The end of the year brings exciting culinary updates, both on and off the Strip
New and delicious Las Vegas staples are hitting the scene, just in time for the holidays.
In this weekly update, food and beverage reporter Bob Barnes fills us in on noteworthy restaurant openings and closings, special December holiday dining news and culinary events about delicious bites worth knowing about.
New Year and December Dining News
The George Sportsmen’s Lounge
December 31
The George Sportsmen’s Lounge in the new Durango Resort will offer live entertainment and a prix fixe menu on NYE. The entertainment will be by The Dan Band and DJ Soxxi performing on the sports and entertainment lounge’s outdoor patio. The four-course menu will include choice of Spinach and Artichoke Dip, Honey Sriracha Grilled Shrimp or Gorgonzola Crusted Lamb Chops; Crab Bisque, Mediterranean BLT Salad or Summer Tomato Burrata Salad; Petite Filet Oscar Style, Lobster Fra Diavolo or Umami-Dusted Halibut; and Peach Cobbler or Chef’s Choice Cheesecake. Vegetarian options will also be available upon request.
Reservations are available from 7 to 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. to midnight, priced at $250 per person. Special patio and show seating featuring The Dan Band are available from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. and are priced at $350 per person. Reservation bookings can be made by clicking here or calling 702-567-7855.
Al Solito Posto
December 31
Al Solito Posto in Tivoli Village will a four-course tasting menu from executive chef Adam Rios, with seatings from 4-11 p.m. Priced at $125 per person (plus tax, fees and gratuity), it includes House-made Focaccia; choice of Oysters on The Half Shell, Truffle Ricotta Bruschetta or Tomato Caprese; Black Truffle Gemelli Pasta or Caviar Spaghetti; Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass, Braised Beef Short Rib, Tiger Prawn Scampi or Butternut Squash Risotto; and Mixed Berry Crostata or Chocolate Hazelnut Semifreddo. A limited regular menu will also be available a la carte. Throughout the dinner a live jazz band will be performing, and for those still dining at midnight, a complimentary champagne toast will ring in the new year.
Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made at alsolito.com or by phone at (702) 463-6781.
The Stove
January 1
The Stove will help you start the New Year off right with its New Year’s Day Hangover Brunch.
Guests are encouraged to arrive in their lingerie and pajamas for a unique pajama party and enjoy specially crafted Christmas cocktails.
They will include Enjoy the Elfed Up—a blend of vanilla vodka, creme de cacao, creme de menthe and heavy cream with a sugar rim and Christmas sprinkles in a coupe glass; Campfire Smores—Crown Vanilla, creme de caco, heavy cream and chocolate syrup with a graham cracker rim and a garnish of charred marshmallow in a martini glass; and Jingle Juice—Bumbu Rum, cranberry and pineapple topped with champagne and adorned with red edible glitter, a gold sugar rim and a mint garnish in ball cups.
New Restaurant Openings
Summer House
The Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants group has opened its first expansion off-Strip: Summer House at the newly-opened Durango Resort.
You could say it’s summer all year long at this brightly-lit restaurant, as there’s a summer beach feel with wicker chairs; wood floor; hues of beige, cream and tan; hanging greenery throughout; white curtains; an abundance of natural light via large windows; and a large outdoor patio merging the indoor and outdoor dining spaces. The décor is quite intentional, as Lettuce Entertainment Founder Rich Melman was so enchanted with a friend’s beach house in Santa Monica that he attempted to reproduce it. Another summery touch is the ice chests in the dining room which have a functional use of storing the chilled wines served by the glass.
The menu features comfort food favorites including Cali-style tacos like the Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with balsamic vinegar, Crispy Fish Tacos with chipotle crema, Ahi Tuna & Watermelon Tostadas, Buena Vista Cobb Salad, Spinach & Kale Pizza with parmesan cream, Turkey Stack sandwich with Havarti and bacon and pastas well represented by Angry Crab Bucatini with Dungeness Crab and Calabrian chili.
The summer comfort continues in the entrees with an 8 oz Skirt Steak Frites with guajillo chili and cilantro-lime butter, Pacific Rock Bass Fish ‘n’ Chips with malt vinegar fries and the skinless, boneless Herbed Chicken Breast Paillard accompanied with an arugula salad. Finales are the Gooey Lemon Cake, 7 Layer Chocolate Cake and the full assortment of house-made cookies.
The wine list is mainly California based, with 50+ options and several by-the-glass like the Sanford Sta Rita Hills Chardonnay. There are also spritzes including the Desert Spritz with grapefruit, Giuliana Prosecco and soda; specialty cocktails such as Lavender Haze with Aviation Gin, blueberry and lavender; a robust whiskey selection with excellent pours such as Brother’s Bond Rye; and a small beer list with a few Nevada-brewed brews, which during my visit included Lovelady Brewing Love Juice IPA.
Be sure to check out The Market at the front entrance (opens early at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday), with an elaborate pastry counter serving several grab-and-go items. Here you can find house-baked goods, coffee drinks, light breakfast items, craft cocktails and the aforementioned oversized cookies in about a dozen varieties.
Summer House is open daily for lunch and dinner.
This is the third location, joining others in Chicago, IL and Bethesda, MD. In the weeks to follow, a brunch menu will be available featuring dishes such as the newly created Breakfast Pizza with Applewood bacon, sunny side up egg and parmesan cream; Breakfast Tostadas with pulled chicken, black beans and ranchero sauce; and Crispy Strawberry Waffles.
Fontainebleau Las Vegas
Fontainebleau Las Vegas, a 67-story luxury resort on the Vegas Strip rooted in the 70-year history of the iconic Miami Beach brand, opened on December 13, 2023. Within is a collection of signature restaurant including:
- Don’s Prime: softly lit steakhouse drawing inspiration from the elegant restaurants of the 1950s plus trolley carts and tableside service.
- Chyna Club: from Hakkasan and Wagamama founder Alan Yau serving eclectic Chinese cuisine.
- Komodo: the energy and regional flavors of Southeast Asia, replete with signature Peking duck, rotating specials and a full sushi bar.
- Mother Wolf: a second outpost from renowned Los Angeles chef Evan Funke highlighting his soulful Italian cooking.
There are more concepts set to open in the coming months such as chef Gabriela Cámara’s Cantina Contramar serving Mexican cuisine and seafood dishes; Ito, a refined omakase restaurant led by chefs Masa Ito and Kevin Kim set on the 63rd floor with sweeping views of the Strip and surrounding city; and La Côte, on the pool deck evoking the posh resorts of the French Riviera with an international menu.
More Delicious Bites Around Las Vegas
Fine Company
Fine Company Launches Dinner Menu
Chef Roy Ellamar’s new neighborhood restaurant Fine Company in Downtown Summerlin has expanded its menu and hours to include a full dinner menu.
Highlights of the Sharing Plates section include Salt Spring Mussels, as 1 lb portion in a broth made with coconut milk, kaffir lime and lemongrass; Pig & the Apple Cider-glazed pork belly with apple miso butter and rose apple kimchi; Tuna Tataki with mushroom poke, uni ponzu and chili oil; and Spanish Octopus with Rancho Gordo beans, piquillo pepper Romesco and herb salad.
Large Plates are well represented by apple cider-brined Berkshire Pork Chop topped with red cabbage kraut, huckleberry gastrique and kabocha squash butter; Short Rib braised in wine and coffee with horseradish cream and butternut squash puree; and 16 oz Bone-in NY Steak with pink peppercorn soy glaze.
Regarding his restaurant’s name, Chef Roy says, “My background is in fine dining, but here we have an elevated but casual and approachable menu. Great food and fine company … food brings people together.”
Chef Roy does indeed have a quite impressive background, having honed his craft in top-rated Chicago and Los Angeles kitchens before landing in Las Vegas at the prestigious L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand, followed by the Bellagio’s Sensi and as Executive Chef at Harvest by Roy Ellamar. Chef Roy left Harvest in 2021 to travel and gather inspiration for his next venture, with the goal of bringing people together to share great food and fine company in the ‘burbs, and we are blessed that he is again sharing his great culinary talents with us.
I’m always happy to report on establishments that support our local breweries and such a mention is warranted here. The Crushable Cans beer menu is 100% local Las Vegas brews with the current lineup including beers from Beer Zombies, Big Dog’s Brewing, CraftHaus, Bad Beat and Las Vegas Brewing Company.
The new expanded hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and beginning January 3 Fine Company will be open daily.
