Venetian is set to open a new food hall, Via Via, in mid-2025.
Via Via will be located off the resort’s Grand Colonnade, wherever that might actually be.
The new food hall will feature All’Antico Vinaio, Howlin’ Ray’s, Scarr’s Pizza, B.S. Taqueria, Close Company, Ivan Ramen, Molly’s Rise & Shine, and Turkey and the Wolf. Please read further for details, and by that we mean things we cut and paste from the news release.
First up, the name!
Via Via can be translated any number of ways. In Italian, “via” means road or way. So, we like to think of Via Via as meaning, “Way? Way!,” as if it were a conversation between Wayne and Garth in “Wayne’s World.”
“Via” comes from Latin, a first-declension noun in the nominative singular form. If you didn’t know that off the top of your head, it’s obvious you have never heard of something called “ChatGPT.” Please feel free to come out from under your rock.
“Via” originates from the Proto-Indo-European root “wegh,” meaning to go or move. “Via” is used to mean “way” in a number of languages including Spanish and French.
When we rented a car in France, we would often hear people screaming, “Get out of the f-ing via!” So many memories.
In English, “via” is a preposition indicating the method or path taken to reach a destination or to accomplish something. In case of Via Via, guests will accomplish eating quickly, inexpensively (relatively) and without a server and tipping.
The official announcement of the “Way? Way!” food hall at Venetian contains lots of fancy descriptions of the concepts involved. To maintain accuracy, we’ll just share the descriptions here verbatim, a Latin word meaning “we are very busy and aren’t going to waste our time paraphrasing.”
All’Antico Vinaio
All’Antico Vinaio, which translates to “ancient wine merchant,” is a celebrated Italian sandwich shop that began in Florence in 1991. Founded by the Mazzanti family, it quickly became a beloved spot for locals and tourists alike, known for its delicious and authentic Tuscan schiacciata sandwiches. The shop has since expanded to multiple locations, including Rome, Milan, Turin, Los Angeles, Vegas and several locations in New York.
Thought: “Schiacciata” sounds like a condition you’d see ads for during “60 Minutes.”
Howlin’ Ray’s
Since 2015, Chef Johnny Ray Zone and wife Amanda Chapman have been bringing the heat to the people of Los Angeles, courtesy of their Nashville Hot Chicken. The culture of Hot Chicken speaks deeply to both Johnny and Amanda, and continuing to share the spirit and camaraderie of the dish is their goal. No matter how hot, Howlin’ Ray’s aspires to bring families, friends, and newcomers together to share a meal and feel the heat!
Thought: Hot Chicken Camaraderie was the name of our band in high school.
Scarr’s Pizza
Scarr’s Pizza was established in 2016 by Scarr Pimentel and is based in New York City. With a focus on organic and all natural ingredients, Scarr’s Pizza is committed to creating high-quality products for the community and beyond.
Thought: Pizza is like sex. If you’re not careful, you’re could get blisters.
B.S. Taqueria
The Los Angeles based, ingredient-driven taqueria offers creative twists on classic tacos like Chile-rubbed al pastor made with cauliflower roasted over a wood fired grill along with time honored favorites like carnitas and house made chorizo all served on freshly pressed heirloom corn tortillas. Founded by Chef Ray Garcia, the menu is rounded out with dishes intended for sharing, all of which channel elements of long-established tradition yet are presented with modern appeal.
Thought: “I love tacos, where should we eat?” “B.S.” “No, I really like tacos, what restaurant should we go to?” “B.S.” “Does it worry you that lawyers for the estate of Abbott and Costello are preparing a cease and desist letter right now?” “B.S.”
Close Company
From the creators of Death & Co., one of the most influential bars of the modern craft cocktail movement, Close Company brings its signature cocktail excellence to a playful and vibrant setting. With a focus on contemporary drinks and a lively atmosphere, Close Company offers an approachable, community-driven experience without sacrificing quality. This new concept will debut its first West Coast location in Las Vegas, with additional launches in Nashville and Atlanta, becoming a must-visit destination for travelers and locals alike.
Thought: “One of the most influential bars of the modern craft cocktail movement”? “Community-driven experience”? That’s a bunch of B.S. Taqueria right there.
Ivan Ramen
Ivan’s journey is a compelling tale of a teenager’s unexpected introduction to the culinary world through a sushi bar dishwashing job, igniting his passion for Japanese culture. Defying the odds, Ivan opened a wildly successful ramen shop in Tokyo, setting the stage for his expansion into the U.S. with Ivan Ramen in NYC and an exciting new location coming to the U.K. next year. But Ivan Ramen is more than just about exceptional ramen; the menu is also packed with inventive, playful izakaya-style plates that reflect the fun, adventurous spirit of Japanese dining. Now, with the highly anticipated opening at The Venetian in Las Vegas, Ivan Ramen is ready to bring this bold, flavor-packed experience to the Strip.
Thought: It’s soup.
Turkey and the Wolf
James Beard Award-nominated and New York Times best-selling author chef Mason Hereford is bringing his two New Orleans hotspots, Turkey and the Wolf and Molly’s Rise and Shine, to Las Vegas. Turkey and the Wolf is a counter service-only joint that Food & Wine and Esquire listed as one of the most important restaurants of the decade, and Bon Appetit named the number one Best New Restaurant in America in 2017. The menu showcases eccentric dishes like a double decker braised collard green sandwich and whimsically reinvented nostalgia, including an empanada stuffed with chicken pot pie served with tarragon buttermilk.
Thought: There’s no rule about being in more than one band in high school.
Molly’s Rise and Shine
Molly’s Rise and Shine, a breakfast joint that Food & Wine named one of the ten Best New Restaurants in America in 2020, serves up instant classics like Roasted Carrot Yogurt and epic takes on classic biscuit sandwiches. This must-visit destination brings the eclectic charm of Magazine Street straight to the Las Vegas Strip.
Thought: This is too easy.
Yes, Venetian already has a food court, but since the demise of casino buffets, you can never have too many “Quick Bites.”
For many years, buffets drew guests who would gamble and that revenue would pay for loss leaders. (The same was true for parking, drinks and shows.) The pandemic provided the perfect cover for casinos to bail on the loss leader model, and food courts became a thing.
A slew of casinos have introduced food courts (often “halls” to make them sound fancier, and many are a step up from traditional food courts) and more are on the way.
Food courts are no longer scoffed at and many of the concepts have celebrity names attached. Oh, all right, there’s still some scoffing, but may concepts deliver on their promise of cheap eats fast.
We’ll be working our way through all the concepts at Via Via in 2025, we presume. Pizza first, of course.
