The Garden Room, one of Barry’s Downtown Prime’s semi-private dining areas, is centered around a lush olive tree with glimmering lights. Photo courtesy of Pathfinder Productions

Worth the Wait: Barry’s Downtown Prime is a Las Vegas Steakhouse that’s Well Done

BY HEATHER TURK

Chef Barry S. Dakake (N9NE Steakhouse and Scotch 80 Prime at Palms Casino Resort) was always interested in having his own restaurant one day.

Dakake previously worked for celebrated chef Charlie Palmer in New York City before relocating to Las Vegas to help open Aureole inside Mandalay Bay and Charlie Palmer Steak Las Vegas inside the Four Seasons Hotel. Dakake told Chic Compass, “You can’t just stay stagnant and keep doin’ what you’re doin’. You have to always challenge yourself in life to get better.”

Although opening a new restaurant is always a challenge, Dakake faced unprecedented challenges when he was finally offered the chance to open up his own steakhouse in Las Vegas with his team, Make It Happen Hospitality. Located within downtown Las Vegas’ first new ground-up hotel and casino in more than four decades, Circa Resort & Casino, Barry’s Downtown Prime opened its doors in October 2020 — right in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The striking bar lounge area at Barry’s Downtown Prime features custom wall coverings, marble surfaces, and a gold ceiling. Photo courtesy of Pathfinder Productions

“We didn’t know what the government was going to mandate,” Dakake said. “We didn’t know what would be allowed. We didn’t know how many covers we could do. We didn’t know anything! Our hands were really tied up behind our back. We just had to go and follow the laws, but we made it happen.”

One of Las Vegas’ most exquisite new restaurants, Barry’s Downtown Prime has quickly become a destination unto itself. While Dakake noted that anytime there’s a brand-new restaurant in town, people are always ecstatic to visit and see what’s going on, he and his team truly go “above and beyond” to serve up an exceptional steakhouse experience.

The only venue at the 21-and-older resort open to guests of all ages, Barry’s Downtown Prime transports diners back in time to old-school Las Vegas with its vintage ’50s and ’60s glamour. Housed in Circa’s secluded bottom floor, the seductive steakhouse welcomes guests via an underground elevator entrance situated directly beneath the restored Vegas Vickie neon sign in the hotel’s lobby. Once inside, guests will notice such touches as burnished brass furnishings and moody antique mirrors throughout the 17,000-square-foot space, as well as warm brown and white oak parquet floors and plush booths upholstered with deep velvet jewel tones and rich leather.

The steakhouse features several showstopping design elements, including an illuminated, three-dimensional, rose-inspired ceiling in the foyer and a collection of multi-functional dining areas able to accommodate anywhere from 12 to 350 people. However, its curated art collection is something Dakake is especially proud of. More than 40 local artists created original works for the restaurant, like synthetic polymer artist Tim Bavington, who created one of Dakake’s favorite paintings, “God Only Knows,” inspired by the classic Beach Boys song.

“All of the artwork that’s in here represents all of the owners and things that we like in life,” Dakake stated. “There are a lot of pictures of animals on the walls ’cause I love animals. I also love boxing, so there’s a painting of Joe Lewis.”

Even though the steakhouse is stunning, Dakake’s mouthwatering menu is the true star. Sure to have something for everyone, the seasonally inspired menu offers everything from sumptuous seafood plates and succulent steaks to delectable vegan dishes and creative cocktails. Fans of N9NE Steakhouse will even notice a few favorites from the classic Palms restaurant on Barry’s Downtown Prime’s dinner menu — like the Fire Chicken with sliced red Fresno chilies and the tableside Campfire S’mores. While nothing on the menu disappoints, Dakake recommends guests start their meal with the Chilled Shellfish Platter — Maine lobster, king crab legs, East and West Coast oysters, shrimp cocktail bites and an octopus and calamari salad complemented by a spicy cocktail sauce and an apple cider mignonette — before ordering either the sautéed Dover Sole or the signature 12-ounce Rib Cap “Barry’s Steak.”

“I just believe it’s the most flavorful, meaty piece of steak on the whole cattle,” Dakake said of his namesake steak, which is meticulously roasted over fruitwood and 900-degree coals. “It’s phenomenal.”

Barry’s Downtown Prime’s signature cut of steak: the 12-ounce Rib Cap “Barry’s Steak.” Photo courtesy of Pathfinder Productions

Dakake also highly recommends ordering a Manhattan or Old Fashioned from the restaurant’s tableside cocktail cart and pairing one’s entrée selection with the steakhouse’s Whole Maine Lobster Mac ’N Cheese. The restaurant features weekly specials, too, and will be offering a special prix fixe menu on Valentine’s Day for couples still making their dinner plans.

Not surprisingly, the sophisticated steakhouse has welcomed numerous stars to its tables in its first year of operation, including boxers Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather, wrestler Bill Goldberg, actors Dennis Quaid and Jeremy Piven, and actress Gabrielle Union. The Vegas Golden Knights also recently dined at the restaurant to kick off Barry’s Downtown Prime’s sponsorship deal as the official steakhouse of the NHL team, which will run through 2024.

The Whole Main Lobster Mac ‘N Cheese is one of the steakhouse’s signature sides. Photo by Patrick Miyoshi

Barry’s Downtown Prime is open nightly from 5 to 11 p.m. While there’s no shortage of great dining options in Las Vegas, self-proclaimed “foodies” will want to venture downtown to see what Dakake has cooked up, as his long-awaited steakhouse is genuinely a cut above the competition.

“It’s definitely an experience to see what we brought to downtown with the food, the ambiance, and the service,” Dakake concluded. “Everything is the complete package.” barrysdowntownprime.com

A section of the main dining room at Barry’s Downtown Prime. Photo courtesy of Pathfinder Productions