In this weekly update, food and beverage reporter Bob Barnes fills us in on noteworthy restaurant openings and closings, dining news, culinary events and entertainment news worth knowing about.
Events
Mojave Brewing Company — February 3
Mojave Brewing Company will celebrate its 4th anniversary with an event titled 4 Years of Hops. Held at the Henderson brewery from 11 a.m.-11 p.m., there is no admission charge and four special beers will be pouring. They include 4 Year Pale, a single malt, single hop collaboration brew that was brewed with the help of four local breweries. Mojave provided the water profile, North 5th the New Zealand Nelson Sauvin hops, Silver Reef the Maris Otter malt and Las Vegas Brewing a Kveik yeast strain. During the brew at Mojave there were four brewery owners, four brewers, a couple of assistant brewers and one or two reps from each brewery.
Also pouring will be Three Wheel Motion, a Triple IPA; Hop 2 O, a non-alcoholic hop water drink; and a yet-to-be-named hopped cider. During the celebratory event there will be food trucks and a Steal the Glass, which means you pay for a pint fill at a special price and keep the glass.
The Sundry Food Hall — February 11
The Sundry Food Hall at UnCommons will host a Super Bowl watch party. The expansive space, which already has TVs around the restaurant, will add more TVs throughout so every seat in the house will provide prime viewing. An all-you-can-eat lineup of game day favorites will include wings, sliders, nachos, fries, sundaes and more and an unlimited bar package will feature a selection of beers, wines and cocktails. The all-you-can-eat buffet is priced at $58 per person and $29 for ages 12 and under and the all-you-can-drink is $116 per person. The party begins at 2:30 pm and lasts until the game ends. There will also be free games like Corn Hole and the End-Zone Challenge available to play on the patio.
Slater’s 50/50 — February 11
Slater’s 50/50 will host a Big Game Watch Party at both its Silverado Ranch and Lake Mead locations, featuring 16 TVs surrounding the restaurant for an all-around unobstructed view.
Tickets include guaranteed seat and an open bar and buffet beginning at 3 p.m. and continuing for the duration of the game. Drinks include a selection of more than 30 draft beers, well cocktails, wine and specialty game day drinks for three hours. The buffet will feature a variety of Slater’s 50/50 favorites including the vampire dip, bacon mac & cheese balls, sliders, flatbreads, salads and other signature items. Tickets are required and there will not be any walk-in availability. Prices begin at $125 and vary depending on seat location and number of guests at the table. To purchase tickets for the Silverado location click here and for the Lake Mead location click here.
New Restaurant
Luchini, Tao Group Hospitality’s latest creation, opened late last year in The District at MGM Grand in the former Fiamma space across from Morimoto. A Vespa at the entrance of the 240-seat restaurant suggests that there is something Italian happening inside and there certainly is. The concept is the vision of Tao Group Chief Culinary Officer Ralph Scamardella, based on his experiences growing up in New York. Designed by the renowned Rockwell Group, a Brooklyn-style Italian American eatery feel is achieved via red brick, hunter green tile-clad pillars and hardwood floor. The adjacent 24-seat pizza-by-the-slice shop echoes classic tri-state pizza parlors with globe pendants, a black and white checkerboard floor and marquee.
Executive Chef John Alers collaborated with the Tao culinary team to design a menu of Italian favorites. Appetizers include Grandma’s Meatballs, a mix of pork, veal and beef dressed with sweet marinara; and Chilled Poached Shrimp, an Italian version of a shrimp cocktail with crustaceans so large it seems unjust to call them shrimp, served with Calabrian chili cocktail sauce. Pizzas are taken seriously here, so much that they are made with a 48-hour fermented dough, and the Diavola is a clear winner with nduja, hot soppressata and a delightful chili honey topping. All of the pasta except for the spaghetti noodles are made in-house, and the Pesto Rigatoni is a very rich mixture of basil, Stracciatella and cherry tomatoes. House Specialties include Chilean Seabass Piccata with lemon butter and capers and Chicken Cutlet Milanese with Parmigiana or alla limone. A dish not quite large enough to feed an army, but more than enough to satisfy the whole family is the Sunday Gravy, a huge platter of braciola, meatballs, beef short ribs, pork belly and sausage. Desserts are a show in themselves, with standouts being the Apricot Meringue Cake; house-made soft serve Pistachio Gelato; and the Nuvola di Fantasia with crunchy meringue, mascarpone crema, orange olive oil and citrus fruits.
Your visit is not complete without checking out the Chez Bippy speakeasy, with a hidden entrance through a candy machine door inside the slice shop. The intimate space features high red velvet drapes, bronze arched mirrors, gold banquettes with lush seating, a DJ booth, a ruffled chandelier and a disco ball. The speakeasy showcases craft cocktails such as the Fellini, with Bulleit Bourbon, Campari, Barolo Chinato Cocchi, Vanilla-Anise Tincture, Pizeele and Hickory Smoke.
Luchini’s combo of restaurant, slice shop, and cocktail lounge is actually three venues in one, with each offering a unique food and beverage experience. This new addition is quite refreshing and filling a void for MGM Grand, which before Luchini’s opening only offered Italian cuisine in quick serve options. Luchini’s is open nightly for dinner from 5 p.m., the Slice Shop daily from 11 a.m. and Chez Bippy Thu.-Sat. from 7 p.m.-1 a.m.
Dining News
Le Cafe du Val
Le Café du Val Unveils New Brunch Menu and Expanded Space
Husband-and-wife team Chef David Gazzano and Carmen Barbur opened Le Cafe du Val at 1550 W Horizon Ridge Pkwy in Green Valley in 2020. After outgrowing the space, they have completed an expansion adding a new wine bar and additional seating. The décor features olive trees, white flowers/peacock wallpaper, crystal chandeliers, large mirrors, patio seating and a chalkboard menu board just like you would find in a French café. The wine bar serves beer; a specially-curated wine menu; red and white sangria with macerated fruit; lavender, blood orange and peach mimosas; and wine cocktails such as Peach Bellini and Hibiscus Bubble Rita.
Along with the expansion comes a new brunch menu, served on Saturdays and Sundays while supplies last, featuring classic French dishes and twists on popular brunch items:
- French Toast Trio—amplified version of their French Toast featuring Peanut Butter and Jelly and Strawberry Chocolate with a new Apple Pie French Toast addition
- Merguez—lamb sausage skewers served with a toasted baguette and spicy harissa mayonnaise
- Mini Lobster Roll—the classic dish featuring flavorful lobster salad served on a butter toasted brioche
- Whipped Ricotta Spread—creamy ricotta whipped with hot honey, Espelette pepper and fresh basil served with a side of crispy focaccia
- Steak Tartare—with cornichons in its classic preparation
- Short Rib Shakshuka—mini skillet with fresh basil and homemade hot sauce topped with a sunny egg
The regular menu is also available, with items including pastries (made in France, frozen, then baked in-house), crepes, galettes, avocado toast, eggs Benedict variations, foie gras, escargot, duck rillettes, sandwiches, paninis and salads. For hours and to view the menus visit www.lecafeduvegas.com.
Entertainment News
MGM Resorts International Welcomes Year of the Dragon with Dragon Dances
MGM Resorts International is celebrating Lunar New Year 2024, the Year of the Dragon, with dragon and lion dances at its ARIA, Bellagio and MGM Grand resorts. The dances will be performed by Yau Kung Moon, one of the world’s most respected martial arts, dragon and lion dance organizations known for its trademark gold uniforms and innovative routines. The schedule and locations for the dances are:
- ARIA—Thursday, Feb. 15 at 4 p.m. at the main valet
- Bellagio—Friday, Feb. 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the main valet
- MGM Grand—Saturday, Feb. 17 at 4 p.m. at the main porte cochère
- Café du Val Lobster Rolls pic by Angie Ortaliza-Photography
- Café du Val peacock wallpaper pic courtesy of Cafe du Val
- Chez Bippy Entrance courtesy of Luchini
- Chez Bippy Interior photo credit Michael-Kleinberg
- Luchini Chilled Poached Shrimp pic by Don Chareunsy
- Luchini Diavola Pizza pic by Don Chareunsy
- Luchini Entrance phoyo credit Michael Kleinberg
- Luchini Sunday Gravy pic by Don Chareunsy
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Bob Barnes began his food and beverage writing career in 1998 as Regional Correspondent for Celebrator Beer News and wrote the Nevada Beer Nuggets column from 1998-2019. He was Editorial Director of The Las Vegas Food & Beverage Professional from 2012-2021 and has covered Las Vegas for Gayot since 2010. He continues to contribute to Gayot, writing the Gayot Las Vegas Restaurant News, features on new restaurants, and beer and spirit reviews. He also writes regularly for Off The Strip, The Vegas Voice, Neon Feast, and Las Vegas Magazine.
