Friends of Eater Offer Headline Predictions for 2015

Q: What are your headline predictions for 2015?

E.C. Gladstone, About.com/GoVegas (Guest Contributor); JackColton.com (Dining & Drinking Editor); NowImHungry.com (Titanium Overlord): "[Insert TV Chef Name] brings his creative approach to homestyle cooking/comfort food/steak and seafood/familiar favorites to the Strip..."

"OMG There's A New Burger Place on the Strip! OMG There's A New Pizza Place on the Strip!"

And more seriously:

"Noodles are the new Burgers"

"Church, Howard, Stratta: Why Vegas' Best Dining Is No Longer On The Strip"

Bob Barnes, Editorial Director of The Las Vegas Food & Beverage Professional,
Las Vegas Reporter for Gayot and Regional Correspondent for Celebrator Beer News: The Vegas Strip no longer being the only place to venture for outstanding dining, as more neighborhoods draw in innovative and proven chefs.

More restaurants wising up to the fact that a good portion of their customers enjoy fine craft beer as much as fine wine, and adding a more diverse selection of beer styles and local beers.

Michael G. Uzmann, Doctor, Blogger, Wandering Diner: Yardbird Southern Food & Table will reinvent Las Vegas’ perception of Southern Cuisine.

Scott Roeben, Vital Vegas: It feels like 2015 is going to be the year of accessible food in Las Vegas, so "Las Vegas Leads the Charge in Value-Oriented Grub." Or something more eloquent. The opening of White Castle at Casino Royale, as well as Tom's Urban and Shake Shack at New York-New York are getting a lot of buzz. Potentially three Wahlburgers locations. Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips at The Linq. Glutton downtown. Nothing too high-brow, but real food for real people. I make predictions every year, and every year Vegas throws curveballs. Maybe 2015 will be the year of "Las Vegas Blazes New Trails With Spate of Restaurants Prohibiting Use of Utensils." That would be a blast.

Robin Leach, gossip columnist for the Las Vegas Sun: NO NEW 2015 BREAKOUT CUISINE,  GIADA OPENS 2ND VEGAS RESTAURANT, MORE STAR CHEFS INVADE VEGAS. WHEN WILL THE MIRAGE LET MASA FINALLY OPEN? GORDON RAMSAY DETERMINES HE HAS ENOUGH VEGAS VENUES! DOES DOWNTOWN SUMMERLIN HAVE TOO MANY EATERIES?

Don Chareunsy, Senior Editor, Arts + Entertainment, Las Vegas Sun: Breakfast places will continue to rule, with Yardbird opening at The Venetian, joining 2014 newcomer-standouts Guy Fieri, The Pantry at The Mirage and The Griddle at SLS Las Vegas. I’m excited about Brian Malarkey bringing his Searsucker to Caesars Palace, which means more shared-plates and small-plates deliciousness. And Morimoto will finally open at The Mirage?!

Brock Radke, food and drink editor for Las Vegas Weekly: At least one very local, off-Strip restaurant will get some national attention, like Raku and Kabuto and Chada did. It won't be Asian. On the Strip, I don't think anything will land in 2015 bigger than the stuff that landed in 2014, but we'll get at least one announcement of what's to come, and it'll be big, in size and in name.

Jim Begley, freelance food and drink writer for Las Vegas Weekly, Desert Companion, Las Vegas Magazine and sundry publications: The migration continues as Strip talent sets up shop elsewhere, elevating the local dining scene. And Shake Shack eclipses In-N-Out as the Valley’s best fast food burger. Yeah, it’s that good.

Louis Hirsch, Foodservice Designer for JEM WEST, contributor for Vegas Burger Blog and the upcoming Vegas Reuben Blog: The Gramercy is going to surprise everyone. DW Bistro seems to have the right idea with their market, and the project is not overreaching. There is support there and good people involved.

JoAnna Haugen, Las Vegas contributing editor, Travel Weekly: Firefly will permanently close its doors.

Mitchell Wilburn, VegasChatter: The sudden appearance of forgotten regional cuisines, like Scandinavian or Baltic cuisine. At the very least, someone is going to try and put a NOMA dish on their menu.

Amelinda B Lee, photographer for Eater Vegas: "Shake Shack Wins Over In-N-Out Devotees"

Susan Stapleton, editor of Eater Vegas: One resort will shut down some of its restaurants after Rock in Rio. Then it will go on the chopping block. Or more simply, SLS will sink.

More women chefs leading in the kitchen (come on, that was supposed to happen in 2014).

The Linq will get tackier.

No Morimoto in 2015.

One more restaurant from Guy Fieri and Giada De Laurentiis, but not together.

Rock in Rio a hit.

Shutters on Fremont East.

Gato replaces Mesa Grill.

Resorts World pauses.

No soccer, no hockey.

Rio, bye-o.

More than one Downtown casino will publicly announce for sale.

One Las Vegas print publication will become online only.

Aria is one to watch. Caesars Palace is getting back its mojo. Mandalay Bay to lose some luster.

Look to non-Los Angeles/New York City cities for the next rising star chefs to arrive.

Another off-Strip restaurant from that off-Strip Michelin star chef.

Tony Gemignani to the Strip.

On surprise arrival at Fashion Show mall.

The return of Sammy D.