Just about everyone loves
movies, especially mobster themes, such as “Goodfellows” and “The Godfather”
series. Las Vegas has been depicted in many movies, but few showed the true
atmosphere of the good old days. Las Vegas in the 60s and 70s was run by the
mob,
those
colorful characters, and they kept the town pretty safe — unless you tried to
cross them, that is. There was little crime, and the casino workers felt they
were treated right. And everyone loved to go to Tony Cosmo’s restaurants to
socialize and have homemade Italian cuisine, such as Veal Scaloppini, Stuffed
Bell Peppers, and even the spumoni, which was homemade. Well, last week, I
visited with restaurateur Tony Cosmos, the executive chef and owner of Cosmos
Ristorante located inside the Royal Resort right off the Las Vegas Strip at 99
Convention Center Drive.
Besides cooking what is
perhaps the best Italian food I’ve ever tasted, Tony Cosmo has had an
illustrious career. He has owned several restaurants, among them the former
disco-era hotspot, Paul Anka’s Jubilation, and Cosmos Underground in downtown
Las Vegas.
In fact, Tony could write a
book on all the colorful characters who dined in his restaurants over the years.
Hey, that’s a great idea, especially since he’s got all the pictures to prove
it. The others might have carried “heat,” but Tony carried a mean skillet, pot
and chef’s pan and served some of the best food in town. Tony’s places were
where people hung out
in the great heyday of Vegas.
So what happened to the Old
Las Vegas?
Well, some of those mob guys
are pushing up daisies, some are in prison, and some are under the Witness
Protection Program. Tony is just a great chef who keeps on going. So, it
is with great pleasure that Tony is bringing back the “Old Vegas” flavor. Tony
is planning to have a late-night, after hours gathering spot for those people
who get off work in the wee hours of the morning and want to stop by his place
and unwind in the outside lounge area.
They can get some of his
great Chicago beef sandwiches, enjoy a drink outdoors and stretch out under the
shining stars of Las Vegas, while lounging beside the Royal Resort’s
Olympic-size pool.
The best part of what Tony is
doing is that no one will have to wait in line, and his guests won’t have to buy
a table or bottle service, the way it works in the swanky ultra lounges and
nightclubs in many Strip resorts. This atmosphere is for late night relaxing and
getting together with friends. Tony Cosmo is making the old new again.
For more information, call
(702) 369-4179 or visit www.cosmosristorante.com. Tell them Pete Allman sent
you.
|
|
My book of poetry
entitled "Messages" was inspired by my dear friends C.J. Cansler along
with Victoria Boone and Beryl Warren.
The group of poems
along with some beautiful photographs are to inspire the reader.
|
|
|
