Y’all know I’m obsessed with Las Vegas. In a good way. But that doesn’t mean I don’t occasionally long for my Midwest roots. The trees. The 100+ days of rain or snow every year. And above all, the food. Since I’m not a weather god and I believe in drought-resistant landscaping, getting those first two things requires plane travel. But for the third thing, all I need to do is take a quick drive downtown and head for Eureka!, a cozy craft restaurant with a hint of the Great Lakes.
Atmosphere
While cozy, relaxed, and pretty quiet around the weekday lunch hour, I could see Eureka! coming alive for dinner and on the weekends. Besides, with the chaos of Fremont Street mere steps from the front entrance, a little cool and quiet can be a much-needed break. The dark woods, exposed ceiling, and warm light gave me the overall impression of a Northwoods dive that has been modernized for the time.
I was at a table on this visit, but I’ll be checking out the bar seating next time. They also have several regular deals and special drafts that might be worth checking out.
I don’t know about you, but the wine 2-for-1 Tuesdays seem particularly inviting, whether my date is a human or (even better) a good book.
Food and Drink
I know I said Eureka! has a Midwest flair, which is true. But it is also distinctly Vegas. For example, while I was tempted by the Tipsy Pig Old Fashioned and Fresno Fig Burger, the 100+ degree heat steered me into a lighter meal that was decidedly less Midwest.
Eureka! has also adopted the practice of putting the calories next to each dish, which definitely influenced my choices. That’s something I both appreciate and resent in equal measure. To put it simply, on the rare occasion when I want to eat a 1200-calorie burger, I’d rather not know I’m eating a 1200-calorie burger. However, I don’t have a better alternative, so I guess I’m stuck making well-informed decisions like an adult. Boo.
Pictured above:
- Summer Daze Spritz. I’m not a fan of gin or prosecco. Or grapefruit. Or rosemary, at least not in my cocktail. But I do love a good Aperol spritz, and like I said, it was roughly as hot as the sun outside, so I gave it a try. I found the dryness from the grapefruit and prosecco to be a bit overwhelming, but it did temper what is normally an overwhelming sweetness of the traditional Aperol and champagne combo. All I can say about the gin is that I didn’t mind it–which, for me, is saying a lot. Not sure I’d order this one again, but on that thermo-nuclear afternoon, it fit the bill.
- Steak Salad. No cute name here. It’s so good it doesn’t need one. I can’t say I got much out of the oregano mustard vinaigrette (it wasn’t bad, it just didn’t taste like much). But the rest of it–man, when I got a taste of tomato, steak, bleu cheese, and onion string together, it was a perfectly harmonized bite. While the lettuce was no standout, it was crisp and bright, and as far as lettuce in a meat-forward salad goes, it did its job.
How Did The Writing Go?
Here’s the thing about eating lunch at a quiet bar with good service–you don’t spend a lot of time waiting for your food. Most people would see that as a benefit, but it also means I barely had a chance to type three lines into my computer before they had my order up. I have no doubt I could have continued without interference after my meal arrived, but it all looked so good I felt more compelled to eat. Instead, I read a number of chapters in my book of the month, An Oracle Walks into a Bar. If you’ve never heard of it, that means two things: you’re missing out on a great paranormal comedy adventure story, and you don’t subscribe to my newsletter. Consider remedying both as soon as possible.
Final Thoughts on Eureka!
From the atmosphere to the location to the food, I highly recommend Eureka! on your next trip to Fremont Street. It gets you out of the sweaty, raucous crowds, and if you’re from the Midwest, you might find it to be a little taste of home. For those looking for a spot to get in a little laptop time, it will work if you’re prepared to eat over your keyboard, though you might consider ordering a post-meal drink, possibly at the bar, and continue your typing there. While the meal I had hit the spot on a hot summer day, next time I will be going full Wisconsin. Maybe I’ll bring a companion to read me the menu but leave out the calories.
Eureka, I think I’ve solved it!
Eureka! Las Vegas is located at 520 East Fremont Street. For more information, visit https://eurekarestaurantgroup.com/locations/las-vegas.
