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El Cortez Hotel & Casino announces reimagined Siegel's 19413 September 2026(PRESS RELEASE) -- El Cortez Hotel & Casino is bringing one of Downtown's most beloved dining names into a bold new era. Named for Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, an early owner of the property, and the year El Cortez was established, Siegel's 1941 will reopen in early fall as a reimagined daytime dining destination serving elevated breakfast and lunch seven days a week. The redesigned concept reflects owner Kenny Epstein's continued investment in Downtown Las Vegas and his commitment to honoring the property's history while evolving its future. "Siegel's 1941 is a Downtown Las Vegas favorite, and we wanted to continue that warmth and legacy while delivering an upscale destination for daytime dining," said Bart Mahoney, VP of Hospitality at El Cortez Hotel & Casino. “This evolution of the restaurant combines the quality of cuisine you’d find on the Strip with the vintage appeal of Downtown Las Vegas.” Few names carry the weight of Las Vegas history quite like Siegel's. In 1945, four years after El Cortez opened as Downtown's first major resort, Siegel and a group of partners, including Meyer Lansky, Moe Sedway and Gus Greenbaum, bought the property for $600,000, more than twice what it had cost to build. It was a marquee deal in an era when organized crime money was quietly bankrolling much of Nevada's young casino industry. Siegel's 1941 will open each morning with a menu of classic breakfasts, including a breakfast sandwich with fried egg, bacon, cheddar and tomato, topped with aioli on a toasted brioche bun; a bagel with lox; a two-egg breakfast served with matzoh brei; and a ham steak with eggs and hash browns. Lunch offerings include a seafood louie topped with Maine lobster and jumbo shrimp, a loaded wedge salad, an Angus cheeseburger, and the return of a longtime favorite: a prime rib special. Desserts showcase reenvisioned classics, including New York cheesecake, chocolate cake, an ice cream sundae and milkshakes. Siegel's 1941, which transforms into Alex Prime Steakhouse nightly at 5 p.m., occupies one of the most striking dining rooms in Downtown Las Vegas. The space, brought to life by Kenneth Ussenko Design and Jive Architecture, makes an impression at any hour. Features include emerald green banquettes, cognac leather seating, richly paneled walls with gold detailing, arched mirrored cabinetry and sweeping coffered ceilings. The newly remodeled restaurant seats more than 150 guests. Siegel's 1941 will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., with breakfast transitioning to lunch at 11 a.m. The reopening arrives as El Cortez heads toward its 85th anniversary on 7 November, marking eight and a half decades as Downtown's original resort and the only operating casino listed on the National Register of Historic Places. |