Bella Bistro Replaces Cleo at the Sahara Las Vegas

The Sahara Las Vegas now hosts two temporary restaurants while owner Alex Meruelo begins a major revamp of the casino floor dining scene.

Bella Bistro opened inside the shuttered former home of Cleo, replacing the Mediterranean focus with a contemporary American menu and familiar Italian favorites.

Retaining the stylish interior, open kitchen, and brick-covered oven, Cleo’s flatbreads are replaced by pizzas, including the $19 mushroom, $17 margherita, and $22 shaved prosciutto pie.

The restaurant specializes in cheese and charcuterie with diners choosing three items for $18, or five for $28, with options of duck prosciutto, Tuscano salame, bresaola, and sheep or cow’s milk cheeses.

Appetizers include grilled octopus, prime steak tartare, the $15 house-cured salmon, and West Coast oysters, followed by five main entrees, headlined by the $36 New York strip steak, a bone-in Duroc pork chop, and roasted branzino.

Taking note of the Las Vegas market, locals with a valid, government issued Nevada ID currently receive 20 percent off their bills.

A future replacement for Bella Bistro, or how long it will remain in operation, has not been announced.

Philadelphia sports bar Chickie’s & Pete’s will take over from another temporary restaurant, Beer & Bets, in time for the 2020 football season.

Bella Bistro, SLS Las Vegas, 2535 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-761-7000. Open daily from 5 to 10.30 p.m., closing at 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and closed for business on Tuesday and Wednesday.

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