Envy The Steakhouse: A restaurant that lives up to its name

November 3, 1:30 PMLas Vegas Celebrity Restaurant Scene ExaminerHeather Turk

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Envy The Steakhouse is outfitted in red and brown

Singer Clint Holmes recently told Examiner.com how much he and his wife love the Truffle Reggiano Fries at Envy The Steakhouse, with his wife even calling them “evil fries” they taste so good. However, the addictive signature side dish is just one of the many reasons this off-Strip steakhouse is the envy of so many other restaurants in town.

Located inside the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel, the largest and only non-gaming, AAA Four Diamond hotel in Nevada, Envy The Steakhouse was awarded “Best New Restaurant Off Strip” in 2006 by Las Vegas Life magazine and it’s easy to see why. From the friendly servers to its mouth-watering menu to Envy’s extensive selection of more than 1,500 fine wines, Envy The Steakhouse is definitely worth the trip off of the Strip.

Begin your evening with one of Envy’s fresh salads, like the tasty Spinach ($12) with fried goat cheese and pancetta in a warm, bacon-balsamic vinaigrette or the BLT Wedge ($9), iceberg lettuce, bacon, tomatoes and red onion drizzled in a blue cheese dressing. Not a fan of blue cheese? Not a problem. Even though it’s not on the menu, Envy The Steakhouse is one of those rare upscale restaurants that actually has ranch dressing for guests who request it. Just let your waiter or waitress know and they’ll happily make the switch for you. After all, pleasing your taste buds is Envy’s first priority.

Once you’ve finished your salad, Envy offers a variety of appetizers that are perfect for sharing, like the Angus Beef Carpaccio ($18) with fresh radish and black truffle vinaigrette or the Black Pepper Calamari and Rock Shrimp ($14) served with a trio of dipping sauces. Of course, you’ll also be given some freshly baked bread (selection varies by day) once you sit down, so you may want to pace yourself for what’s to come. After all, you’ve got plenty to dig in to!

Known for its cuts of beef, dry aged for 28 days (excluding the Filet Mignon and Flat Iron), Envy’s steaks may be tough to beat, but they’re definitely not tough to chew. No matter how your order your meat--rare or well-done--your steak will arrive to your table juicy and tender, whether you order the 19-oz. Signature Prime Bone-In Ribeye ($42), the 14-oz. Prime New York Strip ($44) or the 20-oz. Prime T-Bone ($45). Although diners will be given a trio of sea salts to enhance their entrée selection with when their meat arrives, they’re really not needed, as the steaks provide plenty of flavor by themselves. However, one of the sea salt selections, which your waiter/waitress will point out for its rich, smoky flavor, is definitely worth trying, just be careful not to overdo it: a pinch of this salt goes a long way.

Even though Envy is known for its steaks (it is a steakhouse, after all), the restaurant does offer plenty of seafood entrées as well that taste buds are sure to flip over, such as the Lemon-Herb Roasted Salmon ($29) served with creamed leeks and lemon mousseline and Envy’s Signature Sea Bass ($36) with wild mushrooms and crabmeat Victoria. Naturally, you can also add surf to your turf selection for the best of both worlds, including a half-pound of Butter Poached King Crab Legs for $21 or a 10-oz. Australian Lobster Tail for $65. Traditional Oscar Style is also available for $17.

In addition to its steak and seafood selections, Envy The Steakhouse also features a few specialty dishes, like the Tuscan Veal Chop ($39) with lemon, garlic, olives, roasted tomatoes and capers, and the must-try Kurobuta Pork Loin ($32), pre-sliced and served over apple-rosemary ‘mostarda’ with cauliflower gratin. The apple-rosemary ‘mostarda’ adds a nice fruity flavor to the already tender, juicy meat and truly makes it a dish unlike any other. If you’ve had a lot of steak or seafood lately, this is the dish to treat your taste buds to.

Like most high-end steakhouses, the side dishes at Envy come à la carte, but they’re reasonably priced considering the competition on the Strip. The aforementioned Signature Truffle Reggiano Fries (pictured right) are $9, but they’re sized for sharing like all of Envy’s sides. Other must-tries include the tasty Bourbon Creamed Corn ($8) and Envy’s Signature Mashed Potatoes, available in garlic ($8), truffle ($11) and the yummy bacon and Gruyère ($10). If only all mashed potatoes were this good!

Finally, wrap up your evening with one of Envy’s sinfully delicious desserts, like the yummy Chocolate S’mores ($9, pictured below)--a warm chocolate brownie served with marshmallow cream, a graham cracker square and vanilla ice cream--or the Chocolate Lava Cake ($9) with vanilla ice cream. The rich Chocolate Lava Cake is truly decadent…and truly gooey. Be ready for the “lava” center to explode once your fork cuts through the cake. It may look messy, but it tastes heavenly! Just be sure to have a glass of milk nearby to wash it down with.

Besides the aforementioned wine selection, Envy recently unveiled a Fall ‘n’ Fruits cocktail list perfect for enjoying during your dinner or beforehand in the restaurant’s 60-seat lounge. Selections include Cin-Apple--Stoli Vanil, Apple Schnapps, fresh apple purée, fresh lemon juice and Sonoma Cinnamon Syrup--and Pumpkin Patch--Stoli Vanil, butterscotch liqueur, Goldschlager, cream and nutmeg. Each seasonal cocktail is just $10, so feel free to try more than one throughout your meal--just don’t get into the spirit of the season so much you fall over!

Envy The Steakhouse is open for dinner daily from 5 p.m.-10 p.m. The restaurant also serves breakfast from 6:30-11 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and brunch on Sundays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. For those in a hurry, prix fixe dinner and lunch menu options are available through Dec. 30, with a two-course, 50-minute power lunch costing just $20.09 and a three-course dinner costing $39. For more information, call Envy The Steakhouse at 702-784-5716, or to book your reservation online, simply click here.