Hello Mr. and Mrs. America and all the ships at sea.
A raft of information has made its way to ELV’s desk in the past week about the following places (and persons) who are either foundering, adrift, or ready to launch:
Item: Restaurant Charlie deathwatch. Last Friday night, only four tables sold for entire evening. CT deigned to speak to only one of them — effectively insulting what few friends he has left. Front of house personnel jumping ship left and right. What is keeping this place afloat? We think Charlie Trotter is about to become (yet again) Charlie Notter (thank you Steve Dolinsky) as this place heads for Davey Jones’ Locker.
Item: Splitsville in Rao’s land. Frank and Carla Pellegrino (two folks we love) tied the knot, now they’re rockin’ the Rao’s boat as they look to divide their interests in Las Vegas sister ship like a side of linguine con vongole. Heartfelt best wishes to both as they now enter uncharted waters.
Item: David Burke in the Venetian continues to under perform. Corporate Comestibles Commodore eBrands can’t be happy. Will Captain Burke set sail from the mothership? Will this place be deep sixed? Is it time to strike the flag?
Item: uber-hip steak chain STK has lashed itself to Cosmopolitan’s mast. President John Unwin is one of the savviest operators out there. Expect more food and wine wave-making from this admirable admiral. (Perhaps he’ll float Eric Ripert’s boat? Stay tuned, as ELV continues to take soundings.)
Item: Batten down the hatches! Sails and sales being trimmed as Wynn/Encore tries to avoid the restaurant rocks. Richard Chen has jumped ship, and no longer commands the kitchen at Wing Lei (the only Chinese restaurant in the country with a Michelin star). SW Steakhouse‘s David Walzog to take over command of waterside dock formerly known as Daniel Boulud Brasserie. This signals two things to ELV: 1) No outside operator wanted to be Fletcher Christian to Steverino’s Captain Bligh; and 2) In an any-port-in-a-storm economy, the Good Ship Wynn-ee-Pop may be in for some rough sailing before its F&B program gets back on an even keel.
We’ll wait and see before we lower the boom.
any word on what will be done with DB Brasserie? I won’t become yet another steakhouse, will it?
I don’t really know what to think of Charlie Trotter. I’ve heard great things about the food there and have always wanted to try it. But some stories about Chef Trotter himself make me re-consider. Closest encounter I had with the place was some drinks at the bar a while back. Very pricey, but good, bar program going on at that place.
ooooo my signed confidentiality agreement forbids me from commenting on a few of these!!!!!!!!
damn it all to hell lawyers!!!
I heard from a server friend of mine that Daniel Boulud will indeed become another steakhouse.
DB new space will not be a steakhouse, the concept is quite weird to tell you the truth, more or less Wynn wants like 12 of the countries top dishes from great restaurants around the country, the rest of the menu will be american contemporary
1) Fate of Restaurant Charlie saddens me…I’ve had some remarkable experiences there, but the space/location doesn’t put it on the level of Savoy/Gagnaire/etc that I think it deserves. Also too much “noise” in marketing the Palazzo’s excessive number of restaurants…
2) Wow, you mean Carla Pelligrino is SINGLE?! Holy cannoli (is that too soon?)
3) Burke’s spot is just very ho-hum, in a place with, frankly way too many choices. Weak identity, weak execution.
4) Oh goody, just what we need, another “hip steakhouse.” Just because we’re in a desert doesn’t mean we shouldn’t understand the term “saturation.”
5) Sad to see Chen go…and perhaps Boulud departure/Walzog space-filling (no disrespect to Walzog) also hints at the simple fact of Too Many Choices, Not Enough Choice…?
FWIW, the Vegas Uncork’d website no longer lists the Restaurant Charlie Masters’ Series Luncheon. Whether this is a web site hiccup or a cancellation remains to be seen, but it certainly doesn’t give me a good feeling about the restaurant’s future.
Well, per your Facebook comment, you were right about Restaurant Charlie. As to David Burke, I see that that restaurant has also been removed from the Vegas Uncork’d list of luncheons. Will you have another closing report tomorrow night?
saw the tweet about Charlie Trotter.
On another note, I’m happy to hear that the DB Brasserie spot won’t be a steakhouse. Clue’s insight into this is interesting. “top dishes” from around the country. At first, I read it as ‘from around the world” and thought having stuff from France, Italy, Japan, etc. would be a total mess. Of course, the top restaurants from around the USA are all over the map cuisine wise. So, maybe this new place will be too?
Any tentative dates?
Yup, one more day and David Burke news is indeed on the net; see http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dbglobal-llc-ends-its-joint-venture-with-e-brands-regarding-david-burke-las-vegas-88252652.html . David Burke will no longer be associated with the restaurant, and “A name and concept change to the restaurant is expected very soon.”
jsmeeker, according to inside sources, the Wynn brass is keeping DB Brasserie open one month longer then originally expected, so word is they wont close to end of May , so that pushes back the new open date, but its tenatively set 4 month out, once construction starts.
on the Richard Chen front, he left to join a consulting firm, an amicable parting of ways
Wow, Restaurant Charlie and David Burke are both closing. It’s a bad week for Sheldon.
The Cosmopolitan landing STK will be quite the coup for John and his F&B Team. It may take awhile for success, but should be another Unwin success story.
On our radar: Paul Bartolotta leaving Wynn to open an offshoot in Macau? We think so….no one is confirming or denying right now…stay tuned.
let me cast a line for an answer to that one ELV
Paul B has already given his resignation, not sure if he plans on going to macau though
what’s going on over at Wynn? Lots of the big names Steve brought in when the joint are leaving now. The supposed big draw for Wynn restaurants is that these big name chefs were there all the time. Steve even TELLS you this as you bring up the list of restaurants on the Wynn website.
correction, paul B re-signed (as in his contract) not resigned i misread that email!!!!!!!
Doh!
That’s a bit of a difference. Thanks for the updates on this. Maybe I should be less worried than I was previously
That’s good to hear.. I just had a fantastic meal there and I think it’s the only restaurant on both properties that’s still any good aside from Alex.