Visionary chef Hubert Keller has stepped away from his two landmark Las Vegas restaurants, Fleur at Mandalay Bay and Burger Bar at the Shoppes at Mandalay Place. Keller made his exit official on social media four days ago, writing that operating the duo of dining destinations “has been one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences in my entire career. I would like to thank Mandalay Bay, all my wonderful and talented key managers, my staff members, as well as all the amazing, loyal community of guests and the press for following me all those years.” Both restaurants are temporarily closed. MGM Resorts is planning to reopen Burger Bar with a new partner sometime in the future, and Fleur will be operated by the casino company when it reopens.
James Trees and the LEV Group have soft-opened Al Solito Posto at Tivoli Village with an official opening set for January 22. Trees, chef and owner of the popular Esther’s Kitchen in the Arts District Downtown, previously collaborated with LEV on another Italian concept at Tivoli, Ada’s. Al Solito Posto takes the large space previously occupied by Brio Italian Grille at the Summerlin-area luxury mall with the kitchen team headed by executive chef Emily Brubaker, formerly of Sage and Joël Robuchon. East Coast-style Italian favorites like minestrone, eggplant parmigiana, chicken piccata, meatballs and rigatoni alla vodka are featured. Reservations are available now at OpenTable. Trees is planning to open a new Spanish wine bar concept in the nearby Ada’s location.
A new Mexican restaurant from Hooper Hospitality Concepts (the Black Sheep, Locale) is set to debut today in the same southwest Valley complex as sister eatery Locale. El Luchador Mexican Kitchen & Cantina features the food of chef Aaron Bryan (formerly of Charlie Palmer Steak and the Cosmopolitan), including tableside guacamole, Machu Picchu ceviche, mahi mahi or crispy cauliflower tacos, Arrachera steak and more. The restaurant is open daily from 4:30 to 9 p.m.
Strip sushi favorite Morimoto at MGM Grand has reopened for dinner service on weekends only. The contemporary Japanese restaurant is open Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m.
Naked City Pizza Shop on Paradise Road has relaunched Taco Tuesday every week from 4 to 8 p.m. inside the adjacent Office Bar, and if you’re not a serious Vegas foodie, you might not know that chef and owner Chris Palmeri learned how to make Mexican food from celebrity chef Rick Bayless before opening Diego at MGM Grand and later served some of the Valley’s best stuff at the short-lived Desnudo Tacos. Also, this Taco Tuesday includes old-school Nintendo.
The next Master Class at Wynn Las Vegas is “Tackling Big Game Snacks,” taught by Charlie’s Bar & Grill executive chef Clayton Turnbow on January 20 at noon. Turnbow will demo tips and ideas for crowd-pleasing game day dishes before guests get to enjoy a tasting of tailgate favorites. Tickets are $95 and reservations can be made at wynnlasvegas.com.
Three Caesars Palace restaurants are now offering take-and-bake packages to help guests serve restaurant-style meals at home. Hell’s Kitchen is offering Gordon Ramsay’s famous Beef Wellington with potato puree, glazed root veggies and red wine demiglace for $59; Old Homestead steakhouse has a baked Maine lobster with lemon aioli, creamy spinach and Caesar salad for $79; and Rao’s is doing its signature meatballs with penne alla vodka for $39. Find more info or order online here.
