Since 1969, restaurant, hotel, travel & other witty reviews by a handpicked, worldwide team of discerning professionals—and your views, too.




News for Restaurants in Las Vegas
January 2013 Archive

Search / Openings / Closings / News Bytes / Chef Shuffle/ Culinary Events / Wine Dinners / News Archive / Sign up for our free, monthly newsletter

If you haven't picked a place to eat tonight, you're in luck. Gayot has all the restaurant news for your area right here. Learn which new restaurants have opened in Las Vegas and which restaurants in Las Vegas have recently closed. Find out where your favorite chefs are cooking and locate special events. 

RESTAURANT NEWS

Openings

Chef Shawn McClain of Sage at ARIA Resort & Casino will debut his first casual concept, FIVE50 Pizza Bar. Set to debut this spring and located in the space that formerly housed the Skybox Sports Bar & Grill at Aria, McClain will serve East Coast versions of Sicilian-style pizzas prepared in wood-fired ovens. The restaurant will also serve small plates, handmade pastas, an artisanal charcuterie selection, desserts and a varied selection of craft beers. The name is inspired by the temperature at which the pizza is cooked, as well as the time when the pizza bar will offer a daily happy hour. FIVE50 Pizza Bar will be open daily for lunch, dinner and late-night dining. FIVE50 Pizza Bar, CityCenter, 3730 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV 89109, 866-359-7757.
 
After being closed for months for a remodel, The Buffet at Aria Resort & Casino has reopened with an expanded menu and several new features. Two new food stations have been added: Fish Market and Latin, which bring the total number of stations to 11 (the others are Sweets, Asian, Italian, Pizza, Mediterranean, Tandoori, Carvery, Diner and Salad. A tandoor oven, which the resort claims is the only one in a Las Vegas buffet, turns out garlic naan bread and other specialties, and fresh fish and made-to-order pastas are cooked in front of customers. The Buffet, Aria Resort & Casino, CityCenter, 3730 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV 89109, 702-590-8630.
 
Former Bravo “Top Chef” cheftestant Angelo Sosa has opened his first Las Vegas-based eatery, Poppy Den at Tivoli Village. The Asian gastropub menu features a combination of spices, herbs and fresh ingredients, and is a reflection on Sosa’s extensive travels through Asia. Selections include fish sandwich with onion jam and dill, miso salmon with shishito peppers, Korean barbecue short rib, watermelon salad with goat cheese, and homemade potato chips and ice cream. The restaurant’s design utilizes natural light with a rustic, country setting and the restaurant’s outdoor Poppy Garden features poppy flowers, fresh herbs and peaceful surroundings. An upstairs area, named The Den, serves a large library of sake. Poppy Den is open daily for dinner, and for brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Poppy Den, 440 S. Rampart Blvd. Suite 180, Las Vegas, NV 89145, 702-802-2480.
 

News Bytes

China Poblano Offering Special Menu for Chinese New Year
José Andrés’ China Poblano at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas will present a special menu honoring Chinese New Year from February 1-28. Menu items include "goose, goose, duck" --- seared foie gras, salted egg custard and blood orange; scallop and long bean with black bean paste; and Xinjiang Uyghur lamb chops. China Poblano, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV 89109, 702-698-7900.
 
Trevi to Welcome Spring Break Revelers with Food and Drink Deals
Trevi in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace will offer spring break specials Sunday through Friday from 2 p.m.-6 p.m. The specials will run from Feb. 24 to Friday, Mar. 29. The $6 Trevi bites include tomato bruschetta, fresh stuffed mushrooms, fried calamari, Romano chicken sliders, homemade meatballs and stuffed mini-cheeseburgers. Drink specials include frozen Bellinis for $3; Corona, Heineken, Peroni and Sam Adams beer for $4; wines by the glass for $6; and signature martinis including the Trevitini, Mela, Limone and Negroni Martini for $6. Trevi, Caesars Palace, Forum Shops at Caesars, 3500 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV 89109, 702-735-4663.
 
Ri Ra Offering Locals Discounts
Ri Ra Irish Pub at the Shoppes at Mandalay Place inside Mandalay Bay is offering Las Vegas locals 40 percent off food every Friday. Guests must present a valid Nevada ID in order to receive the discount. Rí Rá Irish Pub, Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, The Shoppes at Mandalay Place, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV 89119, 702-632-7777, 877-632-7800.
 
Jaleo at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas serves a Sunday roast every week Jaleo Offering Sunday Roast of Whole Animal
José Andres’ Jaleo at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas serves a Sunday roast every week. Served from 8 p.m.-9 p.m., a whole animal is roasted on a spit in the center of the dining room over its custom wood-fired paella grill. Over the course of eight hours, chefs manually rotate the spit over burning orange and olive wood. Whole roasts are also available for purchase Monday through Saturday with 36 hours notice. Jaleo, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV 89109, 702-698-7000.
 

Chef Shuffle

Alex Stratta has moved on from his shuttered Alex at Wynn Las Vegas, to become the new executive chef at Scarpetta in Beverly Hills. Stratta is replacing Freddy Vargas, who is leaving to helm the stoves at SBE's Mercato di Vetro. Scarpetta, Montage Beverly Hills, 225 N. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210, 310-860-7970.
 
NOVE Italiano at the Palms Casino Resort Chef Geno Bernardo at NOVE Italiano at the Palms Casino Resort announced he’s leaving the restaurant and moving to New York City. In his statement, he expressed gratitude to his staff, the 9group and the Palms. Bernardo’s replacement has not yet been named. NOVE Italiano, Palms Casino Resort, Fantasy Tower, 4321 W. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89103, 702-942-6800.
 
Kazuki Tozawa has been named executive sushi chef of Marssa at The Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa. A native of Aomori, Japan, Tozawa was promoted from his position as sushi chef, and now oversees all operations of the Asian fusion eatery. Chef Osamu "Fuji" Fujita has moved on to open his own restaurant in California. Marssa, The Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa, 101 Montelago Blvd., Henderson, NV 89011, 702-567-6000.
 

Closings

CLOSED FOR GOOD
Take your taste buds on a walk down memory lane! Check out our exclusive closed restaurant database for Las Vegas to virtually visit your favorite dining spots from yesteryear. Aristocrat, R.I.P.

Kokomo’s at The Mirage closed after dinner service January 12. The steak and seafood restaurant will be replaced by a new concept by Tom Colicchio, which is planned for a summer of 2013 opening. According to a press release, the new restaurant will focus on “meats prepared entirely over an open flame-from wood-burning ovens to charcoal grills.” Colicchio currently owns two Las Vegas restaurants at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino: Craftsteak and 'wichcraft. Kokomo's, Mirage Las Vegas, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV 89109, no phone.
 
Bottles & Burgers by Double Helix at Tivoli Village has closed. The gourmet burger and wine restaurant closed nearly one year to the day after its opening. Double Helix’s other two locations at The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino and Town Square remain open. Bottles & Burgers by Double Helix , Tivoli Village, 450 S. Rampart Blvd., Ste. 120, Las Vegas, NV 89145, no phone.
 

CULINARY EVENTS
Want to learn to cook? Try new dishes? Meet a foodie friend for fun? Check out our compilation of culinary events in your area.

View our calendar of Wine Dinners & Tastings in Las Vegas

Current News View archived news: February 2024 | January 2024 | December 2023 | November 2023 | October 2023 | September 2023 | August 2023 | July 2023 | June 2023 | May 2023 | April 2023 | March 2023 | February 2023 | January 2023 | December 2022 | November 2022 | October 2022 | September 2022 | August 2022 | July 2022 | June 2022 | May 2022 | April 2022 | March 2022 | February 2022 | January 2022 | December 2021 | November 2021 | October 2021 | September 2021 | August 2021 | July 2021 | June 2021 | May 2021 | April 2021 | March 2021 | February 2021 | January 2021 | December 2020 | November 2020 | October 2020 | September 2020 | August 2020 | July 2020 | June 2020 | March 2020 | February 2020 | January 2020 | December 2019 | November 2019 | October 2019 | September 2019 | August 2019 | July 2019 | June 2019 | May 2019 | April 2019 | March 2019 | February 2019 | January 2019 | November 2018 | October 2018 | September 2018 | August 2018 | July 2018 | June 2018 | May 2018 | April 2018 | March 2018 | February 2018 | January 2018 | December 2017 | November 2017 | October 2017 | September 2017 | August 2017 | July 2017 | June 2017 | May 2017 | April 2017 | March 2017 | February 2017 | January 2017 | December 2016 | November 2016 | October 2016 | September 2016 | August 2016 | July 2016 | June 2016 | May 2016 | April 2016 | March 2016 | February 2016 | January 2016 | December 2015 | November 2015 | October 2015 | September 2015 | August 2015 | July 2015 | June 2015 | May 2015 | April 2015 | March 2015 | February 2015 | January 2015 | December 2014 | November 2014 | October 2014 | September 2014 | August 2014 | July 2014 | June 2014 | May 2014 | April 2014 | March 2014 | February 2014 | January 2014 | December 2013 | November 2013 | October 2013 | September 2013 | August 2013 | July 2013 | June 2013 | May 2013 | April 2013 | March 2013 | February 2013 | January 2013 | December 2012 | November 2012 | October 2012 | September 2012 | August 2012 | July 2012 | June 2012 | May 2012 | April 2012 | March 2012 | February 2012 | January 2012 | December 2011 | November 2011 | October 2011 | September 2011 | August 2011 | July 2011 | June 2011 | May 2011 | April 2011 | March 2011 | February 2011 | January 2011 | December 2010 | November 2010 | October 2010 | September 2010 | August 2010 | July 2010 | June 2010 | May 2010 | April 2010 | March 2010 | February 2010 | January 2010 | December 2009 | November 2009 | October 2009 | September 2009 | August 2009 | July 2009 | June 2009 | May 2009 | April 2009 | March 2009 | February 2009 | January 2009 | December 2008 | November 2008 | October 2008 | September 2008 | August 2008 | July 2008 | June 2008 | May 2008 | April 2008 | March 2008



VALENTINE'S DAY WINES

Add wine to the celebration of love, curated by GAYOT´s Wine & Spirits Editor.

Check the list.

CHAMPAGNE COCKTAILS

For a rosé bubbly Valentine's Day celebration.

Get the recipes.

GAYOT'S RESTAURANT AWARDSOver the years, we have been electing restaurants to be on GAYOT's Yearly Restaurant Awards.

Check the list.