Legendary chef and restaurateur Wolfgang Puck has teamed up with five Vegas Golden Knights players—Deryk Engelland, William Karlsson, Reilly Smith, Shea Theodore and Alex Tuch—to create an instant locals’ favorite in Downtown Summerlin.
Karlsson’s Vegan Burger with fries and a Sweet Tea cocktail
The upscale “sports restaurant” (don’t call it a sports bar) offers a classy take on the practice of eating and drinking while watching feats of athleticism. Televisions, famed Knights sweaters and black-and-white photos of Knights on the ice complement the dark decor. And true to its name, the spot’s main architectural feature is a wall of wood-and-glass booze lockers, which well-heeled regulars can reserve.
The menu offers elevated bar food, some of which has been customized to match the players’ favorite meals: Tuch’s Reuben Sandwich ($19), Karlsson’s Vegan Burger ($16), Reilly’s Cheese Curds ($11) and so forth. The dishes are indulgent and filling without falling into the overly greasy trap of typical bar food.
Cocktails also get the Golden touch. There’s the Theodore Mule ($10), the Reilly Smith Paloma ($13), the Engelland Sour ($14)and Tuch’s Barrel-Aged Manhattan ($16). One outlier is the raspberry lemon drop ($12), which was a favorite at Puck’s first Las Vegas restaurant, Spago.
This is no mere licensing deal. The athletes have already been known to use the 40-seat private dining room, which has a separate entrance, as a hangout. And for good reason: It’s a gorgeous space in a great location (near VGK practice facility City National Arena), with cuisine and cocktails worthy of the Puck name.
WOLFGANG PUCK PLAYERS LOCKER 10955 Oval Park Drive, 702-202-6300. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
