A longtime Strip restaurant, Julian Serrano Tapas, which we by no means visited as a result of we’re an uncultured bumpkin, will shut at Aria on Feb. 1, 2025.
“Tapas,” in fact, is a Spanish phrase that means “small parts, huge costs.”
A brand new idea will open within the Julian Serrano Tapas house in late 2025, following an acceptable interval of mourning.

Julian Serrano Tapas opened when Aria did, in December 2009.
The restaurant gained various awards through the years, which we might copy and paste right here, however we’ll go away that to the Las Vegas Evaluation-Journal, dependable purveyors of suck.
We’ll embrace a quote from the information launch in regards to the closure, principally as a result of it is going to keep away from us having to do “analysis” or “give you one thing intelligent or helpful.”
“The culinary excellence and affect Chef Serrano delivered to Aria for the previous 15 years is a testomony to his expertise and unwavering work ethic,” stated Ayesha Molino, President & COO of Aria. “He constantly led the restaurant and chef groups with professionalism, providing mentorship to all who labored alongside him, pushing every particular person to ship world-class hospitality to our visitors. His contributions are sincerely appreciated, and we want him and his household pleasure and luck sooner or later and past.”
First, the quote initially included Aria in all caps, giving the impression Ayesha Molino might endure from Tourette Syndrome or one other tic dysfunction. Unconfirmed.
Second, “the long run and past”? Past the long run? Is the president of Aria wishing a famous chef and his household the warmth dying of the universe, a degree the place every little thing that exists reaches most entropy and no significant bodily processes happen? Is anybody else disturbed by that? And don’t even get us began on singularity, the purpose the place synthetic intelligence surpasses human intelligence and turns into self-improving at an exponential price and humanity is rendered moot. Isn’t all this just a little heavy for a press release a couple of restaurant closure?

Following the announcement Julian Serrano Tapas will shut, there was an outpouring of emotion from longtime followers of the restaurant. Properly, perhaps not an outpouring, however there was particular seepage. Someplace between a trickle and a torrent. Barely lower than a cascade, however greater than a gush. There was a particular emission and we’re going to must take these pants to the cleaners.
Spanish chef Julian Serrano was final within the information when his acclaimed Picasso restaurant closed at Bellagio after almost three a long time.
Serrano is 74, and whereas we don’t have his telephone quantity, we are able to safely assume his reply to the query, “Why are you retiring?” can be one thing alongside the traces of, “I’m simply form of over the bullshit.”
Restauranting is tough.

You might be by no means going to consider the identify of our band in highschool.

So, why are Serrano’s eating places closing?
Properly, these are MGM Resorts resorts. Profitable restaurant don’t shut in Las Vegas except there’s a intercourse scandal. This isn’t that.
This saga has the vibe of MGM Resorts feeling prefer it’s not getting sufficient bang for its buck with its Julian Serrano partnership anymore.
Serrano is getting up there in years, however most celeb cooks don’t really work of their eating places. If these eating places have been delivering on income, Serrano might simply sit again and gather licensing charges like different cooks. No want to shut something.
The truth is these eating places have run their course and MGM Resorts is seeking to recent ideas and extra income.
If this have been actually about Serrano retiring, his Lago at Bellagio would shut as nicely. That place is making financial institution.
Anyway, a toast to Chef Serrano and his workforce for the simple success of Julian Serrano Tapas throughout its spectacular run at Aria.
On the brilliant facet, the suckling pig and octopus communities are celebrating this information such as you wouldn’t consider.