PALAZZO— TwentyFour by Charles Woodson and Lavo Italian Restaurant will host a six-course wine pairing dinner in the restaurant's private dining room on Friday, May 3. Winemaker and professional football star Charles Woodson, joined by TwentyFour's director of operations Rick Ruiz, will pair wines to the culinary creations of Lavo chefs Massimiliano Campanari and Marc Marrone. The evening starts with a reception at 6:30 p.m. The dinner is priced at $125 per person. [EaterWire]
WESTSIDE — The 34th Annual San Gennaro Feast will take place May 8-12 at the Grand Canyon Shopping Center at 4245 Grand Canyon Drive. More than 70 restaurant food booths will be on hand, as well as 80 amusements rides including the new 100-foot Vertigo, midway games, arts and crafts booths, and complimentary headliner entertainment hosted by Tony Sacca, who has been part of the event for more than 26 years. Tickets are $9 for adults and $8 for seniors and military at the door. For discount tickets or group rates, visit www.sangennarofeast.com. [EaterWire] Lavo [Photo: The Tao Group]
Need something besides daily deal emails in your inbox? The Eater Vegas newsletter is coming your way three times a week, bringing you a lovingly curated selection of our top stories. Stay on top of the latest openings, rumors and chef shuffles, simply by entering your email below.
Meet the Cornish pasty, a British baked pie with savory fillings inside that kind of looks like a pot pie. And soon, pasties will be served up at the new Cornish Pasty Co. coming to the Commercial Center on Sahara Avenue.
Already the company has two outlets in Tempe and Mesa, Ariz., with other new locations coming to Phoenix and Scottsdale, Ariz. The company's Website touts Cornwall native Dean Thomas as the founder of the Cornish Pasty Co, which first opened in Tempe in 2005.
The restaurant sticks to original Cornish ingredients for the Oggie, the classic pasty made with steak, potatoes, onion and rutabaga (swede) and served with a side of red wine gravy or ketchup. Other variations include the Porky with pork, potatoes, apples, onion and sage; lamb and mint; Bangers and Mash; The Royale with Cheese made with a hamburger, French fries, grilled onions, mushrooms, bacon and a cheddar Swiss blend; and Shepherd's pie. Dishes can be partially baked to finish at home.
Let the whole Internet know what you've been eating by adding your food photos to the Eater Vegas Flickr Pool. Food porn is welcome, as are photos of funny signage, interiors, exteriors and any other shots that relate to the Las Vegas dining and nightlife scenes. Simply log into Flickr, visit the Eater Vegas Flickr Pool and select "Join This Group." [EaterWire]
One of your best bets in Vegas is happy hour, that time of day when restaurants and bars offer up discounted food and drink specials. Here's an updated look at 87 happy hours all across Vegas where you can nab deals, all presented in alphabetical order.
Have a favorite happy hour? Drop the name of the place, the deal and the times and dates in the comments or drop us a line at vegas@eater.com.
It seems everything over at Mandalay Bay is getting a makeover. The latest — Trattoria del Lupo, Wolfgang Puck's first Italian restaurant, which originally opened in 1999. After a quick makeover, the restaurant now features a contemporary interior in warm chocolate browns and cool whites. The restaurant boasts exhibition pizza, antipasto and dessert stations, a glass-enclosed area where fresh pasta is made daily and a wine room that is surrounded by a spacious bar in the center of the restaurant. Also part of the renovations, two new pieces of contemporary art. Look for Cut, Paste, Time and Space by Las Vegas artist David Ryan in the dining room, as well as an interactive piece, TRAILERS_LUPO by John Carpenter, over the bar. The art responds to movement. · All Coverage of Trattoria del Lupo [~ELV~]
EASTSIDE — Ferraro's Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar now offers the Mezzanotte experience, a full dinner menu every night until 2 a.m. From 11 p.m. until 2 a.m., guests receive 50 percent off all food items and 25 percent off of drinks. [EaterWire]
WESTSIDE — Dom DeMarco's is offering a free beer with the purchase of Prime Rib Sandwich on Saturday. [EaterWire]
GRAND CANAL SHOPPES AT THE VENETIAN — Rockhouse has some new menu items, including grilled chicken and avocado sliders topped with Swiss cheese, tomato, cucumber, avocado and Dijon mustard and a classic chili cheese dog topped with diced onions. The dive bar also has soft serve ice cream served in cones, bowls or waffle bowls with topping such as sprinkles, chocolate magic shell and whipped cream. New to the Tails of Cock cocktail menu are the Celebration cocktail, a mixture of Zing Red Velvet Vodka, White Crème De Cacao, Amaretto, a splash of half-and-half and a sprinkled rim and the signature Rock Me Like A Hurricane cocktail with Atlantico and Malibu Rums combined with fresh lime juice, orange juice, Grenadine and Amaretto. [EaterWire] [Photo: Ferraro's]
Bradley Ogden has moved one step closer in his return to Las Vegas. New plywood promises a May opening for Ogden's Hops & Harvest, taking over the former Bottles & Burgers space at Tivoli Village.
The casual concept will host 160 to 180 seats and run a handcrafted cocktails, craft beer and American wine program. As first reported byEater Vegas, Ogden will include his famous burger recipe, last seen at his former Bradley Ogden restaurant at Caesars Palace.
And the long-awaited, equally ampersand friendly, Echo & Rig Steakhouse & Butcher Shop from Los Angeles chef Sam Marvin has undergone a plywood switcheroo. Originally featuring the chef's name, then changed to all black, the new coverings announce a future steakhouse and butcher shop, minus a chef or proposed restaurant name. The property currently has $99,265.40 in unpaid permit fees to the city connected to the space. Marvin recently trademarked Echo & Rig as both a restaurant and a retail and online merchant of meat, fish, poultry and game suggesting a strong continued commitment to the brand name. A summer opening is still touted.
Ogden and Marvin will be able to check out the progress themselves when they join Poppy Den's executive chef Alicia Stewart at a May 18 Project Dinner Table event scheduled for the upscale mall.
Another potential Tivoli Village space for culinary expansion is also now available at the recently shuttered YoScream frozen yogurt shop, neighboring Kabuki. · All Coverage of Bradley Ogden [~ELV~] · All Coverage of Tivoli Village [~ELV~]
Vegas Seven takes a look inside Light, the nightclub opening with Cirque du Soleil at Mandalay Bay on Memorial Day weekend. And it's much more than just a nightclub. "With Cirque artists flipping and slipping through the air, there's going to be plenty of visual energy. Each DJ, according to a Light spokesperson, will meet with Cirque and get a customized show. What's being packaged here isn't just a night out, but an evening of immersion in the crafted spectacle of a night out. The club itself is a performance of 'nightlife.'" [VS]
Now for your gorging pleasure, Stir Krazy Mongolian Grill, the buffet-style restaurant featuring Mongolian barbecue. The buffet finds a home nestled across from the Hard Rock Hotel, next to British pub Firkin and the KISS Monster Mini Golf attraction in The Shoppes at Harmon Square.
Yes, there are endless meats and vegetables. Of course there are krazy sauces, with suggestions on the wall pointing diners to sauce combinations. Naturally it's open for lunch and dinner. Yep, it's cheap.
Ever visit Facebook and realize that there's not nearly enough Eater going on? Click on over to the Eater Vegas Facebook page or the "Follow Us" section on the right, and then like magic, Eater's top stories will start showing up in your Facebook feed. It's like friends with benefits! But we understand if you want to take it slow at first, so how about we just follow each other on Twitter first? [EaterWire]
Voting in the Vegas Burger Blog Burger Tournament is down to the final four. The contenders? A nine seed DW Bistro outslugged Bachi Burger late last night to take on Grind Burger Bar, a 21 seed that defeated Le Burger Brasserie. In the other bracket, find 23 seed BLT Burger at the Mirage facing 3 seed View Wine Bar at Tivoli Village. BLT beat out Burger Bar in the Elite Eight, while View Wine Bar faced stiff competition from KGB: Kerry's Gourmet Burgers.
Erik Chudy, who runs Vegas Burger Blog, says more than 4,000 people visited the site to vote in the competition.
La Comida Address:106 S. Sixth St. Phone:702-463-9900 Status:Opens today
After three days of friends and family events, Michael and Jenna Morton's La Comida makes its big debut in Downtown Las Vegas today. The restaurant, named for the meal shared by staff before service begins, features fare inspired by Mexico City.
La Comida's executive chef Pablo Sanchez-Ortiz hails from Mexico City and Sahuayo Michoacán, Mexico, where his grandmother taught him how to cook at age seven. He plans to use a molcajete to grind spices for his mole, mixiotes made from a half bone-in chicken and a blend of spices baked in banana leaves. His authentic fare has been sought after by high rollers at Wynn Las Vegas and Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
Look for appetizers such as a Tostada Mixta served with shrimp, scallop, snapper and yellow aji dressing; classic Pozole prepared with hominy, pork, avocado and shredded cabbage; and Mexican street corn flavored with cotija cheese, cayenne pepper, butter and mayonnaise. Regional specialties include Carne de Res a la Parrilla served with beef skirt steak, wild mushroom and oven roasted poblano peppers; Pollo al Horno created with mixiote chicken, Mexican squash and achiote sauce; and Puerco Ahumado prepared with mesquite smoked pork shoulder, adovada sauce and plantain chips.
Over on the bar side, margaritas and tequilas take center stage. Cocktail get a dose of fresh fruit purees made from guava, prickly pear, passion fruit, pomegranate, tamarind, mint leaves, lime, basil and tajin spice. Look for a tequila list that is bigger than the number of seats in the place.
The 25-foot bar overlooking Sixth Street features a zinc top bar next to a Dutch door. The building itself is the former laundry facility for El Cortez. A seven-foot sculptured metal monkey clings to the rooftop corner, and by night, that monkey turns neon pink with bones.
The entrance sits in the back alley, where graffiti peeks out from behind ornate metal window grates. The 3,000-square-foot restaurant seats 80 in the dining room, 15 at the bar and 24 on the patio. Inside find wood floors, reclaimed tiles from Mexico, authentic church pews and stained glass from old church windows. The hostess stand is made from an antique cart. Above the open kitchen find an ofrenda filled with Dia de los Muertos iconography and off-beat milagros.
Expect La Comida to be open Monday through Friday for lunch, Tuesday through Sunday for dinner, and for brunch on Sunday. · All Coverage of La Comida [~ELV~]
Right now, Mingo Kitchen & Lounge is open in Downtown Las Vegas. So far, just the bar has opened, with food coming in the next week or so. The hours during the soft opening are from 5 p.m. on, but expect that to change when they start serving food.
Mingo comes from Mingo Collaso, one of the owners of Mundo at the World Market Center. Expect to find an intimate bar with seating for 60, outdoor space and chef Robert Solano's dishes such as chipotle mac and cheese, veggie sliders and other modern American comfort foods and small plates when they start serving food.
MANDALAY PLACE — Slice of Vegas just added some new pizzas, soups and sandwiches to the menu. Look for oven-roasted cauliflower tips with almond pesto and garlic; Tuscan sausage soup with mild Italian sausage, russet potatoes and fresh kale in a light cream broth; and pasta Fagoli, made of Ditalini pasta, navy beans, prosciutto broth, onions, celery, carrots and diced tomatoes. New pies include the Back East Buffalo topped with chicken tenders, julienned carrots and celery and a drizzle of ranch and buffalo sauce; the Hurry It's Curry pizza with curry sauce, mozzarella and Fontina cheese and the choice of smoked chicken or a vegetable mix of jicama, mint and basil slaw; the Choked Pig with pesto aioli, mozzarella cheese, bacon, artichoke mix and chopped basil finished with whiskey sour cream; and the Hawaiian 5-0 with tomato sauce and mozzarella with seared spam, dehydrated pineapple, bacon, dill and a sprinkle of nori. New sandwiches include the Portobello Philly, combining a toasted hoagie roll with Portobello mushrooms, peppers and onions, and provolone cheese, and Reno's Chicken Sandwich on a brioche bun with grilled chicken breast, arugula, roasted tomato, Fontina cheese, jalapeño bacon and a pesto aioli spread. Also new, the Blue Cheese Burger with a half-pound short rib/chuck patty topped with jalapeño bacon, sautéed mushrooms and onions, avocado, lettuce and blue cheese on a brioche bun finished with Slice's "Secret Sauce." [EaterWire]
EASTSIDE— A new menu of refreshing Brazilian-inspired cocktails is now being served at Fogo de Chão. The new Fogo cocktails include the Peruvian Sunset Martini, Superfruit Lemonade and the Classic Caipirinha. [EaterWire] Slice of Vegas [Photo: Chelsea McManus]
Do you have a hot restaurant or bar tip? Then let us know. Eater loves hearing from our readers and since you all are out on the town, walking the streets, seeing what's hot and happening (or about to be), take a photo, send us a note ... just let us know what's going on in the city. Has a restaurant in your neighborhood shuttered? See brown paper on the windows of a local bar? Do you work in the industry and hear about some good dirt? Let us know. All tips are welcome. [EaterWire]
Here now, the coffee shop at the former Showboat in a photo shot in 1968. The hotel, the first resort within city limits, featured 100 rooms on two floors when it opened in 1954. One of its gimmicks was a 49 cent breakfast special that got locals to visit the coffee shop. The hotel also featured a 24-lane bowling alley, and by 1979, the Showboat featured the third largest bowling alley in the United States with its 106 lanes.
The resort remained the Showboat until 1990, when it was sold and became Castaways. By the time it shuttered in 2004, it featured 445 modern guest rooms in addition to an 80,000-square-foot casino, three restaurants, a showroom and Las Vegas' largest bingo parlor. The hotel was imploded in 2006. · Classic Las Vegas [Twitter] · All Coverage of Classic Las Vegas [~ELV~]
Sin City is home to a lot of restaurants and bars, but there are tons of hidden gems that the majority of Las Vegans aren't unearthing. To help guide us to these potential discoveries, we've enlisted some of our city's food players to share their recommendations for a weekly feature dubbed Dining Confidential. Know a chef who wants to share some top dining spots? The tipline is open.
Dos Caminos made its big return to Las Vegas last month, taking over the former Agave space in Summerlin. Ivy Stark has the big job of creating the tastes of the Mexican restaurant as the corporate executive chef for all six nationwide locations of Dos Caminos. The graduate of Peter Kump's (now the Institute for Culinary Education) worked in the kitchens at places such as Border Grill, Cena, Ciudad, Zocalo and Rosa Mexicano. In 2011, her first cookbook, Dos Caminos' Mexican Street Food: 120 Authentic Recipes to Make At Home, came out. Even though she's based in New York, she still has some favorite haunts in Las Vegas. Here's a look at where she goes.
Which restaurants do you turn to when you're not working? My favorite off-duty restaurants in Las Vegas are Firefly, China Poblano and Lotus of Siam.
What dishes are most memorable? My favorite dishes are at Firefly, the Padron Peppers, fried quickly and tossed in sea salt. They are amazing with a glass of Albarino. I also love the Baked Tetilla there, a wonderful, creamy Spanish cheese fondue.
At China Poblano the Viva China Taco, an unusual combination of beef tendon, kumamoto oysters and sichuan peppercorn salsa is the perfect combination of Chinese and Mexican cuisines, and at Lotus of Siam, the Tod Mun Plar, a Thai curried fish cake with cucumber salad.
Why do you enjoy going there? I love going to all of them for the great food. Firefly has a great casual vibe and TVs over the bar if I want to catch a sporting event and eat good food at the same time. China Poblano is super hip and always buzzing. The design is really fun. Lotus of Siam is totally unpretentious and has an amazing wine list with a great selection of Riesling which pairs perfectly with their food. · All Coverage of Dos Caminos [~ELV~] · All Dining Confidentials [~ELV~]
Certified Open tracks some of the smaller restaurants that open in Las Vegas. See a new restaurant that deserves some love? Email vegas@eater.com.
[Photos: Chelsea McManus]
Wicked Pizza Address:Inside The Underworld, 3550 S. Decatur Blvd. Phone: 702-527-7935 Status:Certified Open
Wicked Pizza takes a page from the Naked City Pizza playbook, opening inside another restaurant. Step inside the heavy metal Underworld Bar & Grill to find this window for pizza and burgers.
Owners David and Alicia Ivy, who do the Pub Crawl review show on the Vegas Video Network, fly in dough from Boston to make their pizzas. Look for East Coast-style pizzas made with homemade tomato sauce. The Dantes Inferno features an extra spicy tomato sauce, hot Italian sausage, jalapeños and crushed red peppers while the Angry Tiki comes with that same spicy sauce, ham, pineapple, island spices and Sriracha. Note that the pizzas take 30 minutes to cook.
On the burger side of the menu, try the Wicked Burger or the over-the-top Texas Cheesesaw Massacre topped with mozzarella cheese, blue cheese dressing and Texas barbecue sauce, all served on two grilled cheese sandwiches for the bun. The menu also includes sliders, served in pairs, such as the PBB&J with peanut butter, bacon and an apricot-pineapple jelly, a BBQ Ranch and crispy grilled cheese.
PublicUS hopes to become the destination hub for a revival of Downtown's East Village, a district moving from the shadow of being labeled East, East Fremont. The 3,600-square-foot restaurant with outdoor seating is moving into the construction phase with a firm focus on locals to provide repeat business rather than the tourist-centric clientele of its Fremont Street neighbors.
Taking over the former Philly Steak Express restaurant, PublicUS derives its name from the Latin for "public," drawn from owner Nicholas Akiona's desire for a place where people could gather with lots of "social interaction."
The proposed hours will be from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. providing full-service breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu is a casual concept they call "fresh American," working with local and regional suppliers.
PubicUS was initially conceived as a coffee house and the restaurant will avoid any "white tablecloth" approach to dining. Appearing before the city's Redevelopment Agency, Akiona's description prompted Mayor Carolyn Goodman to hope this informal style would entice chef Guy Fieri to schedule a visit.
There will be no kegs on site but an emphasis on bottled craft beers. Construction is scheduled to begin soon with a desired July or August opening date. The estimated project budget is $268,000.
Akiona is leasing the building from Mission Spring Properties which owns this Fremont Center retail block located at the corner of Fremont Street and Maryland Parkway. The East Village neighborhood has long been a blighted area, known for its vacant buildings and cheap motels. Akiona explained to the City Council his desire to focus attention on the needs of the local business tenants and residents, rather than attracting tourists venturing to Fremont East a handful of blocks away. · All Coverage of PublicUS [~ELV~]
Light Nightclub has now pushed back turning on the lights at Mandalay Bay until Memorial Day weekend. The new interactive and theatrical nightclub from The Light Group and Cirque du Soleil says construction delays pushed back its opening date from April 26 to next month.
The deejay lineup for the weekend includes Axwell, Sebastian Ingrosso, Baauer, Zedd, Otto Knows and Skrillex.
Already the semi-circular front entrance glows with a pattern of rays of light emanating from the arched doorway. VIPs can enter through a secret door. Guests will all walk up a staircase to the club decked out in upholstered walls tufted with embedded LED lights. Inside, mirrored dancer poles find a home on each of the three floors. · All Coverage of Light Nightclub [~ELV~] Light Nightclub [Photo: Bradley Martin]
Gone are the white tablecloths, replaced with communal dining on reclaimed wood tables. The bar gets an overhaul with gears and cogs, giving the space more of a lab feel. Lead bartender Nathan Greene will serve up cocktails from beakers, flasks and barrels.
Remaining, Moonen's commitment to sustainable seafood with some farm-to-table thrown in for good measure.
MONTE CARLO — Whiskey aficionados can celebrate Whisk(e)y Wednesdays at Andre's. Look for a lineup this month that includes Balvenie 12 year double wood, 14 year Caribbean cask and the 15 year single barrel, concluding with a mystery glass for a little fun. The event takes place every Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. to close. The cost is $25 per person. [EaterWire]
TOWN SQUARE — Francisco Rodriguez of was named best pizza chef in the California Pizza Kitchen competition held last month in Florida. Each of the three finalists were asked to create a California Pizza Kitchen Original BBQ Chicken Pizza and their own original creation for a panel of celebrity judges, which included actor Steve Schirippa from HBO's The Sopranos. Each chef was judged on their hand tossing technique, baking, showmanship, creativity and cravability. Rodriguez not only won the title but $10,000 in prize money. [EaterWire] Andre's Cigar Lounge [Photo: Andre's]
Need something besides daily deal emails in your inbox? The Eater Vegas newsletter is coming your way three times a week, bringing you a lovingly curated selection of our top stories. Stay on top of the latest openings, rumors and chef shuffles, simply by entering your email below.
San Salvador, the Salvadorian restaurant at 6651 Smoke Ranch Road, was shut down by the Southern Nevada Health District with 41 demerits discovered during a routine inspection on April 19.
Inspectors found no hot and cold running water from an approved source, staff not properly washing their hands and more.
The worst grade the restaurant received since SNHD starting inspecting the place in 2007 was a C in May 2012 that was upgraded to an A two weeks later.
The Southern Nevada Health District routinely shuts down restaurants that receive more than 40 demerits. Restaurants have the option of requesting a re-inspection before the next scheduled inspection. · All Coverage of DOH Chronicles [~ELV~] San Salvador [Photo: Jenn D./Yelp]
Eater sent Top Chef recapper Max Silvestri on Top Chef: The Cruise, and he lived to tell the tale. Head over for his account of four days of Dining in the "Dark," Hubert Keller's DJ sets, live Quickfire challenges, chef busts carved out of cheese, Tom and Gail on a boat, and much, much more. [Eater National]
She starts her night stuffing herself into a purple corset worn by the servers, and then swaying to the music as the doors open. Kim describes the VIP tables she's working that night, saying one guy yelled to the security guard watching one of her tables, "I'm surrounded by ugly ass dudes…I'd like to be near some nice-looking ladies. Take care of that." And he did, bringing over several from the "sea of young single women in near identical bandage dresses and painful-looking platform heels … many of whom were brought here by club promoters for this specific purpose."
Kim describes standing on the shoulders of a sweaty stranger to spell out A-L-E-X-I-S, only thinking about "how a stranger's neck sweat dripped onto the hem of my dress and stuck to my legs, or how fake our smiles grew with each passing second."
Instead of feeling like a stripper or an escort, Kim says she was treated more like a servant.
Only eight contenders remain in the Vegas Burger Blog's Burger Tournament, a search for the best burger in Vegas. The poll started last week with 32 burgers facing off in a single-elimination tournament.
Here's a look at the Elite Eight: Bachi Burger faces DW Bistro. Le Burger Brasserie at Paris Las Vegas takes on Grind Burger Bar, a 21 seed. Burger Bar at Mandalay Place squares off against BLT Burger at the Mirage. View Wine Bar at Tivoli Village faces off against KGB: Kerry's Gourmet Burgers at Harrah's Las Vegas.
Star Watch tracks where celebs are dining in Vegas. See someone notable about town? Email vegas@eater.com.
Cat Deeley of So You Think You Can Dance ate lunch at Social House at Crystals on Monday. The British star, joined by a guest, ordered yellowtail jalapeño, rock shrimp tempura, spicy tuna and avocado rolls, kelp salad and more while drinking a White Lotus Lycheetini. [EaterWire]
Iron ChefMasaharu Morimoto visited Gordon Ramsay Steak at Paris Las Vegas on Saturday night. Morimoto and his party ordered a bottle of Mt. Brave Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Pala Entemari Isole Dei Nuraghi. They dined on appetizers including a shellfish platter, himachi crudo, fried blue point oysters, American Kobe beef sliders, seared foie gras and Maine lobster. The party's main entrées included royal long-bone chop, fish and chips and roasted beef Wellington. Side-dishes shared by the table included fingerling potatoes, sautéed mushrooms, roasted heirloom carrots and potato puree and dessert included sticky toffee putting, blueberry tarts and peanut butter and jelly cheesecake. Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White dined at Gordon Ramsay Steak with a guest on Sunday. The party started with spring vegetable salad and the fried blue point oysters. Main entrées included Prime beef filets. A side-dish of sautéed mushrooms accompanied their meal. [EaterWire]
Actress Molly Sims and a group of girlfriends gathered at Tao Asian Bistro at the Venetian on Saturday to celebrate the bachelorette bash of a good friend. The ladies dined on signature favorites before heading up to the nightclub to continue the party at a VIP table on the dance floor. [EaterWire]
Actor Anthony Mackie dined at Lavo at the Palazzo on Saturday night. [EaterWire]
MMA fighter Austin Pettis and Brian Quick of the Saint Louis Rams dined together at Heraea at the Palms on Friday night. Pettis and Quick both ordered jumbo shrimp and chargrilled prawns. After a night of enjoying the lively atmosphere and great food, Pettis returned to sports restaurant Saturday night with friends. Mixed martial artist Pettis hosted the Heraea UFC viewing party on Saturday night. Joined by other MMA fighters, Pettis shared appetizers with the group while watching the Henderson vs. Melendez match. [EaterWire]
Blues rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa dined with a party of 20 including Palms' vice president of entertainment Billy Conn in the private dining room at N9NE Steakhouse on Friday evening. At a separate table, boxer Floyd Mayweather ordered rock shrimp, steak and lobster mashed potatoes. [EaterWire]
Actress Molly Sims dined at Strip House at Planet Hollywood Resort with a group of eight friends who were celebrating a girlfriend's bachelorette party on Friday night. Earlier in the day she stopped by Dos Caminos for a margarita and to congratulate the restaurant on its return to Las Vegas. [EaterWire]
Actor Owen Wilson dined at Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace on Thursday. He ordered artichoke and black truffle soup and sea bass. He later was seen dining with co-star of The Wedding CrashersVince Vaughn at Nobu Restaurant & Lounge at Caesars Palace. [EaterWire]
Actor Harrison Ford was spotted on Thursday at Caesars Palace drinking coffee at Payard Pâtisserie & Bistro. [EaterWire]
Actor Morgan Freeman had lunch at Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace on Thursday. [EaterWire]
Identity Theft actress Melissa McCarthy and friends dined at Rao's at Caesars Palace for lunch on Thursday. [EaterWire]
Actors Sandra Bullock and Ben Stiller dined at Nobu Restaurant & Lounge at Caesars Palace on Wednesday night. Stiller also had lunch at Mesa Grill at Caesars Palace on Thursday. [EaterWire]
Lisa Vanderpump, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star who was just eliminated from the Dancing with the Stars, was spotted on Wednesday night dining with her husband Ken Todd at Andrea's at Encore Las Vegas on Wednesday night. Redfoo was also spotted dining with this Le Freak crew before his DJ set at Surrender. [EaterWire]
UFC fighter Randy Couture and Ashley Cartier and Little Egypt from G.L.O.W. (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling) hit Meatball Spot at Town Square on Tuesday. Couture dined on Carla Pellegrino's spaghetti topped with spicy meat sauce, classic meatballs and classic sauce and a tomato and cucumber salad. Cartier and Little Egypt From G.L.O.W. dined on the garbage salad, chicken meatballs with pesto sauce and rigatoni with mushroom gravy sauce. They sipped on the eatery's signature cocktails like the white grape sangria and the strawberry peace sangria. [EaterWire]
Former NBA star Gary Payton dined at Heraea at the Palms last Tuesday night. The NBA champion with the 2006 Miami Heat was joined by his friends and family. Payton ordered a filet mignon with asparagus and mash potatoes. [EaterWire]
Actor Adrien Brody was spotted at Greens & Proteins having lunch on Tuesday. Brody ordered a California grilled chicken wrapped in savoy cabbage and a turkey burger on Bibb lettuce. He also drank a Watermelon Strawberry Cocktail. Also, Chris Cornell and Soundgarden ordered Greens & Proteins to-go on Tuesday. [EaterWire]
Deejay Dash Berlin dined with a small party at Gordon Ramsay Steak at Paris Las Vegas last Monday night. He ordered a virgin version of the HK Antioxidants cocktail. His table shared Kurobuta pork belly and market green salad to start. Everyone in the group dined on beef Wellington except one guest, who ordered the chorizo-stuffed Maine lobster appetizer. Side dishes including caramelized Brussels sprouts and sautéed mushrooms were shared and the meal was concluded by cappuccinos. [EaterWire]
Comedy star and NBC's Parks and Recreation actor Jim O'Heir dined with four friends at Gordon Ramsay BurGR at Planet Hollywood Resort last week on Sunday. The actor left with burgers, truffle fries and pudding shakes. [EaterWire] · All Coverage of Star Watch [~ELV~]
DaiqiriLicious and that is exactly how they are choosing to spell it, has begun construction at Planet Hollywood Resort. As first reported by Eater Vegas, the 360-square-foot outdoor daiquiri bar is being constructed within steps of the PH resort and Miracle Mile Shops entrances. This project was initially proposed in May 2012.
Located near the north entrance to the casino, close to P. F. Chang's China Bistro, the bar is being built by PWI Construction, who created the renderings. The public announced budget is an estimated $200,000. · All Coverage of Planet Hollywood Resort [~ELV~]
PALAZZO — Lagasse's Stadium kicks off the NFL Draft on Thursday with prizes valued at more than $3,000 throughout the evening, including a chance to win a weekend getaway at the Palazzo, $200 gift cards to NFL.com and more. Draft food specials include New Orleans chicken and andouille sausage gumbo with steamed rice for $7; a chili cheese dog, Chicago dog or Buffalo chicken dog with French fries for $10 each; West Coast tortilla-crusted fish tacos for $12; Texas barbecue bacon burger and fries for $15; and New York-style meatball sub and fries for $11. [EaterWire]
WESTSIDE — Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar now has its Taste the Season two-course prix fixe menu through May 31 for $40.95. Dishes include oven-roasted beets and whipped chèvre salad followed by a cedar, orange and tea-smoked filet mignon with lemon-garlic butter, spring mushroom and toasted pine nut ragout and prosciutto-wrapped green beans. A new cocktail for the season is the Havana spice mojito for $9.95 while for dessert, try the blueberry almond cream tartlet for $7.95. [EaterWire] [Photo: Lagasse's Stadium]
Jet Tila, former executive chef of Wazuzu at Encore Las Vegas, is returning to the city laden with frozen treats to beat the Las Vegas heat. Kuma Snow Cream will serve up condensed milk and ice combos at 3735 Spring Mountain Road in Chinatown. President and director of the company is Scott Okazaki, Tila's former chef de cuisine at Wazuzu.
Tila copyrighted the company icon of a "white bear with green tie" back in September 2012. Vegas Seven reports Kuma is Japanese for "polar bear," and notes a Memorial Day opening is projected. The company is currently hiring all staff members. · All Coverage of Jet Tila [~ELV~] Kuma Snow Cream [Photo: Courtesy]
The event may have been called UNLVino, but it might as well have been dubbed Morimoto since the chef was the big talk of the weekend. Masaharu Morimoto was expected to announce his new restaurant opening at the Mirage while at the four-day beverage bacchanalia. He didn't. But that didn't stop the chef from providing the highlight of the weekend and making a surprise stop at the new mixology-focused BAR-b-q. Based on the bevy of Morimoto and MGM Resorts executives on hand, an announcement is imminent though. Here now, things you may have missed at UNLVino.
1. Let's just let Morimoto say this in his own words: "Thank you very much, Las Vegas is my dream city. I am very honored by this event — when I came to the United States in 1985, I would have never imagined a Sake Festival, and now here are thousands of people at Sake Fever!" Then he went on to surprise the audience by continuing with, "I have been in this country for 30-something years, and yes, I still I have a language problem — but I can sing!" Morimoto then belted out a traditional Japanese song. Divine.
2. Thomas Keller landed one of four Dom Pérignon Awards of Excellence during Bubble-Licious, the champagne-forward event at the Venetian. He even personally handed out samples of Pate de Campagne with pickled garden vegetables from Bouchon along with cookies from Bouchon Bakery.
3. The party kicked off with a 21 Cork Salute, where 21 sommeliers from UNLV and Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada simultaneously popped corks off 21 bottles of Dom Pérignon champagne.
4. Some of the highlights from Bubble-Licious included the carpaccio of scallops created by executive chef Olivier Dubreuil at the Venetian and Palazzo and Postrio Bar & Grill's Bavarian bratwurst.
5. Karabo Taiko drums played during Sake Fever on Friday, and Morimoto even tried to play the drums.
6. Perhaps the only thing that could out-wow Morimoto at Sake Fever was the 250-pound tuna Naked Fish brought to slice up sashimi. The lines here were amazingly long.
7. Sake Fever even featured a sake barrel ceremony to ward off bad spirits. Morimoto was among the people who helped smash open the traditionally decorated barrel of sake and pour it out to guests.
8. Honey Salt's Elizabeth Blau brought along her husband chef Kim Canteenwalla and parents Lynn and Jeffrey Blau when she received her Dom Pérignon Award of Excellence at the Grand Tasting.
9. Parking for the Grand Tasting at Paris Las Vegas was atrocious. Many guests ended up parking at the Bellagio and walking over to Paris.
10. Morimoto made a surprise stop at the newest UNLVino event, the mixology-focused BAR-b-q, wearing an orange running jacket.
11. Scott Conant of Scarpetta and D.O.C.G. Enoteca at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas says he's been spending a lot of time in Vegas lately, shooting a cover for Departures magazine and more.
12. Herb Wilson of SushiSamba at the Shoppes at the Palazzo says he's back to running after back problems sidelined him in December. Expect a "huge announcement" from him soon. · All Coverage of UNLVino [~ELV~]
The Barrymore Secret Burger [Photo: The Barrymore]
The Barrymore enters the Las Vegas secret menu stakes with a super limited and decadent entry. Their 10-ounce Secret Burger is only available 12 times a day and only by request with a price tag to match its elite status.
The basic elements of the secret recipe combine a house-ground, dry-aged rib eye and prime chuck formula, pushed to the next level with chunks of whole butter and foie gras torchon. Chopped black truffle is added to the mix. Cooked medium rare, it is topped with Sottochenere truffle cheese. A side of Bordelaise sauce accompanies the burger.
Las Vegas bakery Bon Breads delivers the specially chosen brioche buns daily. But only 12 of them. While the burger is available inside the restaurant or at the bar, once the buns are gone, the burger is done for the day.
Entry to this tier of exclusivity costs $35 and includes hand cut Kennebec French fries and local bragging rights.
The Barrymore's dozen daily servings makes it one of the rarest burgers as measured by Eater National's 2013 roster of America's 12 Most Elusive Burgers.
The Barrymore recently celebrated a year and a half residency at The Royal Resort. Owners Block 16 Hospitality also operate Holsteins Shakes and Buns at The Cosmopolitan, which offers a $28 Billionaire Burger made with Kobe beef and foie gras on their standard dinner menu. · All Coverage of The Barrymore [~ELV~]
Apparently Vegas Inc just discovered the package, available after the Fountains at Bellagio are turned off for the night. A butler delivers a gold box filled with a menu of fountain songs and a single red button that turns on the 4,700 lights and 1,200 fountains. The $250,000 experience plays just one song of choice. Although the publication says the package has only been available for three months, Eater Vegas featured it last May here.
A bit more on the frugal side is the M Life Moment, available for members of MGM Resorts' rewards program. Sapphire members, the lowest rung on the four-tier program, can pick up to two songs to view along with champagne, cocktails or a soft drink from the patio of Picasso for a mere $2,000 or the equivalent in points. Of course, this experience is only available from 1 to 5 p.m. and there are a passel of blackout dates including Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. · Would You Pay $250,000 to Push a Button? [Vegas Inc] · Greg Costello on $250,000 Nights at Hyde Bellagio [~ELV~] · All Coverage of Hyde Bellagio [~ELV~]
Saddle up, Las Vegas. Move over, Bacchanal Buffet and Wicked Spoon. The first Golden Corral in Nevada is coming to Las Vegas' east side.
The mystery of the oft-rumored, but never confirmed, arrival of the behemoth buffet chain known for its inexpensive steaks and seafood was ignited by a December 2012 online listing inviting offers to bid on construction of the 11,100-square-foot project.
Now comes word that construction will begin on the area's first Golden Corral in the next two months. "Construction on the Golden Corral restaurant will begin within the next two months near the intersection of Charleston Boulevard and Lamb Boulevard (across the street from the Walmart Neighborhood Market and behind the Home Depot). We anticipate that it will open in early fall."
Despite commercials for the franchise frequently running on local Las Vegas television channels, the closest Golden Corral to Las Vegas is in Kingman, Ariz., just over 100 miles away.
The family-style buffet restaurant chain contains a mix of 500 company-operated and franchise restaurants in 40 states. · All Coverage of Coming Attractions [~ELV~]
Here's a look inside the nightclub at Hakkasan that opened on Thursday night at the MGM Grand with Deadmau5 on the decks. So far, only the top three levels the 80,000-square-foot Hakkasan, including the Ling Ling Club, are open.
On Friday, Hardwell brought his "Go Hardwell or Go Home" futuristic-themed party series to the club, while on Saturday, Dutch duo Bingo Players hit the decks.
The nightclub takes over the fourth level of Hakkasan with VIP booths surrounding the dance floor. In front of the dance floor find a deejay booth and suspended performance area, all wrapped with floor-to-ceiling LED screens.
One the fifth level, find a more private VIP environment that can accommodate large groups in the semi-private rooms. Here look for customizable screens, coolers, sound control and more.
The 10,000-square-foot Ling Ling Club with a separate Ling Ling Lounge take up the third level. Here find a more relaxed experience with cocktails. Questlove of The Roots was on the decks on Saturday night.
The Chinese restaurant plans to open May 3 on the first and second level of the space. This is Hakkasan's first venture into the nightlife world.
This weekend, Steve Aoki hits the ones and twos on Thursday night with the first of his six Neon Future parties. Deadmau5 returns on Friday night, followed by the debut of Calvin Harris during an event with GQ magazine on Saturday night. Dutch DJ Laidback Luke will closes out the weekend with the debut of his "Revolt" event series. · Hakkasan Has Not 1 But 2 Opening Dates [~ELV~] · All Coverage of Hakkasan [~ELV~]
In a rare negative review, Heidi Knapp Rinella at the Las Vegas Review-Journal handed Carla Pellegrino's Meatball Spot at Town Square a B+. The culprit? Dry meatballs.
She tried the meatball sampler with all six varieties of meatballs. The beef: "It was dry, but I wasn't all that concerned; all-beef meatballs can have a tendency to be dry."
The classic: "Although not as dry as the beef, it was still too dry."
She said the chicken, turkey and vegetarian meatballs also needed moisture.
As for the pork meatball: "This was the best, and the one I'd stick to on a return visit, but even it wasn't as moist as I would've expected."
HKR thinks the meatballs were overcooked.
As for the sauces: "Sure, they added moisture to the exteriors, and even more flavor, because they all were very well executed." The classic tomato delivered, the spicy meat sauce "wasn't overwhelming," the mushroom gravy "wasn't as rich as I would have expected," the pesto "wasn't as concentrated as I would've expected (which is a good thing)" and the Parmesan cream was "nothing short of transcendent."
She gives the atmosphere and service an A and the food a B- for the overall B+
One of your best bets in Vegas is happy hour, that time of day when restaurants and bars offer up discounted food and drink specials. Here's an updated look at 87 happy hours all across Vegas where you can nab deals, all presented in alphabetical order. 
