Carson Kitchen

Carson Kitchen was one of the Fremont East neighborhood’s first destination restaurants. And eight years after opening, it’s still a great spot for elevated comfort food and a rock ‘n’ roll vibe. What makes it special to many Las Vegas foodies, however, is that it’s the last restaurant Chef Kerry Simon opened in Las Vegas.

The so-called “Rock ‘n’ Roll Chef” (per Rolling Stone magazine) defined Las Vegas cool from the late '90s through the time of his death in 2015 -- drawing rock, pop, movie, TV and porn stars to his restaurants in The Bellagio, The Hard Rock and The Palms. Today, his partner Cory Harwell (a Neon Feast contributor) keeps his spirit alive through the photos on the walls, and many of his classic dishes on the menu – including the burger that led him to victory over Cat Cora on "Iron Chef."

But the restaurant’s continued success is less about nostalgia than the team’s ability to keep his brand of urban rock ’n’ roll cool fresh and relevant to a new generation. The location (on what’s becoming a vibrant restaurant row), semi-private back patio and fun rooftop lounge round out the package.