Las Vegas’ newest neighborhood restaurant is located on the Strip, which may be a contradiction in terms, but the New York transplant has all the style and late-night snacks a local might expect from a down-the-street diner.

Graffiti-emblazoned black walls and minimalist décor fill up the large, open space at First Food and Bar, located in the Shoppes at the Palazzo. Though its menu is mainly comprised of bar food, and TV screens hang from the ceilings, First is nothing like your typical Vegas sports bar. The interiors are reflective of the restaurant’s location, which overlooks a beautiful stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard.

The initial culture shock of discovering downtown New York inside a ritzy, uptown Las Vegas resort passes when you are safely ensconced in a booth with a view of the Sirens show at Treasure Island. The “house bread” is served in pretzel form and served with three mustard-based dipping sauces, my personal favorite being the tangy mustard butter.

First’s menu is courtesy of Executive Chef Sam DeMarco, who founded the bar in ‘90s New York and brought it to the Palazzo. Options range from Southern-fried entrees to Southwestern a la carte items, plus standard bar food favorites with a twist.

Appetizers include chicken parmesan stuff garlic knots, duck tamales, chicken wings and Philly cheesesteak dumplings, which range from $10 to $15. For a light dinner, sample the menu’s “crazy little tacos” section. The seafood chili tacos sound particularly crazy, filled with squid, rock shrimp and bay scallops doused in chili sauce, but the three mini-tacos are perfectly spicy and not overly fishy (and taste like a high-end version of an L.A. taco stand’s offerings with a side of Mexican corn on the cob topped with chipotle mayonnaise).

If you’re looking for hearty helpings, head to a family-style chain restaurant, because First’s plates are just enough to fill you up. Even the Kentucky fried pork chop isn’t an overwhelming plate of grease; rather, Chef DeMarco pairs the pork with sour cream and peaches for a savory and sweet culinary experience.

First is not just a great spot for breakfast, lunch and dinner on the Strip. The bar is also open for business until 6 a.m. on weekends, which means you can get tacos or fried pork chops (plus breakfast) after a late night of partying like a New Yorker.

First Food & Bar                                                                                                                                                 Location:The Palazzo
Phone:702-607-3478

By Caitlin McGarry