Jason Corwin at Blue Ribbon Shares His Favorite Las Vegas Restaurants

Sin City is home to a lot of restaurants and bars, but there are tons of hidden gems that the majority of Las Vegans aren't unearthing. To help guide readers to these potential discoveries, Eater Vegas enlisted some of the city's food players to share their recommendations for a feature dubbed Dining Confidential.

Jason Corwin grew up on Long Island, New York, and served in the Army from 1987 to 1989. In 1992, he went to California, where he worked in several San Francisco restaurants including Bistro Roti & Backstage and later opened Momo's, across from AT&T Park. In 1999, he returned to New York, where he worked at Blue Ribbon in Brooklyn until 2006, when he moved back to California. For the next few years, he cooked in several restaurants including Mill Valley Restaurant and Buckeye Roadhouse. In 2016, he worked as a consultant to open Original Joe's. Later that year in November, he moved to Las Vegas to rejoin Blue Ribbon Restaurants — this time as executive chef of Blue Ribbon at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Here he shares his favorite plaes to dine in Las Vegas.

Do you remember your first trip to Vegas? What happened that was memorable?

My first trip to Vegas was with my then-girlfriend Kristen, who used to come to Vegas on family vacations back in the ’80s, this was in the ’90s. We stayed at Mandalay Bay for three days, went to Binion's on the first night to gamble. I won close to $500 and thought this place is awesome (not a big gambler). The next night I lost $250. I try not to remember that part.

What made you decide to move to Las Vegas?

I never thought I would live in Las Vegas but when the Bromberg brothers approached me, I came here. After having worked with them for nine years in New York in the mid ’90s, I couldn't pass up the opportunity.

Where do you like to eat breakfast in Las Vegas?

For a quick breakfast bite, Eggslut.

What about lunch?

Sushi burrito.

If you’re going out for dinner, which restaurants do you like to frequent? What makes them special? Any dishes you can recommend?

Vintner Grill in Summerlin. Pan-seared diver scallops with sweet corn risotto, heirloom tomatoes, and shaved pecorino cheese.

Where do you like to dine for a special occasion?

Special occasions I prefer to make dinner at home with the family.

Are there any brunches in town you like to frequent?

My favorite place for breakfast is in Summerlin called Marche Bacchus. Not many places in Vegas you can eat delicious food right by the lake with dishes such as truffled grits and beef grillades.

Let’s say you want to hang out with your friends after work. Where do you like to go?

If I'm hanging out with friends it would be a dive bar or someone's backyard to enjoy the conversation.

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