Alex Stratta Heads to Phoenix, Pays Staff with Kitchen Equipment

More news on the Alex Stratta front. Yesterday Eater Vegas reported that the chef shuttered his Salt & Pepper at Tivoli Village. Now comes word that the chef moved to take over Prado Restaurant at the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia in Paradise Valley, right between Scottsdale and Phoenix. That restaurant serves "a Spanish-inspired adventure for the tastebuds."

Fans of Stratta will recognize that the menu sounds similar to his Tapas by Alex Stratta concept that was open in the Salt & Pepper space from April until November, when he switched to a Southern comfort bar and grill.

Stratta rose to fame when he worked at Mary Elaine, a French restaurant at the Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale. Steve Wynn brought him to Las Vegas to open Renoir at the Mirage, and then the Michelin-starred Alex at Wynn Las Vegas with its Hello Dolly staircase along with the more casual Stratta at the resort.

Back in Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Sun reports that “Employees who weren’t paid the last week were able to remove kitchen equipment to sell to other restaurants for money.“ Developing.