April 5 marks the end of an era for the Phoenician, when the resort's legendary fine dining establishment, Mary Elaine's, has its last dinner service. But now there's word of the next chapter: J&G Steakhouse is scheduled to open on October 1.
When Mary Elaine's closing was announced, the most we knew of the successor was that it would be a new eatery from chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Culinary Concepts By Jean-Georges, a restaurant and licensing business partnered with Starwood, the Phoenician's parent company.
We might look to Vongerichten's Prime Steakhouse at the Bellagio in Las Vegas for an idea of what to expect, although Denise Seomin, PR director for the Phoenician, notes that J&G Steakhouse is "not really about following a model."
The new concept will "lend to the indigenous flavor of the area, and particularly the resort," she adds, and the menu, featuring premium meats and fish, and will allow guests to create their own individually designed meals.
Starting in May, the space vacated by Mary Elaine's will undergo a $6 million renovation; the new David Rockwell-designed interior will incorporate stone and wood for an "elegant, soft modern" feel. Naturally, the dining room will still play up its panoramic fifth-floor views of the Valley.
On a related note, look for a $1 million renovation at another Phoenician restaurant in May, when The Terrace will shift from American to Italian cuisine, and will be renamed Il Terrazzo.
