VEGAS DINING NEWS: Aria Gets Fancy Indian Joint, Bazaar Meat Gets Opening Date

As we told you on June 11, Gymkhana — widely regarded as one of the best Indian restaurants in the world with not one but two Michelin stars to back that up — will open at Aria in the old Julian Serrano Tapas spot.

At Aria, Gymkhana —  which translated from Hindu and Urdu means “a place for sports” — will specialize in tandoor-grilled chicken, classic curries such as Goan prawn curry and pork cheek vindaloo, and fragrant biryanis. Gymkhana will also introduce menu items exclusive to Las Vegas, and stock a full bar for Indian-inspired cocktails.

A nonspecific fall 2025 grand opening is the best we could get out of parent company JKS Restaurants. Las Vegas will the franchise’s first US city and third in the world, after London and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

“Gymkhana in London has firmly established itself as a global destination, drawing guests from around the world for its remarkable, curated experience,” Ayesha Molino, ARIA’s president and COO, said in a statement. “We’re honored to partner with the JKS family to bring this iconic brand to Las Vegas, delivering something truly unforgettable, in a way only ARIA can.”

For more info, click here.

Another Surprise Dino’s Drop-in

The last time Dino’s Lounge made the news, Coldplay’s Chris Martin showed up to prank its patrons during a karaoke session. This time, the unexpected visitor was a female motorist who accidentally drove her car through the proud dive bar’s front wall. The motorist was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, and Dino’s is closed for at least a week.

Dining Ins and Outs

Bazaar Meat by José Andrés has set an opening day of Sept. 4 for its new digs at the Venetian. Its original location, at the Sahara, closed on July 31 to make way for Kwame Onwuachi’s Maroon Caribbean steakhouse.

Pinches Tacos, which opened along with downtown’s Container Park in 2013, has closed. The owners cited “economic factors, including decreased visitation, tariffs, and immigration concerns.” The LA taqueria caused a stir when it first arrived because, to some Spanish speakers, “pinches” is an alternate f-word. (The owners had to promise the Las Vegas City Council now to use its name on either signs facing the street or the Container Park’s playground.)

Health to Pay

Ever Blue Ocean Tea & Deserts at 1717 S. Decatur Blvd. was temporarily closed by the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) after a routine inspection resulted in eight demerits for violations including no hot and water from an approved source (5) and improperly cleaned food contact surfaces (3).

A Sonic Drive-In at 377 N. Nellis Blvd. was closed by the SNHD on Aug. 4 with nine demerits for violations including chemicals improperly identified, stored and used (3); improperly cleaned food contact surfaces and equipment (3); and ineffective pest control measures (3).