{"id":48485,"date":"2026-10-01T03:40:30","date_gmt":"2026-10-01T10:40:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/vitalvegas\/?p=48485"},"modified":"2026-10-01T04:03:29","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T11:03:29","slug":"alex-prime-quietly-opens-at-downtowns-el-cortez-casino","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/vitalvegas\/alex-prime-quietly-opens-at-downtowns-el-cortez-casino\/","title":{"rendered":"Alex Prime Quietly Opens at Downtown’s El Cortez Casino"},"content":{"rendered":"

Downtown Las Vegas has a new steakhouse, Alex Prime, at El Cortez.<\/p>\n

El Cortez invested $8.5 million renovating its former Siegel’s 1941. Now, the two concepts co-exist in the same space. It’s Siegel’s 1941 for breakfast and lunch and Alex Prime for dinner (from 5:00 p.m. on), an idea so crazy it just might work.<\/p>\n

The fine folks at El Cortez hosted our visit during their soft opening, and we were relieved to discover it’s great. It’s weird when somebody treats you to dinner and it sucks, because then you say it sucks publicly and you can’t make eye contact with them ever again. Thankfully, in this case, we can genuinely say it was outstanding and we can’t wait to visit again and it won’t be awkward and everyone will live in peace and harmony until they start using paper straws and we are forced to torch them on Twitter.<\/p>\n

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Bernie and Rochelle might have been soulmates in another life, but tonight they dined solo, never knowing fate had seated them just a few tables apart.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We’re happy to report Alex Prime’s straws aren’t paper!<\/p>\n

We’re also thrilled to share they have chicken parm on the menu and it’s stellar.<\/p>\n

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Portions, generous. Flavors, glorious.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We chatted with the chef and he said El Cortez owner Kenny Epstein was the driving force behind having chicken parm on the menu. Not all heroes wear capes.<\/p>\n

On a bittersweet note, Epstein named Alex Prime after his daughter, Alexandra “Alex” Epstein-Gudai. She worked at El Cortez for 15 years. She passed away in Feb. 2026 at 41. You can tell Alex Prime has heart, and we suspect Epstein’s involvement made it that way as a tribute to his daughter.<\/p>\n

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El Cortez owner Kenny Epstein has called dibs on this table. In perpetuity.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We love that photo so much. There’s another one in the restroom at El Cortez. We used a photo of that one to make the following animation which we love with all our heart.<\/p>\n

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Lost footage of Benjamin \u201cBugsy\u201d Siegel, noted dead guy. pic.twitter.com\/RAoOMjWwWr<\/a><\/p>\n

— Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) August 20, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n