Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
El Cortez, the downtown hotel-casino that plays a classic part in Las Vegas history, is opening a steakhouse — another sort of Vegas classic — this fall.
Alex Prime, a New York-style steakhouse, continues the renewal of the property under Kenny Epstein, who purchased El Cortez in 2008. Epstein is the latest in a long line of colorful owners that includes Bugsy Siegel in the 1940s and gaming legend Jackie Gaughan, who sold El Cortez to Epstein after 45 years of ownership.
Alex Prime is named for Epstein’s late daughter, Alexandra “Alex” Epstein-Gudai, an El Cortez executive who is credited with helping to transform El Cortez into a modern Vegas destination. The restaurant replaces Siegel’s 1941, which closed in April after more than a decade.
“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,” David Robins, a longtime global hospitality executive who is consulting on the restaurant, said in a Thursday announcement of the planned debut.
El Cortez, the downtown hotel-casino that plays a classic part in Las Vegas history, is opening a steakhouse — another sort of Vegas classic — this fall.
Alex Prime, a New York-style steakhouse, continues the renewal of the property under Kenny Epstein, who purchased El Cortez in 2008. Epstein is the latest in a long line of colorful owners that includes Bugsy Siegel in the 1940s and gaming legend Jackie Gaughan, who sold El Cortez to Epstein after 45 years of ownership.
Alex Prime is named for Epstein’s late daughter, Alexandra “Alex” Epstein-Gudai, an El Cortez executive who is credited with helping to transform El Cortez into a modern Vegas destination. The restaurant replaces Siegel’s 1941, which closed in April after more than a decade.
“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,” David Robins, a longtime global hospitality executive who is consulting on the restaurant, said in a Thursday announcement of the planned debut.
