I’m happy to have Tio Wally (long-time Me So Hungry reader) aboard to send in his eating adventures from across America. Here he is in Mesquite, Nevada.
Greetings from Mesquite, Nevada
N 36° 48.8928’ W 114° 4.0164’ Elev. 1663 ft.
This is a pretty sleepy place. Located on I-15 just south of the Arizona-Nevada state line, Mesquite seems to exist only as home for a few casinos, a few golf courses, and a host of condos inhabited mostly by “Snowbird†retirees.
As you drive along I-15 the Virgin River Casino has billboards advertising two specials: a 16-oz Ham and Eggs breakfast for $4.99 (served 24 hours), and a Prime Rib dinner for $6.99 (served between 4-10 p.m.).
Being as I was “in the window†time-wise, I went for the Prime Rib dinner at the River Cafe. I’ve had it before and, I must say, it is one of the best deals I’ve ever come across in all of Nevada. The dinner consists of a 16-oz cut of prime rib, your choice of potato (baked, mashed or fries), a steamed vegetable medley, and two rolls.
As always, the prime rib was perfectly cooked (I ordered medium rare). Both the au jus and creamed horseradish that accompany it are likewise outstanding; the au jus isn’t salty and the horseradish has just enough bite to be satisfying without being overpowering.
The baked potato has a wonderful Kosher salt rub that’s really great. I usually get a side of ranch dressing for my baked spud but forgot to ask for it. I was kind of surprised — I’d forgotten how great sour cream is on a baker.
The vegetable medley, however, was kind of disappointing. It consisted of a couple of pieces of cauliflower, some carrots and green beans, and slices of red and yellow bell pepper. It’s not that it was bad, just that the cauliflower was really undercooked. I love properly cooked-to-tender cauliflower.
In all of the photo representations of the dinner it is shown served with broccoli, another favorite of mine. I’ve had the dinner served with that and it, too, was undercooked. If I had my druthers I would go for overcooked rather than undercooked.
Although total cost of this unsurpassable Prime Rib dinner was only $7.56, I’ve now decided it has become overpriced. Here’s why: Across the street from the Virgin River (which has no land yacht berthing) is a 24/7 gas station (which does). It used to be free to park there but now they charge. They threaten those who don’t pay with being towed away.
I understand property costs money, and paving it to withstand a bunch of putzes dragging 40 tons of crap over it day after day costs even more. But geez, do they have to charge 50¢ per hour (three hour minimum)? This raises the cost of a phenomenally prime 16-oz Prime Rib dinner to a whopping $9.06!! Sometimes I think people believe street sailors are made of money.
And so we roll.
Virgin River Casino, 100 Pioneer Blvd., Mesquite, Nevada
Tio Wally pilots the 75-foot, 40-ton(max) land yacht SS Me So Hungry. He reports on road food from around the country whenever parking and InterTube connections permit.
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