In the pulse of the city that never sleeps, an era of culinary renown and nocturnal celebration draws to a close as the iconic Tropicana is poised to shut down on April 2nd. The landmark Las Vegas casino resort, a testament to more culturally palatable days, the beating heart of which was a well-loved restaurant, poised to shutter its doors, immersed in nostalgia.
The restaurant under the radar is none other than Public House, a venture of the storied Robert Irvine, famed ex-host of Food Network spectacles like “Restaurant: Impossible,” “Dinner: Impossible,” and “Worst Cooks in America.” Chronicling the inception of Public House back on May 16, 2016, one cannot but remember the audacious fashion in which Irvine, the British celebrity chef, launched his project. Irvine daringly rappelled 22 stories down the façade of Tropicana’s Paradise Tower – a stunt that was distinctly emblematic of the larger-than-life persona of the city.
The launch was merely the beginning of the spectacle. A year later, when the Public House flung open its doors, it was heralded by Irvine’s arrival in a helicopter. His brash promise to the press back then stated his restaurant would be the hub of multiple reality shows where servers would venture to do something never done before. Alas, the details of the mysterious “something” remained undisclosed, floundering much like the initial buzz of the Public House itself. The mystery remained unsolved as no reality shows ever broadcasted from Public House. As Tropicana prepares to close, Irvine’s sole restaurant venture left standing would be the Fresh Kitchen by Robert Irvine inside the Pentagon.
In other culinary news, the curtain falls on the horror-themed Nightmare Café, which shut its doors after a brief 18-month run in Las Vegas’ Arts District. Co-owner Estrella Martin expressed the challenges they faced, both financially and personally, forcing the closure of the café. The closure came during an unfortunate twist of fate; shortly before CNN Travel lauded the Arts District as “Las Vegas’ hottest neighborhood”- a prediction hinting at an increased influx of visitors and national acclaim. Sadly, the Nightmare Café failed to withstand the test of time.
The constant churn of Las Vegas’ food scene has witnessed another abrupt change. Trevi, a cherished Italian haven nestled within Caesars Palace’s Forum Shops, has surprisingly ceased operations. Though no official explanation has been provided, it’s no secret that restaurants in Las Vegas rarely do offer an explanation. Par for the course, it seems. Financial viability, after all, is the organic lifeline of every establishment.
Despite the closures, the culinary landscape of Las Vegas also welcomes new beginnings. A second Blue Ribbon Sushi, the brainchild of chefs and brothers Bruce and Eric Bromberg, is slated to open on March 29 at Green Valley Ranch, adding another culinary destination in town. Moreover, local island favorite, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, is set to broaden its presence by inaugurating its 17th Las Vegas outpost at the Decatur Commons shopping center near Summerlin. Adding more diversity to Las Vegas’ food sphere, the gluten-free PowerSoul Café recently celebrated the opening of its second outlet in Chinatown.
As Las Vegas continues to sizzle and simmer in its vibrant food scene, we remember the places we have loved, welcome the new, and wait with bated breath to see what the city has in store for us next.
