New Italian deli serving up some pretty mean sandwiches

March 9, 2009 by Gregan Wingert 

Hungry college students walking into High Roller Deli might think they’ve entered a tattoo joint, but according to the  Food Network they’ve reached an Italian deli nirvana.

Photos by Steven Lawton

Chef Vic Vegas is the owner of the High Roller Deli and the 2008 Food Network Challenge Big Bash Catering Championship.

Vegas’ appearance is as over the top as his deli. With piercings and his name tattooed on his arms, you’d never know this 33-year-old is a successful business owner with aspirations of opening four restaurants in three years.

“My style of cooking is old-style Italian with a Vegas twist,” said Vegas whose experience on the Food Network confirmed his ambitions of being a chef.

Vegas has taken his knowledge of food and gained fame by being featured twice on the Food Network.  Vegas said his TV appearances aren’t over yet as plans are in the works to film a show in the High Roller Deli.

High Roller’s menu features the innovative style of Vegas with items like the High Rollaz, made with mozzarella, pepperoni and pesto wrapped in a crispy Won Ton. These rolls are a unique, Asian spin on an Italian classic.

“What I do is modernize things,” Vegas said.

High Roller offers everything a college student would want in a sandwich shop:  atmosphere, convenient location, free WiFi, friendly service, reasonable prices and, of course, a variety of delicious food.

Though the black walls and flaming windows make High Roller seem tough on the surface, don’t let that hold you back from asking for a Club To Da Head, a turkey monstrosity that comes with either potato salad, pasta salad or baby greens salad and a quarter-sour pickle.

“This is my personality on the wall,” Vegas said. “I’m known for getting fire in the pan and setting the kitchen on fire.”

Most of the ingredients used in the deli have been imported from New York, where he grew up.

The chef then relocated to Las Vegas 20 years ago and despite never attending college or culinary school, he made great strides with his career. “I did it the hard way,” Vegas said.

“[Back then] it was either learn how to make it yourself out here or don’t eat it,” Vegas said.

“Now it’s their fix, that’s an honor for my food to be their fix,” Vegas said.

Vegas usually gets compliments, but one complaint he hears is that there’s too much food.

Praise especially comes from campus community members. Higher Roller offers many incentives for students such as a 10 percent discount, the option to use RebelCards and monthly drawings where one lucky student will win a free meal every day for a month.

“I always wanted to go to UNLV,” Vegas said. “Now because of this I feel like I am there.”

High Roller’s customer base isn’t limited to students.

“Old, young, vegan, not vegan,” High Roller caters to everyone, Vegas said. “I love it when a 70-year-old person comes in and orders a Mac-Daddy.”

This deli customizes meals for vegetarians and vegans, so everyone can enjoy the food served in this hot spot.

One vegetarian-friendly sandwich is the Tree-Hugger, which is made with grilled zucchini, red roastedpeppers, marinated mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella, lettuce and pesto mayo.

Every dish is bursting with flavor, but if you’re not sure what to get, tell Vegas to give you a knuckle sandwich.

This sandwich is a warm mess that hits you hard with flavor. Two kinds of Italian salami, pepperoni and Black Forrest ham are blanketed with melted mozzarella and topped with lettuce, tomato, Italian dressing and mayo  served on toasted garlic bread.

There’s no wrong choice when picking sides. Whether you go with the soft, fluffy potato salad that dissolves in your mouth or the pasta salad side filled with tangy sun- dried tomatoes, you can’t go wrong.

Whatever sandwich you choose be sure to wash it down with the Vegas Fuel energy drink, which will give you enough oomph to take on this 24-hour town.

Stuffed as you’ll be after all that, try to find room for the sweet and just plain pretty black and white chip cannoli. This guilty pleasure would be a happy ending to any meal at High Roller.

Open since October 2008, High Roller is increasing in popularity among UNLV campus dwellers. The deli and catering service, located at 4440 S. Maryland Parkway, is tucked away in the Promenade Center next to the 7-11  across from UNLV.

ON THE WEB:

High Roller Deli: Highrollerdeli.com or myspace.com/vegas777highroller

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly named Vic Vegas and Fat Tony in our slideshow photo caption and listed an incorrect address for the High Roller Deli. The correct address is 4440 S. Maryland Parkway.  The Rebel Yell regrets this error.