VEGAS RESTAURANT ROUNDUP: Disco Diner, Submarine Chef Pops Back Up, the Trouble with Casino McDonald’s

Posted on: August 14, 2024, 12:54h. 

Last updated on: August 14, 2024, 05:39h.

Corey Levitan Read More
Expertise: Commercial Gaming, Entertainment, Expert Insight, Las Vegas, Las Vegas Myths.

Spiegelworld, the off-kilter Vegas entertainment factory responsible for “Absinthe” at Caesars Palace, is opening a ’70s-themed Vegas eatery called Diner Ross. (Get the pun? It’s supreme!)

Diner Ross will serve all the requisite dishes plus a Lobster Hot Dog, Dirty Martini Salad, and combination French Onion Soup Mac & Cheese. (Image: Spiegelworld)

The old-school dining concept opens Wednesday at the Linq, along with Spiegelworld’s new production, “DiscoShow.” Diner Ross was created by Anna Altieri and Niko Novick, the culinary creatives behind Superfrico, Spiegelworld’s Italian restaurant-slash-psychedelic house party at the Cosmo.

“Diner Ross is our heartfelt homage to the timeless charm of diners, reimagined with celebratory vibes and culinary finesse,” Altieri said. “We’ve crafted a menu that embraces cherished dishes, inviting our guests to indulge in both nostalgia and innovation, and an extremely polished but very casual atmosphere.”

Also opening along with the new Linq production are new cocktail bars called 99 Prince and Glitterloft.

Sent McPacking

The McDonald’s inside The D in downtown Las Vegas has been evicted. According to Vital Vegas, it will close August 25 because the casino hotel bought out its lease, which had been in place since Derek and Greg Stevens purchased The D’s predecessor, Fitzgerald’s, for approximately $20 million in 2011.

The D’s problem with the fast-foodery, according to Vital Vegas, is the vagrants and panhandlers it attracts from the Fremont Street Experience, both to the restaurant and the casino. The McDonald’s inside the Plaza downtown, located next to the former Greyhound bus station, was bought out for a similar reason last year. And one even worse reason…

In 2019, an inspector for the Southern Nevada Health District, who was summoned to investigate a complaint that an employee opened a sealed bottle with her teeth, left the restaurant a 33-demerit C grade. Violations included: holding prepared food for sale for twice the four-hour limit, improper hand-washing by multiple employees, a soiled citrus slicer and spatula, and an insect zapper right above hamburger buns.

When the Plaza finally bought out its McDonald’s lease last year, none other than Jonathan Jossel, the casino hotel’s CEO, tweeted out the following less-than-fond farewell…

Dining Ins & Outs

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, which closed in April, was a unique experience where 12 guests at a time sampled 16 exotic courses including uni crème brûlée and nori bonbons. (Image: PR Newswire)

Though she couldn’t keep 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea from sinking  along with AREA15’s Lost Spirits Distillery, her submarine-themed restaurant’s host, celebrated chef Taylor Persh has resurfaced. She’ll bring Story of a Muse, a Greek-inspired pop-up, to the former Nove Italiano space atop the Palms’ Fantasy Tower. It will operate on 10 dates from August 30 through September 29. For each seating, 20 diners will share a communal table. Tickets, $300, are on sale now through Persh’s Instagram account, @cheftaylorpersh.

Crust & Roux, the pizza and dessert pies pot at 6825 S. Las Vegas Blvd., is reopening following renovations under the name C&R Public House & Eatery. Along with the new name, it will also have a full liquor license.

Sleepyhead Donut, which opened in June at 3977 S. Maryland Parkway in central Las Vegas, is taking a temporary siesta due to an electrical fire.

The Chicken Shack at 4412 N. Rancho Drive was closed by the Southern Nevada Health District on August 12 for earning 17 demerits. LV Tacos Salseros at 439 Rock Quarry Way was also closed, on August 5 for 30 demerits.