| Ellis Island Casino & Brewery | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Paradise, Nevada | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Address | 4178 Koval Lane | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opening date | 1967; 53 years ago | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total gaming space | 28,500 sq ft (2,650 m2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable restaurants | Ellis Island Restaurant[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Casino type | Land-based | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | Gary Ellis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Previous names | Village Pub | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Renovated in | 1997 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | ellisislandcasino.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Ellis Island Casino & Brewery is located near the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The casino offers 350 gaming devices, as well as a restaurant and a brewery.
History[edit]
Ellis Island Hotel, Casino & Brewery 4178 Koval Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89109 Hotel: 702-794-0888 Casino: 702-733-8901.
The Front Yard at Ellis Island Hotel, Casino and Brewery, which is scheduled to open Dec. 6, will have a menu that’s a mix of Ellis family classics and beer-infused selections. Ellis Island Casino, HOtel & BREWERY a local's favorite since 1968, JUST ONE BLOCK EAST OF THE LAS VEGAS STRIP A Vegas landmark for over 50 years, the family-owned Ellis Island Casino, Hotel & Brewery is a comfortable blend of casino, award-winning dining options, and fun - all at an 'old Vegas' value price point. Ellis Island Casino & Brewery’s much-beloved Holiday Nog, which has been produced for 18 years, can be traced to owner Gary Ellis’ grandfather, Frank Alessio Sr.
The Village Pub was opened in 1967 by Frank Ellis, who eventually passed it on to his son, Gary.[2]
The name was changed to Ellis Island in 1985.[3] On September 19, 1997, Ellis Island opened a large portion of a $12 million renovation and expansion, which doubled its slot machine count to 410 and introduced table games by adding six blackjack tables.[3]
In 1995 Ellis relaunched the Village Pub brand.[4] As of 2020, the family owns and operates 12 Village Pub restaurants in the Las Vegas area.
Ellis agreed in 2004 to manage and take joint ownership of the nearby Tuscany Suites and Casino, which had struggled to attract customers in its first year.[2] The agreement fell apart when Tuscany officials allegedly backed out.[5]
Later that year, Ellis signed on to the planned 46-story Aqua Blue condo-hotel project to replace an adjacent Super 8 motel. Ellis Island would manage the Aqua Blue casino, and would itself be renovated to match the new tower.[6] However, the project was cancelled in June 2005, due in part to rising construction costs.[7]
In 2014 Ellis bought the adjacent Super 8 motel, creating a vertically integrated hotel and casino business.[8] In 2018, the hotel's rooms and facilities were renovated.[9]
Planning for an expansion project began in 2017, with construction work commencing later that year.[10] After some delays, in December 2019 Ellis Island opened the 'Front Yard' with a new restaurant, bar and beer garden.[11]
In 2018 the Ellis family acquired the Mount Charleston Lodge at Kyle Canyon.[12]
Brewery[edit]
In 1993, Ellis established a brewery on the premise and tasked brewmaster Joe Pickett with brewing a variety of beers for the casino's restaurants.[13] Regular brews include Lager, Light Lager, Amber Ale, India Pale Ale, Hefeweizen, Stout and Root Beer, as well as seasonal specials.[14]
With 3345 barrels produced in 2009, Ellis Island Brewery was the largest brewpub in the Mountain West region (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming).[15]
In 2018, the brewhouse capacity was doubled[16] and two new brewmasters, Eddie Leal and Michael Key, were hired to run the brewing business.[17]
In December 2019, Ellis established Silver Reef Brewing Company in St. George, Utah, adding annual capacity of up to 10,000 barrels to the brewing business.[18]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^'Las Vegas: For Him'. Denver Post. 2008-03-16. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
- ^ ab'Ellis Island, Tuscany in deal'. Las Vegas Sun. 12 April 2004. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
- ^ abBerns, Dave (22 September 1997). 'Ellis Island doubles slots, adds blackjack'. Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on 9 November 1999.
- ^'Ellis Island's Village Pub empire hits that friendly neighborhood-bar sweet spot - Las Vegas Weekly'. lasvegasweekly.com. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
- ^Benston, Liz (26 August 2004). 'Ellis Island Plans Condo-Hotel'. Casino City Times. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
- ^Benston, Liz (17 January 2005). 'High-Rise Developer Brings Strengths to Vegas'. Casino City Times. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
- ^Smith, Hubble (30 June 2005). 'Plans to build 46-story condominium hotel canceled'. Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
- ^'Ellis Island starts work on $10M dining, entertainment venue'. Las Vegas Review-Journal. 2017-07-06. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
- ^'Ellis Island Hotel, Casino and Brewery Taps Agilysys to Upgrade Its Technology Capabilities |'. 2018-08-16. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
- ^'Ellis Island Casino gets a makeover'. www.gamingtoday.com. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
- ^'The Front Yard at Ellis Island casino opens its doors'. Las Vegas Review-Journal. 2019-12-03. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
- ^'Ellis Island owners may bring gaming to Mount Charleston Lodge'. Las Vegas Review-Journal. 2018-04-30. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
- ^'Joe Pickett, Brewmaster at Ellis Island Casino and Brewery Las Vegas » Vegas Mavens'. vegasmavens.com. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
- ^Evans, Pat (2018-12-10). Nevada Beer: An Intoxicating History. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN978-1-4396-6596-1.
- ^Hieronymus, Stan (May 2010). 'Brewpubs: Bucking the Trend'(PDF). Brewers Association. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
- ^'Nevada Beer Nuggets – The Latest News In Nevada Brews'. Celebrator Beer News. 2018-12-17. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
- ^'Ellis Island Hotel, Casino And Brewery Announces Two New Brew Masters'. Food & Beverage Magazine. 2018-10-16. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
- ^DeForest, J. J. 'From grain to glass: new brewery brings craft beer to St. George'. The Spectrum & Daily News. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
External links[edit]
When you open the menu at Ellis Island Casino & Brewery, be prepared for a flashback. Those who remember the days of inexpensive and plentiful food in exchange for a little gambling will love it here.
Where else can you get a 20-ounce glass of draft beer for $1.50? Or a 10-ounce top sirloin made from Choice meat, served with a super salad AND that draft beer for $6.99? As they say, only in Vegas.
So, sure, your first impression of Ellis Island is old Las Vegas. It has those great prices. It has a casino. It’s open 24 hours, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. It has the dark paneling and deep maroon booths, with the constant glimmer of the casino lights.
However, take a second look. For one thing, old Vegas food never tasted quite this good. And, the restaurant has been innovative with its brewery business. That means that, at Christmas, it’s all about the famous Ellis Island eggnog.
Ellis Island Casino Front Yard
General Manager Marcus Zaval (pictured, top) says they make 300 gallons of it every year, based on owner Gary Ellis’ original recipe. “He made it for the staff Christmas party every year,” says Zaval, “and it just grew. One year we said, ‘Why don’t we just make 100 gallons and see what happens.’”
What happened was that it became so popular, they now have to crack up to 600 eggs, purchase an untold amount of Madagascar vanilla, adjust the spices for the huge quantity made each year, and find space to refrigerate the jugs during the month of sales.
Chef Larry Bowman, who works alongside Zaval on the specialty item, emphasizes that they only use top quality ingredients. “We don’t believe in taking shortcuts,” he says.
That same commitment is carried through the other items on the menu. The BBQ ribs (click for recipe video) are prepared on the patio outside the restaurant, and there is a two hour waiting list for them almost every day—at $11.99 for a two-pound rack, with fall-off-the-bone tenderness and flavor, who can wonder why. “They are a wet rib,” says Zaval, “steamed on charcoal with wood.”
Ellis Island was a restaurant before it was a casino. It started in 1968 as “The Village Pub,” and the Brewery came later. Zaval says, “If you are a local—you live in Vegas—you don’t go to the Palazzo. You come here for the $7 special and the $1.50 beer and the best ribs in the country.”
Ellis Island Casino Food Specials
You might also come for the karaoke, from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. daily. “We win the Best of Las Vegas category in karaoke every year,” says Zaval. They’ve also won for “Best Slot Club,” perhaps because of its 350 gaming devices with a variety of games including reel slots, video poker, and keno. Live blackjack, roulette, craps and sports book wagering is available 7 days a week, along with free bingo every weekday.
Zaval explains the restaurant’s history this way: “Our biggest thing in early days was taking care of casino workers. They are still our biggest market,” although he says that repeat tourism is also a big part of the business.
Ellis Island Casino Food Specials
“We have a guy we call ‘Dr. Greenbean,’” he says. “He’s from Chicago, and he comes every year. One time they didn’t put garlic salt on his green beans, and he e-mailed me to make sure we knew. Now he calls or e-mails to let me know when he’s coming, and I always take care of him!”
Ellis Island Casino Discount Codes
The Brewery is a big draw, and Ellis Island brews a variety of beers: Light, Amber, Stout, Hefe Weiss, plus a natural root beer that is rich and mellow with just a slight bite. They have a silo filled with 10,000 pounds of grain, and use copper kettles that were made specially for them. <!– See more about that from Brewmaster Joe Pickett, here. –>
The restaurant has kept its food updated, even if its prices aren’t. They produce a flaky Orange Roughy served with a sprinkling of paprika. They have a chicken fried steak, a pork tenderloin big enough to require a steak knife to cut, and a sirloin steak that is—no other word for it—succulent.
The signature fish & chips are made from Icelandic cod and served with malt vinegar, which Zaval says is, “the only way to eat it.” Dishes are served with massive sides of corn, mashed potatoes, gravy, and those famous green beans, with lots of garlic.
“I am so proud of what we do,” says Zaval. “Everything we get is top quality. We don’t buy anything but the best. All of it is brand name, from the liquor in the eggnog to the ketchup and mustard packets.”
And, believing that everything is larger-than-life in Vegas, they created something called, “That Really Big Ice Cream Chocolate Brownie Thing.” It’s a hot brownie topped with two scoops of French Vanilla ice cream, chocolae syrup, chocolate sprinklerecipes/recipe/old-fashioned-bread-stuffing/s, whipped cream, and a cherry. In keeping with the old Vegas prices, it’s $3.99.
Only in Vegas.
<!–
Hear more from Ellis Island, here.
–>
Learn how to make That Really Big Ice Cream Chocolate Brownie Thing.
For a closer look at those ribs, click here.
See our Day 7 story for more.
Visit Ellis Island Casino and Brewery when you are in Las Vegas:
4178 Koval Lane
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702.733.8901
www.ellisislandcasino.com
Located on Koval Lane one block south of Flamingo
This is a Raves & Faves Featured Restaurant.