VEGAS DINING NEWS: Health Dept. Closes Maxie’s, 4 Local Chefs Earn Prestigious Beard Award Noms, Netflix Bites Sets Opening

Posted on: January 23, 2025, 12:07h. 

Last updated on: January 23, 2025, 12:29h.

The Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD), Las Vegas’ health department, shut down the prep kitchen for Maxie’s at the LINQ Promenade on Thursday after a routine inspection turned up 25 demerits.

Maxie’s at the LINQ Promenade was closed by the health department on Thursday. (Image: thelasvegastravelguide.com)

The violations listed on the SNHD’s website include food “spoiled, contaminated or adulterated” (5 demerits), food not “cooked and reheated to proper temperatures” (5 demerits), equipment not “approved, properly designed, maintained, and operated” (3 demerits), food not “protected from potential cross-contamination” (3 demerits), food contact surfaces not “properly cleaned and sanitized” (3 demerits), ineffective pest control measures (3 demerits), and food not “labeled and dated as required” (3 demerits).

Maxie’s, a delicatessen, was opened in March 2019 by Hospitality Boulevard, which also operates Smoked Burgers & BBQ at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.

Caesars Entertainment sold the LINQ Promenade last year to a joint partnership of TPG Real Estate and Acadia Realty. The $275 million sale was part of the casino giant’s ongoing debt reduction efforts.

Bearded Chefs

James Beard semifinalist Eleazar Villanueva began his career at Le Cirque Las Vegas at the Bellagio, where he was trained by veterans of Joel Robuchon. (Image: jrobuchon.com)

Four Las Vegas chefs have been named semifinalists in the annual James Beard Foundation Awards, considered the Oscars of food. Competing in the Best Chef: Southwest Category are Eleazar Villanueva of Restaurant de Joël Robuchon at the MGM Grand, Sarah Thompson of Casa Playa at Encore Las Vegas, DJ Flores of Milpa in Tivoli Village, and Michael Vakneen of Double Zero Pie & Pub in Chinatown.

Cristie Norman of Delilah at Wynn Las Vegas was also recognized, in the Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service category.

This list of semifinalists will be pared down to a smaller list of official nominees on April 3, with the winners announced at a ceremony in Chicago on June 16.

In the 2024 James Beards, only Steve Kestler of Aroma Latin American Cocina in Henderson made it to the finals, and he didn’t win.

Netflix and … Chili

The coming-soon panel for Netflix Bites is shown in a still from a social media video. (Image: TikTok/@sevensuited)

Netflix and the MGM Grand have announced February 20 as the opening day for their pop-up restaurant, Netflix Bites, which will serve dishes inspired by popular series on the streaming platform. It will be located in the casino resort’s former Avenue Café space.

Its menu items will include.

  • Eleven’s Feast, “crispy chicken and waffle sliders perfect for foodies who love a little dimension-hopping, served both ‘Hawkins’ style and ‘Upside Down’”
  • ‘Bridgerton’ Regency Tea, “a lavish three-tiered tea service with finger sandwiches, scones, and pastries straight from the Ton served with a menu designed by Lady Whistledown herself”
  • La Casa del Sangria, “a Spanish-style cocktail with gold-dusted mint leaves, served in a lockbox that’ll have guests solving a puzzle, challenging for even the sharpest of the Money Heist crew”
  • “Too Hot to Handle”-inspired Bloody Mary, “so spicy it comes with its own potholder”

Just try to avoid anything from “Squid Game.”

While the first Netflix Bites operated for six weeks in 2023 in LA at the Short Stories Hotel and served only dinner, the Vegas version is expected to be a longer-term pop-up that will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Reservations are now being accepted at netflixbites.com.