José Andrés is relocating his renowned Bazaar Meat from the Sahara, where his chefs have been masterfully crafting Las Vegas’ best steaks for the past decade, to the Palazzo Tower at the Venetian.
Interestingly, Bazaar Meat never actually opened at the Sahara in the traditional sense. The restaurant made its debut in 2014 with the SLS Las Vegas, an ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to transform the Sahara into a posh Beverly Hills-inspired venue.
Andrés himself embodies the upscale Beverly Hills vibe with his collection of highly rated (and expensive) eateries that include Jaleo, China Poblano, and é by José Andrés at the Cosmopolitan, Zaytinya at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, and the newly opened Bazaar Mar at the Shops at Crystals. These establishments are a far cry from mass-market chains like Olive Garden.
When the SLS hotel rebranded back to the Sahara in 2019, it left Bazaar Meat in an awkward predicament. Recent developments surfaced five months after Casino.org’s Vital Vegas blogger, Scott Roeben, first reported that Bazaar Meat would close its doors at the Sahara. Both the Sahara and the José Andrés Group were quick to deny these claims, stating there were “no plans to close Bazaar Meat.”
However, Roeben’s information turned out to be accurate. Reports emerged before the full narrative was complete; at the time, Andrés likely hadn’t secured his deal with the Venetian yet.
On Wednesday, the Sahara released a new statement indicating that Bazaar Meat will “remain open into 2025.” They also teased the introduction of a “top-tier destination restaurant” that will replace Bazaar Meat when it eventually closes next year. Given the history, many anticipate that Vital Vegas might again break the news before any official announcement.
In other dining news, the North Italia ristorante chain is set to open its second Las Vegas location at Henderson’s District at Green Valley Ranch on November 13. The chain already has a presence in Summerlin.
Chef Antonio Nuñez is preparing to open a third Las Vegas location for The Parlour on October 22 in Henderson. The new spot will occupy the space previously held by The Kitchen, which closed its doors in May after nearly a decade in business. The Parlour also operates downtown and on East Flamingo Road.