Vegas Magazine - Niche Media - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/555392
Neighborhood Watch AFTER YEARS OF PROMISING TO BECOME A GREAT FOOD DESTINATION, THE TIME IS NOW FOR DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS. by brock radke When Brian Howard, one of the city's most excit- ing young chefs, decided to leave his post at Cosmopolitan's now-closed Comme Ça to spear- head his own restaurant projects, he knew exactly where he wanted to be. "I've been here 15 years, and Las Vegas has done so much for me, helping me hone my skills and become a better chef, and it's time to give back," he says. "I really think the best way I can do that is to get away from a hotel and help grow our local dining scene. There's no better place to do that than Downtown." By now we've all heard about and probably experienced the fast-moving redevelopment that's happening in Downtown Las Vegas, but it may still come as a shock to learn that in a very short time the city's original core has become the hottest restaurant neighborhood in the Las Vegas Valley— with even recent entrants to the Downtown scene now opening encore acts to capture the area's wild- fire popularity. Where did it start? Well, the first two big culinary trailblazers were Le Thai (523 Fremont St.,702- 778-0888; lethaivegas.com), with its spicy, addictive f lavors (owner Daniel Coughlin has since expanded the area's Asian options by opening the sushi joint Bocho and is partnering with the team from District One Kitchen & Bar on the forthcoming Le Pho in Juhl on East Bonneville Avenue), and the warm, welcoming breakfast and lunch joint Eat (707 Carson Ave., 702-534- 1515; eatdtlv.com). Eat's proprietor, veteran chef Natalie Young, is also opening another Downtown restaurant soon, the fried chicken and Chinese food – focused Chow (1020 E. Fremont St.). Then interesting dining spots began popping up fast. Vegas nightclub pioneer Michael Morton created the comfy Mexican outpost La Comida (100 Sixth St., 702- 463-9900; lacomidalv.com). California pizza impresario Tony Gemignani brought the wondrous Pizza Rock (201 N. Third From Eat, a baby spinach salad with strawberries, sugared pecans, feta, red onions, and balsamic vinaigrette. 80 vegasmagazine.com taste Cuiscene