The scenic eatery will be located on the 108th level of the Tower’s Observation Deck, more than 1,000 feet up from the ground.
“The fresh, inventive cuisine of James Trees will be a delight for visitors to the Stratosphere’s Observation Deck,” said Bart Mahoney, vice president of food and beverage for Golden Entertainment, Inc., the parent company of Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower. “It was almost like bringing a family member back into the fold.”
“The opportunity to bring a taste of local Las Vegas to the top of this iconic tourist destination was too good to resist,” said Trees.
Various treats start at $3 and include a pretzel and butterscotch cookie, a peanut butter jam cookie, Calabrian spiked chips, root chips and chili cheddar popcorn. Panini sandwiches are prepared on fresh sourdough bread and include the mushroom and truffle, prepared with fontina and boschetto tartufo; the roasted Porchetta, prepared with rapini, chilis and provolone cheese; and the sliced meatball, prepared with basil ricotta and bianco pomodoro. Paninis are priced starting at $10.
Single ice cream and sorbet scoops, priced at $4, include Madagascar vanilla, burnt cocoa chocolate, strawberry rhubarb, buttermilk caramel swirl, brown butter pear, salted caramel, pumpkin spice latte, and white coffee and chocolate.
Trees, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., began his career at Mirage Hotel & Casino and has worked with several high-profile chefs, including Michael Mina, Bradley Ogden, Eric Ripert, Heston Blumenthal, Akasha Richmond and Ray Garcia. Trees opened multiple restaurants across the U.S. as corporate sous chef for Mina Group and worked with Gordon Ramsay on the hit television series “Kitchen Nightmares” and “Hell’s Kitchen.” Trees’ first restaurant, Esther’s Kitchen, located in the Downtown Arts District, is one of the most celebrated restaurants to open in Las Vegas in the past year.