Sure, Las Vegas is a 24-hour town with plenty to do. But once you�re out there, the options aren�t so varied. Luckily, there�s a place in town where you can dine on penne ala vodka and kick back with the magnificent jazz of the Ronnie Foster Group: MJ�s Bar & Grill. Monica Stowers, who used to bartend at this same location back when it was called the Boston Bar & Grill, started her own small business late last year, and so far the results are impressive: live music every night, an attentive staff, and menu well worth exploring.
First, however, let�s make a note on drink specials. In addition to offering happy hour food and drink specials (50 percent off appetizers, baby), MJ�s serves $2 well drinks, domestic beers and house wine to casino and medical employees with ID. So if you happen to be a swing-shift dealer or a night nurse, you might want to stop into MJ�s for a sip or three. Of course, with drinks this cheap, you�ll need a designated driver.
OK, on to the grub. For apps, we recommend a few. The deep fried pickles ($4) go surprisingly well with the house merlot, and they�re tangy enough to make you want to keep eating them until they�re all gone. The artichoke ($7) and white bean ($6) dips are both excellent in terms of taste and ingredients, being distinctly fresh and not frozen. They go perfectly with beer, especially on Wednesday nights, when beer pong tournaments begin at 8 p.m. And, of course, how can anyone go wrong with fried raviolis with marinara and alfredo dipping sauces? MJ�s doesn�t.
The salads are fine and suitable for a hot summer feast. But we suggest skipping right to the entr�es, like the penne ala vodka ($10.50), a creamy, buttery and garlicky delight that comes with some field greens. MJ�s also makes a mean chicken pot pie ($10) that rivals anything at Marie Callender�s, and on occasion you can even order a delightful, delicate manicotti that�s neither too cheesy nor overloaded with sauce; it�s just right.
Knowing we would skip dessert, we opted for a 12-inch grilled pizza ($10, $1 for extra topping) decorated with pepperoni, salami, ham, bacon, green peppers, onions, olives, tomato and garlic � and wow, was it good. Get it if you�re hungry. On a separate visit, we delved into wraps and sandwiches, and while the veggie wrap ($7.50) is good, the burgers ($7) are better, as is the cordon bleu wrap ($7.50). In the case of the latter, however, we are suckers for garlic mayo. There was no space left in our stomachs for the salmon burger ($10), but people say it�s the best sandwich on the menu. Next time, then.
Oh, and the music. Most nights offer the kind of blue-collar hard rock Vegas is known for, but more sophisticated Liberty Watch readers (are there any?) can also catch the Ronnie Foster Group every Sunday at 9 p.m. Monica and her crew at MJ�s are trying to do something different in Vegas by concentrating their efforts on providing great live music and food. They�ve already received praise in the local press, so they must be doing something right. Next time you�re up late on a weekday, MJ�s might be the spot you need to relax and unwind in a smoke-free atmosphere.
MJ�s Bar & Grill is located at 3417 S. Jones Blvd. For more info on MJ�s, go to www.mjslvnv.com or call 364-1144. LW
