VEGAS DINING NEWS: Influencer Mercilessly Trolled, New Health Closure

Posted on: May 2, 2025, 01:30h. 

Last updated on: May 2, 2025, 02:45h.

Corey Levitan Read More

Expertise: Commercial Gaming, Entertainment, Expert Insight, Las Vegas, Restaurants, Las Vegas Myths.

A social media influencer who reviews Las Vegas restaurants is being flame-broiled over her inappropriate enthusiasm for a literal tomato and lemon she was served at a French Mediterranean bistro at the Cosmopolitan.

The dish, served as a free appetizer at LPM Restaurant & Bar, requires diners to do their own tomato slicing and lemon squeezing.

“So this is, like, iconic,” Cassidy Miller gushes in this TikTok video.

But many of the 5 million views her clip has amassed come from hate-watchers, as suggested by the nearly 8,000 mostly negative comments from mostly young people.

Miller’s clip may represent an inflection point in the tolerance of “influencer culture,” the phenomenon in which Gen Z’ers pretend to give their honest opinions about products and experiences they’re provided for free with the implicit understanding that their review can only be positive.

“Acting like tomato slices are a delicacy is frying me,” wrote TikTok user @leileileil3i, whose comment earned 222K likes. Here are some of our other faves…

“Can we stop using the word iconic for everything?” — @dbighr

“I just watched an influencer get served a tomato, salt and lemon as an appetizer, and she did that wide-eye chewing thing as if she was eating caviar. I’m so mad I can’t even explain it.” — @sarbaaboobear

“Girl it’s a tomato relax.” — @LaLa The Great

“Wait, I’m actually so fascinated by this video. Is this a joke? Did they really give you a raw tomato and a lemon and make you cut it yourself?” — @Soph

“Honestly, the influencer era is so dystopian.” — 6654182584126

Dining Ins & Outs

Nomikai, a sushi restaurant and speakeasy whose name translates to “drinking party,” is now open at The Venetian.

NoButcher — the plant-based deli featured on Guy Fieri‘s “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” — has changed hands and is expanding. New owner Phillip Shia told What Now Vegas that a second location, opening soon at 2560 St. Rose Parkway in Henderson, will continue serving the original, handmade Flakey NoChicken and NoRib sandwiches that have made NoButcher a favorite of vegans visiting Vegas.

Health to Pay

The Southern Nevada Health District temporarily closed Smoking Pig BBQ at 4379 N. Las Vegas Blvd.  on April 29 for scoring 36 demerits.

Violations noted during the routine inspection included inadequate backflow prevention and proper sewage disposal (5), food improperly cooled (5), food at improper temperatures (5), equipment not approved, designed, maintained or operated (3), food not protected from potential cross-contamination (3), chemicals improperly identified, stored and used (3), food contact surfaces of equipment not properly cleaned and sanitized (3), food not thawed and cooled using proper methods and fruits and vegetables  not washed prior to preparation or service (3), and food not labeled and dated as required (3).