Join me for a review of Lisa Vanderpump‘s third restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip, Pinky’s By Vanderpump, which lived up to the hype from its predecessors.
With Vanderpump Cocktail Garden and Vanderpump à Paris nearby, Pinky’s Las Vegas delivered its own unique experience with a retro Vegas vibe.
Just as LVP’s Cocktail Garden and Paris location live up to their names, there’s a double nuance to Pinky’s Las Vegas: 1) Lisa’s affection for the color, which isn’t a surprise for Real Housewives of Beverly Hills fans, and 2) it playfully pays homage to Sin City’s colorful history, as evidenced by the restaurant’s stylistic choices from the days of ‘Old Vegas.’
@tasteof__reality Another Lisa Vanderpump SLAY in Sin City. #lisavanderpump #lvp #pinkyslasvegas #lasvegasfood #lasvegasrestaurants #bravotvlover #rhobh #realhousewivesofbeverlyhills #vpr #vanderpumprules ♬ BIRDS OF A FEATHER OFFICIAL INSTRUMENTAL – Dan Swift Del Rey
Ambiance:
Nestled underneath the Flamingo’s neon sign, Pinky’s by Vanderpump can be found just as you enter the casino from Las Vegas Blvd.
Upon entering, guests are graced by Lisa Vanderpump – in the form of a painting – awaiting your arrival.
Restaurant goers are greeted by the host staff, who donned light pink silk blouses accented with pussy bows and black pencil skirts. Servers dressed in traditional longsleeved white collared shirts, with black pants, and black vests. The palm tree and flamingo pattern on the bussers’ uniforms complimented the vibe in the dining room.
Speaking of the dining room, it’s all in the details at Pinky’s by Vanderpump. Care is put into every aspect of the space, from the feather-accented light features to the unique tile flooring.
Portraits of LVP and an array of flamingos were displayed around the large multi-room space.
Knowing Lisa is passionate about dogs – just not crazy about b*tches – fans can peep pup pics and dog decor around the dining area.
While I held space for a fully pink Pinky’s, Lisa Vanderpump brought balance with accents of green throughout the space. Emerald green light fixtures gorgeously contrasted the prominent rose-colored hues.
Drinks:
A variety of specialty offerings can be found at Pinky’s by Vanderpump.
From martinis and spritzes to cocktails on the rocks to frozen treats, there is something for everyone … including mocktails.
My mom enjoyed the ‘Rizz Rose,’ which is LVP’s take on a frozé [frozen rosé] … ($24.95)
Made with Vanderpump Vodka, Vanderpump Rosé, Lemon, Strawberry, Raspberry, and St. Germain, the ‘Rizz Rosé’ was a winner.
As noted earlier, the details took this cocktail to another level. The glass was elegant, and the ‘Rizz Rosé’ was topped off with an edible rose.
I chose the best-selling drink, ‘Daddy Issues,’ which is a twist on a French 75. ($23.95)
Served in a champagne flute, Daddy Issues featured WORKDOG vodka, white peach, St. Germaine, Agave, Lemon, Aquafaba, and Vanderpump Rosé Sparkling. The spritz was topped with fresh cotton candy.
While I would recommend this drink, it was a bit sweet for my liking. The cotton candy was playful and delightful upon the first sip. But, the cotton candy dissolved, which made it even sweeter.
Appetizers:
Our drinks were ordered strategically to pair with our appetizers.
We started with the Goat Cheese Balls, obviously.
A version of SUR’s iconic Goat Cheese Balls are on every one of Lisa’s menus, with its own unique twist.
Feeding into the Pinky’s theme, the GCB were paired with strawberries and hot honey. ($22.95)
While the Goat Cheese Balls were light and perfectly fried, I wish there was a more substantial element on the plate. At SUR, the GCB sits on top of tiny crostinis. Maybe I’m like Lisa Rinna and need a piece of bread, but it felt like an element was missing on the plate.
The strawberry puree was sweet, which would have been even better tasting if the hot honey was more prominent.
Overall, it was a very tasty app … and a must-order for any Vanderpump Rules fan.
Since we are working on our summer bodies, we decided to order another light appetizer … the Goddess Goodness Crudités Tray.
An array of mixed vegetables were paired with colorful cauliflower and served alongside two dipping sauces: a pink beet hummus and green goddess. It was served with homemade potato chips and naan bread. ($19.95)
This was a good dish, but not a standout. Both dips could have used a bit more salt. Also, the veg to dip ratio was off … we could have used at least one more dip. With that said, the crudité at Vanderpump à Paris had a delicious whipped goat cheese and french artichoke dip that I loved. It’s worth the walk a couple casinos over if that’s what you’re craving!
Main courses:
My mom loved the Wagu Sliders.
Served on three herb butter brioche buns, the sliders were cooked to perfection. The sharp cheddar cheese cut through the sweetness of the caramelized onions. She compared ‘Pinky’s Secret Sauce’ to In-N-Out Burger’s secret sauce … in the best way possible.
Each slider was topped with a shishito pepper and two dill-seasoned tater tots. ($24.95)
I chose the Colossal Coconut Prawn Cigars as my main course.
Served inside a cigar box, the trio of prawns lightly fried in wrapped crispy rice paper rolls were easy to eat. They were served with a spicy Calabrian Orange Jam and Sweet Chili YumYum Sauce. ($26.95)
Again, my only criticism is that the dipping sauces were too sweet for my taste. I didn’t get much heat from either, leaving it feel slightly imbalanced.
Both our appetizers were great for sharing!
For dessert, we had shared the Tiramisu Brownies.
At this point, my mom spotted Suzie Toot from RuPaul’s Drag Race. Next, Onya Nurve, Lana Ja’Rae, Jewels Sparkles, Sam Star, and Lexi Love followed. Immediately going into drag delusion, I don’t remember dessert, except that we cleaned the plate. Joining the top six competitors on season 17 of RPDR were Jaymes Mansfield and Naomi Smalls. I think Bob the Drag Queen was there too, but I was focusing on not embarrassing myself or choking.
Back to dessert, three Coffee Brownies were topped with Mascarpone Mousse, Cocoa, a piece of chocolate, and chocolate dust. They were each finished with a rose pedal.
($15.95)
Final thoughts:
Not only would I recommend Pinky’s by Vanderpump, but I’m excited to return. While we enjoyed everything ordered, nothing was so good that we would have to get it again. That works out so we can tackle the rest of the menu faster!
We would have ordered another round of drinks, but diners have to cross the smoky casino floor for restrooms.
Next time I come, I’ll use ride-share. It was $35 to park, and we were barely able to get a spot. The parking lot was a far detour from the aesthetic of Pinky’s, so I’m excited for LVP to take over The Cromwell. ICYMI, Lisa Vanderpump is fully renovating The Cromwell to become her first ever hotel, The Vanderpump Hotel.
