in. We are very sensitive to cigarette smoke and it is connected to a bar. We went in and took a table as far away from the bar door as we could get. You can still smell smoke faintly BUT I said to my husband «the good has to be fantastic for me to come back».
We started with the nachos– fresh made even the chips and you can tell it. They were amazing. Then we each had a cup of the tomato basil… FRESH… So wonderful. Then the chef/​owner came out to see how everything was. That really shows pride. Next came the entrées husband got chicken cordon bleu– sauce amazing… Whole dish amazing. I got the spicy chicken sandwich… As you can expect amazing… The fries are even made in house!!!
Desert we had to– crème brûlée … Omg heaven in a dish. I hate sweets and this was off the hook incredible.
We WILL be back… Just wish this hidden gem had a better location…

I’m giving this 3 stars now although I will probably go back when nearby and adjust my review based on more information.
I went because i was in the mood for burger and fries and hate fast food. It definitely was not disappointing. Great burger flavor, cooked perfectly, great bun, toasted just right and LOVED the fries.
I loved that the chef/​owner meets everyone who comes in. The guy seems to care. I thought the waitress was friendly and responsive. It seemed a tiny bit long of a wait for a burger but then I was really hungry to it could just be my growling stomach. That being said both burger and fries were hot of the grill, out of the basket so there was no waiting around. The got it to me seconds after it was done.
I tried the dessert you see everywhere here and really liked it. SUPER sweet so if you like something mildly sweet this won’t work for you. I wasn’t sure what it was by photos but wanton wrapped cheesecake fried and ice cream and fried something else that was supposed to be bananas foster but tasted like more cheesecake (fine with me) and brownie and then fried wonton strips that look like noodles and everything drizzled with chocolate syrup and fruit syrup. I actually liked the light crunchy of the fried wonton strips with the sweet syrup. It was fun.
The regular menu wasn’t small but not as big as a lot of kind of «pub food» places I have seen. I was hoping for a special I was interested in like schnitzel but just decided to stick with the plan on burger and fries.
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Note: I was there fairly early for dinner but it seemed very family friendly. there were only 2 other groups and both had youngish children to early teens. One said they came there all the time. The waitress either knew kids well and/​or had them herself because she immediately said there was not a kids menu but suggested some really good things the kids got excited about
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Now a few things I think could use improvement:
1. It smells a little musty like old cigarette smoke. There’s a bar attached but not burning cigarettes. I looked at all the curtains and window coverings and things and all clean and fresh paint. I’m guessing the ceiling tiles absorbed a lot of smoke previously. minor but noticable
2. definitely «on a budget» decorating so kudos for trying to put out white table clothes and padding underneath but if you can’t iron the creases out at least 86 the plastic flowers on the table.

Came here for lunch on a thursday afternoon with some friends. Randomly came across this location upon Unilocal to try new places.
Easy to find location located right next to the Chevron gas station on the SE corner of Flamingo & Durango.
Greeted and seated very fast. (though it was quite empty — one other customer at the restaurant.
After we were served our waters, the waitress left and came back later to tell us the specials right before taking our order. (little out of order i think? don’t people usually mention the specials when you get the menu?)
I had gotten one of the specials for today.
Mixed Grill BBQ Pork Chop, Andouille Sausage, and a side of cole slaw and waffle cut sweet potato fries — $ 12.99 — i guess i was expecting it to be a bit bigger in portion size. Especially in comparison to the Chef C Teaser my friend got (refer to pictures). BBQ Pork Chop was grilled and glazed with a BBQ sauce. Size was relatively small. Maybe the size of my palm, maybe slightly smaller. Sausage was two pieces, fairly good, in size? together, maybe like 6″ in length (lol. .. i know what some of you may be thinking. .. ! !) Flavor wise, both were pretty good. The pork chop was cooked well and was juicy. Sausage was a bit «burnt» to a way were the casing was black but flavor was good. The cole slaw (wasnt a preference in terms of salad anyway) was ok. A little bitter, not sure what types of cabbage or w/​e the chef was using. The waffle cut sweet potato fries were fresh and super crispy. Almost can say that was the best part of the dish. Lol which means probably wont get this again XD
Chicken Wings — (Mild/Medium/Chef’s Special Hot Sauce) served with French Fries and Ranch/​Bleu Cheese Dressing — $ 8.99– Decent portion for an appetizer. Variety of wings and drumsticks. The chicken wings were cooked perfectly. Juicy meat. Easy to eat and flavored well.
Chef «C» Teaser — Chicken fingers, chicken wings, onion rings, pepper jack shots, mac & cheese bites, french fries, celery & carrots, ranch/​bleu cheese) — $ 14.99 — despite the higher price for an appetizer, this dish is no joke ! SO MUCH FOOD ! Friend ordered this as a entrée, could barely eat half even with some help from my other friend and I. The pepper jack shots were light, slightly spicy. Shaped like hush puppies. One of my favorite items on this plate. Wings were the same as the chicken wings listed above. Fries were thickly cut. In between normal fries and maybe steak fries. Best bang for the buck ! great for sharing or eating as an entrée between two people !
Overall, good experience. Chef Carlos came out to greet us (which is surprising, you rarely ever see that much anymore). Great service.

Found Carlos’ Kitchen on Unilocal.We couldn’t believe it was located in the parking lot of gas station & weren’t really sure it was even open! There were a few people in the bar next door, but we had the restaurant to ourselves. The staff was very nice and helpful when asked for suggestions. The food was delicious! My husband and I each chose a different special: I chose a salmon entrée and he chose a pork chop entrée. While we were eating, Carlos came out to say hello and ask how our meal was! I’ve been in fancier/​more expensive restaurants and rarely received personal attention from the chef! We chose a dessert sampler plate which did not disappoint!
The restaurant was by no means fancy. My only negative was the smokiness from bar wafting in. I really dislike smoky places, but a few bites into the meal I was surprised I was more focused on the food.

Carlos’ Kitchen is a small restaurant right next door/​inside the Spectator’s Bar on the corner of Flamingo & Durango. We came in a little over an hour before closing and only one other table had been sat. Our waitress was very nice and extremely knowledgeable about the menu. Aside from their normal items, they also offer a soup of the day and different daily specials.
As other reviews have mentioned, the separation between the restaurant and bar itself, isn’t much of one. Since I used to smoke myself, I don’t complain but you can definitely see the smokiness in the air of the restaurant and that’s a bit disappointing. It could be because we were in a bit late but I can certainly see how this would bother a lot of people.
I ordered the burger special that day which was The Southwest Burger. It was a decent burger but cooked unevenly. I’m not sure how they managed to do so but half the burger was cooked medium rare, like I like, and the other half was overdone… at least for my taste. Even so, the burger itself had decent flavor and it was a good size patty for a $ 10 buyer. The fries were really the saving grace for me and I could have made myself sick eating them. They have a thick, salty breading and are just delicious. The wifey ordered a ribeye which she enjoyed but didn’t amaze with it’s $ 17 price tag.
Chef Carlos came out to check on us and the other couple there which was much appreciated. And while the food was decent, it’s a bit overpriced. If I was in the area, I’d come back to try one of the popular soups but I wouldn’t go out of my way to eat here again.

Went there just now, based on the Unilocal reviews. We were the only people on the restaurant side, which was weird, didn’t think they were open! Service was perfect, food was not bad at all, but nothing outstanding to recommend. The fries and the nachos with chicken were the best part, the Reuben was my least favorite — they do it with cubed corned beef, and small cubes, at that. And not many cubes. So it lacks the hearty bite of a great Reuben, more like a «Hot Pocket» consistency.
Overall, it was clean but loud (the sports fans and jukebox in the bar next door are perfectly audible, since there is no door dividing the two, just an open archway). No big deal, but far from «romantic», if that’s what you’re looking for.
Again, it was just «meh».

This place is AMAZING. The chef came to our table and personally welcomed us. We ordered 2 of the daily specials and were MORE than pleased with the food. I had the Dagwood sandwich, and my dining companion had the Chicken Parm. Both were delightful. The desserts were to die for. One of the better Crème Brulees I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating, and the indulgence platter is an astounding mix of brownies, cheesecake, ice cream, fruit, whipped crème, and these cheesecake spring rolls that were good enough to warrant a return visit all on their own.
The place is a sports bar, so you wouldn’t expect to find gourmet food here, but give it a shot. I’ll definitely be back.

New location at the SE corner of Durango and Flamingo inside the Spectator’s bar.
Review: The girlfriend and I were looking up new places to eat and found that a lot of Unilocal users had high regards for this place. We thought to give it a shot.
The location is a little shady, but don’t let that turn you away as it almost did for me. We walked in and were greeted immediately by the chef/​owner.
It was weird seeing this type of dining in a setting like this, but we learned the food made up for it.
She ordered the Chicken Angelina and I had the special of the day (Prime Rib).
Chicken angelina: beautifully cooked, moist inside, perfectly grilled, texture was great. The sauce really complimented the chicken with notes of dijon mustard.
Prime rib: very soft, not too salty, good portion size. I devoured it quickly.
Dessert: Crème brûlée and chocolate lava cake.
Crème brûlée — I really recommend this. It’s one of the most underrated desserts. He does this one really good. The crème is soft in texture and perfect in consistency. Not overpoweringly sweet. The caramelized sugar on top was delicious.

YES: Iris, which is the server/​busser/​hostess! That girl busts her butt and does a good job! Buffalo chicken wrap add blue cheese crumbles, as a recommendation from Iris. Black unsweetened iced tea (the only tea they offer). The chef came out and greeted a few tables. Laid back.
NO: kind of misleading when you pull up… You wonder if you’re at a bar or a restaurant? But once you walk in its easy to distinguish which is which. Smokey smell. They got busy, so my drink was empty for a while and left unnoticed, but not a huge deal.
FAVE: Buffalo Chicken wrap, Friendly service

I’ve had this place bookmarked for foreeeeeeeeeever… so I’m glad we finally had time to try it out~ CK is located in the dining room of the Spectator’s bar. When we went in it was empty and really cold… We got there at 8:30 and found out they closed at 9 but we never felt rushed or unwanted.
I had the chicken berry salad which was pretty good. nothing unique about it but it was tasty. Boyfriend got the rib eye steak and for $ 14 it was just ok. Overall, I would give the food 3 stars. I will probably be back to try the wraps and specialty items…
I’m giving this place 4 stars because the service was amazing! Our server, Iris, was SO nice and even brought out some warm salt water for my boyfriend when he got a toothache ;]]]
HOT TIP: They serve the same menu over on the bar side ~!!!

Okay, Mr Carlos, you got my attention with your 4 ½ star average. Now lets put it to the test.
When I pulled up to the building, it says Carlos’s Kitchen but when you stick your head in the door, (which happens to be two of them. One on the right for the bar and one on the left for the restaurant) you can get really confused as to where to go if the server is not there to greet you. So I stood there for a bit wondering if I should play video poker at the bar or just sit down and wait.
So the waitress finally sits me down after she sees me just standing there like a statue. At first I didn’t know where she came from but then realized there was no hostess for she was both. I assumed she came out of the kitchen because like I said, it is kind of confusing where to go.
So while im looking at the menu, she is going on about the daily specials but I had my mind made up on the Spicy Chicken from the tip I saw off the Unilocal business listing. I gotta say it was a good choice. The sandwich is decent size, the chicken breast was juicy, and the sauce that was on it had that extra kick to wake up you taste buds. Also the french fries that came with it deserves some attention as well. There is some kind of breading on it that gives it a certain crunch and extra flavor. I cant put my finger on what it is, but it is definitely good to the point that you want to finish your fries.
Service was, let’s just say a bit slow. I don’t know if it was because there was only one server or the cook takes his time or what. I noticed there only 3 other tables being served so im not sure if this was your typical lunch crowd. As for the prices, they are comparable to Denny’s or Chili’s. A typical meal will run you 10 to 15 dollars per person.
Lastly, since the bar is right next door and there is no barrier that segways from there, you will have secondhand smoke coming in from there, which is quite a negative if you ask me. My suggestion would be to put a swinging door there of some type and that should stop most if not some of the smoke from coming in.
So Mr Carlos, what other Unilocal peeps are saying are legit. It’s just that I cant really spend more than 45 minutes for lunch and eat without having to think about lung cancer. Your restaurant is definitely worthy of good quality time spent with friends and/​or family.

I’ve been to the old location twice (the smokey place) but they have since moved. For a birthday dinner, we decided to check the new place out.
The new location is a definite improvement because the bar is in a separate space, separate door, so the smoke doesn’t travel to the dining area. The dining area was clean and comfortable.
Food:
Goat Cheese Cake — goat cheese was breaded and fried, which is not complicated but simple is very good.
Nachos with chicken — it was decent. The chips are freshly fried, topped with toppings and then baked.
Mussels — These were overcooked and a lot of them has cracked shells. Becasue they were overcooked, the mussel stuck onto the shell.
No dessert order.
I would come back but I just would not order the mussels.

To all previous Unilocal friends who reviewed Carlos’ Kitchen – THANK YOU! I was aware of Chef Carlos when he was at the other place a few blocks away but never went there. After being reminded of him by Susie H.‘s recent review, this was on my to try list ASAP.
We arrived early last night (Sunday) after the Ribbon of Life show at the Smith Center. We were the only ones in the place. The server told us to sit anywhere we liked and she handed us the menus after we were seated. Before leaving, she read the specials of the day. There were two dinners, a wrap, and I believe a salad special. She had me hooked with the first thing she read – bleu cheese pasta with steak! I ordered that and my wife ordered Chicken Angelina.
The bleu cheese pasta was made with penne rigate and the steak was grilled, sliced, and placed in strips on top of the pasta. The bleu cheese sauce was exceptional. A great bleu cheese bite with every taste and there was extra bleu cheese crumbles spread on the pasta. My wife chicken Angelina was a seared chicken breast served on top of garlic spinach and mashed potatoes with large pieces of mushroom. It was topped with artichoke and there was a dijon cream sauce. She enjoyed it a lot!
Although we were both full, we had our minds set on having dessert we had looked at online earlier in the day. She got a chocolate molten lava cake and I got the chef’s indulgence. Both were outstanding!!! The menu describes the indulgence this way: A Cheesecake Spring Roll, Crunchy Bites of Brownie and Mini Banana’s Foster Cheesecakes, served with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Fresh Strawberries and House Made Berry, Caramel & Fudge Sauces. For the single version there’s one brownie bite and one mini bananas Foster, but that’s more than enough. There are sweetened tortilla strips on the bottom of the plate. This is one of the most creative desserts I’ve seen.
Chef Carlos came to the table twice to check on us and we chatted about the food and what he’d done since he moved to this newer spot. The restaurant is almost completely closed from the VP bar so there’s almost no smoke smell from the bar coming into the restaurant. I can really see this place coming onto our rotation list of places to go again and again. I’ll call and ask the specials before I go. What a wonderful gem hidden away in this video poker bar! And, what a fantastic and creative chef Carlos is. He cares about his food and his customers.

Just finished having lunch here and it was fabulous. Started off with the onion rings and nachos with beef as our appetizers. The rings were crispy, yet light and the beer batter was the best I have ever tasted. Devoured them. The nachos were fantastic as well with the home made chips. Hubby and I were fighting over the guacamole. We split a guacamole burger which was the special burger of the day and it was unbelievably good. Fresh tomatoes, crisp lettuce, caramelized onions, green chiles, cheese, and guacamole topped a juicy patty that was cooked to perfection. Normally I put mayo and ketchup on my burger but this time I ate it as is. So much flavor you didn’t need to add anything to it.
Chef Carlos was so warm and welcoming and chatted with us before and after our meal. Our server Iris was an absolute doll and was friendly and very attentive.
Can’t wait to go back and eat again.

Quiet no one here, 630pm Saturday night, where is everyone? Not sure if it’s too early, or we just beat the crowd, but that’s okay, we got very good service, even when others began to trickle in.
We started with the chicken nachos. The chips are thick cut, served fresh, good seasoning on the chicken. The love the melted cheese all over the chips. We loved these nachos so much, we’re still talking about them days later.
We were told about the specials and decided we both go with one. I got the ahi tuna, with garlic mash, caramelized onions, roasted veggies, with a ginger sesame glaze. This was so good, I wanted to lick the plate. My tuna had just enough sear and with the glaze, it wanted more.
My husband got the wienershizel, with speazel, beer gravy and red cabbage. I love red cabbage, this was great. The pork cutlet was thin, breaded lightly and golden brown. He enjoyed his just as much as I did.
Of course one look at the desert menu and we had to go with the chefs indulgence, cheese cake rolls, mini bite molten brownie, banana foster bites and vanilla ice cream. It was so good, we wished we had gotten it for two instead of just one, I was trying to save us some calories, oh well, there is always next time!
Good service, good food, great prices, and a chef that cares, what else could you ask for, right?

I read about this place in Las Vegas Weekly a while back and learned that the chef used to be an instructor at Le Cordon Bleu. Gaming taverns aren’t exactly known for their food, but this one might challenge others for having the best bar food around.
Looking at the menu there’s a lot of typical bar fare — burgers, wraps, salads, nachos, wings, etc. I had a hard time deciding what I wanted because nothing stood out. It all sounded pretty average… nothing unique. But the execution, at least with the one item I got, was excellent.
The buffalo chicken wrap ($ 8.99) was about the size of a Chipotle burrito, filled with plenty of crispy chicken tossed in a wing sauce (your choice of mild or hot) with blue cheese dressing, lettuce, and tomatoes. It was accompanied by some delicious fries that were both light and crispy.
I’m willing to go back for more, I just wish the menu had more personality… more items that differentiated the place from other bars… unique dishes that you couldn’t get anywhere else.