Las Vegas’ latest residency isn’t from a legacy musician, but a culinary venture from … a streaming service?
After decades of facilitating casual, couch-laden date nights, Netflix decided it was time for a side quest. Netflix Bites, a new restaurant from the 300 million-plus subscriber platform, is now open for business at MGM Grand. Inspired by the success of its six-week LA pilot pop-up in 2023, Netflix comes to the Strip for a yearlong visit, equipped with a full menu where each entry is a nod to one of its signature shows.
It’s easy to spot even among the hustle, bustle and glitz of MGM’s casino floor. A pair of large red lips beckon guests to a mirrored tunnel laced with multicolored lights designed to emulate the feel of the Netflix launch screen. The interior is dotted with cozy booths, original paintings of iconic characters and neon signs referencing trademark catchphrases.
A visit from the Weekly staff yielded a clear favorite in the Squid Game-inspired Seoul, Rok: Bulgogi Tacos ($25), an ode to Korean barbecue featuring beef brisket, Oaxaca cheese and kimchi. Meanwhile, nearby tables were littered with heavy hitters like the Grand Line Showboat ($65), a One Piece-themed sushi platter, and Red Bite, Green Bite ($26), a fried chicken dipper complete with a spinning wheel that decides which sauce you’ll try next, just like in Squid Game.
The interactivity continues with Is It (Cheese) Cake ($14), one of six desserts; it tasks one with—you guessed it—identifying a real cake slice from an identical decoy. Wash it all down with your choice of 10 cocktails, including a nonalcoholic option. The Mind Flayer—a bourbon, blackberry and ginger-based mix topped with an unexpected wad of cotton candy—is one of several Stranger Things standouts here.
NETFLIX BITES MGM Grand, 702-891-7335, netflixbites.com. Sunday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 7 a.m.-midnight.
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