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Quick Bites: Duck Donuts, Ferraro’s Ristorante, Astronomy Aleworks and more Vegas food news

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Sadly, we must say goodbye to Saga’s Nordic waffle with lingonberries and blueberries.
Photo: Wade Vandervort

The Strat has announced two new, celebrity-backed restaurants opening at the North Strip resort. Comedian George Lopez’s Chingon Kitchen will serve up authentic Mexican cuisine, signature cocktails and a vast selection of tequilas, planned for a late 2022 opening on the main casino floor near the new LA Comedy Club. Rock & Brews, a concept from Kiss members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, will open in late 2023 in that same area, taking up 8,500 square feet and serving up bar food and rock 'n' roll style.

Luxury development Pinnacle Residencies in MacDonald Highlands is planning to open the original culinary concept Noble Heights from Elizabeth Blau and Kim Canteenwalla in 2025. A modern, indoor-outdoor setting will host diners for dinner and weekend brunch, and the restaurant will be available for on-demand, in-suite delivery for Pinnacle residents.

North Carolina-based Duck Donuts will open its first location in Nevada at the Grand Bazaar Shops at Bally’s on the Strip, targeting an opening in the second half of 2022. The shop will offer late-night hours and showcase doughnuts made from scratch, then dipped, drizzled and topped to order, served warm for each guest. Other menu items will include espresso and coffee beverages, doughnut sundaes, breakfast sandwiches and boozy milkshakes.

Saga Pastry & Sandwich on Eastern Avenue is permanently closing its doors, with May 22 set as the last day of service. The Scandinavian neighborhood favorite and 2019 Best of Vegas award winner announced the closure this week on social media, explaining that pandemic hardships “just got the best of us.” But fans and followers should keep on following Saga online “for what the next chapter of the Saga brings,” according to the post.

Ferraro’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar has changed its name to Ferraro’s Ristorante. The acclaimed 37-year-old local favorite on Paradise Road has also welcomed Mimmo Ferraro back to the kitchen as executive chef after his recent work developing the family’s other projects Pizza Forte and Ferraro’s Italian Street Eats. The restaurant is planning an exterior renovation later this spring.

Piero’s Italian Cuisine will be open six days a week beginning on Monday 23. The 40-year-old restaurant institution near the Las Vegas Convention Center will be open for dinner Monday through Saturday from 5:30 until 9 p.m.; it has been open five days a week since reopening after pandemic closures.

One Steakhouse at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas will host a wine tasting from Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley’s label on May 25 from 5 until 7 p.m. The featured wine will be the 2018 Foley Johnson Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Also available exclusively at the bar is the wine and shellfish happy hour featuring half-off select glasses and a petite shellfish platter, Sunday through Thursday from 5 until 7 p.m.

Hawthorn Grill at JW Marriott will also celebrate National Wine Day, May 25, with a four-course dinner for $99 featuring pairings from J. Lohr Vineyards. The menu will include duck confit wontons, grilled peach and burrata salad, scallops with braised pork belly, and veal chop.

Estiatorio Milos at Venetian is holding its next monthly Winemaker’s Table Dinner on May 26 at 5 p.m. featuring island wines of the Mediterranean, special selections from Crete, Santorini and Cyprus. A sommelier will guide guests through the pairings and the five-course menu. Tickets cost $94 and available at venetianlasvegas.com.

Henderson’s Astronomy Aleworks has collaborated with Lazy Dog restaurants on the latest release of the Lazy Dog Beer Club, creating a unique brew for the spy-themed collection called the Kolsch Initiative. It’s a German Kolsch Ale with saaz hops and 5.0 ABV, and its available for club members at the restaurants while supplies last.

Wine Spectator’s Grand Tour returns to Las Vegas on June 4 at Resorts World. The wine tasting experience will begin at 7 p.m. (or 6 p.m. for VIP ticket holders) and will include a food buffet, wines that have been rated 90 points or higher by Wine Spectator and a souvenir Riedel tasting glass. General admission tickets cost $275 and VIP tickets are $375 here, and a portion of proceeds will benefit a scholarship foundation that assists a variety of culinary and wine programs.

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Brock Radke

Brock Radke is an award-winning writer and columnist who currently occupies the role of managing editor at Las Vegas Weekly ...

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