Where do the locals eat in Las Vegas? They travel south of The Strip to this great eatery.

Last week my husband, son, and I landed in Vegas. After two planes and several hours with only pretzels to eat, we were hungry! Our first mission after checking into our condo was to find a place to eat.

Fortunately, we found a fantastic place for casual Italian food. How good was it? We went three times in the same week! The great food and service at the Boulevard Bar & Grille left us feeling satisfied and ready to return.

When you enter the Boulevard Bar & Grill you are surrounded by photos of old Las Vegas. There is casual dining, patio dining, dining in a room filled with three huge screens showing various sporting events, patio dining, and dining around the bar with the obligatory video poker machines.

Our first meal was during the lunch hour. My husband had the Linguini & Calamari in garlic sauce. This was a delicious sauce made with fresh tomatoes, rings of calamari, and a healthy dose of garlic. There was enough calamari in the dish that even the last bites of pasta were accompanied by squid. The salad that preceded the pasta was large, with a mixture of salad greens.

I had the Boulevard Steak Sandwich. The sandwich bread was good, hearty Italian bread that had been toasted. A nice option was that instead of fries, I was able to order soup. This was an Italian Wedding soup made with chicken rather than beef. It was light a delicious.

Our teenage son opted for chicken wings. He declared that the hot version was perfect.

Later in the week we went to the Boulevard for breakfast. Our son decided on the Gambler's Choice. This is an all American breakfast of eggs, toast, bacon (or sausage or ham), and hash browns. The bacon was thick and crispy and the hash browns were done extra crispy as requested.

My husband and I split a Frittata. It was delicious, being made with fresh vegetables and fresh tarragon. Many people over cook frittatas, making them dry and rubbery. This version was perfect. It was accompanied by toasted cibatta bread.

The morning we left Las Vegas we returned to the Boulevard. I again had the frittata. It lived up to all my memories. It was tasty and filling.

The service is excellent. The wait staff are friendly and helpful. The waiter at our first breakfast was Donny. Donny is an out going young man who also performs at the Excalibur Casino's Tournament of Kings.

How do you find the Boulevard Bar & Grille? Drive south on Las Vegas Blvd. (The Strip). Go approximately five miles past Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino. The Boulevard will be on your left hand side.

Are you looking for a romantic setting for supper? Try Il Fornaio, with two locations in the Las Vegas area.