Stewart + Ogden Closes at Downtown Grand, Freedom Beat Already in the Works

By Scott Roeben, on July 07 2016
2 min read 10 comments
Downtown Las Vegas Las Vegas Las Vegas Restaurants

As first predicted by our seemingly clairvoyant Twitter account, Downtown Grand has closed the doors to its Stewart + Ogden restaurant.

The hotel’s 24-hour cafe closed July 5, 2016.

Stewart + Ogden closed
Downtown Grand was formerly the Lady Luck. Stewart + Ogden now also falls into the “former” category.

Construction of a new restaurant, Freedom Beat, is already underway.

The new offering will expand the restaurant’s footprint to include another closed restaurant at Downtown Grand, Red Mansion.

Stewart + Odgen
With construction walls, all things are possible.

Word has it Stewart + Ogden has already been gutted, a good sign the restaurant will get a significant overhaul rather than a superficial revamp.

Staffers at the hotel say the renderings for Freedom Beat are impressive.

The menu at Freedom Beat will be American, although details haven’t been released yet.

It bodes well for the menu that “Hell’s Kitchen” winner Scott Commings is helping to build the new restaurant’s menu. Commings won season 12 of the popular cooking competition show, and took the reins as Executive Chef at Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill at Caesars Palace.

Guests seeking sustenance at Downtown Grand aren’t without options. A temporary restaurant has been set up inside the hotel’s Art Bar, near the registration desk.

Art Bar is replete with the former restaurant’s chairs, mainly because we think “replete” makes things sound fancier.

Freedom Beat
We’re always up for a better experience, especially if there’s liquor involved.

The Stewart + Ogden menu has been slimmed down slightly, but there’s still a solid selection of breakfast dishes, salads, burgers and sandwiches.

Most dishes run in the $10-12 range. Take a look.

Stewart + Ogden closed
There’s still a functioning bar at Art Bar. Don’t freak out.

Much as the rebrand of its pool complex to Citrus has livened things up at Downtown Grand, a change-out of its hotel restaurant could be a welcome addition. We hear there will be an entertainment component to the new restaurant, an intriguing prospect. (Please, no dueling pianos! That did not go well at the closed Mob Bar.)

Across the street, Pizza Rock and Triple George are doing brisk business, but The Commissary continues to struggle with its challenging location. It’s expected that restaurant will close soon as well. There’s been no word on where the Commissary’s collection of 100 tequila varieties will end up, but we have some suggestions.

Staffers say Freedom Beat is being fast-tracked, and should be open for business in a mere month or two. The new restaurant hasn’t even been officially announced, but that’s never stopped us before.

We’re always up for something new, so we can’t wait to try the new restaurant at Downtown Grand!