Looking for Unique and Elegant? Herbs & Rye is the Place for You

Herbs & Rye
Courtesy of: Herbs & Rye

Herbs & Rye, which opened in December of 2009, is located in what used to be The Venetian Restaurant. That wonderful “old Las Vegas” style Italian restaurant was were you went for traditional Italian food, good drinks and to meet friends late in the evening.

“I’ve dreamed of bringing this type of restaurant back to Sahara for years,” proud owner, Nectaly Mendoza informed me. His goal is to encourage other venues to come back to Sahara, giving the new generations a taste of the old Las Vegas. He is doing a wonderful job of it so far!

Walking in you will immediately get a feeling of déjà vu, as you take in the vintage chandeliers, red flocked wallpaper, and the high-backed leather banquettes. The large room is divided in half, with the ristorante to your left, and a large mixology bar ahead of you.

The intention here is to become THE place to go, both for unique Italian cuisine and a late-night cocktail lounge specializing in authentic cocktails from the 1800s to the early 1900s.

You can expect the menus to change every few weeks, to better make use of produce that is fresh and in season. The drinks are made from scratch, which is entertaining to watch and sometimes requires guest participation.

Herbs & Rye
Courtesy of: Herbs & Rye

The ambiance is good, if not a bit too dim and has background music that is a bit too loud. But the waiters cheerfully provide a flashlight for easy reading of the rather extensive menu.

Executive chef Fabian Badillo serves rustic Italian cuisine with a Mediterranean flair and an element of surprise. A good example would be the Calamari Fritti, served with aioli. Expecting a spicy tang, I was surprised with a citrus tartness that I later learned was grapefruit. It was refreshingly delicious.

If you enjoy the sharpness of gorgonzola, you must try the pork tenderloin, which is artfully encrusted in fig and gorgonzola. The Lasagna Bolognese with mushrooms and a Chianti meat sauce again shows Chef Badillo’s unique touch. Too full to order it, we were sorely tempted to try the cheesecake with its chocolate ganache.

When all is completed there will be live jazz and brass bands on Monday evenings, and a true, old-fashioned piano bar. Flat screen TVs will show the old mobster movies from the 30s and 40s, while the servers will wear flapper era costumes. If you want a taste of yesteryear, unique food, fabulous mixed drinks, and entertainment, Herbs & Rye is a must do!

Herbs & Rye
3713 West Sahara Avenue
Las Vegas, NV‎.
(702) 982-8036
Hours 5 pm – 5 am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
5 pm – 4 am on Monday through Thursday

Nectaly Mendoza – Owner
Fabian Badillo – Executive Chef
Gerado De La Torre – General Manager

Authored by Sandra Oertell