Virgil’s Real BBQ Debuts at Linq Promenade
The Linq promenade in the center of the Las Vegas Strip has a new restaurant offering to add to its already strong line-up, Virgil’s Real BBQ.
Virgil’s comes from a company called Alicart, the folks behind Carmine’s, an excellent Italian restaurant in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.
The original Virgil’s opened in 1994 in Times Square in New York City.
Virgil’s Real BBQ takes over the space formerly occupied by the F.A.M.E. Asian food court at Linq promenade, a shopping center between the Flamingo and Linq hotels.
There are two bars at Virgil’s, and the full menu is available at the bars, which works well for solo diners.
We tried the Virgil’s Old Fashioned, mainly because Virgil’s doesn’t serve Captain Morgan. As you might suspect, that’s a cardinal sin in our book, but we forged ahead. The things we do for you.
So, how’s the barbecue at Virgil’s? Well, it didn’t blow us away, but we aren’t a barbecue expert.
Las Vegas is notoriously weak in the barbecue realm, and we suspect Virgil’s won’t do much to move the needle in that regard.
The official Web site for Virgil’s says the “meats are smoked at a low temperature over indirect heat for up to 10 hours with a unique mix of hickory, oak and fruit woods in order to impart the most flavor and to keep the meat from drying out.” We’ll take their word for it.
The big selling point of Virgil’s is that it pulls together local styles of barbecue, such as Texas beef brisket (the high point of our meal), Carolina pulled pork and Memphis pork ribs and chicken.
Portions are ample, and there’s a healthy selection of about 10 sides, including baked beans, cole slaw, cheddar cheese grits, pickled beets and the like. We tried the buttermilk biscuit and mac and cheese, and neither were particularly memorable.
The Virgil’s menu features salads, burgers, sandwiches and a solid roster of appetizers, including chicken wings, “Trainwreck Fries,” crab cakes, popcorn shrimp, onion rings and Texas chili.
The food prices aren’t outrageous for mid-Strip, with combination platters providing some of the best values. Our “Pick 2” combo, with “Trash Ribs” and sliced Texas beef brisket (along with two sides) ran us $24.95, and could’ve easily fed two people.
The drink menu is strong on variety, serving up whiskey drinks, “Porch Rockers,” margaritas, slushies and other tourist-friendly libations. Most drinks run in the $12 range. Our Old Fashioned was $15.
The service wasn’t stellar at Virgil’s, and at the bar it took ages to have our plate taken away after we finished dining. The food also wasn’t piping hot, possibly caused by some confusion about where the food was supposed to be delivered. The restaurant is still new, so it’s possible some of those service issues will be hammered out in the weeks to come.
As for the atmosphere, Virgil’s had live music during our visit, of which we are not a personal fan. We know, everyone loves live music, everywhere. It helps avoid having to “converse,” we get it.
Thankfully, Virgil’s is so big, you can make your way to the far end of the place (or upstairs), so it’s not as intrusive.
Virgil’s is yet another restaurant that’s fallen victim to the practice of having rock-hard chairs, making it clear you’re not expected to hang out for too long.
Overall, Virgil’s should fare well at Linq promenade. It’s not destination dining, but the liquor is strong and the food is adequate. Which is probably not a blurb they’ll be using in their advertising anytime soon.
If you’ve tried Virgil’s and had a great experience, please share. We’d love to hear about your experiences with their meat.
Virgil's Real BBQ
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