Plaza’s reopening brings new restaurants to downtown Las Vegas

When the Plaza officially reopened to the public Thursday, it was with three new restaurants -- and more to come.

The Plaza is the home of the fourth local location of Hash House A Go Go (there's also one in Reno and the original in San Diego) and, in the food court, Subway and Cafelatte, the latter a coffee bar serving illy coffee, juices and other beverages, plus pastries, desserts and gelato.

Zaba's Mexican Grill, a fast-casual spot with five other locations in the valley, is expected in the food court in mid-October, to be followed by McDonald's in December. Additional restaurants will be Island Sushi and Hawaiian Grill, expected to open in a few weeks; Oscar's, scheduled for late October; and Gigi's Cupcakes, also expected in a few weeks.

Michael Pergolini, vice president of hotel operations, said all of the restaurants except Subway and McDonald's are new to the Plaza (and the McDonald's is being converted to a McCafe). And while some of them are franchise operations, all of them, he said, are locally owned and operated.

"Oscar's is obviously going to be our focal point and flagship operation at the Plaza," Pergolini said of the steakhouse that's being developed in cooperation with former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, for whom it's named. Oscar's will be located in the Plaza's trademark elevated dome near the front entrance. That structure -- a vintage photo of which is in each hotel room -- was a martini-shaped swimming pool when the property opened in 1971, which is fitting, considering Goodman's oft-stated appreciation of that cocktail. While Pergolini said martinis "will have a very special place on our menu," Oscar's main mission will be that of a moderately priced steakhouse, decorated in a '70s style with contemporary touches.

"We wanted people to feel like they were in a classic Las Vegas restaurant, like they would have in that era," he said.

An inside dining room, serving Italian food and decorated in speakeasy style, also will be "part of the Oscar's experience," Pergolini said.

Island Sushi and Hawaiian Grill is from Terence Fong, a veteran Las Vegas chef and restaurateur with 15 years at Caesars Palace, three years with the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group and stints at other local restaurants.

"As you know, there's a great Hawaiian market downtown," Pergolini said. "We certainly want to be a viable offering for that."

Pergolini said some savvy visitors from Hawaii have been taking cabs from downtown to Fong's current restaurant, which is near the Las Vegas Beltway and Eastern Avenue.

Fong, a native of Hawaii, said he took over that location about 3½ years ago, starting with a bakery that made, among other things, Hawaiian sweet bread and buns, and branched out with a sushi bar and Hawaiian grill about six months later.

"We were looking to come to downtown because we heard what was going on" regarding redevelopment, Fong said. When he heard about Tony Hsieh moving Zappo's to the current City Hall after the new one opens, "I thought it was a great opportunity," he said.

"Plus the market from Hawaii was here. We pretty much seized the opportunity."

Fong said he has hired two executive chefs, Brandon Konishi and Yoji Shimonishi, both of whom formerly worked for Roy's Restaurant. He said Island will have a sushi bar, poke bar, "easygoing Hawaiian grill" and malasadas -- the Portuguese doughnuts beloved in Hawaii -- and a full-service bar.

Pergolini said with its new mix of dining options, Plaza operators "hope to provide a menu that is appealing to the wide range of demographics that populate Las Vegas on a regular basis. We would love to attract people attending shows at the Smith Center as well as people passing through for a day or two."

In addition to their local operators, he said all of the restaurants have another thing in common -- and it's something likely to appeal to recession-weary residents and tourists.

"We thought that no matter the price range, $3 in the coffee bar or $60 at Oscar's, there is value at every price point," he said. "No one should leave any of these experiences feeling as though they didn't get value for their dollar."

Contact reporter Heidi Knapp Rinella at hrinella@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0474.