By way of Ian Sutton‘s Gaming Floor portal comes news that Les Artistes Steakhouse, late of Paris-Las Vegas, is fermé … toujours. Although the hotel-casino has only been open since September 1999, on Caesars Entertainment‘s in-house blog this constitutes “a long, storied history.” Now, I’m not aware of any legends or special showbiz mystique surrounding Les Artistes but when I hear the phrase “long, storied history,” I immediately think of the Sahara or Golden Gate or, heck, even Circus Circus. I also think of oddball local establishment Battista’s Hole in the Wall (two-star food but five-star atmosphere) which Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman would dearly love to bulldoze — his feelings on the subject were made quite clear to me several years ago. As for the vacated Les Artistes, Caesars is being coy about its plans for the venue … but, given recent trends at Paris-LV, I expect some form of nightclub to be flung into the space, which will surely soon be filled with the indiscreet charm of the douchebagerie.
Correction: Mon dieu! Caesars is replacing the Paris steakhouse with … wait for it … another steakhouse! How characteristic of the monkey-see, monkey-do tendencies of the casino industry. I shoulda known. D’oh!
From the mailbag. Acts coming to the Hard Rock Café‘s Strip venue include bands Strung Out (Jan. 29) and D.R.U.G.S. How appropriate. Because if there’s one hotel brand in town I associate with people being “strung out” and where I’d go if I wanted to score some d-r-u-g-s, it’d be the Hard Rock. And to think the Seminole Tribe was worried that the hotel was giving the restaurant chain image problems …
Recieved a note from Paris indicating Gordon Ramsay Steak is opening this spring.
Thanks, Aces. I stand corrected.
There is a small newspaper article in the Weekend section of todays USA Today newspaper which Gordon Ramsay talks about his 274-seat Gordon Ramsay Steak restaurant.
In the article it says this: he joins former employers Guy Savoy and Joel Robuchon, both of whom have outposts in Sin City. Did all three of these chefs work together at some point? I am not much of a foodie but that would be quite the hat trick of chefs working together before they became famous.
According to Ramsay’s memoir, “Roasting in Hell’s Kitchen” (in the chapter, “French Leave”), he worked for Savoy first, in Paris, then went to work for Robuchon in his eponymous Parisian restaurant. Apparently the latter experience was considerably less pleasant than was cooking for Savoy.
I like that steakhouse….but find myself drawn to good ol Bally’s Steakhouse instead when in those two facilities.