In Las Vegas, famously called a 24/7 town, only a handful of true, sit-down, round-the-clock restaurants remain in Strip properties or close by. America, the capacious restaurant in New York-New York that has served U.S. regional standards for almost 30 years, takes pride of place among the 24-hour set.
In September, America, part of the Ark Las Vegas Restaurant Corp. portfolio, is unveiling a transformation that encompasses a complete redesign of the space and a new menu of breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night dishes, plus extravagant cocktails. Notably, the restaurant remains open during the renovation because the work is taking place in stages.
“America has always been a home base on the Las Vegas Strip, whether you’re visiting from across the globe or working nearby and craving something exceptional at any hour,” Keith Eure, senior vice president of Ark Las Vegas, said in a Friday announcement.
On the menu
Executive chef Brandon Flores has created more than a dozen new dishes, giving a glow-up to America’s diner roots without sacrificing guest favorites.
Among the new items are cauliflower steak with tomato confit, radish, crisp shallots and balsamic vinaigrette; bacon mac-n-cheese with artisan cheese blend and crisp herb crust; a wood-fire flatbread topped with olive oil, balsamic glaze, arugula and prosciutto; and seared salmon with green beans, cauliflower purée, frisée and sherry shallot vinaigrette.
Menu signatures remain, such as a “3-pounder” pancake behemoth, prime New York strip steak and eggs, a Philly cheesesteak provisioned with thinly sliced and sautéed ribeye and classic fixings, and a 10-ounce ribeye special with seasonal vegetables and a baked potato.
Desserts have always been lavish at America. Look for tableside banana splits with strawberry, vanilla and chocolate ice cream, or an over-the-top milkshake built with vanilla custard, birthday cake and a jelly-filled doughnut.
Beverages go big, too. America’s Biggest Mimosa mingles JP Chenet sparkling wine, orange juice, strawberries and orange slices, while the Strawberry Shortcake Loop convenes Skyy vodka, cream, Fruity Pebbles, cranberry and fresh lemon in a doughnut-shaped glass topped with cotton candy.
Design highlights
The new look and feel of America trades red, white and blue for a richer palette of terracotta, deep walnut and jewel-toned teal. The space, almost 10,000-square feet, features soaring ceilings, a faux skylight that provides illumination meant to evoke natural sunlight, and checkerboard tile and warm wood flooring below.
In the dining room, America’s original sculpted map of the U.S. is remade into “a dynamic projection canvas powered by a state-of-the-art mapping system that transforms the piece throughout the day and night,” as the announcement says. Nearby, there’s a new mural of the Statue of Liberty’s face; large scale artwork in vibrant reds and oranges lines the walls throughout.
America’s Hero Happy Hour continues to celebrate military personnel and first responders with $1 coffee, $4 Budweiser and Bud Light, $8 Flecha Azul Reposado margaritas and 20 percent off all food, from 3 to 6 p.m. and 3 to 6 a.m. daily. Visit americalv.com.
Contact Johnathan L. Wright at [email protected]. Follow @JLWTaste on Instagram.