Big wins deserve a big night out, and Barry’s Downtown Prime has been serving up plenty of reasons to celebrate. The steakhouse inside Circa Resort & Casino recently welcomed an impressive lineup of bodybuilding champions, NFL players and one unmistakable “Mountain,” bringing serious star power to downtown Las Vegas.
Among the familiar faces was Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, the strength superstar known for playing Ser Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane on Game of Thrones. Staying at Circa during Olympia week, Björnsson made time for a surprise visit to owner Derek Stevens’ office, where he popped into an executive meeting simply to say hello.
An ordinary meeting suddenly had a larger-than-life guest. Even Stevens, who stands six feet tall, looked small beside Björnsson. For a resort accustomed to hosting big personalities, the unexpected appearance still made for a memorable moment.
The championship energy continued at Barry’s, where Mr. Olympia winner Nick Walker stopped in following his big victory. Walker posed with his medal alongside chef Barry Dakake and Yassine Lyoubi, bringing some hardware to his celebratory dinner. After the demanding preparation that comes with stepping onto bodybuilding’s biggest stage, the evening offered a chance to refuel and savor the accomplishment.
Four-time Olympia 212 champion Keone Pearson also joined the steakhouse’s lineup of accomplished guests. Pearson dined with his fiancée, IFBB Pro powerlifter Amanda Kohatsu, adding a power-couple appearance to the festivities. With champions gathering around its tables, Barry’s had plenty of muscle behind its reputation as a destination for victory celebrations.
The Las Vegas Raiders brought their own winning spirit to the restaurant after a victory in New Orleans. The following night, Fernando Mendoza, Brock Bowers, Dylan Laube, Tyler Linderbaum, AJ Cole, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Tre Tucker and Michael Mayer gathered for dinner, taking their postgame celebration from the road back to Las Vegas.
The fun extended beyond the dining room. After their meals, the players headed into the kitchen for photos with Dakake and Lyoubi. Some of their wives and girlfriends joined in, making the visit a celebration shared with teammates, loved ones and the restaurant’s hosts.
From Olympia medals to a Raiders road win, the recent visits gave Barry’s a guest list worthy of its own highlight reel. The athletes compete in different arenas, but their celebrations led to the same downtown destination. At Circa, championship appetites found a fitting place to land, and Barry’s was ready to welcome them to the table.
