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Price ratings are based on the review's check, minus tip, for two people. The system is meant to represent a guideline; totals are approximate: $ = up to $20; $$ = $40; $$$ = $60; $$$$ = $80 and above.

LE BELLE TERRE IS FRENCH FOR 'DELICIOUS'

8390 W. Sahara Ave., 702-685-7712
lbtbakery.com
$$

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Recently an appointment caused us to be on West Sahara Avenue near La Belle Terre Bakery.  In past years, we visited this bakery/restaurant and enjoyed the food and atmosphere.  Several months ago, we attempted to visit and found it closed. Thinking it was a victim to Las Vegas’ ever-changing eatery scene, we were saddened at its going. But, wait, driving by recently we noticed it had suddenly returned. Whew! It has just been closed for remodeling. 
We were thrilled to find this little gem is now back better than ever.
La Belle Terre is always busy when we have visited. And two recent times there were no exception. Seems this bakery/café has a large and loyal following. 
Hours of operation are daily, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for bakery items. Breakfast and lunch are served, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. We have been tempted to try lunch offerings, but can’t seem to get past breakfast. If you are a French toast lover as we are, we can highly recommend the traditional French toast. My better half was truly pleased with the breakfast sandwich he ordered on our first return visit. He said the bread was outstanding, and the breakfast potatoes and small salad that came with made this menu item a filling meal.
The surroundings are pleasing and neat — truly café décor. There is a small area of patio seating, which, on pleasant days, seems to be full of diners enjoying pastries, various menu items and coffee. Customers place their orders and pay for them up front. If not carrying out, you get a number to place on your table so the wait staff can deliver your order. On our visit, we opted for indoor seating that is available in the main bakery area or a small adjacent dining area. Our experience has been that the service is prompt and friendly, with hot items served immediately.
There are difficult choices at La Belle Terre. As one walks to the registers to place an order, it is necessary to pass a display case of truly beautiful pastries. Many opt for a sweet and coffee instead of the cooked-to-order items. Others who dine in choose to take home eye-catching pastries to be enjoyed later. 
La Belle Terre is located at 8390 W. Sahara Ave. (on the north side of Sahara between the major streets of Cimarron Road and Durango Drive — the commercial area containing Paymon’s Café and Nothing Bundt Cakes). 
I always like hearing of additional places to visit, and two days after our recent visit to La Belle Terre, Sharon Bishop, our Link advertising coordinator, told me she had just discovered the greatest place. She was talking about the very same La Belle Terre! She had stopped in for one of those beautiful pastries and a cup of coffee.

MARCHE BACCHUS TANTALIZES THE SENSES

2620 Regatta Drive, 702-804-8008
marchebacchus.com
​$$$
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​Have you ever had one of those dining experiences that was perfect in every respect? We recently experienced two such at Marche Bacchus, located in nearby Desert Shores. The surroundings were wonderful — patio seating by Lake Jacqueline with perfect weather. The service was prompt but not intrusive; the food truly delicious, and the live music was the icing on the cake.
Not long ago we learned that on Wednesday evenings, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., there is a wonderful guitarist who performs at Marche Bacchus. We first heard him play for a private birthday party and enjoyed his music. Turns out this talented fellow is one of our Sun City Summerlin’s own — Dirk Kleutgens, our Starbright Theatre’s sound technician. Check out Dirk’s website, www.dirkk.com. He is an amazing talent.
During our time in Las Vegas, we have watched Marche Bacchus evolve from a small wine shop with a few waterside tables into a destination/special occasion restaurant that is not to be missed.
The food has never disappointed us — the cheese and charcuterie boards, French onion soup, salads, entrees, desserts (the Limoncello dessert is truly delicious) and wine selections are all winners. We have even enjoyed escargot. I know, not everyone’s thing.
Many like to select a bottle of wine from the vast selection within the shop. It appears the corkage fee is $10 per bottle, but wine is also available by the glass for prices that are on a par with comparable establishments. Recently, Marche Bacchus added spirits to its wine and beer offerings.
Hours of operation, menus, prices, the OpenTable reservation site and directions to Marche Bacchus can all be found at www.marchebacchus.com.  As this is a very popular place, I would suggest making a reservation. If you are going specifically to enjoy Dirk’s music, request a table that will afford a good location for watching and listening, and enjoy this nearby treasure.  

AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE AWAITS AT ORCHIDS GARDEN 

5485 W. Sahara Ave., 702-631-3839
www.orchidsgardenrestaurant.com
$$
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Shrimp dumpling

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Chinese broccoli

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Sweet cream bun

​A while back a friend took us to Orchids Garden Chinese Restaurant for a dim sum lunch. We had a delicious lunch and a great time. The best way to describe the true dim sum experience is “a cafeteria coming to one’s table.” Waitstaff pass among tables with carts laden with various dishes. To order, you just point at a dish and it is placed at your table. However, if you speak Chinese, you are able to ask for the dish by name. All at our table were “pointers.”
After the dish is placed on the table, the waitperson stamps the check with an inked stamp — this indicates the cost of the dish. Different dishes are different prices. At the end of the meal, the stamps are totaled and that’s the cost of the entire meal. Very efficient.
Some of the dishes are familiar Chinese offerings — dumplings filled with shrimp, shu mei, egg rolls, fried calamari. Others offer surprises — some savory, some sweet. It is all too easy to select a sweet (what I would consider a dessert dish) at the beginning of the meal. Here’s where the ability to speak and understand Chinese is really handy. Most of us are accustomed to beginning our meal with savory dishes and ending with sweets. Of course, if you are of “the dessert first” belief, no problem.
With dim sum, the larger the number in your party, the more dishes you all can sample. Most of the dishes come with two or three servings. Others are meant to be shared such as Chinese broccoli (not President George H. W. Bush’s bane), but truly tasty and served with a lobster sauce. One dish we all avoided was chicken feet. Not quite ready for that one.
Photos of Orchids Garden’s dim sum offerings are online. So, to be sure you know what you are getting, it might be advisable to take a phone along to consult “before pointing.” Asking the server what the offering contains is futile unless, again, you speak Chinese. But, hey, the unknown is part of the dim sum experience.
At Orchids Garden, dim sum is served all day with a day and evening menu offering most of the same dishes. Traditionally, dim sum is a brunch or early lunch meal. But in our 24-hour city, Orchids Garden offers it throughout the day and into the evening.
Orchids Garden’s parking lot doesn’t begin to accommodate diners that fill this vast restaurant. So, if you are not early (or very lucky) you might have to park nearby.
Orchids Garden is located at 5485 W. Sahara Ave. Hours are daily, 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Never tried dim sum? Gather up a group, go to Orchids Garden and have a great time, all the while sipping tea among bites.   

CHEF MARC'S TRATTORIA

8615 W. Sahara Ave., 702-233-6272
chefmarcstrattoria.com
$$
For quite some time, I had wanted to dine at Chef Marc’s Trattoria.  In years past, we have enjoyed meals at Marc’s when it was on Lake Mead Boulevard and at Parma which was located on Buffalo Drive near Washington—both created by Chef Marc.  Finally, during the most recent Restaurant Week, we made it to Chef Marc’s Trattoria.  And our experience did not disappoint. 
Up front I want to say our total check was not typical as we added before dinner drinks, dessert, and cappuccinos to the fixed price Restaurant Week offering that included four courses.   If you are considering a visit Chef Marc’s Trattoria, check the on-line menu for prices.  It is, for us, definitely, a special occasion place.  Seems I have lots of special occasion places, now to find more special occasions.
Probably had the best glass of pinot grigio ever.  Just the right temperature and so smooth.  The food was delicious—a salad and a course with beans and mussels were wonderfully delicious.   Then a pasta course and a pork dish that were amazing.  For desert tiramisu with nicely presented cappuccinos.
Service can make or break a meal.  At Chef Marc’s we experienced some of the best service I can remember.  Every move was perfect, with waitstaff being attentive, but not intrusive.  As we worked through the many courses, the proper silver was always at the ready—quietly placed by our plates.  As a nice touch, Chef Marc, himself, stopped by our table to ask if all was to our liking and said, “I will now prepare your main course.” 
Not too far away, Chef Marc’s Trattoria is located in the small commercial area behind the Arizona Charlie’s on the southwest corner of the intersection of Sahara and Durango (8615 West Sahara Avenue).  The parking lot can be accessed either from Sahara or Durango.  Closed Mondays and Tuesdays, Chef Marc’s opens at 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, and closes at 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursdays, at 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and at 9 p.m. on Sundays.
I would definitely suggest reservations.  The evening we were there almost every table was full during the entire time of our long meal.  The restaurant uses YELP for on-line reservations. But the website suggests calling Chef Marc’s if your party is over 10 people.  The telephone number is: (702) 233-6272.  I noted that YELP lists only two dollar signs ($$) as the price range.  Menu offerings are so tempting that I, again, suggest you check prices on the website to avoid an unwanted “check surprise.” 

eatt PRESENTS ENTREES AS ART

7865 W. Sahara Ave., 702-608-5233
​eattfood.com
​$$$
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​Here is a Restaurant Week 2019 find that is just too good to keep secret. eatt Gourmet Bistro is located at 7865 W. Sahara Ave., Suites 104 and 105. I must admit that the draw was the $20 lunch per person offering. When glancing at the regular menu, this was truly a bargain beyond belief. However, we were so impressed with the surroundings, food and service, eatt is now high on our special occasion restaurant list when we might spend a bit more for a celebration.
I was aware of eatt from good reviews in various local publications. After reading its most interesting Restaurant Week menu for lunch, I was eager to give it a try. The three-course offering included a soup, a sandwich and a dessert. As a bonus, our iced teas were included.
Upon entering eatt, my better half and I were so impressed with the décor — neat neutral tones and so inviting. It was not too busy the weekday we were there for lunch.  We were seated promptly, and drinks soon followed. My better half chose carrot soup, the panini and the hazel nut dessert. I opted for ajo blanco — a garlic/almond soup, a lamb sandwich and the same dessert. The soup presentations were truly works of art, my husband’s carrot soup was so nicely presented, but the real show was my soup. It was a cold soup with solid ingredients displayed in the bottom of the bowl — think a colorful kaleidoscope display. The soup mixture was ceremoniously poured over the colorful solids. Our sandwiches were delicious. The praline cream puff dessert was beautiful to behold.
eatt is not to be confused with Natalie Young’s “eat” restaurants in downtown Las Vegas and Village Center Circle in Summerlin. And the Restaurant Week prices we experienced at eatt do not reflect regular prices. Lunch prices are reasonable, but dinner prices make a visit at that time a truly special occasion. The full menu, with pricing, is available at eattfood.com. 
eatt’s telephone number is: 702-608-5233. On-line reservations can be made through Open Table. Lunch is available Monday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; dinner is served Monday to Thursday, 5 p.m. with the last seating at 8:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. with the last seating at 9:30 p.m.; closed Sundays.

DELICIOUSNESS CAN BE FOUND NEXT DOOR AT THE WILD FIG

9555 Del Webb Blvd., 702-575-95125
​www.thewildfigcatering.com
​$

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Now here’s a new neighbor you just gotta love – the old “had me at hello.” Could be modified, in the case of The Wild Fig, to “had me at first bite.” The Wild Fig is definitely a wonderful addition to our Sun City Summerlin area.
It was not the 2-fer coupon (found on this month’s Link Dining Deals insert) that prompted us to pick up lunch at The Wild Fig, but the good things I had heard from others who had eaten the great carry-out provided by the place. Though, the coupon was a nice bonus.
We actually stopped by The Wild Fig (9555 Del Webb Blvd.) to place our order for take-out; there is no accommodation for eating in. Next time we will call ahead, though, our wait, as we watched our sandwiches being prepared, was very short. 
We both opted for the Carolina pork sandwich. The pulled pork flavored with the Carolina sauce (think just the right hint of vinegar) combined with The Wild Fig’s tasty slaw was truly a taste treat. Though other items on the menu are tempting, we will find it difficult to not order the same sandwich again. In addition to our sandwiches we ordered a serving of mac and cheese. My husband declared, “It is just like Mother used to make.” Very good.
As stated previously, The Wild Fig has take-out for immediate gratification.  However, the span of the business is much greater. The firm offers catering for large numbers and food truck service. These options are easily arranged. Just call 575-9515 to request catering services, or to place a take-out order for pickup.
Full printed menus—take-out and catering – are available at The Wild Fig location and on the website, www.wildfigcatering.com. The entrance to The Wild Fig faces west, or toward Del Webb Boulevard, and the business is located on the west side of the former TSI complex. There is curbside signage on the south side of the building and on Sundial Drive across from the Fire Station to guide you to the entrance.
In addition to the quality of the food and the convenience of the location, The Wild Fig offers a loyalty program. Visit The Wild Fig eight times and ninth entrée is free.
Carryout is offered Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Be sure to give this all-too-convenient eatery a try, and don’t forget that Link Dining Deals coupon.     

If you have a delicious idea to share with Tammy, email her at link@suncitylv.com.

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