You’re sauntering along The Linq Promenade, because, hey, it’s just one of the coolest spots on the Las Vegas Strip, a bustling row of shops, bars, concert venues and, especially, restaurants. So many, in fact, that it can be a bit difficult to decide where to eat! But for fans of barbecue, the choice is as easy as it gets. Virgil’s Real Barbecue, an outpost of the New York original, produces some of the most authentic barbecue you’re likely to find this side of Memphis. Or Kansas City. Or the Carolinas. Or Texas. And that’s because they do all those styles—and they do them well.
Dine either on the patio (which guarantees great people-watching) or inside the large dining room, where your table setup includes a variety of all the barbecue sauces you could ever need and a thick, small, dark towel—this you might need more than one of, for the experience to come guarantees messy fingers. You’ll definitely want to start with an appetizer for the group, and you can’t go wrong with beer-battered onion rings, fried sweet pickles or trash ribs.
Virgil’s smokes up to 2,000 pounds of meat daily, and hickory and fruit woods provide plenty of flavor, as all meats are smoked in-house at low temperatures for up to 14 hours. If you’re having difficulty picking a favorite, you’ll want to order the Pig Out!, which features a bit of everything.
If you’re a fan of bourbon, this is your lucky month! For a limited time, Virgil’s offers a bourbon tasting to go with your huge sample platter of Carolina pulled pork (pair with Woodford rye), Memphis-style spare ribs (pair with George Dickel) and Texas beef brisket (pair with Knob Creek), as well as a Virgil’s-style BBQ wing, trash ribs and cornbread. The platter itself is $39, and it’s only an additional $20 to add the bourbon pairing. That’s got to be one of the best current deals you’re likely to find on the entire Strip.
Speaking of drinks, if you’re dining at Virgil’s between 2 and 5 p.m., you’ll want to check out the Happy Hour menu. Enjoy a Kicked Up Lemonade, made with Skyy watermelon vodka, citrus, blueberry, peach or raspberry, a Virgil’s Margarita, featuring Monte Albán tequila, or a Sweet Georgia, made with Old Camp peach-pecan whiskey and lemonade.
The Burger
Explore the rest of the menu and you’ll discover there are so many more things that Virgil does so right, from seafood like a flaky and flavorful catfish fillet to American classics like The Burger, a beast with a half-pound of certified Angus beef.
For vegetarians, the menu sports a black bean burger, and there are plenty of sides that are vegetarian-friendly, including an extraordinarily decadent mac and cheese, lightly grilled vegetables like squash, asparagus and eggplant, a super-tasty potato salad, and huge buttermilk biscuits.
Full yet? We hope not, as Virgil’s offers some delightful desserts, from banana pudding (with vanilla wafers, naturally!) to pecan pie.
The Linq Promenade 702.597.0434
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The Burger