Legendary chef Tetsuya Wakuda will finally open a restaurant in Las Vegas in the spring of 2022 when he partners with John Kunkel’s 50 Eggs Hospitality Group to open Wakuda Las Vegas, the first high-end, purely Japanese restaurant at the Venetian. Wakuda will join 50 Eggs’ existing Venetian restaurants (Yardbird, Chica, Spritz and Capri) and will be located at the former Morels Steakhouse space in the Palazzo lobby area. “I am incredibly excited to finally come to the United States in partnership with John Kunkel … and the Venetian resort,” Wakuda said in a statement. “The Wakuda brand represents an evolution from my restaurants to date, with a vibrant design and atmosphere that will be an exciting new backdrop for my cuisine.”
Corner Bar Management is partnering with Main St. Provisions principals Kim Owens and Justin Kingsley Hall and Vegas Test Kitchen creator Jolene Mannina for a new project slated for Fergusons Downtown on East Fremont Street. Peyote, set to open in September in the 3,400-square-foot space formerly home to La Monja, will serve brunch and dinner along with innovative cocktails on an open-air terrace space and funky indoor dining room. Cocktails overseen by Max Solano will include the Tea for Two with organic vodka or small batch bourbon or the El Camino with mezcal, Alpine Preserve liqueur and passion fruit. Dinner dishes include Carolina Gold risotto with grilled corn and leeks, a heritage pig sandwich with pork belly and plum mustard, and Santa Maria tri-tip. Brunch dishes include grilled and chilled shellfish, a Just Egg quiche with spinach and Lion’s Mane mushrooms and an heirloom tomato roasted over oak with shaved American country ham. Peyote’s opening schedule is currently planned for 6 p.m. until 2 a.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, and noon until 2 a.m. Fridays through Sundays.
Restaurateur and TV star Lisa Vanderpump will launch her second Las Vegas venue this winter at Paris Las Vegas. Vanderpump à Paris will be located near the resort front desk area serving unique cocktails, a wine list heavy on French influence and the Vanderpump family’s signature brands and a selection of decadent but light bites. As they did with Vanderpump Cocktail Garden at Caesars Palace more than two years ago, Vanderpump and husband Ken Todd are partnering with designer Nick Alain to create an immersive experience transporting customers to the City of Light. The space will seat approximately 200 guests.
Grab this chirashi bowl for lunch at Blue Ribbon Sushi at Red Rock Resort.
James Beard Award winning chef Todd English has opened the second iteration of Olives at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. English originally brought Olives from Boston to Las Vegas as part of the opening culinary lineup at Bellagio. Last year, he opened The Beast at Area15. The Olives menu includes classic dishes like beef carpaccio, scallops with chestnut risotto, fig and prosciutto and portobello mushroom flatbreads, handmade pastas and much more. The 185-seat dining room is open Wednesday through Sunday from 5 until 11 p.m.
Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill at Red Rock Resort has launched a new lunch menu available Friday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. Standout dishes include chicken wings with chili sauce and wasabi honey, grilled teriyaki salmon or pan-seared teriyaki chicken over rice, a Snake River Farms Wagyu burger, chirashi or tuna poke rice bowls and more.
Potbelly is set to open its second location in Las Vegas this week, on August 10 on South Rainbow Boulevard. The first 100 people to visit the new Spring Valley-area location on opening day will receive a free skinny sandwich. The eatery joins the Henderson Potbelly which opened in December and it will be open daily from 10:30 a.m. until 10 p.m.
Founders Coffee is set to open its third location on August 16 inside La Bonita Supermarket on Green Valley Parkway. The new spot will offer the same drink menu including specialties like the lavender white chocolate and Hula Girl lattes as well as new items like the churro and Tres Leches lattes. Food items will include elote toast, churro toast and the Bonita breakfast quiche. Founders at La Bonita will be open daily from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Pizza Expo returns to the Las Vegas Convention Center next week and the Las Vegas Pizza Alliance is planning a special charity welcome party on August 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Good Pie on Main Street. Samples from five Las Vegas pizza makers—John Arena from Metro Pizza, Mimmo Ferraro from Pizza Forte, Gio Mauro from Pizzeria Monzu, Vincent Rotolo from Good Pie and Michael Vakneen from Pop-Up Pizza—will be available along with beer from CraftHaus Brewery. A limited number of tickets are available at $25 at sliceouthunger.org with all proceeds going to fund hunger relief efforts across the country.
Carver Road Hospitality has announced Daniel Ontiveros will be executive chef and Gianni Toffanello will be general manager at the company’s first concept, Carversteak, set to open at Resorts World in December. Ontiveros is known for his work at Scotch 80 Prime, T-Bones Chophouse, Bouchon, Joël Robuchon, Comme Ca and more. Toffanello hails from Cut by Wolfgang Puck as well as Bartolotta at Wynn and Spiaggia in Chicago.
Brezza at Resorts World has launched a new nightly Cicchetti Menu, available in the bar and lounge starting at 5 p.m. on weekdays and 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Among the snack offerings are Jingle Bell peppers with preserved tuna, chicken liver mousse, crispy pork skins with citrus and espelette, stuffed olives with nduja and mint and fried shishito peppers. All dishes are $9.
Double Helix Wine & Whiskey Lounge at Town Square has launched a new Sunday brunch available between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. featuring bottomless drink offerings and a fresh menu from executive chef Doug Vega. Carnitas nachos, chicken and waffles, chilaquiles, avocado caprese and shortrib benedict are among the dishes ready to complement $19.99 bottomless mimosas, bloody marys, sangria or wine.
Chianti on South Durango Drive has rebranded to become Dolce & Chianti Cucina and Cocktails, a complete revamp of the restaurant’s menu, interior design, wine and spirits program and live entertainment. The contemporary neighborhood trattoria and bar focuses on northern Tuscan-style dishes and continues to offer entertainment from local acts.
CraftHaus Brewery is releasing an exclusive, limited edition brew in collaboration with Psycho Entertainment for the second year, the Helles Lager, which will be available on tap and in cans during the Psycho Las Vegas music festival at Mandalay Bay on August 19-23. The full-bodied brew with notes of spicy German Noble hops will also be available at CraftHaus taprooms.
