Kwame Onwuachi's Maroon opens

Chef Kwame Onwuachi opens Maroon, his Afro-Caribbean steakhouse, at the Sahara Las Vegas tomorrow, April 24. (lasvegasweekly.com) The 8,000-square-foot space on the casino floor seats 140 indoors and 60 on a patio overlooking the pool. It features a 28-foot bar and a raw bar with oysters, crudo and ceviches. (lasvegasweekly.com) Onwuachi pairs dry-aged steaks with Afro-Caribbean flavors like Scotch bonnet peppers, curry leaves and plantains. The menu includes a dry-aged strip steak, oxtail fried rice and rockfish pepper escovitch. (lasvegasweekly.com) Maroon draws from maroon communities—descendants of escaped enslaved Africans in the Caribbean who blended African, Indigenous and European ingredients. Onwuachi calls it a "love letter to the African diaspora." (lasvegasweekly.com; eater.com) The chef rose to fame with Shaw Bijou in Washington, D.C., which earned national buzz before closing amid controversy in 2016. He later opened Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi in New York, landing a Michelin star in 2024. (eater.com; michelin.com) Onwuachi co-owns Maroon with Myles Taylor and partners including Sahara owner Fred Dalphy. The project has built hype since its 2023 announcement. (eater.com; lasvegasweekly.com) The Sahara relaunched in 2022 after a $500 million renovation by Asset Group. Maroon joins other chef-driven spots like Balla Italian Soul and Yamashiro, expanding non-casual dining options. (saharalasvegas.com; lasvegasweekly.com) Las Vegas added 12 notable restaurants this month, including high tea at Resorts World and Villas Tacos at Durango. Onwuachi's debut marks the Strip's push for celebrity chefs blending global cuisines. (lasvegasweekly.com) Maroon reservations open today via OpenTable; dinner starts at 5 p.m. Expect dishes that fuse steakhouse classics with diaspora spice. (lasvegasweekly.com; opentele.com)