Beef, companionship on ex-mayor’s menu

You're having a steak when a beautiful broad slides into the booth and wants to know your name.

If it evokes images of old Vegas, that's what former mayor Oscar Goodman had in mind at his speakeasy-style restaurant that opened about two weeks ago inside the Plaza hotel.

Dinner comes with companionship -- if you want it -- at Oscar's Beef, Booze, Broads steakhouse.

Whoa, handsome, it's not what you think.

Oscar's "broads" are "the nicest girls in the history of the world," Goodman said. "They talk about Las Vegas, promote Las Vegas. It's wonderful."

His only worry, Goodman said, is that the idea is so popular "I'm scared of, that the hotels on the Strip will want to take this concept."

Well, there's another little matter.

"If there's any kind of nonsense they have to answer to me, and I'll make sure they won't be here any more," he told a table of writers at media night last week.

About eight women work as broads. They are allowed to have dinner and drinks with customers, and often just married couples, not just men.

How does one become a broad? "We had a series of 'broaditions,' " said Antoinette, who identified herself Goodman's No. 1 broad, or ambassador.

They prefer you check your political correctness at the door. "There have been some people who blasted the idea," general manager Adam Margolies said. "It's part of the throwback Vegas theme. It's not degrading. It's a fun twist."

It's not the only yesteryear twist in the space that was formerly Firefly.

On the way into Oscar's, patrons walk past a hidden door that leads to a sister restaurant called Simpatico, which holds about 85 and features Italian fare with "photos of my former clients on the wall," said Goodman, referring to his days as one of the mob's top attorneys.

The chairs in the steakhouse have O-shaped holes in the back. No, that's not symbolic of gunfire. It's an O, as in Oscar.

The hope, Goodman said, is that Oscar's will be a locals destination, like his favorite watering hole, the Copa, which is long gone since its glory days on Convention Center Drive.

"In my opinion," Goodman said, "this is Las Vegas; this is the room of Las Vegas."

NEW YEAR'S SIGHTINGS

At the opening of Hyde Bellagio: Sofia Vergara of "Modern Family," singer Joe Jonas, singer Leona Lewis, Eric Stonestreet of "Modern Family,'' actress Eliza Dushku, retired NBA player Rick Fox, actresses Lauren Conrad and Stephanie Pratt, and actor Wilmer Valderrama. Joining Hyde owner Sam Nazarian was Bellagio president Randy Morton. ... Kanye West, making a surprise appearance as guest DJ at the opening of 1 Oak at The Mirage, which was hosted by Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas. VIP guests of 1 Oak co-founders Richie Akiva and Scott Sartiano included actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt , David Katzenberg, singers Kid Cudi and Big Sean, actors Topher Grace and Jason Ritter, and bandmates from Foster The People, including Mark Foster, Mark Pontius and Cubbie Fink. ... "Dancing With The Stars" pro Mark Ballas, dancing on the red carpet with Kris Jenner at Tao (The Venetian), where daughter Kim Kardashian hosted. ... At Criss Angel's New Year's party: Sheila E, who formerly worked with and dated Prince, and fellow magicians Lance Burton and Nathan Burton.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Once and for all, learn which one is Siegfried and which one is Roy." -- From David Letterman's Top Ten New Year's Resolutions.

Norm Clarke can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.