Battle of the Butter Cake – Hank’s Fine Steaks and Martinis

I recently checked out another steakhouse in Vegas. This time, Hank’s Fine Steaks and Martinis located in the Green Valley Ranch Resort Spa and Casino in Henderson. Its another Station property and I’m starting to really like them. There is also the Durango Casino which has good food and drink options. Anyway, Hanks has a modern upscale vibe and it was packed when we arrived. Lots of people having a good time as indicated by the volume inside the restaurant. The meal started with a bread basket. This is something I am more likely to pass on these days, but this one was different. Our server was so passionate about describing each piece of bread and the butter. He told us about their sourdough which was fluffy and warm once I tore into it. The taste of the sourdough was milder than average, but the flavor was fantastic. The butter was a French butter and was something I don’t see outside France that often. I believe the type of milk needed to make it is not widely available everywhere. Anyway, nothing beats French butter. I also tasted the dinner roll with Gruyere cheese melted on top, heavenly, crisps with pram and garlic, savory, and pretzels.

For our appetizers I ordered the crab cocktail and Caesar. The Caesar was on par with my homemade recipe, and the crab cocktail was paired well with the cocktail sauce.

For the mains, I ordered the tater tots, ribeye, and corn. The tater tots were interesting. The outside was crisp and the inside was more like mashed potatoes. They were ok but I prefer a “meatier” filling. More fry like. The corn was decent but nothing so memorable. Having just come off a ribeye at Rare Society the night before, this was stood out in comparison because when the plate hit the table, I could immediately smell the aging. The beef was tender, and flavorful, but could of used more seasoning.

For dessert, I had to have the butter cake, because the one at Rare Society the night before was one of the 10 best desserts I’ve ever had. I think that if I didn’t have the one the night before, this one would of been fine, but the texture was mushier so my vote still goes to Rare Society in terms of butter cake.

I should note that the martinis here, since its in the name, are pretty well balanced and smooth. Overall, the service was excellent. Very fast, efficient. detail oriented and friendly. They switched out our salad plates to cold ones for the salad course. Foodwise, I would say that it was an enjoyable meal and combined with the vibe and atmosphere, I would return and perhaps try other cuts. This is also a good choice if you are looking for an off strip alternative.