text: While west of Downtown continues to go big or go implode in terms of hotels highend LA retail stores and equally pricey star restaurants that now have become chains Beso Koi Craft etc a place like Chicago Joes is a hidden gem that has no reason to change a thing to keep up with the corporate beast of dining The blink or you will miss it location on th Street says it all Old School is where it all started and where it will remain You got to love thatnnMy mom and I decided to celebrate my return to this old hometown of mine on what will be the first of many Mommy and Me dining experiences We both pride ourselves on our own respective culinary skills so our quest to find worthy good eats around the Valley is a treat We got that and then some at Chicago JoesnnOn the advice of other reviewers here we made reservations for We entered from the backdoor where the parking lot is located and there was only one other couple seated in the onetime living room of the small house Our greeter joked with us when I mentioned the reservation by saying gee we are going to have make some room here I love an affable and equally sarcastic server We perused the menu and debated on one of two appetizers to try the stuffed artichoke or the escargot cap mushrooms We asked our server which one he preferred He said the escargot cap mushrooms hands down but added that the artichoke is good it is just a lot of work Yeah I agreed I wanted to relax since I just came from work and I started by ordering a glass of chianti served in a sweet Italian wine glass tumbler nnHe brought a basket of piping hot bread to the table and our appetizer which certainly did not disappoint We sopped the delicious sauce up from the mushrooms with pieces of the bread I had the salad with the house dressing which is creamy garlic If I had one criticism about the dressing it is that it needs more garlic My mom had the soup which was a delicious creamy tomato based white navy bean pasta soup the name of which escapes me It was nice start to our entrees which we both ordered the shrimp parmigiana I ordered mine first my mom wanted and ordered the same but kicked herself for not ordering something different so we could try each others dishes because that is how we roll Maybe during our next visit we will order the same but different dish The shrimps were huge prawns baked in layers of meat sauce and cheese exactly the way any parmigiana is supposed to be served Our respective dinners were so delicious we decided to save half of them and move on toward the dessert Oh yeah we went there and all because I turned around and read on their little Dry Erase Board what the desserts were Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake Stick a fork in me I am donennIf you want an authentic Italian experience go check out Chicago Joes The ambience is intimately comfortable and feels like home which is probably why it is located inside a historic downtown Vegas house The food is simple yet robust with flavor and a certain passion It is like eating a dish your grandmother passed down in a recipe to your ma and she will eventually pass down to you If it is just a plain old plate of lasagna or spaghetti you want go to your nearest Olive Garden and get the Tour of Italy But if you want to check out a rare Vegas institution such as Chicago Joes I suggest you try something you have probably never had and never heard of a la shrimp parmigiana Chicago Hot Shrimp Veal and Peppers Ciopinno etc You will not be disappointed