Alex Prime Steakhouse Opens at El Cortez This October

USDA Prime steaks with nine tableside toppings, including foie gras butter and crab Oscar. Slow-roasted prime rib. A signature Alex martini named for the room itself. 150 seats wrapped in 1940s glamour and modern elegance, inside a downtown casino that has stood since 1941. Alex Prime opens next month at El Cortez, and it carries more personal weight than a typical steakhouse launch.

A Steakhouse Named for a Daughter Who Helped Modernize the Property

Alex Prime opens mid-October 2026 at El Cortez Hotel and Casino, 600 E Fremont St, timed to the historic downtown property’s 85th anniversary on November 7. The steakhouse takes over the space that formerly housed Siegel’s 1941, which closed in April after more than a decade, and its opening arrives alongside a second new restaurant at El Cortez: a reimagined version of Siegel’s 1941 itself, relaunching as a breakfast-and-lunch spot.

The name carries real weight. Alex Prime is named for Alexandra “Alex” Epstein-Gudai, the late daughter of El Cortez owner Kenny Epstein, an executive at the property credited with helping transform it into a modern Vegas destination. “There is nothing quite like a truly great dining experience, and that’s exactly what we’re bringing to Downtown Las Vegas with Alex Prime,” said Bart Mahoney, vice president of hospitality for El Cortez. Leading the project is David Robins, a longtime global hospitality executive formerly with Wolfgang Puck’s organization, in his first major venture since leaving. “From the caliber of service to the quality of cuisine, we are creating Alex Prime to bring the vision Kenny Epstein has for a luxury steakhouse to life,” Robins said. Executive Chef Joe Swan, bringing an East Coast culinary background, leads the kitchen.

What’s on the Menu

USDA Prime beef anchors the menu, including New York strip, filet mignon, and tomahawk cuts, each available with a choice of nine toppings such as foie gras butter, house steak sauce, and crab Oscar. Slow-roasted prime rib is a signature dish alongside the chops. Beyond the steaks, the menu covers chef-driven seafood including lobster ravioli, halibut, and a chilled seafood program with oysters, shellfish Louie, and a caviar presentation, plus Jidori chicken, pork schnitzel, lamb chops, and Italian-rooted pastas. The beverage program features an extensive wine collection alongside a cocktail menu balancing steakhouse classics, martinis and old fashioneds, with signature creations rooted in El Cortez’s own history, including the restaurant’s namesake Alex martini.

The Room and the History Behind It

Designed by Kenneth Ussenko Design, the dining room seats more than 150 guests in a space built to honor the building’s 1941 origins while embracing clean, contemporary elegance. El Cortez has been a fixture of downtown Las Vegas since 1941, with a colorful ownership history running through Bugsy Siegel and gaming legend Jackie Gaughan, who owned the property for 45 years before selling to Kenny Epstein in 2008. Alex Prime is positioned as the next chapter in that history, arriving as the property marks 85 years on Fremont Street.

Now You Know