Social climber.

Encore’s Society Cafe is joining Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gay Talese and Norman Mailer. No, not in the ranks of famous drunks, but in the pages of Esquire Magazine.

The mag named Society one of its Best New Restaurants in America (A sentiment shared by other noted substance-abuser Ozzy Osbourne — hey, maybe there’s a pattern here?) in its November issue.

Esquire’s John Mariani gave Society the designation — marking Vegas’ first return to the list since the tag-team combo of Guy Savoy and Joel Robuchon splashed onto the scene in 2006.

“I’m delighted and humbled that Esquire selected Society as a place that stands out on the dining scene,” Chef Kim Canteenwalla said. “There are many great new restaurants and we’re thrilled to be acknowledged amongst this distinguished group.”

Worth noting: Esquire also maintains a database of the Best Bars in America, on which The Griffin, The Double Down and Bellagio’s Petrossian make the cut.

By Jason Scavone

This is Jack’s picture face.

It’s nice to know that even when your dad reigned as one of the scariest dudes on the planet, he can still embarrass you in public. Jack Osbourne ducked in at Society Cafe inside Encore for a low-key breakfast … where the rest of the family was eating. Sharon Osbourne shouted across the room, “Jack, come sit with us.”

Later in the night, Ozzy came back for a salad and fries. That’s a lot of Ozzy hanging around here lately. We’re going to go ahead and assume that Crazy Train: A Cirque du Soleil Experience is being organized in secret.

Over at Tao, Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics had dinner while Kareem Rush from the 76ers was spotted at Lavo.

By Jason Scavone

Holding ‘em, folding ‘em, etc.

Poker pro Antonio Esfandiari was in at Society Cafe inside Encore for lunch yesterday and tells the hostess he wants a table for three, but it might be seven. She asks, “What are the odds of the table expanding?” and Esfandiari immediately shoots back “47 percent.” Thankyouhe’llbehereallweektrytheveal. Esfandiari ended Day 1 at the World Series of Poker’s Main Event with 75,000 in chips, but didn’t play in yesterday’s Day 2A — it looks like he’s going in Day 2B today.

Meanwhile, over at Hawaiian Tropic Zone, the run-up to UFC 100 this weekend was under way with fighters CB Dollaway and Ryan Bader having dinner together.

By Jason Scavone

That is a chick earning her money.

Artie Lange was poolside Saturday with 14 girls vying for the title of Miss Howard TV. When you’re not content to linger in anonymity in the strip clubs and you want to take your act all the way to the pay-per-view Howard Stern Television Network, you’re really competing for the crown of Queen of the Daddy Issues, aren’t you? Congrats on setting your sights low and praying you don’t undershoot the bar.

Lange was at Rick’s Cabaret Friday night and Rehab on Sunday for some other stripper-related good times, while Society Cafe at Encore while a woman we all wish had embraced the anonymity of the strip club instead of the career path she actually chose, Tyra Banks, had salad and meatballs. Also at Society were Willie Green of the Philadelphia 76ers and director Oliver Stone. Stone is working on Wall Street 2, which is at least as ill-advised a sequel as Short Circuit 2, in that the original approaches the pinnacle of the craft. Hopefully, after he stops wasting his time, he’ll get back in the president-movie game with Polk. Banks also took in a show of Ka Saturday night.

Also on Friday, Maxwell was at Ditch Fridays at the Palms pool, along with MMA fighter Michael Bisping, Sean May of the Bobcats and ESPN broadcaster Steve Levy.

By Jason Scavone

Someone lured the elusive Too Short out to a nightclub, eh? (Photo by Bryan Steffy)

Derek Fisher of the champion LA Lakers was at Society Cafe inside Encore with 15 friends and family members last night before decamping to Blush where Too Short was hanging out. This being a Lakers celebration, we were surprised to learn that several cars weren’t overturned, nor was the club was set on fire. You know if the Pistons had won the championship, this kind of oversight wouldn’t fly.

By Jason Scavone

Double Mojio vision. Foreigner would be proud.

Society Cafe is Encore’s laid-back-but-still-classy restaurant and fave haunt of Ozzy Osbourne — who returned there for the third straight day today — recently put together its Mojito tasting menu for the summer, where they offer four different Mojitos and several complementary appetizers.

Though you’re getting your FDA recommended daily dose of rum and mint in each of them, there’s quite a bit of range among the three we tried. (OK, you’re right. We kind of wussed out by not hitting a fourth, but in our defense, we’re already giving our only liver to die for your sins, and we just don’t want to hasten the process.)

The Pineapple Mojito, or, Joito, muddles together fresh pineapple chunks, spearmint leaves and lime juice before bringing in nearly two ounces of Mount Gay Eclipse, simple syrup and a quarter ounce of Grand Marnier. It’s really bright without being bitter. The Joito has enough of a strong pineapple taste to it that Spongebob would be comfortable living inside it. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone