VEGAS DINING NEWS: Salt Bae Pulls Up Steaks, Health Dept Closes Planet Hollywood-Adjacent Eatery

Nusr-Et Steakhouse, the high-end restaurant located on The Park promenade between New York-New York and Park MGM, has closed.

Nusr-Et was opened in February 2022 by Nusret Gökçe, the larger-than-life Turkish chef better known as Salt Bae, who  came to fame after a viral Instagram clip showed him sprinkling salt from his fingers onto his forearm and then a dish.

Gökçe’s Las Vegas steakhouse became famous for charging up to $2,400 for a single menu item. (That was for a 70 oz. wagyu striploin wrapped in 24K gold foil.)

In an announcement, Nusr-Et said it intends to “temporarily pause operations in Las Vegas, with plans to reopen at a new location.” However, as  the company was forced to close its New York City location in May 2024, and its Dallas location just last week, that statement appears to be wrapped in 24K gold optimism.

Not a Good Week for Vegas Steakhouses…

The prep kitchen at Pampas Las Vegas, a longtime Latin American steakhouse at the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, was closed by the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) on Tuesday for scoring 28 demerits.

The demerits included violations for food that was “spoiled, contaminated, or adulterated” (5 demerits) and food that was not “properly cooled” (5) or protected from “cross-contamination” (3) and “potential contamination by employees and consumers” (3).

Demerits were also issued for the contact surfaces of equipment not being “properly cleaned and sanitized” (3), ineffective pest control measures (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).

The restaurant — named for the Pampas region of South America — has never received a failing health department grade, according to the SNHD’s website, which dates back to 2006. Pampas Las Vegas received an “A” during its previous routine inspection on Feb. 20, 2024.

Dining Ins & Outs

A unique bar concept coming soon to the Arts District downtown will allow customers to drink while shopping for antiques. According to What Now Vegas, the Barter Beer/Mall is expected to open by summer in 6,000 square feet at 110 W. Wyoming Ave.

In another tip from What Now Vegas, Las Vegas’ second Le Macaron French pastry shop is set to open soon at the Town Square shopping mall just south of the Strip. Mother-daughter proprietors Rosalie Guillem and Audrey Guillem-Saba opened their first Vegas location at the Venetian in 2016.

Sbarro plans to open its 11th Las Vegas pizzeria at 12011 S. Las Vegas Blvd. near the M Resort.