Overlooking the Las Vegas Strip, FIRST Food & Bar located inside The Shoppes at The Palazzo brings the authenticity and character of the neighborhood bar concept back to life, minus the kitsch.
Featuring culinary options spanning from lunch to late…really late-night, the menu features American eats and drinks created by Executive Chef Sam DeMarco.
From the high, open ceilings to the tribal tattoo imagery embedded in the floor, FIRST reflects an industrial, urban design. The furniture mashes up styles that are modern, vintage, and gothic set to a palette of dark, warm colors making the more than 10,000 square foot restaurant feel intimate and edgy.
DeMarco said the inspiration for the menu was the energy, the lights, and the volume of the people that stop in to dine no matter what hour of the day or night it is.
“The menu tries to answer why people come to Vegas, it’s unlike any other city,” DeMarco says.
With so many dishes, the Sammy D Super Sampler (Famous Lollipop Buffalo Wings, Philly Cheesesteak Dumpings, and Walnut Shrimp) takes the hard work out of choosing appetizers to share.
The Walnut Shrimp dish features flash fried shrimp that’s tossed in a special Asian Mayo, Nevada honey, house made candied walnuts, and scallions. The buffalo wings come in a generous serving and have the right amount of crispiness while the four dumplings are full of juicy meat.
There’s nothing mini about the “Mini Burgers” that DeMarco developed at Sam’s Snacks in 1998 at Bellagio, which have been a top seller ever since.
“We take the best of all burger worlds,” DeMarco says. “White Castle Buns, In-N-Out flavors, and Big Mac composition. It’s the Sammy D flavor, which is coming to our new burger project later this year at the Venetian. Burger joints beware.”
The restaurant’s most popular signature dish is the Prime Rib — old-school decadence brought back, done right.
It is house-aged 21 days in the walk-in, slow cooked, salt cured, that’s served with a popover, Atomic horseradish sour cream, and au jus.
It is perfect for anywhere, but has a home in Vegas, according to DeMarco.
FIRST’s Las Vegas location has been around for two-and-a-half years.
The original FIRST legacy was from 1994 for 10 years in New York City. While this is not the original FIRST, it does pay homage to that original location in so many ways.
DeMarco says FIRST is a great alternative to what Vegas dining is.
“It’s either Food Court casual, or very high end sticker shock environments,” he says. “We appeal to a broad base of people who want to either come before the party, during the party, or keep the party going. It’s got a great comfort level, a comfortable style of service. You don’t have to be hip or cool or rich or time sensitive. We work for everyone. Ordinary food done extraordinary. We are FTP – For The People. With a view.”
Location:
Inside The Shoppes at The Palazzo
3327 Las Vegas Blvd. South #2812
Second floor; access next to Barney’s
Additional entrance from the Las Vegas Strip
Hours:
Tuesday – Saturday 11 a.m. until 4 a.m.
Sunday – 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.; 5 p.m. until 1 a.m.
Monday – 11 a.m. until 1 a.m.
Special Events:
Resident DJ Jeff Retro spins Friday and Saturday nights from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.; 2 a.m. – 4 a.m.
Sunday Brunch seating from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. featuring a live DJ from 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. and FIRST’s famous Bloody Mary Cart
Capacity:
Restaurant: 250
Bar & Lounge: 80
Signature Dishes:
— The “First Original” Mini Burgers
Four all-beef patties, secret sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and tomatoes atop a White Castle bun
— Lollipop Buffalo Wings
Maytag Bleu fondue, pickled cucumbers
— Lobster Rolls
Mini potato buns, Maine lobster, tarragon
Signature Cocktails:
— Cucumber Gimlet
Gin, cucumber, fresh lime, and simple syrup
— Cotton Candy Kiss
Vodka, elderflower, vanilla, pineapple, cranberry juice with a crushed “Life Saver” rim
Average Dinner Check:
$30
Phone Number:
702.607.3478
Website:
