Las Vegas Restaurant Scene Heats Up with New Openings and Renovations

The Las Vegas culinary landscape is experiencing a flurry of activity with expansions, renovations, and highly anticipated new arrivals. From smash burgers to classic Italian and inventive ice cream, there’s something new for every palate in Sin City.

Smash Burger Sensation “With Love, always” Expands

The popular smash burger restaurant, With Love, Always, is set to open a second location in southwest Las Vegas at the Bend later this year. This expansion comes after eight months of nightly lines at their original Centennial Hills location, proving the brand’s strong appeal according to the National Restaurant Association.

Owners Drew Belcher, Damian ocampo, and Kevin Whelan have successfully leveraged their social media presence, boasting a combined 1.4 million followers across their accounts @unlokt and @hookedlv, to create a buzz around their burger brand.Their strategy involved studying successful smash burger joints in other cities and tailoring the formula for the Las Vegas market.

The restaurant is known for its visually appealing and delicious burgers, featuring fresh Black Angus patties smashed on a hot griddle to create a lacy crust, topped with melted American cheese and thin onions, and served on a soft potato roll. Along with burgers, the shop offers soft-serve custard with nostalgic coatings like cherry and birthday cake.

Did You Know? Smash burgers are characterized by smashing the patty thin on a hot griddle, creating a crispy, flavorful crust.

Battista’s Hole in the Wall Undergoing Renovations

Battista’s Hole in the Wall, a long-standing Las Vegas institution known for its kitschy charm and prix-fixe Italian menu, temporarily closed on June 1 for renovations. The restaurant, located beside the Linq parking lot, is scheduled to reopen on June 23, promising to retain its old-school appeal.

The adjacent Stage Door Casino, famous for its 24-hour packaged liquor sales, will also undergo renovations from June 23 to July 1. Battista’s offers a complete prix fixe menu featuring Italian classics such as spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna, and veal Marsala, accompanied by minestrone soup or salad, house wine, garlic bread, pasta, and cappuccino.

The restaurant’s decor is a maximalist’s dream, with framed pictures, glass bottles, wooden baskets, garlic strands, and wagon wheels adorning every surface. While not necessarily the best Italian food in Las Vegas, Battista’s remains popular due to its 50-year history, appeal to convention attendees, and affordable multi-course meals starting at $29.95.

Salt & Straw Arrives on the Las Vegas Strip

Cult-favorite ice cream brand Salt & Straw is expanding to the las Vegas Strip, with two new shops planned to capture the attention of tourists and locals alike. The first location is set to open this fall at the Flamingo, with a street-facing entrance next to Gordon Ramsay Burger, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. A second location is planned for early 2026 at Paris las Vegas, nestled near Arc Bar at the base of the Eiffel Tower.

Salt & Straw, known for its inventive flavors like honey balsamic black pepper, marshmallow-filled Pots of Gold & Rainbows, and Salted, Malted, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, first debuted in Las Vegas at UnCommons in June 2023. Co-founder Tyler Malek jokingly mentioned developing an all-you-can-eat prime rib flavor at the time. While that flavor hasn’t materialized yet, the two Strip locations may inspire new culinary creations.

Pro Tip: Check Salt & Straw’s website for limited-time seasonal flavors that rotate throughout the year.

Las vegas Restaurant Scene: Key Details