Siegel's 1941: A Taste of Old Las Vegas at El Cortez

Siegel's 1941 inside El Cortez Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada — Siegel’s 1941 inside El Cortez Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada

Siegel’s 1941 is an old-school style restaurant located within the El Cortez Hotel & Casino in downtown Las Vegas near Fremont Street. The name “Siegel’s” acknowledges the historical connections to infamous mob figures, while “1941” pays tribute to the year the resort was established.

In 1945, mobsters and organized crime figures Bugsy Siegel, Meyer Lansky, Gus Greenbaum, and Moe Sedway purchased the resort from the former owners. These men, through various legal and illegal activities, played significant roles in the development of Las Vegas as a gambling and entertainment hub.

In 2015, marking the 75th anniversary of El Cortez, Siegel’s 1941 opened, taking over the space of the former The Flame Steakhouse, located on the casino floor. Since then, they have gained a following with locals and tourists for their menus featuring a variety of American fare, from breakfast to steaks to prime rib and everything in between.

Today, Siegel’s 1941 delivers a nostalgic dining experience that blends old-school charm with sophistication, set in a casual atmosphere. The restaurant aims to recreate the golden era of Las Vegas, reflecting a time when Bugsy Siegel played a pivotal role in the city’s development.

Arrival at Siegel’s 1941

It was a Saturday night, and it was getting late. Since I was staying at El Cortez, I thought it would be easiest to visit Siegel’s 1941 since they were open 24 hours that night and located inside the hotel.

When I arrived at the restaurant around 10 PM, I was surprised to see the dining room empty. I approached the hostess, who told me it would be a 10 minute wait.

After 30 minutes, I approached the hostess again, and they said the table was not ready and that I would have to wait longer. After an hour, once again, I asked about the table. The annoyed hostess told me only one server was working. For a Saturday night, I thought this was strange.

After standing around confused, a manager approached me. I told him how long I had been waiting. After telling him my story, he offered to comp my meal. I wanted to leave, but he convinced me to stay.

Interior of Siegel’s 1941

The main dining area of Siegel’s 1941 was spacious, bright, and open, featuring large windows that offered views of the busy casino floor.

The décor, featuring white tables, circular lights, a tin ceiling, red booths, and black accents, reminded me of midcentury modern design—a mix of old-school charm and modern sophistication. On the walls were large images of Siegel, along with photographs of his mobster friends.

While the space was beautiful and upscale, it was casual and laid back at the same time. There is no need to dress up here unless you want to.

Siegel’s 1941 Late Night Menu

The Late Night Menu at Siegel's 1941, Las Vegas, Nevada — The Late Night Menu at Siegel’s 1941

After waiting an hour to be seated, I found that the restaurant had switched from the extensive All Day menu to the limited Overnight menu. I was frustrated with the limited options on this menu, but after waiting so long, I just wanted to eat, and I didn’t care what I ordered.

Though smaller, Siegel’s 1941 Late Night Menu offered various choices, from appetizers to burgers, sandwiches, and breakfast items, including Steak and Eggs. I liked how the Hawaiian-style Big Island Fried Rice gave a welcoming nod to Las Vegas’s many Hawaiian guests.

They didn’t offer me a drink menu, but being in a casino, I’d expect a selection of beers, wines, and cocktails.

Country Fried Steak

While there weren’t many options on the menu, they did have Country Fried Steak ($18.00). This classic American dish had a breaded steak covered in country sausage gravy, three large eggs, and hash browns on the side.

Even covered in gravy, the breading of the steak was crispy with a rich flavor. While simple, it held up without falling apart.

The steak inside was tender and thick, with a rich, salty taste. However, combined with the salty breading, the overall saltiness was too much for me.

Covering the breaded steak was a thick country sausage gravy. On the one hand, the gravy tasted flavorful and homemade, but on the other hand, there wasn’t much sausage in it. And, again, it was too salty.

The shredded potatoes were golden brown and crispy on top. But, underneath, they were undercooked and had an off-putting slimy texture. The over-easy eggs, while simple, were fresh, large, and cooked to perfection.

A side of sourdough bread, Siegel's 1941, Las Vegas, Nevada — A side of sourdough bread

Served on another plate was lightly toasted sourdough bread, sweet jam, and creamy butter.

Service

My biggest complaint about my visit to Siegel’s 1941 was the service, especially from when I arrived until I sat down. I am not one to complain, but something is wrong when a dining room is almost empty, and the wait is one hour.

I understand staff shortages happen. But for a Saturday night, when downtown Las Vegas is at its busiest, I can’t comprehend how the main restaurant in a large casino can only have one server.

Thankfully, once I spoke with a manager and made it clear that my goal was to eat, not to seek a free meal, he kindly offered to cover the cost of the entire meal. I was reluctant but accepted his offer.

When I finally sat down at my table, I noticed a worker on her phone in the dining room. She was laughing at how she was ready to go home, while customers like myself were waiting outside for a table. At this point, I realized that the lack of service wasn’t due to the empty dining room but insufficient training.

A few moments later, a woman, who appeared to be grumpy, approached my table and took my order without any greeting or acknowledgment. I could tell she did not want to be there. But I do have to give her credit; she kept returning to refill my water cup.

The wait time is the last thing I want to mention. As said before, the dining room was empty. And it still took about 30 minutes for food to arrive. I almost walked out, but I remained patient and waited with the meal comped.

I hope my experience with the service at Siegel’s 1941 was an exception and that you receive better service during your visit. But I am doubtful.

Conclusion

El Cortez is one of my favorite hotels to stay at in downtown Las Vegas. It is historic and feels like a spot where locals play, dine, and drink. So, when I finally had the chance to try Siegel’s 1941, I was excited.

With a name like Siegel’s 1941, linked to the mobster days of old Las Vegas, I was expecting an upscale experience. And the place looked beautiful every time I passed by.

Unfortunately, my hopes were way too high. Everything about the service was horrible, from waiting an hour for a table to the unfriendly servers to the 30 minute wait time for food.

While the food was alright, it was forgettable. I would rather spend my money and time elsewhere on Fremont Street, where plenty of restaurants have better value and service.

Pros

Beautiful dining room

Cons

An hour wait for a table in an empty dining room after being told it would be 10 minutes
Unfriendly servers
Staff on personal phones
Forgettable food
$3.50 charge for to-go orders