This weekly update covers noteworthy restaurant openings and closings, dining news, culinary events, and entertainment news
Events
Crab Corner Maryland Seafood House — July 23
[Editor’s note: this event has been postponed. An update will be made when it becomes available.]
The Crab Corner Maryland Seafood House will host a four-course seafood beer pairing dinner featuring five beers from Silver Reef Brewing.
The seafood dishes will include Famous Annapolis Crab Dip over Bavarian Pretzel Bites (a special off-menu smoky version), Seafood Gumbo with special beer-infused sausage, Fish ‘N Chips & Fried Shrimp duo plate with Amber Beer Battered Cod with House Made Boardwalk Fries, and Homemade Triple Chocolate Cake infused with Blackhill Schwarzbier. Silver Reef beers being poured will include Blackhill Schwarzbier, Pie and Beer Day Cherry Sour Ale, Mas Fuego Smoked Lager, Cold Hearted Woman IPA, and Little Foot Amber Red Ale.
The dinner will begin at 6 p.m., and the early-bird half-off ticket is $35 per person (plus tax and fees). To purchase tickets, click here. Crab Corner Maryland Seafood House is located at 6485 S Rainbow just north of the 215 Freeway.
The Resort at Summerlin — August 1
The Resort at Summerlin will again host The Neighborhood Food Hall Community Block Party.
Taking place from 1 to 5 p.m. and priced at $25 in advance ($30 day of), guests will receive a Food Hall Passport granting tasting portions from each of the food hall concepts including:
- ai Pazzi—elevated Italian dining from acclaimed celebrity chef, restaurateur, and television personality Fabio Viviani
- ai Pazzi Pizza—Chef Fabio Viviani’s artisanal pizzas in a counter-service setting
- Pearls Oyster & Crudo Bar—from Chef Fabio Viviani, known for its freshly shucked oysters, buttery lobster rolls, and signature seafood boils
- Nom Wah—NYC’s first and oldest dim sum restaurant from Chef/Owner Wilson Tang, authentic Cantonese-style dim sum and signature dumplings
- Tacos 1986—Los Angeles institution since 2018 from Victor Delgado and Joy Alvarez, traditional Tijuana-style tacos with handmade corn tortillas
- For The Win—Southern California staple since 2020 by Chef Santos Uy, signature smash burgers with grilled onions, topped with pickles and the restaurant’s signature fry sauce
In addition, guests will be welcome to visit Wineaux, the property’s new lobby bar, wine market, and lounge from James Beard Award winner Shawn McClain and Master Sommelier Nick Hetzel.
Additional entertainment and activations will also be available throughout the event, including live music from Shawn Eiferman. Proceeds will go directly to Project 150, which supports and empowers high school students experiencing homelessness or challenging circumstances in Las Vegas and Reno. For more info and to purchase tickets, click here.
The Vault — August 13-15
The Vault at Bellagio is continuing its Liquid Legends year-long guest series honoring the bartenders, writers, and historians who helped define modern cocktail culture.
The next session will feature David Wondrich, widely regarded as the foremost historian of cocktails and spirits and author of Imbibe! From Absinthe Cocktail to Whiskey Smash, Punch: The Delights (and Dangers) of the Flowing Bowl, and The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails.
Wondrich will be behind the bar from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. each night. This is a non-ticketed event, but reservations are recommended. For more info and to make a reservation, visit @thevaultbellagio on Instagram.
NEW: Food and Loathing Events Calendar & Weekly Newsletter
For even more events, check out our new food-centric events calendar at foodandloathing.vegas/calendar-of-events. It’s quite extensive – because we know you love options! – with one or more listings for virtually every day.
AND, make sure you never miss reading this column and other interesting reads! Sign up for the weekly Food and Loathing newsletter, which comes out every Thursday. To get on the list, visit foodandloathing.vegas/newsletter.
Pick of the Week: Museum of Ice Cream
Museum of Ice Cream Providing a Cool Hangout for Lovers of All Things Ice Cream
I scream for ice cream. Ice cream is a main food group. There’s always room for ice cream. Ice cream makes everything better. You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy ice cream, and that is pretty much the same thing. Ice cream is cheaper than therapy. If you agree with these sentiments, or if you, like my wife Lally, limit how much you eat at a meal so you have room for ice cream, you’ll want to celebrate the Museum of Ice Cream’s arrival.
Located at 3072 Rigel Ave Suite 110 in AREA15’s Zone 2, the Museum opened as a pop-up in NYC in 2016, and this new Las Vegas outpost adds to the global brand’s locations in NYC, Miami, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, and Singapore. The largest Museum of Ice Cream location to date, an estimated 90% of the activations are unique and new to the Museum’s repertoire.
Reputedly the world’s largest all-you-can-eat ice cream experience, the attraction features 14 unique, themed installations that you can experience in any order at your own pace. While the word museum in the name implies learning about history, and while there are a few facets that lean into education, it’s more of a play-zone experience about having fun. Art appreciation also comes into play, as the Museum should be considered an abstract work of art.
The opening is well timed, as July is National Ice Cream Month. Without question, the highlight is the ice cream buffet with 32 rotating flavors (some from local purveyors such as Sorry, Not Sorry and Sweet Creamery) with standouts like Upside Down Cake, Blueberry Basil Sorbet, Tiramisu Gelato, and Mango Chili. You can spruce up your frozen treat with 48 self-serve toppings, with everything imaginable to put in ice cream and a few surprises. They include cereals, syrups, all kinds of sprinkles, cookies, nuts, candies, and even actual roasted crickets (yes, of course I had to try some, and they tasted like peanuts). There’s also soft serve and several ice cream sandwiches.
Another popular hangout is the Sprinkle Pool. You can “swim” through the giant-sized plastic sprinkles or make a “splash” entrance from two slides.
An actual wedding chapel designed like a tiered wedding cake with ordained ministers on staff has already been a spot for marriage proposals and doubles as a friendship bracelet-making station.
Okay, so maybe ice cream IS a major food group, and furthermore, if you think pink is a primary color you’ll feel right at home here. Pink is the most dominant color, and I feel safe in saying there’s not a single room without at least some pink in it.
A room full of mirrors contains rows upon rows of hanging yellow and pink plastic bananas. You can exit the room via double-spiral slides that take you down to the lower level.
Other entertainments include:
- The Hall of Freezers has several doors to open, each revealing an interactive element such as a game or entrance to yet another room.
- For the adults, there’s a full bar serving spirits and specialty cocktails like the S’mores Chocolate Martini.
- A Vegas Golden Knights-themed room offers hockey sticks and golf putters to use in various games like skee-ball.
- The Ribbon’s Costume Shop has more than 100 rentable accessories guests can wear while posing for selfies.
- The Lucky Cherry Ink Tattoo Parlor offers temporary stickers, applied by artists, as kids, both small and large, sit in chairs similar to those in a real tattoo parlor.
- A candy shop offers a staggering amount of treats.
The Museum of Ice Cream is open to all ages. Plan to spend at least 90 minutes and come hungry, as you’ll want to make at least two trips to the all-you-can-eat ice cream emporium. Tickets start at $42 per person, and as part of the Vegas Golden Knights promotion, locals can receive 30% off admission on weekdays through Sept. 15 by entering their zip code. To unlock the discount, visit museumoficecream.com/vgk.
The opening weekend numbers indicate the Museum is off to a great start. More than 450 gallons and 19,200 scoops of ice cream were served, visitors enjoyed more than 7,000 ice cream bars and popsicles, and there were more than 20 sold-out sessions.
Hours are Monday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (closed Tuesdays and Thursdays). For more info and to purchase tickets, visit museumoficecream.com/las-vegas and to listen to Al Mancini’s interview with Museum Co-Founder/CEO Manish Vora on this week’s Food And Loathing Podcast, click here.
Dining News
Meril Now Open at M Resort
At long last, Emeril Lagasse has opened his first restaurant off the Vegas Strip.
Named for his daughter Meril, the restaurant is self-described as Contemporary American, with bold flavors and global influences, showcasing dishes inspired by Emeril’s travels and the food he loves to eat.
I caught up with Chef Emeril on the Red Carpet previewing the opening and asked him why he chose the M Resort for his new off-Strip venture and how Meril will differ from other restaurants in his portfolio. Chef said, “We got to know them and realized they do things the right way, and that’s how we go about doing things. The experience of the resort itself is quality, and we’re just going to keep building on that. It’s more than just a partnership; it’s also about a friendship. They’re good people, and that’s why we’re here. The restaurant is named after my daughter, and the spiritual part of the restaurant is that it’s all about her and my travels around the world.”
I’ll be providing more in-depth reporting on Meril soon, but after trying some bites at the media preview of Grilled Ribeye, Crispy Brussels Sprouts, Crispy Cod Sliders, Barbequed Shrimp, Pepperoni Jalapeno Flatbread, and Banana Cream Pie, it’s clear this new restaurant will be a game changer for this local’s casino.
Meril debuted on July 16 and is located off the casino in the former Hash House space. Hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. For more info and the complete breakfast, lunch & and dinner menus, visit themresort.com/dining/meril.
Momofuku Taste of Summer Deal
Momofuku at The Cosmopolitan is serving up two “Taste of Summer” three-course menus for both lunch and dinner.
The lunch menu priced at $40 per person includes a choice of Spicy Cucumbers or Shishito Peppers, Shrimp Bun or Pork Bun, and Pork Ramen or Mushroom Ramen. The $80 dinner menu offers Shrimp Bun or Pork Bun, Brussels Sprouts or Asparagus, and Iberico Pork or Ocean Trout.
Pin Kaow Thai Summer Beer & Bites Promotion
The family-owned Pin Kaow Thai Restaurant, which has served authentic Thai cuisine for more than 25 years, has launched its Summer Beer & Bites promotion.
Running through August 31 and available for dine-in guests Monday through Thursday, the promotion features $2 off Pot Stickers and Chicken Wraps; two new seasonal menu items: Pin Kaow Ceviche featuring fresh shrimp tossed in a spicy lime dressing and Crying Tiger Fried Rice with Pin Kaow’s signature Crying Tiger tamarind sauce and crispy garlic topped with premium Thai-marinated New York strip steak; and purchase one imported beer and receive a second beer of equal or lesser value for 50% off (includes Singha, Chang, Sapporo, Corona, and Heineken).
There are two Pin Kaow locations, at 1974 N Rainbow and 9530 S Eastern. For more info, visit pinkaow.com.
Suncoast Opens Quick Bites Food Hall
The Suncoast Hotel & Casino has opened “Quick Bites,” a new dual concept food hall featuring Steak ‘n Shake and Huey Magoo’s Chicken Tenders.
Steak ‘n Shake, founded in 1934 in Normal, IL, features Steakburgers, milkshakes, and fries, including the Western BBQ ‘n Bacon Steakburger and milkshakes made with real milk and fresh ingredients topped with whipped cream and a cherry (flavors including Chocolate, Banana, Oreo Cookie, Birthday Cake, and Kit Kat).
Huey Magoo’s Chicken Tenders, founded in 2004 in Orlando, offers grilled, hand-breaded or “sauced” premium chicken tenders, salads, sandwiches, and wraps, homemade and specialty dips, crinkle-cut fries, and fresh-cut chips. The quick-serve restaurant is known as the “Filet Mignon of Chicken” for its use of tenders made from the tenderloin (the best 3% of the chicken) with no antibiotics, hormones, steroids, or preservatives.
An extension of the new “Quick Bites” area includes Suncoast’s new Starbucks, open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., located near valet for quick mobile-order pickup.
For more info, hours, and full menus of the Quick Bites and Suncoast’s other restaurants, click here.
Recently, on the Food and Loathing Podcast
Be sure to check out Food and Loathing this week (and every week). The podcast features veteran food writer Al Mancini, along with co-host Samantha Gemini Stevens and producer Rich Johnson, as they give the lowdown on what’s new, hot, and delicious in America’s most glamorous city, as they talk with chefs, bartenders, journalists, and other experts on where to go and what to order when you get there.
Emeril Lagasse has opened Meril, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, at the M Resort. Our Bob Barnes gets a rundown from the man himself about the restaurant named after his daughter. It’s part of a guest-packed show, in which Al and Gem talk to:
- Las Vegas Distillery’s Kari Richardson, Ada’s Wine Goddess Kat and Chef Jackson Stamper about their upcoming rum dinner
- Legendary barman Joaquín Simó about ‘Naked and Famous,’ the cocktail he invented in 2011
- Palms’ Lindsay Aguilar about ‘Camp Palms’ and its outrageous campground cuisine
- Manish Vora on the new Museum of Ice Cream branch in Las Vegas
- Drew Belcher of Sorry Not Sorry and its role at the Museum
And, of course, the sharing of the restaurant experiences and a Happy Hour Report from Happy Hour Vegas’ Andrew Morgan.
To listen, click here.
Entertainment News
Barry Manilow Returns to the International Theater
Music legend Barry Manilow announced in December that he would be postponing performances to undergo surgery after being diagnosed with lung cancer. Now he has returned to the stage and performed three sold-out shows July 9–11 at the Westgate’s International Theater.
“It was great returning to the International Theater stage at Westgate Las Vegas,” said Barry Manilow. “This is my home away from home.” Manilow holds the record for the most performances in the history of the International Theater, further cementing his place as one of the most influential entertainers ever to perform in Las Vegas. In 2024, he made history by signing the first-ever lifetime residency agreement with Westgate Las Vegas, ensuring that his legacy will continue on the stage where so many entertainment legends have performed.
With a career spanning more than five decades, Barry Manilow was named the #1 Adult Contemporary Artist of all time by Billboard and R&R magazines. The production with a live band features many of Manilow’s hits including “Mandy,” “Copacabana,” “Can’t Smile Without You,” and “I Write the Songs.”
For the first time ever, fans can book a visit to a private memorabilia room. Called the VIP Gold Pass, the upgrade includes private access to Barry’s personal memorabilia, including his Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Awards, costumes, and other career memorabilia that have never been available for public viewing. The package also includes VIP theater entry and lounge access, a complimentary cocktail, and a limited-edition Manilow VIP Gold Pass laminate and exclusive gift. To book, click here.
Barry Manilow’s lifetime residency at Westgate Las Vegas continues with additional performances scheduled throughout 2026. Tickets can be purchased here.
