Sparrow + Wolf
American restaurant · The Asian District ·
Innovative international bites, craft beer & cocktails in stylish space
Innovative international bites, craft beer & cocktails in stylish space
"At Sparrow + Wolf in Las Vegas, I learned from chef-owner Brian Howard that he treats live-fire cooking as something primal—it forces you to slow down, be present, and rewards you with an unbeatable wood-smoke flavor. Howard, who grew up in Michigan and carries a love of camping into his cooking, developed a campfire trout rillette because it’s simple, impactful, and easy to pack (you can substitute salmon or any fatty fish). He stresses sourcing the freshest fish and keeping it cold, and using high-quality ingredients like grass-fed butter and good sea salt; he also admits the hardest part is building the fire, though the dish itself takes only about 15–20 minutes with most prep done beforehand. The recipe highlights charred shallot, preserved lemon, Dijon, creme frache, and fresh dill, and he recommends serving the rillette on grilled rustic sourdough with flaky sea salt and torn herbs, plus foil-wrapped sweet potatoes cooked in the coals as a custardy side—offering a nostalgic, campfire-forward experience that goes beyond “a hot dog on a stick.”" - Kat Thompson
"This Chinatown charmer might share a parking lot with an old Macy’s furniture store, but its ever-evolving, globetrotting menu makes it a Vegas standout. Servers rush through the crowded dining room carrying inventive dishes like Iberico jamon with cashew, black walnut and mustard seed, or golden tilefish pibil with charred lava beans and salsa verde. The cocktails are just as clever, and inspired by the neighborhood—if you pick only one, make it the simple Spring Mountain Sour, where Japanese whiskey, lemon, and yuzu are balanced by housemade earthy beet-and-plum wine foam. Hungry first timers should consider the seasonal tasting menu ($135) that seamlessly blends flavors from India, Thailand, France, Spain, Italy, Vietnam, and other lands far from Nevada." - emmy kasten, andrew ryce
"For one night only on Sunday, August 3, this spot hosts a $195 collaboration dinner with guest chefs David Castro Hussong and Maribel Aldaco Silva of Fauna, blending Fauna’s modern Mexican cuisine with chef Brian Howard’s signature style. The menu includes Baja oysters, California halibut, heirloom corn, a variety of salsas, and more, with yellow bolita corn from Oaxaca’s Central Valley contributed by chef DJ Flores of Milpa and Nocturno and lion’s mane mushrooms supplied by local grower Desert Moon." - Janna Karel
"Chef Brian Howard — who trained in acclaimed kitchens like Comme Ça, Alizé, and Bouchon — runs a genre-defying Chinatown flagship that blends fine-dining precision with fearless, globally inspired flavors. Seasonal tasting menus jump through the continents with ease while a la carte options offer a more casual way to explore his boundary-pushing cooking. Standouts include Vietnamese bánh cuốn stuffed with savory duck and wrapped in black rice rolls; Spanish octopus over jet-black squid-ink risotto; and honey-glazed pork secreto paired with sweet potato–banana purée. The food is ambitious but unfussy — each dish layered with texture and contrast, without losing its soul, and many diners are encouraged to let the kitchen lead with the tasting menu." - Janna Karel
"A modern Chinatown eatery blending creative flavor pairings and contemporary techniques in an approachable tasting-menu style." - Janna Karel