VEGAS DINING NEWS: Battista’s Closure Leaves Hole (& Questions!), Trees to Perform Voodoo at Rio, Health Closures
Posted on: June 3, 2025, 10:56h.
Last updated on: June 4, 2025, 01:06h.
UPDATE: Open Table has set its reservations for Battista’s Hole in the Wall to resume on June 23. So it does appear the closure will be temporary, or at least that’s what the restaurant intends.
EARLIER: Battista’s Hole in the Wall — the rustic old-school Italian eatery behind the Flamingo that lived up to the low bar set by its name — closed without warning on June 1, leaving holes in the hearts of at least some of the millions who have dined there since founder Battista Locatelli and his wife, Rio, opened it in 1970.
According to the restaurant, it only temporarily closed for “remodeling,” but here’s why that word in quotes…
- When you remodel, you don’t close without warning, canceling on all diners with reservations for that night and beyond
- Remodeling is something usually done by choice. And if Battista’s had a choice of when to remodel, it would have picked October and November. That’s when the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, the giant race whose setup Battista’s claims cost it millions in lost business, zooms around again. (The restaurant’s lawsuit against F1 is ongoing)
- You don’t begin your social media announcement of said remodeling with the sentence: “For nearly 50 years, Battista’s has been serving up unforgettable meals in the heart of Vegas”
- A major selling point of Battista’s Hole in the Wall was that it never bothered remodeling.
Vital Vegas suspects there’s more to this story, though even he hasn’t sniffed it out yet. One thing we can say for sure is that this wasn’t the doing of the Southern Nevada Health District, which publishes all of its forced closures on its website. (See the latest farther down in this column.)
The comments beneath Vital Vegas’ story run the gamut of feelings Las Vegas visitors have for Battista’s.
“Would break my heart if it closes,” wrote Brian. “Been going since I was a kid and now I bring my own kids. Sure it’s touristy as heck, but that’s part of the charm. Still love to have a meal there.”
“This place was great even if only to enjoy the memorabilia, the house wine and the cappuccino,” added GregM. “I know a lot of reviewers bitch about the food, but i don’t think this place ever pretended to be a gourmet restaurant. This place is a legend and I hope they are just dusting off the bric-a-brac.”
“Battista’s food was even a step below Olive Garden, and the accordion player was cringy and super annoying,” added Michael K. “If it doesn’t reopen, it would thankfully force people to find a much better option.”
Dining Ins & Outs
Thanks also to Vital Vegas, we also know that James Trees — who founded Esther’s Kitchen in 2018 and was named a finalist for best Southwest chef by the James Beard Awards two years later — has been tapped to transform Voodoo Steak at Rio into something more in line with his proven culinary tastes (which hover between Italian and French).
The Las Vegas Yacht Club seafood restaurant at Treasure Island will close, and that’s where the space will come from to open Ace Dragon Walk, which we reported would open last week. (It’s official. Vital Vegas wrote almost our entire column this week, because this scoop came from him as well.)
Health to Pay
The Southern Nevada Health District temporarily closed three off-Strip Las Vegas restaurants last week for violations,, including hygiene issues, pest control problems, and improper food storage.
The offenders were the Noypitz Bar and Grill Restaurant at Town Square just south of the Strip (17 demerits), Green Leaf and Bananas downtown at 755 S. Grand Central Parkway #1490 (31 demerits), and Café Peru at 6010 W. Craig Road, Suite 120 (33 demerits).
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