Las Vegas Business Press :: News : Potent Portions

Potent Portions

Farm food excess gives Hash House A Go Go fresh flair

BY HEIDI KNAPP RINELLA

Planning a business lunch? Then this is no doubt what you're looking for: a serious-minded place with a quiet, subdued atmosphere, modest portions of trendy food and big tables spaced far apart, so you have plenty of space to work and can speak freely without threat of being overheard.

None of which you'll find at Hash House A Go Go; I guess a slogan like "twisted farm food" should serve as fair warning.

Still, there are business lunches and there are business lunches. If you're contemplating one that's maybe a little on the lighthearted side, this may well be the place for you.

GARY THOMPSON|LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
If you're contemplating a business lunch on the lighthearted side, Hash House A Go Go might be the place for you with its hearty portions and 'twisted farm' flair.

Bear in mind that, true to its reputation, HHAGG's food is hearty. Nowhere did I see a note suggesting sharing, but considering that the servers bear that hearty food to the tables on platters of proverbial manhole-cover proportions, sharing is kind of the way to go. At the suggestion of a co-worker who frequently lunches there, four of us decided to share three dishes, and we still had food left.

Consider the quesadilla ($9.95). Yes, $9.95 may seem like a lot for a quesadilla, but this wasn't your simple little tortilla with some cheese and peppers inside. The large tortilla -- maybe 12-inch diameter? -- was filled with the requisite cheese, jalapeños and tomatoes but also eggs and potatoes. Sounds weird, maybe, but it was quite a pleasing combination.

Then there was scramble No. 1 ($9.95), one of four Farm Scrambles offered. There were eggs, of course, but also bacon, Swiss cheese and avocado, all scrambled together into a mountain on the plate. Given a choice of mashed potatoes or crispy potatoes I chose the latter (figuring we had enough mashed), and they turned out to be nicely browned cubes that were crispy indeed. The biscuit on the side was oddly sans butter or jam but none of us really seemed all that interested in eating it anyway, considering the volume of food facing us.

Which also included The Hash House Cobb ($13.95), a -- yes -- big bowl of the usual Cobb salad stuff except in larger proportions, like basically half of an entire avocado. Everything was crisp and fresh and as it should be.

Service was, too -- at least from our waiter. He was prompt and efficient and pleasant and refilled beverages without our asking, which contrasted pretty sharply with the hostess's demeanor, which was somewhat akin to drill sergeant. I can understand they want to wait to seat a party if everyone hasn't arrived, but if there's a question of whether a threesome will be a foursome, the table will be the same, so what's with the attitude?

Las Vegas Business Press reviews are done anonymously at Stephens Media Group expense. Contact Heidi Knapp Rinella at 383-0474 or e-mail her at hrinella@reviewjournal.com.

NAME: Hash House A Go Go

ADDRESS: 6800 W. Sahara Ave.

PHONE: 804-4646

OVERALL: A-

FOOD: A-

ATMOSPHERE: A

SERVICE: B+

PLUSES: Good food in a fun atmosphere

MINUSES: The hostess should be more welcoming

BUSINESS AREA SERVED: Sahara Avenue, near Rainbow Boulevard

Search Classifieds: