: It’s hard to ignore Elizabeth Blau’s work with Delivering with Dignity, coordinating with restaurants like Graffiti Bao, Valencian Gold, and her own Honey Salt to deliver meals to thousands in need. She was also vocal in calling out the Nevada government for not doing enough to help locally owned restaurants.
, food and culture writer: There are so many: 7th & Carson partnering with nonprofits to feed the homeless; Ghost Unit Kitchen pivoting to cook for folks in need with Chefs4Vegas; Aloha Kitchen passing out bags of food to hungry families right at the beginning of the pandemic. I also want to give a shout out to my friend, food writer Kim Foster, who is a beacon of generosity. Kim started a food pantry in front of her home downtown, and most importantly, she talks to the people who pick up food, asks them what they need, and coordinates donations to meet those needs. Feeding the hungry is one of the most important food stories of 2020, and I’m in awe of the people who
: It was fascinating to see ghost kitchens like Gemma Gemma’s Square Pies, Pizza Anonymous, To Be Frank, and Underground Burgers emerge this year. We may see more of those as the economy struggles to rebound in 2021. I’m also happy to see BYOB is finally beginning to take hold in Vegas. I know Sparrow + Wolf tried it out and The Legends Oyster Bar have been encouraging it in place of a bar license. In the past, I thought of BYOB as little more than a corkage fee situation, but now I get what it’s all about. There’s something fun about stopping somewhere to pick out a bottle of wine while on the way to dinner and sharing it with friends. Not to mention, it saves a lot of money.
Dining Pros Remember the Saddest Restaurant Closings in Las Vegas
Saying goodbye to some favorite places that won’t be returning
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What was 2020’s saddest restaurant closure?
Emmy Kasten, freelance writer: I was heartbroken to see Estiatorio Milos say farewell to their prime location at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Though the restaurant will soon reopen at the Venetian, I will miss enjoying Milos’ signature lunchtime menu while taking in the views from the sunlit patio.
Philip Tzeng, food blogger at
: It has got to be Pamplemousse. One of the oldest, most iconic restaurants in the city, I have very fond memories of every dinner over the years, but with conventions gone and in-room dining capacities being what they are, there was no way it was going to last in the current situation. It is a Vegas landmark that should have been here forever.
Where Las Vegas Food Writers Loved to Dine In and Order Takeout in 2020
Media experts share their picks for restaurant standbys
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What were your regular go-to destinations for takeout and delivery in 2020? What about dine-in service?
Diana Edelman, founder
Scott Roeben,
: On the takeout and delivery front, there are some tried-and-true favorites, including Archi’s Thai and Angara India Spice Grill in Summerlin. Dine-in favorites are Triple George Grill at Downtown Grand and Andiamo Steakhouse at The D. No list would be complete without Esther’s Kitchen downtown.
Melanie Lee, Eater Vegas: Red Rice, Jjanga, and Win Kee were the three spots I turned to most for delivery. I’ve mostly only eaten them as takeout so it felt normal to do so. Nacho Daddy and Shake Shack have been my dine-in/pick-up regulars this year; both locations felt very clean and safe, which was super important to me.