Ada's

Of all Chef James Trees’ restaurants, Ada’s has always been the most experimental and free-form, sometimes feeling more like a workshop than a fixed concept. The decision to move it out of the Summerlin area into the Arts District hasn’t changed that. It’s simply given the team more space in which to operate and host special events without interrupting normal service.

Chef Jackson Stamper (a veteran of NYC’s Employees Only) offers a little bit of something for everyone on his compact menu. Familiar comfort foods like charcuterie, oysters, and one of the best smashburgers in Las Vegas are offered alongside unexpected combinations such as lemon pepper pork ribs, farro “risotto” with winter squash and feta, and maitake mushroom with miso fondue.

That burger is so great that Chef Nicole Brisson (Brezza) and content creator Emily Romero (@eatmelasvegas) have named it one of the best in town. But if you come to Ada’s, you owe it to yourself to take a few chances. And whatever you order, ask award-winning sommelier Kat Thomas to pair it with something from their reasonably priced wine list.

The new California Avenue location (with a Casino Center Blvd. address) is the same space that once housed Trees’ flagship restaurant, Esther’s Kitchen — offering a nice sense of nostalgia for Arts District old-timers.