📚 Superintendent showdown: Who’s left?

✅ ❌ Yea or Nay on Henderson Police Chief?

Still no official explanation for why Henderson’s police chief is on leave and under pressure to resign. She was accused of union-busting, which might’ve had something to do with it. [KTNV]

📚 Thank You, Next

The long search for a new superintendent is narrowing down, so let’s do some arithmetic the Clark County School District would be proud of. Begin with six candidates, subtract three, then add one. The finalists are now down to Nevada State Superintendent Jhone Ebert, John Anzalone (a super in Washington state), Ben Shuldiner (a super in Michigan), and surprise late entry Dr. Jesse Welsh, the CEO of Nevada State High School. [KVVU]

🏡 Vegas Tees Up New Home Community

The complicated (and expensive) Badlands saga inches closer to the finish line. The city gave Lennar Homes approval to build a new development on the former golf course. [Las Vegas Review-Journal]

☕ Java Time!

Las Vegas has so many good coffee shops, it’s hard to keep ‘em all straight. Fortunately, City Cast Las Vegas co-host Sarah Lohman spoke to local coffee blogger Melissa Martinez about the best java spots in town. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

The year is already off to a strong start with an impressive lineup of new restaurants on and off the Strip. So come hungry and check out the following places, which are already making an impression in our crowded culinary scene.

🍝 Caramella

Think of Caramella as a throwback to the kind of Italian restaurant you’d find in New York in the 1970s. Located in Planet Hollywood, the furnishings have a vintage feel and the outdoor patio has a killer, unobstructed view of the Bellagio fountains, even if the ambiance soaks in noise from the crowds and street performers on the Strip. Wash down the stuffed chicken parm with the Dirty Caramella martini and check out the hidden lounge behind the in-house candy shop for a secret nightcap after dinner.

🍷 The Guest House

The Guest House wouldn’t feel out of place in the Aria or Cosmopolitan, but brings a Strip-style dining experience to Town Square with less hassle and a (slightly) smaller price tag. The restaurant has a stylish lounge feel with everything — music, lighting, and decor — balanced perfectly in the old Tommy Bahama space. Pair the juicy Duroc pork chop with the miso mushrooms and thank me later. The kitchen makes its own bread and ice cream — and even brings out homemade molasses ginger snap cookies at the end, whether you order dessert or not.

🇨🇺 Havana 1957

Havana 1957 is the latest restaurant at the Flamingo resort. The Miami import specializes in Cuban cuisine, but here’s the hack to try a little of everything at once: Share the Cuban Combo (appetizers), La Orquestra Cubana (entree sampler), and spot-on Cuban sandwich, and finish it all off with a rum Old Fashioned. A side cafe serves coffee and pasties for the morning rush.

🍜 Marufuku Ramen

This San Francisco ramen shop is one of the first restaurants to open at The Bend, a long-delayed plaza in the Southwest. The Hakata Tonkotsu mixes simmered pork belly in a creamy broth, but the “DX” version of the Chicken Paitan steals the show at Marufuku Ramen with a grilled chicken leg served as something of a side garnish. Thigh included.

📺 Netflix Bites

Netflix now has its own restaurant inside the MGM Grand with interactive presentations inspired by the streaming giant’s hit shows. “Monday Night Raw” wrestling fans can try the WWE Smashburger — so beefy and cheesy, it’s like biting into a fist (which might be the idea) — while “Squid Game” addicts can spin a wheel in a game of “Red Bite, Green Bite” to help determine which of three sauces you’ll dip your chicken tender into. The best part of Netflix Bites? A molten lava cake in the form of an erupting volcano.

🍸 Sorellina

This new Italian restaurant by the team behind Café Lola and Saint Honoré is a welcome addition to the Southwest Valley, touching on co-owner Steve Jerome’s Italian heritage. Sorellina has a fresh neighborhood feel and social energy, but isn’t afraid of white tablecloths. You can’t go wrong with the layered chicken-and-eggplant parmesan or tableside burrata salad.

🍛 Tamba

There’s so much going on at Town Square, we might run a podcast about it soon 😉 Tamba is another impressive example, featuring Chef Anand Singh‘s elevated take on Indian cuisine in a sophisticated setting. The cocktail lounge alone is worth a visit, especially with more than 30 signature cocktails on the drink list. Live fire dishes are the specialty, with robust, balanced flavors. You can even try sushi, brought to life with subtle Indian ingredients.

🇰🇷 Yi's Traditional Korean Beef Soup

Yi's Traditional Korean Beef Soup is a new Chinatown spot that keeps things simple with a choice of soups, made with a continuously simmering broth. Ask for brisket — the top seller. Following Korean tradition, no salt is used, but you’re encouraged to add as much as you like from a side dish. The banchan (pickled vegetables) and dumplings round out a quick lunch perfectly.

⬇️ These two are better suited to our list of old restaurants that feel new again 👀

🍔 Gordon Ramsay Burger

The new version of Gordon Ramsay Burger at the Flamingo builds on the Planet Hollywood original with a darker, moodier space overlooking the Strip. Exclusives include a spicy take on a Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich and a Steak Dinner Burger, made with a rich Wagyu beef patty.

🇬🇷 The Great Greek

The Great Greek has most of the valley covered for fast-casual Mediterranean cuisine, but opens yet another location — this time, at The Bend. Play it safe with a gyro or load up on feta-smothered fries.