Podcast
Eat. Talk. Repeat.
Hosted by What's Right Network · EN
John Curtas is a legit food critic, with the bona fides to back it up. Ash Watkins is an amateur, and the first to admit it. Together they cover the restaurants, bars, and people that make Las Vegas one of the world's best food cities.
They're not here to chase hype, clicks, or likes. They're here to tell you what's worth your time, appetite, and money. No cheese pulls, no yolk porn — just honest analysis of a restaurant's food, service, atmosphere, and the overall vibe.
They do this because they love this city and the people behind its food scene. Turn up the volume and buckle up. Cheers!
44episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
"Enshittification" (Replay) | Las Vegas Best Burger Crawl
Jan 2301:17:48Tap to summarizeOn Today’s Replay Menu:•Enshittification — when good spots go to hell faster than you can say “franchise special”•Our Burger Crawl is serious business — chase the perfect patty or die trying•Ambiance can make or break it — too fancy, I’m broke; too grim, I’m gone•Authenticity’s our lifeline — mid-meat at One Steakhouse? John would rather eat his shoe•Staff with a pulse save the day — treat ‘em right, or your steak’s toast•Corkage fees? Negotiate gracefully, lest Spring Mountain’s $35 tariff spoil the vintage•The 80s? John’s prime and shame. Dining memories hit harder than a hangover from a bad Bordeaux… for better or worse•Joel Robuchon’s restaurants are untouchable — his legacy endures with 20 years of mashed potato perfection and impeccable service•Service post-COVID’s a shitshow — empty rooms cling to petty rules, defying hospitality’s coreInfluencer clowns? All style, no substance — shilling “certified vibes” while grifting free mealsQuestions, comments, hate mail? Email us at cheers@eattalkrepeat.com!Thanks for tuning into today's episode! If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the show, & make sure you leave us a 5-star review. Visit us at Eating Las Vegas & Eat. Talk. Repeat.Follow us on social:Twitter/X: @EatTalkRepeat, @EatingLasVegas, & @AshTheAttorneyInstagram: @EatTalkRepeatLV, @JohnCurtas, & @AshTheAttorney
Transcribe →The Great Burger Tease! Las Vegas’ NEW BEST Burger
Jan 1600:57:33Tap to summarizeOn today’s episode of Eat. Talk. Repeat.👑 The Hamburguesa Principessa has officially knighted a new Best Burger in Las Vegas!🤞 John promises to try to do better. No guarantees, no timeline, just John.📰 Food News! A Wizard of Oz–themed bar is coming to Vegas… because that’s exactly what we need down here.🚨 Spring Mountain restaurant Health District scores are out and let’s just say… yikes.🥐 French bakery FAIL! A once-recommended spot is officially off the list. Consider this your public service announcement.💬 Plus, some “listener gossip” (JK) — it’s really just a love letter to how spot-on our recommendations continue to be (especially for out of towners wanting a fabulous time!)👉 Got a food take, question, or hate mail? Email us at cheers@eattalkrepeat.com👉 Submit your own pet peeves or join our newsletter at EatTalkRepeat.com 👉 Looking for a place to eat? Check out our categories list at https://www.eattalkrepeat.com/leftovers/top3lasvegas-z5wtcIf you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a 5-star review — it helps more food lovers find us!Follow for more Vegas food talk & behind-the-scenes flavor:X/Twitter: @EatTalkRepeat | @EatingLasVegas | @AshTheAttorneyInstagram: @EatTalkRepeatLV | @JohnCurtas | @AshTheAttorney
Transcribe →Grumpy Gastro-gnome
Jan 900:57:12Tap to summarizeOn today’s episode of Eat. Talk. Repeat.🥃 Dry January? Absolutely not. We’re talking Buffalo Sober — intentions are pure, execution is questionable.🏃♂️ A Taco Bell Ultramarathon exists… and of course it’s happened in Vegas. What are we doing as a city?🍗 A KFC stabbing over gravy makes the news…🎙️ And we’re officially placing bets on how long John’s Pet Peeve rant will last this week. (No one’s taking the under.)👉 Got a food take, question, or hate mail? Email us at cheers@eattalkrepeat.com👉 Submit your own pet peeves or join our newsletter at EatTalkRepeat.com 👉 Looking for a place to eat? Check out our categories list at https://www.eattalkrepeat.com/leftovers/top3lasvegas-z5wtcIf you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a 5-star review — it helps more food lovers find us!Follow for more Vegas food talk & behind-the-scenes flavor:X/Twitter: @EatTalkRepeat | @EatingLasVegas | @AshTheAttorneyInstagram: @EatTalkRepeatLV | @JohnCurtas | @AshTheAttorney
Transcribe →9.26.25 Your Questions, Our Chaos
Sep 2601:00:02Tap to summarizeOn Today’s Menu:Tamba on-site recording — spicy food, spicier commentary… coming soon on the podcast!Bazaar Meat… FINALLY. Was it worth the wait? Oh yes.Mid coffee at The Coffee Class — John’s real takeaway? Finding his Halloween costume: a Summerlin pilates mom.Greek Fest continues — ouzorita in hand, video on deck.Pet Peeves: the yin and yang edition (balance = impossible).Listener spotlight — your comments, emails & questions steal the show this week.Got a food take, question, or hate mail? Email us at cheers@eattalkrepeat.comSubmit your own pet peeves at EatTalkRepeat.comIf you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a 5-star review. It helps more food lovers find us!Follow us for more bites & banter:X/Twitter: @EatTalkRepeat | @EatingLasVegas | @AshTheAttorneyInstagram: @EatTalkRepeatLV | @JohnCurtas | @AshTheAttorney
Transcribe →9.19.25 You Can’t Beat Our Meat
Sep 1900:58:03Tap to summarizeOn Today’s Menu:Sam is BACK from vacation — but the Venetian may never recover.Pizza Fest déjà vu — will the crew get kicked out again? Place your bets.Greek Food Fest keeps the ouzo flowing (yes, John’s still claiming heritage).Shoutout to Josh & Rachel for their mini burger crawl — inspired by our chaos.Kat Thomas uncorks a fine wine update you’ll want to sip on.Rio making a comeback? Or just rolling the dice on nostalgia.French Food Renaissance — are baguettes and Bordeaux finally cool again?Windy City Wet Dogs… yes, that’s actually a thing.Anti–Southern Highlands Club, proudly led by John (applications open).New segment alert! Spill the Tea — got insider Vegas food gossip? Send it our way.Pet Peeve: anti–cocktail menus, courtesy of the women in Sam & John’s lives.Got a food take, question, or hate mail? Email us at cheers@eattalkrepeat.comSubmit your own pet peeves at EatTalkRepeat.comIf you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a 5-star review. It helps more food lovers find us! Follow us for more bites & banter: X/Twitter: @EatTalkRepeat | @EatingLasVegas | @AshTheAttorney Instagram: @EatTalkRepeatLV | @JohnCurtas | @AshTheAttorney
Transcribe →8.29.25 Red Sauce Revival, Palms Survival & John’s Burning Man Meltdown
Aug 2901:06:41Tap to summarizeOn Today’s Menu:You can now submit your own pet peeves on our website (eattalkrepeat.com)! John unveils his updated Where to Eat & Why list for 2025 — including the best 36 restaurants right now and the worst meals of the year so far.Big shakeups at the Palms: Mabel’s BBQ, Vetri Cucina, and Rojo Lounge all on their way out — what went wrong?EDO’s ambitious expansion plans: new brasserie, Seattle opening, and more — genius growth or dangerous brand dilution?Nicole Brisson’s “Make Italian American Food Great Again” menu at Brezza — revival of red sauce classics.The latest food news: COTE Vegas sets an October opening, Bazaar Meat reopens, Xiao Long Dumpling expands, Shang Artisan Noodle goes downtown, Leticia Mitchell opens another spot, and more.Rapid-fire reviews: from Le Cafe Central’s French café vibes to Tamba’s standout curries, Delmonico’s burger-as-appetizer, and the week’s 0-for-3 duds (TRES Cantina, Ramen Boys, and Zaytinya).Listener comments, YouTube shoutouts, and one very hot take… John’s Pet Peeve of the Week — Burning Man.Questions, comments, hate mail? Email us at cheers@eattalkrepeat.com! Thanks for tuning into today's episode! If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the show, & make sure you leave us a 5-star review. Visit us at Eat. Talk. Repeat.Follow us on social:Twitter: @EatTalkRepeat, @EatingLasVegas, & @AshTheAttorneyInstagram: @EatTalkRepeatLV, @JohnCurtas, & @AshTheAttorney
Transcribe →8.23.25 Vegas on the Rocks: James Reza Tells All
Aug 2401:07:14Tap to summarizeOn Today’s Menu:🎙️ A long-awaited guest finally joins us: James Reza, downtown insider, writer, editor, and cocktail connoisseur.📰 How Reza helped unleash John Curtas, the food critic on Las Vegas (blame him or thank him).📉 Is Las Vegas really “dead”? We unpack the tourism stats, Wall Street meddling, and the slow death of the $0.99 shrimp cocktail myth.💸 Why filet mignon is $95 in Vegas but $52 in Manhattan — and why no one’s lowering prices anytime soon.📲 Influencer culture: pay-for-play reviews, “OnlyFoods,” and the Gen Z ring-light invasion of local bars.🍸 Cocktail culture deep-dive: from Rudy at Nora’s to Bellagio’s program, to today’s booming downtown bar scene.🥃 Favorite haunts: Petite Boheme, Frankies, Herbs & Rye, and why you’ll never get a bad drink downtown.😤 Bar Pet Peeves of the Week: from charging for ice to the dreaded “Gen Z stare” to non-calibrated soda guns.Questions, comments, hate mail? Email us at cheers@eattalkrepeat.com!Thanks for tuning into today's episode! If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the show, & make sure you leave us a 5-star review. Visit us at Eat. Talk. Repeat.Follow us on social:Twitter: @EatTalkRepeat, @EatingLasVegas, @WhatsRightSam, & @AshTheAttorneyInstagram: @EatTalkRepeatLV, @JohnCurtas, @WhatsRightSam, & @AshTheAttorney
Transcribe →8.15.25 Bring Your Own Frenchman (Hot Takes, Meat Sweats & Meltdowns)
Aug 15, 202501:10:06Tap to summarizeOn Today’s Menu:🎉 Major announcement: EatTalkRepeat.com is finally LIVE — links, episodes, socials, newsletter, future merch… it’s all happening!The Strip goes full carnivore: Bizarre Meat, Cote, Boa, Delmonico, Smith & Wollensky, & Cut turn the Venetian into a certified meat lockerSpiegelworld rebrands Diner Ross… into a steakhouse with tater tots and tartareUpscale Indian food finally hits the Strip with GYMKHANA — and we’re excitedChinatown keeps opening hot pot restaurants + announces a monthly food festivalEater Vegas gets replaced by AI (John celebrates, obviously)Eleven Madison Park backtracks and brings meat back to the menu — and we explain exactly whySam is on a full-blown steakhouse benderJohn tells a French joke that probably gets the show flagged in five countriesWe announce our restaurant of the week!Pet Peeves: empty dining rooms that still make you wait, influencer crying scandals, & parents who let their kids go feral in restaurantsRecent Eats Rundown:PISCES Bar & SeafareStubborn SeedHumo BBQCafe BreizhCrush Pad Wine BarSpecial Noodle VegasWild Fig BBQ Cipriani Italian RestaurantNicco's SteakhouseThe Golden Steer SteakhouseECHO Taste & SoundThe Pepper Club1228 Main Las VegasQuestions, comments, hate mail? Email us at cheers@eattalkrepeat.com!Thanks for tuning into today's episode! If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the show, & make sure you leave us a 5-star review. Visit us at Eat. Talk. Repeat.Follow us on social:Twitter: @EatTalkRepeat, @EatingLasVegas, @WhatsRightSam, & @AshTheAttorneyInstagram: @EatTalkRepeatLV, @JohnCurtas, @WhatsRightSam, & @AshTheAttorney
Transcribe →8.1.25 Fromaged and Unhinged
Aug 1, 202500:51:43Tap to summarizeJohn’s back from the dead (sort of), and we’ve got a lot to catch up on. On today's menu...🧀 Cheese Heaven in Beverly HillsAsh visits the legendary Beverly Hills Cheese Store — no tip prompts, endless samples, and the kind of dairy experience that makes you rethink your life choices.🦞 Lobster Rolls Are Like SexHot, buttery, Massachusetts-style, and worth the mess. John makes it weird.🍛 Restaurant of the Week: TambaJohn finally visits Tamba and declares it the best Indian food Vegas has ever seen — modern, elegant, and full of flavor (with receipts).🔥 John Maul’s Roadkill Grill Gets GrilledAsh tries it. John torches it. Spoiler: The only thing smoky is the backlash.💸 Vegas Upcharges and Other Rants$20 for a kitchen view at Hell’s Kitchen? John calls BS. Plus, he goes full tilt on TikTok foodie voiceovers and mukbang culture.Questions, comments, hate mail? Email us at cheers@eattalkrepeat.com!Thanks for tuning into today's episode! If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the show, & make sure you leave us a 5-star review. Visit us at Eating Las Vegas & Eat. Talk. Repeat.Follow us on social:Twitter: @EatTalkRepeat, @EatingLasVegas, & @AshTheAttorneyInstagram: @EatTalkRepeatLV, @JohnCurtas, & @AshTheAttorney
Transcribe →7.11.25 Hail Caesar, Carbone Bros & Coughing Fits
Jul 13, 202501:09:22Tap to summarizeOn Today’s Menu:Post–4th of July recovery and burger crawl reflectionsIngredient Wars: Caviar vs. Truffle — which fancy ingredient overstayed its welcome?Texture Excuses: Are they childish or valid? (Spoiler: John wants to fork people in the eye)Vegas summer dining deals and why now’s the time to eat like a localFull reviews of 9 restaurants, including a heated conversation of…Carbone Riviera is opening at Bellagio — expect boat, bros, and cargo shortsSimple food is eternal. Excess is exhausting. Eat what tastes good, not what photographs well.Next crawl contenders: Fried chicken or Caesar salads. Let the cholesterol games beginRestaurant Rundown:1. Xiang Wei Xuan (Hunan)Standouts: Boiled fish in chili sauce, Mapo tofu, stir-fried chicken with jalapeñosTip: Go with a group and start with “medium” spice2. Spicy Zest - Restaurant & Bar (Sichuan)Clean space, hot and sour soup is a cold remedyDish to try: Stir-fried cucumbers, chili chicken appetizers3. Old School Pizzeria (Gio Mauro)Monster slice alert — affordable, sourdough-based, super satisfying4. HolsteinsLollipop wings, good variety of burgers, great group hang5. WineauxWarm, cozy, killer croissant-wrapped pigs in a blanketJohn smuggled in foie gras. They let him. No corkage, no shame.6. Rare SocietyTri-tip & filet — impressive associate steak boardService and pricing get a thumbs-upCaesar salad is a parmesan blizzard7. Moia Las Vegas (Peruvian)Try the ceviche and lomo saltadoSketchy parking lot, but lovely and welcoming inside8. Casa Playa (Wynn)$200 for 4 apps + 1 drink + parkingJohn calls it a “casino ripoff restaurant” and poster child for corporate Vegas greed9. Monzù – Italian Oven + Bar & The Pepper ClubShout-outs for summer menus, 25% local deals, and happy hoursListener Shout-Outs:ETR fan vs. foodie complexity: Joy Behar sex jokes, Beyonce explosions, and Caprese simplicityMike L. requests a Caesar Salad Quest (spoiler: it’s happening)Chris Albu praises Pepper Club’s wood-fired grill and Thursday locals dealJed B. suggests a fried chicken crawl… our arteries are already sweatingQuestions, comments, hate mail? Email us at cheers@eattalkrepeat.com!Thanks for tuning into today's episode! If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the show, & make sure you leave us a 5-star review. Visit us at Eating Las Vegas & Eat. Talk. Repeat.Follow us on social:Twitter: @EatTalkRepeat, @EatingLasVegas, @WhatsRightSam, & @AshTheAttorneyInstagram: @EatTalkRepeatLV, @JohnCurtas, @WhatsRightSam, & @AshTheAttorney
Transcribe →