Ellis Island Casino and Microbrewery at 4178 Koval Lane is both as close (less than ½ a mile from Bally’s) and as far (it’s small, low brow, full of locals and attached to a Super 8) from the strip as you can be. They are known for their Italian style pizza joint (Metro), bbq, low limit gambling and the off-menu steak special in the cafe.
If you’re in the know (and now you will be,) you can get a soup or salad with rolls and butter, a steak, a vegetable and a starch, and a microbrewed beer for $7.99. That’s right. For $8.82 including tax, you can have a two course steak dinner with sides and a beer. This special is not on their menu, but it is available for the asking 24/7.
The cafe is like a nicer version of Denny’s, with formica tables and paper placemats. The waitstaff is curt but efficient, and the food, especially the steak, is far better than expected. They give you a ten ounce cut of sirloin, at least an inch thick in the center, and cooked exactly to your order. My steak was lean and tender, with none of the gristle and fat that you need to cut away from the other steak specials in Las Vegas. I would have a hard time getting the meat alone at my local butcher shop for less than I paid for this whole meal.
The salad was average, mostly iceburg lettuce with a cherry tomato and a bunch of croutons. The rolls and butter were cold, but tasted okay. With my steak came green beans cooked with chunks of garlic – very good, and a good portion of steak fries. For my beer I chose their dark lager, which was brown and tasty and fresh. If you’ve ever had a Yuengling Black and Tan, then you’ve got the idea.
I have tried every steak special I can find in Vegas and this one tops them all. Ellis Island is practically giving away a fantastic steak dinner, just to get you in the door. This is one of the reasons I love Vegas. Don’t miss it!
Tips:
- This place can get busy on weekend nights. Expect a wait Thu-Sat.
- If you prefer, you can substitute a craft brewed root beer for your beer.
- Call ahead to book a free brewery tour. Details at the website below.
Website: www.ellisislandcasino.com
Update: December 22, 2012
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There’s also an on-menu $12.99 Prime Rib Special (also including the beer and salad) that is also Good Value.
My other Top Tip is to avoid the craps table on the way out the door as otherwise it turns into a $113 prime rib within a few minutes.
The walk from the corner of The Strip/Flamingo takes around 10mins, and there always seems to be a good number of people walking about (unlike the roads one block off of Fremont Street) so safety worries can be minimized.
Thanks for the tip! They wouldn’t offer a $13 prime rib dinner or an $8 steak dinner if noone dropped a hundy at the tables on the way out.
As for the walk from the strip, I’d say it’s about as safe as walking a block or two off Fremont. I you’re going it alone you might be better going (and returning) during daylight. Aside from that, just keep your wits about you.