Yes! I just noticed at Off The Strip’s web site that they opened a new location at Grand Canyon & Trop. I hope the food there will be as good as the original.

Cheese louise, you’re hard to please! LOL. :-D

Actually, I think you’ll like many items on Off The Strip’s menu. It’s not too “fru-fru”, so it shouldn’t scare you away. Next time I go with a friend (or my dad when he’s visiting), we can pick you up and take you out to our end of the ‘burbs.

And btw, welcome to ELV Land. :-)

Don’t think I’ll be going here anytime soon.

Sure, this place isn’t “Authentic Italian”… But IMHO that’s precisely why they don’t market themselves as “Authentic Italian”. Judging from my experience there, I think this place is more Italian-”New American”-Gastropub fusion. At least this was the vibe I was getting from the grub and the atmosphere.

The eggplant parm I had here was most definitely among the best I’ve ever had. While it was a bit soggy from all the marinara all over it, the marinara was quite tasty and the eggplant was otherwise perfectly cooked and seasoned. And yes, there was SO MUCH that I could hardly dig into the spaghetti before I had to stop myself just to save enough room for dessert!

And oh yes, I was grateful I had room for dessert! I really didn’t find the cheesecake grainy when I tried it. It wasn’t as heavy as the traditional NY cake, but it was certainly rich enough and sweet enough to satisfy.

OK, so Off The Strip probably won’t be competing with Rao’s, Nove, B&B, and Sinatra for “Best Authentic Fine Italian” any time soon. But for good (and affordable) Italian-American comfort food in an otherwise “gourmet desert” that is SW Vegas, this is the place IMHO. I’m in Green Valley, and I’m willing to go all the way to Southern Highlands just for the eggplant parm and cheesecake!