Tom's Urban to Open at New York-New York Hotel & Casino

Tom's Urban, a modern and casual dining concept, will make its Las Vegas debut with a differentiated approach to fun, food and big drinks. Slated to open winter 2014 at New York-New York Hotel & Casino, the dynamic restaurant and bar will offer indoor and outdoor dining options with incredible views along the resort's iconic Brooklyn Bridge, serving diners around the clock in a high-energy environment on the Las Vegas Strip.

"I couldn't imagine a more fitting scene to open Tom's Urban than in the constantly running entertainment mecca of Las Vegas, along with New York-New York which provides us with the absolute ideal location," said Creator and Co-Founder Tom Ryan. "We are hard at work crafting new signature plates and cocktails specifically for our Vegas restaurant that will truly raise the bar when it comes to what's available to eat and drink all day-and-night on The Strip."

New York-New York President and COO Cynthia Kiser Murphey added, "It is a remarkable time to be a part of New York-New York as the resort has undergone a dynamic evolution in recent months, injecting new energy into our corner of The Strip. With the on-going development of our Brooklyn Bridge Zone, including the expansion of Nine Fine Irishmen Pub and the addition of the largest Hershey's Chocolate World store and Swatch, we continue to deliver world-class experiences to our guests. With the inclusion of Tom's Urban to the re-energized plaza, we further enhance our offerings, providing guests with a modern take on classic comfort food and an opportunity to enjoy a fun strip-side patio and bar area that is easily accessible to Las Vegas Boulevard. The venue will be the ideal location for afternoon cocktails, post-show dinner activity or a late-night hotspot to engage with friends."

Tom's Urban will highlight dishes with big, bold flavors that express a familiarity to the consumer, but with Tom's signature twist. A great representation of this concept will include offerings such as Tom's Truffled Cracked Lobster Sliders, Ginger Chicken Pot Stickers and the Havana Carnitas Sandwich - all riffs on classic dishes - presented in a way unique to Tom's. Tom's Urban also will offer brunch, with favorites such as urban street tacos, pizza, a variety of signature small plates and desserts. New signature dishes, specific to Las Vegas, also will be part of the menu.

The handcrafted cocktail program will feature playful, signature creations such as WTF, a blending of Elijah Craig Whiskey, red wine, Coors Light, orange juice, and blackberry liquor and Taze Me, Bro, a mixture of Maestro Dobel Diamond Tequila infused with peppers and pineapple juice. These cocktails can be ordered in both traditional and large-format sizes, an offer that Tom's rolled out with great success at the LA Live and Denver locations.

The mastermind behind the concept is Tom Ryan, recognized by Gourmet as one of the top 25 food entrepreneurs of the last quarter century. Ryan founded the concept with restaurant financier, Rick Schaden, in 2012. The two spent time together traveling to the world's great food cities to understand the uniqueness of urban cultures, foods and lifestyles. With their vision, the first Tom's Urban opened in 2012 at the corner of 15th and Larimer in one of the most vibrant lifestyle scenes in downtown Denver; with a second location recently opened inside the dynamic LA LIVE complex in downtown Los Angeles. Ryan and Schaden are now excited to bring the third location to the Las Vegas Strip.

With a background and career in the global food industry, Ryan (who also co-founded the Smashburger brand) has traveled the world tasting as many flavors as possible. He earned a Ph.D. in Flavor and Fragrance Chemistry; a Masters in Lipid Toxicology and a Bachelors in Food Science, all from Michigan State University. He enjoys not only eating the food, but also learning the ins-and-outs of the food culture wherever his travels take him. His passion to experience as many global flavors as possible is what inspired him, along with Schaden, to create Tom's Urban, a place for other culinary lovers to experience the world one plate at a time.

Co-Founder Rick Schaden said, "We've come a long way since that moment in 2012 when we opened Tom's Urban in Denver. Our second location is open in the heart of the L.A. LIVE campus, a place known as the entertainment mecca for the West Coast. In opening Tom's Urban here in Las Vegas, we knew we had to be everything we were known for in Denver and Los Angeles, but adapted to fit the Vegas experience."

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