MARK WAITE / PVT Jeffery Rathjen, Pahrump Nugget food and beverage director, shakes up a drink in the mini-bar at the Stockman's Steak House. Advertisement

Pahrump Nugget managers took time out to display the renovation of the Golden Harvest Cafe to the local media last week and tout some of their improvements as the new owners celebrate their first anniversary.

Golden Gaming officially took over the Pahrump Nugget Hotel and Gambling Hall from Generation 2000 Nov. 9, 2006. That change in ownership came with 70 hotel rooms, 553 gaming machines, 10 table games, a sports book, poker room and 38 acres in a prime location at the corner of Highway 160 and 372.

Jeffery Rathjen, Nugget food and beverage director, said he's already excited about what will be in store in November 2008 for the second anniversary.

Many of the improvements touted by Nugget officials have been about the food. A new menu was unveiled at the Golden Harvest Cafe last spring, followed by the opening of the Stockman's Steak House with a state-of-the-art smoker, over the summer.

"We don't buy cheap products. We don't do the 99 cent breakfast, we don't do the $2.99 lunch," Rathjen said.

Instead, the Golden Harvest Cafe at the Pahrump Nugget offers family food, he said, like the special of that day, a Hawaiian chicken sandwich, or other favorites like a roasted turkey dinner or beef stew.

The cafe has been renovated. It now houses comfortable, sit-down chairs without duct tape, Rathjen noted. There are new wall coverings, ceilings, counters and booths.

Hostesses have been trained to give the proper greetings to customers and casino staff told what events are going on at the property, in case guests ask.

The Stockman's Steak House is now popular enough that reservations are required on special occasions, like the holidays, Rathjen said.

"Any good restaurant will revamp their menu every six months to keep it exciting," Rathjen said. Diners at the steak house can now enjoy some seafood delights, like lobster tail stuffed with crab meat or crab ravioli. Rathjen said diners can still walk out spending less than $30.

A bar has been added in the steak house, with a martini menu and exquisite wines, like a Chateau Ste. Michelle Eroica, or Clos du Bois as a house wine.

Rathjen described the atmosphere of the steak house as a "destination outlet". It even has wireless Internet.

The sports book will have an NBA package as well as the NFL package, he said. The Leroy's Sports Book will soon have horse racing in self-contained cubicles with televisions.

Old-time favorites like the Diamonds and the Marvelettes have entertained at the revamped casino lounge.

The casino sponsored a Martin Luther King Day breakfast, the annual drug court dinner and other community functions in the banquet room at the rear of the property.

"We're here for our guests. We'll come out and find out their wants and needs," said Executive Chef Bill Bitzer, an employee at the Pahrump Nugget for four years.

The food court that housed Nicco's Yellow Submarine, McDonald's Restaurant and Orange Julius was closed to make way for a larger poker room.

The 70 rooms in the hotel have been upgraded as well, with all new linens and towels, General Manager Jeremy Jensen said.

"You come for the martinis, you might as well get a hotel room," Rathjen said.