Strip-n-Dip does few things but does them really well

I love finding out about new spots that have slipped under my radar.

I first noticed Strip-n-Dip as the readers’ choice in the Cheap Eats and Family Restaurant categories in this year’s Best of Las Vegas voting. Then one of my editors, who lives in the neighborhood, told me how much she likes it. Time for a visit, and now I concur.

Strip-n-Dip is a counter-service place with a limited menu; it’s pretty much all chicken strips, all the time, though they’re available not only fried but also baked or grilled. We chose two four-piece combos ($6.99), with other options being a six-piece combo or a two-piece kids’ meal (family-size packages serve four to five or six to eight), with fried and grilled strips. The fried strips were breaded, of course, with a coating that was exceptionally light but also exceptionally crunchy, due to the use of panko. The grilled strips were extremely moist, the white meat given just a kiss of sweetness with the use of an Asian marinade and a whisper-light glaze of honey. It’d be tough to say which I liked better; the more healthful option usually involves trade-offs, but that wasn’t the case here.

The sauces, which the restaurant says are made in-house, just gilded the lily. From the selection of 10, we chose barbecue, honey-mustard, Buffalo and wasabi cream. The first two were good but unremarkable; the Buffalo was noteworthy in that it had all the elements of a classic Buffalo sauce, including fire and butter. But our favorite was the wasabi cream, which had just enough of a spark without being overwhelming and complemented both styles of chicken nicely.

Sides are limited, too: macaroni and cheese, french fries and grilled veggies. While the veggies looked good, we decided to indulge by ordering the first two. The fries were perfectly hot and crisp, but the macaroni and cheese was a real standout, al dente pasta with a blend of cheeses and a crisp crumb topping.

Garlic bread, served with both, was serviceable.

With a menu this limited, we were surprised to see that beverage choices included Thai coffee and Thai iced tea and even more so to discover that the tea ($1.99) was perfectly balanced, one of the best in town.

Decor is about what we’d expect from a counter-service spot next to a Home Depot, which is to say not much, although it was sleek and clean. But please note, this is a tiny place — really tiny, with only a handful of tables. So, if you choose to go immediately, don’t be put out if there’s no room to sit — or if they run out of chicken.

Las Vegas Review-Journal restaurant reviews are done anonymously at Review-Journal expense. Email Heidi Knapp Rinella at hrinella@reviewjournal.com. Find more of her stories at reviewjournal.com and bestoflasvegas.com, and follow @HKRinella on Twitter.