VEGAS DINING NEWS: Strip De-Serranos, Vegas Chinese Takes Out Competition, Holsteins Moo-ves

VEGAS DINING NEWS: Strip De-Serranos, Vegas Chinese Takes Out Competition, Holsteins Moo-ves.

Costfoto / NurPhoto / Getty Images

Key Takeaways

Continuing his sad walk into the sunset, chef Julian Serrano will close the last of his Las Vegas Strip eateries six months after his Picasso had its last showing at the Bellagio. Julian Serrano Tapas will serve its final meal at Aria on Feb. 1. Picasso had been open 26 years, Julian Serrano Tapas 15.

Julian Serrano is a two-time winner of the prestigious James Beard Award for Best Chef Pacific 1998 and Best Chef Southwest 2002. (Image: Robert John Kley)

Serrano’s taperia, which opened in December 2009, served bowls brimming with paella and teeny plates of Spanish delicacies, such as white anchovy fillets.

No word on what new restaurants will replace either, though they are guaranteed not to be inexpensive.

Serrano, 74, announced his retirement in May, when he also stepped away from his involvement at Bellagio’s Lago, though that restaurant remains open.

“The culinary excellence and influence Chef Serrano brought to Aria for the past 15 years is a testament to his talent and unwavering work ethic,” Ayesha Molino, Aria’s President and COO, said in the release. “He consistently led the restaurant and chef teams with professionalism, offering mentorship to all who worked alongside him, pushing each individual to deliver world-class hospitality to our guests.

“His contributions are sincerely appreciated, and we wish him and his family joy and good fortune in the future and beyond.”

Wok of FameChina Mama opened its fifth Las Vegas location, at Palace Station, last month. (Image: Palace Station)

Las Vegas placed six winners in Yelp’s first list of “Top 100 Chinese Restaurants in America.” That’s second only to New York City with 9 winners. However, the big Apple has more than 3,000 Chinese restaurants to Las Vegas’ approximately 200.

China Mama ranked No. 8 in the nation. It opened its fifth location in town, at Palace Station, on Dec. 6. Next came Shàng Artisan Noodle on W. Flamingo at No. 15, followed by  Magic Noodle (No. 19), Yun Noodle Dumplings (No. 25), 2022 James Beard semifinalist Big Dan Shanxi Taste, (No. 61), and Noodlehead (#67). Yelp recognized Maxi’s Noodle of Queens, New York as No. 1 in the US.

To qualify, other than being really good, the restaurants were required to:

1) not be a national chain (Sorry, Din Tai Fung!) and
2) have a passing health score (see the part about being really good above)

Dining Ins Outs

Holsteins Shakes Buns, which closed after 15 years at the Cosmopolitan in July 2024, will reopen this spring in the Arts District downtown. For updates, follow @HolsteinsLV on Instagram or Facebook.

Paperwork has been submitted to Clark County for a new restaurant or food station called Sinfull Sweets (sic) at T-Mobile Arena, according to What Now Vegas. So far, no one knows what it is.

International Smoke at the MGM Grand will close on Jan. 19. It was opened by Ayesha Curry and chef Michael Mina in 2019.

Article Sources
DraftKings Unveils Triple-Double Bets, LeBron James, Luka Doncic Top Board editorial policy.
  1. Major League Commissioners Back Proposal to Lift Single-Game Betting Ban in Canada

Compare Accounts
×
UK’s Department for Education Gave Student Data to Gambling Industry
Provider
Name
Description
Macau Casino Revenue Soars in May, Biggest Monthly Gain Since 2014  College Football Playoffs Set, Odds Favor Alabama  Role Model: DraftKings Tabs Gisele Bündchen to Advise Company on Environment  Las Vegas June Jobless Rate Highest in US Among Large Metros  IGaming Fueling Revenue Growth in Michigan  New York Voters Back New Casinos in Poll, But Bills Stadium Plan Slammed  Thousands Taken from One-Armed Bandit Leads Penn Gaming Board to Issue Fines  Century Casinos Q3 Results Miss Estimates, But Operator Will Close Three Eldorado Purchases Sooner Than Expected  Showgirl Exhibit at Las Vegas City Hall Highlights Extinct Sin City Icon  VEGAS RESTAURANT ROUNDUP: LPM Levitates Cosmo, Flanker Opens, The Dorsey Dies