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While Vegas is renowned for its glitz, sometimes you need a second to get away from it all, unwind, and ponder exactly why Wayne Newton keeps sending you all these gorgeous dresses. Letting you do that while getting fat, Republic Bar & Kitchen.

Just a short cab down the 215, Republic's a seriously well-put-together yet refreshingly normal American bistro with a rare-for-Vegas straightforward air, serving (sometimes wackily) notched-up comfort food in a space with brick walls, tin ceiling panels, a giant fireplace, and a plush loft area with a pool table, a grip of board games, and a Wii -- the only thing old people love more than board games, if you don't count Werther's Originals. The blessedly economical blown-out home cookin' starts with apps like Pigs in a Blanket w/ cheddar fondue and "Tuna Nachos" (fried wontons w/ diced ahi and wasabi guac) before getting big with a lobster pot pie stuffed w/ sweet corn, edamame, and scallions, and "TV Dinners" in a foil-wrapped tray housing turkey or meatloaf, creamed corn, garlic mashed potatoes/stuffing, and a mini cobbler, who's apparently on a break from making Baby Jordans. Since alcohol is also comforting, they're slinging 25+ beers (Stone IPA, Chimay, Firestone Double Barrel), plenty of affordable reds and whites, bubbly, and sugary specialty 'tails like the Rock Candy Lemonade (Ketel One Citroen, lemon juice, lemon candy) and the Oreo Cookie, with vanilla vodka, white Godiva, and crushed Oreos, who're still smarting after learning their gf got double stuffed.

Keeping your high fructose levels just that are desserts like the Republic Banana Split (covered w/ pretzels, toasted marshmallows, walnuts, and whipped cream) plus fried PB&J wedges w/ organic grape, strawberry, and raspberry sauces for dipping -- so hurry up and down them, to ensure you get back to the talented Mr. Newton before he gets Rusty.

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Have a closer look at the full menu, and their happy hour specials at RepublicKitchenandBar.com