Durango Casino & Resort Opening This Fall, Wants You to Eat Your Heart Out

With Durango Casino & Resort in Las Vegas on schedule for a Fall 2023 opening, details recently emerged about the future Station Casinos property’s fancy food hall – and they’re tasty, to say the least.

Spanning 25,000 square feet, the open-space eatery, called Eat Your Heart Out, promises nearly a dozen exciting culinary offerings including new-to-market concepts from seasoned chefs like James Beard award-winning chef Marc Vetri and a handful of local favorites. Food will range from burgers and pizza to sushi and street food.

“Every detail has been carefully curated, from hand-selected creative concepts to venue design, bringing together a playful culinary epicenter and includes a variety of options to choose from based on preference, taste or mood,” said David Horn, vice president, and general manager at Durango Casino & Resort, in a press release. “We’re fortunate to have such exciting partners working alongside us to bring these impressive culinary offerings to life.”

When LasVegasJaunt.com last checked in with Station Casinos and its parent Company Red Rock Resorts in 2022, the Las Vegas-based hotel and casino company was making headlines for some exciting land grabs around the Las Vegas Valley—including 126 acres on the south side of Las Vegas Boulevard South and Cactus Avenue and 67 acres at Losee Road and the 215 Beltway in North Las Vegas.

Construction on Durango Casino & Resort, near Interstate 215 and Durango Drive in the Southwest valley, had only just begun. The now-defunct Texas Station Gambling Hall & Hotel, Fiesta Rancho Casino Hotel, and Fiesta Henderson Casino Hotel were sold and scheduled to be immediately demolished.

So far, 2023 has been just as busy for Station Casinos and Red Rock Resorts, which plan to double their hotel portfolio by 2030. Earlier this month, the company opened a brand-new Wildfire Casino in downtown Las Vegas, at 2700 Fremont Street, near Charleston Boulevard—one of seven around the valley. The downtown location is 21,000-square-foot with 200 slot machines, bar-top gaming and electronic table games, plus a sportsbook.

Other Station Casino properties around the Las Vegas valley and Henderson include Boulder Station Hotel & Casino, Green Valley Ranch Resort Spa Casino (Henderson), Palace Station Hotel & Casino, Santa Fe Station Hotel & Casino, Red Rock Casino Resort Spa (Summerlin) and Sunset Station Hotel & Casino (Henderson).

As for the $750 million, 71-acre Durango Casino & Resort—it has risen from the desert and is taking shape for a projected opening around October. It is being built in the busy and growing Rhodes Ranch neighborhood of Southwest Las Vegas, alongside some noteworthy neighbors, including IKEA to the north and the mixed-use UnCommons development to the west.

Station Casinos describes Durango Casino & Resort as a boutique gaming and resort experience that’s inspired by the warm colors and vibrant landscapes of the desert.

Beyond the food hall, the property will feature a lobby bar, 83,000 square feet of casino space with 2,000 slots and 40 table games; a 200-room and suite hotel tower; race and sportsbook; resort pool with private cabanas; and an event lawn for parties and gatherings, as well as:

• 40 electric vehicle charging stations
• Bike parking and multiple bike lanes with access to the property
• 20,000 square feet of meeting and convention space
• Four signature food and beverage outlets, including a Mexican restaurant from Clique Hospitality, a coastal grill from Lettuce Entertain Restaurants, and a steakhouse from property Executive Chef Danny Ye

Additional amenities like a movie theater, bowling alley, and movie theater—which are on-site at many other Station Casinos properties—may be added in the future.

When it comes to eating your heart out at Eat Your Heart Out, the company promises lush greenery and a communal feel with dine-in tables, counter seating, and an outdoor patio. Each restaurant outlet will have its own unique storefront.

Restaurants slated for the food hall include:

• Ai Pono Café: Owned by Chef Gene Villiatora, it will feature authentic Hawaii street food like Ahi Tuna Katsu and “Crackhead” Chicken 

• Fiorella: A pasta bar with daily hand-made pasta, antipasti, and dessert, from celebrated Chef Marc Vetri

• Irv’s Burgers: This Los Angeles favorite is known for its classic roadside burgers and fries, plus premium comfort food at affordable prices

• Prince Street Pizza: The home of the Soho Square pizza, with a variety of New York and Sicilian-style pizzas

• Uncle Paulie’s: Longtime friends Paulie James and Jon Buscemi recreate memories of their favorite New York neighborhood delis with a classic menu and signature sandwiches

• Yu Or Mi Sushi: This intimate, high-quality Japanese restaurant expands to the southwest valley from Downtown Las Vegas

• Shang Artisan Noodle: Another Las Vegas favorite, Shang Artisan Noodle elevates the Chinese culinary tradition of handmade noodles

• Nielsen’s Frozen Custard: Born in Henderson, a creamy and refreshing frozen treat

• Oyster Bar: Counter seating and signature seafood dishes in the heart of the casino action
• Vesta Coffee: Made-to-order coffee from a local roaster, serving some of the world’s finest specialty coffees from around the world
• DRNK: A lively bar known for colorful frozen drinks and a low-key atmosphere

Can’t wait until fall to see the finished Durango product? An 8-foot wide, 4-foot-tall Durango Casino & Resort miniature model is currently on display on the casino floor at Red Rock Resort, Spa & Casino in Summerlin.

Check out our Durango Las Vegas Deals & Discounts!

By Aleza Freeman