Bobby Flay is saying goodbye to Mesa Grill, but he is not saying goodbye to Caesars Palace. The closing of Flay’s flagship restaurant on November 14 after 16 years, will pave the way for his first foray into Italian. The new concept will open in the spring.
Named Amalfi, Flay says events told him this was the time for a change.
“We’ve all learned some things during this pandemic,” the 55-year-old chef said. “For me, I’ve really learned to play out the things that I’m most passionate about. And Italy, particularly the Amalfi Coast, is something that I’ve been passionate about for a very long time.”
The restaurant will focus on “the fish that comes out of the water along the Amalfi coast, and pasta.”
“If you want chicken parmigiana, you walk a hundred yards and you’re at Rao’s. If you want a lobster pasta with yellow tomatoes and Calabrian chilies, you’re going to come to Amalfi.”
To showcase seafood, the dining room will include a “market” with the day’s fresh catches on display and its own in-house fishmonger, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
“So, if you feel like getting up from your table and picking out your fish, you have that opportunity,” Flay said. “And our fishmonger will be there to walk you through what the characteristics of the fish are, where the fish came from, when it landed in Las Vegas (and) what different preparations we can do with it that particular night. This is going to be a very customized experience.”
The makeover will expand the bar area, with 30 seats at the bar and another 40 in the lounge. But Flay says capturing the casual, relaxed vibe of Italy’s Campania seaside will be the most important aspect.
“When you see the design, you’ll see pieces that remind you of the Amalfi. But also, we don’t forget where we are. We’re in Las Vegas, so it’s going to have some serious sparkle to it.”
Caesars Palace housed the last of the Mesa Grills, which specialized in Southwestern cuisine. The original in New York City and a Bahamas location both closed.
“Every restaurant has a run,” the chef said. “They’re like Broadway shows. Some of them have long runs; some of them have short runs. Interestingly enough, Mesa Grill, prior to the pandemic, was as busy as it has ever been.”
Still, Flay has not ruled out bringing back Mesa Grill in Las Vegas.
