Lyla D.
Yelp
We were returning from a 4-mile morning walk along The Strip when my husband mentioned going into Harrah's Las Vegas for lunch at The Oyster Bar (Station Casino), just off the casino floor. I quickly reminded him that his craving for Louisiana gumbo or seafood pan roasts would not be satisfied because the restaurant had closed during the pandemic and had been replaced by (Chef Gordon) Ramsay's Kitchen. He was disappointed since he looked forward to Cajun or Creole food, so I suggested we try Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux after seeing an advertisement banner near the escalators heading up to the Monorail station.
While walking to this sports bar, we saw a photo of NFL New Orleans Saints' former quarterback, Drew Brees, advertising his co-ownership of this establishment. The hostess cheerfully welcomed us and escorted us in with menus in hand. Within a few seconds of being seated, a server (Janet) came by to introduce herself, offered descriptions of the menu items and day's specials, and took our beverage requests. Janet's friendly, perky, and attentiveness was welcoming and warm, as if she was a family friend. Her smile showed us her enjoyment of her workplace and customer interactions.
FOOD:
- Boom Boom Shrimp: we started our meals with fried shrimp tossed in "Boom Boom Sauce." The shrimp were tender, and although we don't usually care for fried food to be tossed or covered with sauce since a sauce could take away from the fried crunch, this sauce didn't make the fried batter soggy. The Boom Boom sauce wasn't overly spicy, but there was a slight (cayenne?) chili pepper kick aftertaste that peeked through the mayonnaise base. We liked the shredded cabbage base that added to the appetizer's textures and flavor. $18.99
- Cup & Side Salad: I chose a duck & andouille gumbo paired with a side salad. The gumbo was more soupy or broth-like than a slightly thickened rustic stew. It didn't seem to be thickened with either roux or filé or okra like what I've tasted at Prejean's Restaurant (Lafayette, La), Commander's Palace, or Dooky Chase's (New Orleans, La). I understand that since everyone makes gumbo differently, so perhaps, I'm being unfair about comparing the more refined Creole versions of this Cajun rustic stew. There was a decent amount of tender-cooked duck meat and slices of andouille sausage. The side salad was generously portioned and refreshing. $16.99
- Classic Hand-Pattied Burger with Fries: my husband enjoyed his burger and fries. The medium-well-cooked burger patty was tender, tasty, and enhanced with melting smoked gouda. The burger was sandwiched between a soft brioche bun with lettuce, tomato slices, and red onions. The fries looked to be a cross between waffle-cut and cottage-cut. $21.99 + $1 (smoked Gouda)
Since Walk-On's is a sports bar, the ambiance seemed filled with "wall-to-wall" flat-screen televisions with several sports games being shown concurrently. Enthusiastic cheers and conversations could be heard from the bar patrons, but within the dining room, most diners were either quietly eating or conversing.