Old Restaurants that Feel New Again

We like to share the deets on new restaurants here and there, but sometimes an old favorite goes through such a dramatic change or expansion, it suddenly feels new again. Here are a few recent examples.

🍕 Arts District pizzeria Good Pie now has a second location in Henderson. The vibe is similar, but the staff is experimenting more with cocktails. Try the vodka sauce on anything and save room for the chicken parm stuffed inside a Detroit-style pizza crust 😯

🍷 La Cave is back open at the Wynn following an extensive renovation. The bar was moved from the main room to the enclosed Garden Room patio (where everyone wants to sit anyway), clearing space for a tall window view overlooking the poolside greenery with the Sphere in the background. The newly added duck prosciutto and the thoughtful wine list are further reasons to visit.

🥃 The Las Vegas Distillery is under new ownership — fully revamped with a speakeasy-style dining room that celebrates Vegas history. Spirits are made on site, including an unaged “New Make” bourbon that’s clear in color, but still worth your attention, whether sipped neat or in a cocktail. Pair it with a charcuterie, cheese, or pretzel board 🥨

🍝 When the English Hotel opened in the Arts District, its in-house restaurant, the Pepper Club, focused on lounge-friendly sushi and Asian-inspired cuisine by chef and hotel namesake Todd English. The menu looks totally different today, emphasizing Italian and Mediterranean dishes by one of our favorites, Bruce Kalman (the brains behind SoulBelly BBQ down the street).

🐟 The Codfather shut down last summer and reopened a few months later just a few doors down from its original location on Green Valley Parkway. The casual spot now has a larger dining room, mixing booths with high-tops and a comfy corner couch. One thing that hasn’t changed: a dedication to Fish n’ Chips done right, so pass the malt vinegar and order a side of mushy peas.

🥩 Envy was the long-running steakhouse at the Renaissance hotel, which is so close to the Convention Center, it almost feels like part of it. The restaurant is now Zio’s with a leaner, streamlined Italian-focused menu and a renovation that opened up the main dining room while brightening the atmosphere. Much of the staff is still in place and it’s actually a nice change of pace to have dinner in a Vegas hotel lobby that’s quiet and not cluttered with casino noise.

🥟 China Mama moves in so many directions, it’s hard to keep up — but the consistency in quality is beyond impressive. The original China Mama is back open after a fire, with dim sum service in the works. The second location remains a hot spot in Chinatown’s Shanghai Plaza and a third just debuted at Palace Station. There’s also China Mama Express (geared towards pickup orders) in Spring Valley and Hao Chi by China Mama for casual dumplings, pho, and beef rolls near Charleston and Decatur.