Casa Playa at Encore is set to open on September 16. The coastal Mexican concept in the former Elio space near Encore Beach Club features a menu from executive chef Sarah Thompson and cocktails from Wynn resort mixologist Mariena Mercer Boarini as well as a mezcal and tequila collection from agave expert Noah Arenstein. Opening dishes include a squash blossom quesadilla, Baja fried fish tacos, Mexican blue shrimp ceviche, a black truffle tostada, whole cauliflower al pastor and Yucatan chicken pibil.
West Hollywood-based hospitality group Noble 33 announced last week that its Toca Madera concept will open on the Strip in spring 2022 in the former tavern space between Aria and the Shops at Crystals. This will be the third Toca Madera location, joining the Hollywood and Scottsdale, Arizona, restaurants, and the company’s first project in Las Vegas. The modern Mexican menu focuses on shared plates, vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options, a farm-to-glass cocktail program and a versatile selection of tequila and mezcal.
Pennsylvania-based franchise Bruster’s Real Ice Cream is set to open its first Las Vegas location at 2862 S. Durango Drive in November. The store will offer walk-up window service similar to traditional ice cream and frozen custard stands found on the East Coast, along with a 2,000-square-foot mini-park with shade, benches and grass. The menu will offer a rotation of more than 30 ice cream flavors plus waffle cones, sundaes, milkshakes, custom pies and cakes and more.
SushiSamba has opened its Tree Bar & Lounge at the Grand Canal Shoppes at Venetian/Palazzo. The 1,500-square-foot space with a 125-foot curved bar extends the SushiSamba space out of the restaurant area and also brings an expanded cocktail list to the overall offerings. It was designed by Icrave, the same team behind the original SushiSamba space’s opening in 2008. The bar is open from 11:30 a.m. until midnight Sunday through Thursday and from 11:30 a.m. until 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Sugar Factory American Brasserie has opened at the Harmon Corner on the Strip, a 14,000-square-foot restaurant with a 26-seat entry level bar and a 30-seat bar on the mezzanine level. There’s also a 30-seat patio overlooking the Strip and a candy story on the third level. A grand opening event is set for September 18.
Tacotarian opened its third location in the Vegas Valley last week at 75 S. Valle Verde Drive in Henderson. Future plans call for a fourth store near Blue Diamond and Decatur, and expansion beyond Nevada.
Guy Fieri’s El Burro Borracho has reopened at the Rio. The casual Mexican restaurant is open Thursday through Sunday from 5 until 10 p.m., and an updated menu can be viewed here.
The Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar has opened at Town Square, a casual hybrid dining and shopping experience that refreshes the local experience after 13 years. The Marlin Bar offers a full selection of handcrafted cocktails, frozen drinks, boozy shakes and more, along with signature dishes like coconut shrimp and chicken mango salad. It's open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.
Negroni Week kicks off today, and Al Solito Posto at Tivoli Village is partnering with Campari for an official launch party from 4 until 8 p.m. tonight, September 13, with Negroni Week festivities continuing at the popular Italian restaurant though September 19. The patio transforms into a pop-up negroni bar for the entire week with festive décor and activations, and the event is also raising funds for Keep Memory Alive through cocktail sales. For more information on the nationwide event, visit negroniweek.com.
CraftHaus Brewery will celebrate its seventh anniversary with the HausFest event on September 25 from 6 until 10 p.m. at 7350 Eastgate Road in Henderson. Tickets cost $40-$65 and include unlimited pours of new brews like Sticky Yum, Czech Crown and Stratacaster. Plus, food trucks will be serving additional items. For more information, click here.
Honey Salt’s Farm Table Dinner program returns this month with the annual Cape Cod Cookbook event on September 27 at 6 p.m. A limited number of tickets are available at honeysalt.com for the special menu that will include Wellfleet oysters, New England lobster rolls, fried Ipswich clams, Portuguese-style clam chowder and more, and restaurateurs Elizabeth Blau and Kim Canteenwalla will be there signing copies of the Honey Salt cookbook.
Oktoberfest has begun at Hofbräuhaus Las Vegas on Paradise Road, with Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman serving as the celebrity keg tapper during the launch on September 10. Upcoming tappers include Frankie Moreno on September 17, Murray Sawchuck on September 18 and the cast of Fantasy on September 24. Stein-holding contests, live entertainment, bar games, prizes and other activities are ongoing, and daily food and drink specials are also available.
Smoke & Fire on East Russell Road has introduced a new Sunday brunch, offering bottomless mimosas and bloody marys for $19 and new menu items including brunch sliders, the Pan-Am breakfast with eggs and bacon or pulled pork or chicken, and Tony’s brisket sliders with pepper jack cheese, tobacco onions and house made barbecue sauce. The restaurant’s new hours of operation are Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Fremont East spot Vegas Test Kitchen is partnering with Bruce Kalman of Soulbelly BBQ for a new Brown Bagger Sando pop-up launching later this month on Saturdays and Sundays. The menu includes sandwiches, salads and sides, such as the NY’s Finest (corned beef, Swiss, coleslaw and Thousand Island dressing) and the fresh mozzarella with tomato, hot sweet pepper relish, basil, oil and vinegar.
