Bramàre bramare.com
In a Strip-vibe space nestled into the Collective—the burgeoning, culinary-centric strip mall on Paradise Road—Bramàre combines familiar-yet-fanciful Italian classics with a cutting-edge cocktail program. Executive chef Joe Valdez impresses with arguably the Valley’s best Caesar salad, grilled broccolini better than any vegetable should be, and a funky, meaty 28-day dry-aged Flannery steak worth sharing, while Constantin Alexander’s libations rank among the most creative in town.
Endo Las Vegas instagram.com/endo.lasvegas
Mitsuo Endo’s groundbreaking Aburiya Raku heralded Vegas’ stellar Japanese dining scene. Now, mere steps away, he’s opened his eponymous Endo Las Vegas, a postage stamp-sized theater where he personally hosts a half-dozen guests twice nightly. It’s a tough seat to score and comes at a steep tariff. But if you get a Golden Ticket, you’ll be rewarded with the most exquisite and rarefied experience to arrive in Vegas in recent memory with a multi-time James Beard nominee personally preparing dinner with specifically sourced ingredients directly from Japan. This is special-occasion dining at its finest.
Esther's Kitchen
Esther’s Kitchen estherslv.com
OK, so this isn’t really a “new” restaurant as much as it is a relocation and expansion of a Downtown stalwart. But the more spacious setting, just around the corner from the original, gives James Trees and his crew the opportunity to both expand the menu and welcome in more diners—not that any of this has changed his stance on offering Esther’s best dish, the citrusy black garlic radiatore, outside of lunch and brunch. My life hack? Order one to eat-in and another to go.
Bazaar Mar thebazaar.com
Bazaar Mar, José Andrés’ latest Strip effort in the old Wolfgang Puck space at the Shops at Crystals, is a complement to his majestic, meat-centric Bazaar Meat. It’s a bit of a Mediterranean seafood market where the daily fresh catch is displayed on ice and offered in a variety of preparations. But in typical Andrés fashion, seemingly simple fare isn’t what it seems. The Anchoas Don Bocarte, anchovy with smoked butter on bread, doesn’t sound eventful, but might very well be the city’s best bite of the moment.
Cin-Cin Brewhouse & Seafood Bar cincinbrewerylv.com
While brewery food tends to be better-than-average fare, rarely does it veer from pub favorites. Enter downtown’s Cin-Cin Brewhouse, where sashimi is served seamlessly alongside stouts. Cin-Cin tends to incorporate Asian ingredients into their brews, complementing the seafood-centric selection. Meaty seasoned cabbage is an addictive epiphany, while drunken oysters are perfectly apropos in a brewery. This a true hidden treasure.
Fontainebleau’s late 2023 opening delivered a strong culinary lineup to the Strip. Of the bunch, the most interesting is Kyu, the Asian barbecue/wood-fired concept. Ranging from Thai pot rice rife with crispy nurungji, addictive Krunchy Kale, and broiled king crab legs, the menu delivers fun food in a festive setting conducive to large groups. It’s a local’s excuse to traipse the Strip.
La Casa de Juliette lacasadejuliette.com
This is the restaurant no one knew they needed. The Sand Dollar Lounge team has opened a go-to destination in a part of the Valley (Centennial Hills) devoid of one, while executive chef Eduardo “Lalo” Saavedra remains true to his roots, delivering accessible-yet-elevated Mexican fare. He’s making a killer vampiro and frankly deserves recognition alone for masterminding crab chorizo, a dish that must be tasted to be believed.
Liquid Diet
Liquid Diet instagram.com/liquid.diet.dtlv
I’m cheating with this one because it opened in late 2023 and it’s not a restaurant but rather a cocktail bar. However, given the culinary focus on its cocktails—and my pure fascination with the place—I’m sure you can forgive me. I assure you that once you’ve downed a horseradish shot, served with a tomato water back, you’ll never doubt me again.
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