VEGAS DINING NEWS: Bacchanal Buffet Not Closing, But Here Are 3 Local Spots Closed by Health Dept.

Despite a rumor reported by a normally rock-solid social-media source on Thursday, the Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace has no plans to close permanently anytime soon.

With the closure of the Buffet at Luxor on March 30, however, only eight remain at Las Vegas Strip properties, which housed 20 before the pandemic shutdown. So the sad countdown to the inevitable end of the Las Vegas buffet is still very much on.

Buffets are starting to make less sense to casino corporations due to the millions more per year they stand to earn by converting them into food halls that high-end restaurant groups are willing to pay top dollar to lease space in.

By the way, we were the first to break the news about the Luxor serving its last buffet customer on March 30, thanks to a tip from an employee who worked there. (We even earned a “Good going, confirmed, bastard!” from Vital Vegas for that one!)

Dining Ins & Outs

Nathan’s Famous has opened a second location at New York-New York. The Coney Island hot-doggery is now in a food hall on the mezzanine, as well as on the casino level.

Ortikia Mediterranean Gril, a popular Greek spot off the casino floor at Green Valley Ranch, will close after less than a year, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. No reason was given for the closure, which will take place in the next few weeks. Ortikia (“quail” in Greek) was opened on June 3 by New York-based Blue Ribbon Restaurants in partnership with Station Casinos.

Shun Japanese Yakitori Izakaya will debut by the end of spring at 4550 Maryland Parkway, in a strip mall by UNLV. According to What Now Vegas, it will serve as a ramen bar by day and an izakaya (pub) by night.

Zaxbys, a Southeastern chain known for its chicken fingers, recently debuted its first Las Vegas location at 5290 Blue Diamond Road. Additional Vegas locations are expected to pop up later this year.

Health to Pay

Nigerian Cuisine at 5006 S. Maryland Parkway was temporarily closed by the Southern Nevada Health District (Las Vegas’ health department) during a routine inspection on April 4. It received 28 demerits including no hot and cold water from an approved source (5), imminently dangerous cross connection, inadequate backflow prevention, and/or impurely disposed sewage (5), food not protected from cross contamination (3), handwashing sinks not adequate, stocked and/or accessible (3) ineffective pest control measures (3), food not thawed and cooled using proper methods and/or fruits and vegetables not washed prior to preparation or service (3), food labeled and dated as required or records, logs, policies and procedures maintained and available (3) and person in charge not present or certification and food handler card certification issues (3).

Komol Thai at 953 E. Sahara was temporarily closed during a routine health inspection on April 11 for 17 demerits including spoiled, contaminated or adulterated food (5), food not protected from potential cross-contamination (3), inadequate handwashing sinks (3), ineffective pest control measures (3), and person in charge not present or certification and food handler card certification issues (3).

The food truck Flat Tops Burgers & Shakes was temporarily closed during a routine health inspection on April 12 for 14 demerits including food at proper temperatures (5), equipment not properly approved, designed, maintained or operated (3), food not protected from potential contamination (3) and ineffective pest control (3).

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