VEGAS DINING ROUNDUP: Viva Slutty Vegan, 8th Gay Bar Closes in a Year

The Pepsi Dig In Restaurant Royalty Residency has returned for its third year at Libertine Social at Mandalay Bay and Public House at Luxor. This year’s residency features exclusive new dishes from six restaurants: Slutty Vegan, Q1227, Taco Mell, Sienna Wings, NYAM, and Vyoone’s.

The residency runs from September 21 through February 7 and features each dish for four weeks. First up is the Fussy Hussy burger from Slutty Vegan, the Black-owned, plant-based national chain founded by Pinky Cole Hayes.

“Las Vegas is a culinary destination where people go to taste the best of the best,” Hayes said. “It’s an honor to be joining Pepsi Dig In alongside an incredible line-up of talented restaurateurs, and be bringing Slutty Vegan’s iconic burger to Las Vegas for the first time exclusively to MGM Resorts.”

Out In a Different Way

As Casino.org reported on Monday, the LGBTQ+-owned and operated boutique hotel the Bent Inn closed after barely a year of operation downtown, taking with it its bar and gastropub.

But what we didn’t realize, until reading the latest Eater Vegas post, is that this was the eighth gay bar to close since the summer of 2023.

According to the dining website, The Garden closed on September 21 after four years in the Arts District. The gay bar and drag brunch spot was created by Vegas gay nightlife fixture Eduardo Cordova, who last year opened Queen Bar Las Vegas.

Before that, Freezone, the Las Vegas Eagle, the Spotlight Lounge, Coop’s Cabaret, Jimmy’s at Madison’s, and Charlie’s Las Vegas all served their last cocktail.

Dining Ins & Outs

Lavo has reopened in The Venetian’s Palazzo Tower after closing on June 23 for a refresh of its design and coastal Italian menu by Ralph Scamardella, chief culinary officer for Tao Restaurant Group, which owns the restaurant.

Chef Michael Nguyen has opened Poke Market, an eatery in the UnCommons residential development in southwest Las Vegas, which, until June 22, hosted the doomed Sundry Food Hall. The Japanese eatery and store opened at 6815 Tom Rodriguez St., Suite 110, in the space previously occupied by Cuban sandwich shop Mercadito.

Burgundy French Bakery at 9440 W. Sahara Ave. was closed by the Southern Nevada Health District on September 30 after earning 10 demerits.