“El Cortez has been part of Downtown Las Vegas for 85 years, and I wanted to give it a steakhouse worthy of that history,” said Kenny Epstein.
More: New Dining: El Cortez to Open New York-Style Steakhouse Alex Prime in Fall in DTLV
As El Cortez Hotel & Casino approaches its 85th anniversary on Saturday, Nov. 7, the historic property has unveiled its most ambitious dining venture yet. Alex Prime Steakhouse, a luxury New York-style steakhouse in the heart of Downtown Las Vegas, is now open nightly for dinner.
Featuring prime steaks, a towering raw bar and cocktails named for the storied figures of El Cortez history, the restaurant marks a refined new chapter for the Fremont Street landmark. Dinner is served daily beginning at 5 p.m., and reservations are available through OpenTable.
“El Cortez has been part of Downtown Las Vegas for 85 years, and I wanted to give it a steakhouse worthy of that history,” said Kenny Epstein, gaming icon and owner of El Cortez. “Alex Prime is the restaurant I’ve always envisioned here with exceptional steaks, impeccable service and a timeless dining room that feels like it has been part of this building from the start.”
Under Executive Chef Joe Swan, the menu offers a modern revival of classic steakhouse traditions. USDA Prime selections include a New York strip, bone-in rib-eye and a 42-ounce shareable tomahawk (in the main photo by Chris Wessling) alongside table-side Steak Diane prepared with cognac sauce and the house signature prime rib.
Starters include oysters Rockefeller and maple-and-black-pepper-glazed heritage bacon, while a multitiered raw bar showcases lobster Louie, tuna tartare and caviar service. Guests can also select pan-seared salmon with tomato confit and rich lobster ravioli paired with sides including lobster macaroni and cheese.
A curated wine program emphasizing New World labels accompanies a cocktail menu rooted in the property’s past. Heritage-driven selections lead the list, including Kenny’s Old Fashioned, crafted with Elijah Craig Bourbon and cherry demerara syrup, and Ike’s 1941, a robust Manhattan variation featuring WhistlePig 6 Year Rye and Villa Massa Rosso Vermouth.
Speakeasy-style classics spotlight Las Vegas lore, from Siegel’s Dirty Martini, spiked with piri piri-infused Carbonadi Vodka, to The Lansky, a vibrant balance of Bombay Sapphire Gin, bittersweet Luxardo Del Santo and lime juice. The bar also offers the jalapeño-infused Fremont Heat, sparkling wine and spirit-free options such as Diane’s Spritz with zero-proof Mionetto Aperitivo.
Alex Prime joins a property woven into Las Vegas history since 1941. Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel and Meyer Lansky were among El Cortez’s early owners, and in the years that followed, the casino welcomed Hollywood’s elite and members of The Rat Pack. The restaurant builds on Epstein’s ongoing investment in El Cortez.
Epstein acquired the property in 2008 from his mentor, Las Vegas casino legend Jackie Gaughan, who owned El Cortez for 45 years. Alex Prime is open from 5-10 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays and 5 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays. More: AlexPrimeSteakLV.com, on Instagram and TikTok @alexprimesteaklv and Facebook.com/alexprimesteaklv.
