I had been meaning to stop into Nightmare Café since they opened in the fall of 2022, but my schedule had been conspiring against me. Until last week, that is, when I was able to finally take a quick jump over to the Arts District and check out this intriguing and unique spot.
Nightmare Café sits on a calm, sunny street that at 12pm on a Thursday was pretty much empty. I walked in and sat down right away at a tall two-top in front of one of the pair of garage door-style windows that open out onto the sidewalk. All around me, screens were playing short clips from a variety of horror movies, some of which I recognized (the It miniseries and Tremors, to name a few favs) and many that I didn’t. Above the bar, the screens displayed (in order from right to left): The Addams Family classic television show, the Wednesday Netflix series, and ESPN. Seems strange now, but it comes in handy later.
Food and Drink
I had a really hard time with the menu. Every item had horror-themed name, so naturally, I had to read all of them. This proved additionally problematic because it all sounded delicious as well. I had to ask the server to come back twice while I made up my mind. In the end, I went with the Avotopsy (aka avocado toast) and, for my beverage, Sloth: a whiskey-based drink with ginger and chamomile tea. Because of the tea, I had expected it to come hot (hot toddies, anyone?), so I was surprised when it came with ice in a glass. Surprised, but not disappointed. It was crisp, spicy, and most notably, boozy.
The food was a bit of a wait, but there was enough visually interesting material in the place to keep me busy in the interim. They also happened to be setting up for their Valentine’s Day party during this time, so I got to enjoy some extra-ironic atmosphere on this visit.
At last, my dish arrived. Avocado toast can be something of a tricky plate to get right: avocado can be rich but also bland, and it tends to be slippery when sliced. Combine that with soft-cooked eggs and roasted tomatoes, and you could be looking at a problem.
But not at Nightmare Café. The avocado paste had the consistency of peanut butter, spread on two pieces of not-quite-Texas-toast. Instead of adding to the slipperiness, it mediated some of it by holding the eggs in place. Everything was well-seasoned, and the fresh greens on top added a fresh crunch to the otherwise rich plate. My favorite addition, however, was without a doubt the pickled red onions. The salt of the brine and the sweet bite of the red onion brightened everything up. Furthermore, there were just enough of them to get a little in each bit without being overwhelming.
Atmosphere
At this point, you might be wondering: Is it difficult to eat runny eggs and burst tomatoes while surrounded by gory horror clips? You’d think so—and you’d be right. But I found a hack. Remember ESPN? It was my visual lifeboat, giving me something mundane to focus on so I could enjoy my food.
And herein lies my one concern about the security of Nightmare Café in the Vegas restaurant pantheon. The food is no joke, hands-down delicious. But if it was hard for me to eat it in that atmosphere, I wonder how well it will land with the majority of restaurant-goers.
Granted, I was eating alone. Maybe if I’d had someone else there to distract me, it wouldn’t have mattered so much. And after all, this is Vegas. We do love our weird. I for one am already planning my return to Nightmare Café (see below). If you are a fan of good food with a side of strangeness, head on over.
How Did The Writing Go?
Not bad! While the blood-and-guts on the screens weren’t ideal for eating, they were great for getting work done. Every time I took a break and looked away from my work, I inevitably saw some horrible nightmare that made my eyes flee back toward my words. Also, since it was just clips strung together and not a movie, there was no way I could get sucked into the story. It’s an unorthodox productivity tool, but also a highly effective one. Like A Clockwork Orange for authors.
Final Thoughts
Nightmare Café is a strange and wonderful place. I imagine some people will not like it, might even hate it. But it’s their own fault–after all, it’s called Nightmare Cafe. What did you expect?
In terms of quality and value, their food has the potential to make a fan out of anyone. However, with their aesthetic in mind, I expect they will always play to something of a niche audience. In some respects, that’s a shame. But for a weirdo like me, I’m happy I’ve found a place where I can get good food, strong drinks, and a little work done–bleeding eyeballs notwithstanding.
When I Go Back to Nightmare Café:
The back corner opposite the door is out of view of the most offensive screens. If one were trying to eat without visual interruption, I reccomend aiming for that section. As far as follow-up food is concerned, here’s my “next up” list:
- 3 From Hell (Deep Fried Deviled Eggs—two are normal, one very spicy. You are cautioned to choose wisely)
- The Midday Meat Train (12-Hour Braised Pork Sliders)
- The Blair Waffle Project (Nashville Hot Chicken and Waffles)
- The Monster Salad
Nightmare Café is located at 1307 S. Commerce Street in Las Vegas (near Downtown). Street parking is available in front of and close to the restaurant. For more information, visit https://nightmarecafelv.com/.
