Pod Dining at Esther’s Kitchen Is Surprisingly Satisfying

By Scott Roeben, on December 19 2020
2 min read 9 comments
Las Vegas Las Vegas Restaurants

Given the latest COVID-related directives, Las Vegas restaurants have had to get creative to stay afloat.

One of the best restaurants in town, Esther’s Kitchen, has pitched some tents, adding a playful twist to an already great dining experience.

Esther's Kitchen
If you thought we were going to pass up a tent-pitching joke, you do not know this blog at all.

Las Vegas restaurants are currently limited to 25% capacity, making profitability nearly impossible.

Esther’s Kitchen’s eight outdoor tents, dubbed “Greenhouse Village,” expands the restaurant’s capacity while providing guests the required amount of distance from their fellow diners.

Esther's Kitchen dining pods
Dibs on this fire pit thingy after the pandemic.

The portable greenhouses are cozy and romantic. Each seats four people (restaurants aren’t currently allowed to seat more than four at a table), and is equipped with carpeting, heat and music.

Esther's Kitchen dining pods
It’s like “glamping,” but dining. It’s “damping.” Which should be a thing.

Guests need to call ahead to reserve the dining pods. Find out more at the official Web site.

While the tents have been put up due to restrictions, we actually like them more than the dining room! Esther’s Kitchen is very popular, and is always busy, so the noise can be deafening. We like the quiet and the outdoor seating is glorious.

The food is still fast and fresh, and Esther’s remains home to some truly life-altering bread.

Esther's Kitchen bread
The bread at Esther’s Kitchen is life-altering.

Esther’s makes its pasta in-house, and their pizza is consistently amazing, but during our pod visit, we opted for the Pan Roasted Mary’s Chicken.

Esther's Kitchen chicken
We totally knew that was farrotto and agrodolce squash and sherry jus. Um, hello, we are not a rube.

We love that at Esther’s Kitchen, they include this item on the menu: “Buy the kitchen a round of beers. A little love for the hardworking cooks, $6.”

Read more about Esther’s Kitchen in the Arts District, downtown.

Esther's Kitchen
Insider tip: On the way to the pods, check out the walk-in cooler. Sorry, “Walken cooler.”

We realize Esther’s created its outdoor pod seating to address some business challenges related to COVID-19, but we’d love to see it stick around. The fresh air. The quiet. The privacy.

There’s always something new to love at Esther’s Kitchen.

Which they should totally steal for their advertising. You’re welcome, Chef Trees.