Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Transforms into KISS Rocks Vegas Headquarters with Limited-Time-Only Menus and Merchandise Nov. 5–23
As KISS heads to The Joint for its first residency, KISS Rocks Vegas, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino activates property-wide, band-inspired menus and merchandise, Nov. 5 – 23.
KISS, comprised of Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer, is set to take over The Joint with nine over-the-top performances from Nov. 5 to Nov. 23. To welcome the entertainment legends, the resort’s overall atmosphere has been revamped in true rock style with limited-time menus available at 35 Steaks + Martinis, Culinary Dropout, Mr. Lucky’s Café, Pink Taco and all casino bars. Additionally, John Varvatos and KISS’s official pop-up shop B Side will sell themed merchandise, and Reliquary Water Sanctuary, Spa & Salon will offer rocker-chic treatments.
35 Steaks + Martinis, the property’s premier steakhouse, heats things up with Smoke ($14), a cold smoked Scottish salmon, prepared in harmony with capers, red onion, dill, cucumbers, buttered crostinis, herbs and garlic cheese; and Sweet Pain ($10), a sinfully indulgent dessert complete with creamy caramel apple mousse, white chocolate cake, caramel popcorn ice cream and a syringe full of fireball sauce.
Featuring a feast fit for rock ‘n’ roll royalty, Culinary Dropout presents a specialty Prix Fixe menu ($25 per person). The spread offers a choice of Soft Pretzels and Provolone Fondue or a House Salad for the starter; Fried Chicken or Ma…The Meatloaf!?! for the entrée; and one Paper Bag Beer Special. Additionally, the soulful gastro-pub enhances its selection with an array of their favorite cocktails, re-named after the band’s most memorable hits. Guests can wash down their meal with cocktails on special for the entire KISS residency. Rock ‘n’ Roll All Nite ($10, reg $12), a refreshing union of Plymouth gin, strawberry simple, fresh lemon and sparkling wine; Detroit Rock City ($10, reg $12), a modern mix featuring Stolichnaya Premium Vodka with fresh strawberry and lemon juices topped with Shock Top Belgian White Wheat Ale; Love Gun ($10, reg $12), a sweet and smooth cocktail, blending Belvedere Vodka with grapefruit, cranberry and lemon juices; or Beth ($10, reg $12), a combination of Licor 43, lemon sour and Angry Orchard Hard Cider that truly packs a punch.
The 24-hour hotspot, Mr. Lucky’s Café, pulls out the big guns with its honorary menu featuring Heaven’s On Fire ($11), a hearty serving of steamed black mussels, potato wedges, grilled baguette and tomato-fennel broth; Love Gun ($13), a foot-long hot dog topped with pulled pork, melted cheese and BBQ sauce served with French fries; and Lick It Up ($9), a dessert worthy of hall-of-fame induction, complete with house waffle cone with chocolate rim, strawberry-chocolate jelly roll, candied almond rocky road ice cream, warm fudge sauce, chocolate pop rocks and commemorative Hard Rock Hotel & Casino drum sticks.
The party continues at Pink Taco, where patrons can reminisce on iconic KISS hits with a tasty, band-inspired fare. The restaurant highlights iconic band achievements with Hotter Than Hot ($12), a queso flameado con lobster and flour tortilla combination; All Hell’s Breakin’ Loose ($24), a sizzling molcajete for two, topped with grilled shrimp, carne asada, pollo asada, peppers and onions, rice, ancho-tomato broth and radish; and Heaven’s On Fire ($7), a sugar feign’s paradise, featuring a flaming plantain tostada, sprinkled with waffle crisps and topped with a scoop of creamy caramel swirl ice cream.
As an ode to the legends, all casino bars (Center Bar, Luxe Bar, Midway Bar and Side Bet Bar) spotlight specialty KISS cocktails for $6 each, each dubbed with a song-inspired name. The drinks include Animalize, a mixture of Don Julio Añejo, lime juice, orange juice and grapefruit juice; Dynasty, a smooth and refreshing concoction of Ketel One Vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup and soda water; KISS Gold, a down-home and straight-forward combination of Crown Royal Whisky, Chambord Liqueur and Southern Comfort; Love Gun, a sweet and sassy dose of Crown Royal Whisky, peach schnapps and cranberry juice; Psycho Circus, a play-it-safe option that unites Ketel One Vodka with cranberry and orange juices; Sonic Boom, a fizzy and light cocktail with Tanqueray Gin, Grand Marnier, lemon juice, pineapple juice and ginger ale; True Confessions, a fruity blend of Ketel One Vodka, peach schnapps, fresh lime juice and Sprite; and War Machine, a spunky libation that mixes Tanqueray Gin with Blue Curaçao, sweet ‘n’ sour mix and pineapple juice.
At the end of the day, even the hardest of head bangers need to relax and regain sanity. Reliquary Water Sanctuary, Spa & Salon is ready to revive rockers with God of Thunder ($135), a 50-minute treatment featuring an exfoliating body scrub, invigorating Vichy shower rinse and hydrating body moisturizer; and Deuce ($205), a 50-minute, head-to-toe treatment combining a Swedish Massage with a quality facial.
With an album titled Dressed to Kill, it is clear that KISS believes in a good wardrobe. Accordingly, John Varvatos unveils a vast assortment of KISS-inspired pieces and groupie garb. Gene Simmons’s face graces a collection T-shirts, cardigans and vintage sweaters, accented by silver horns or claw buttons. One shirt, predictably a fan favorite, features a portrait of the four members on the front and the phrase “dress to kill” on the back.
No residency is complete without a souvenir shop. B Side, the official KISS pop-up shop, serves as a hybrid KISS retail store and art gallery, boasting endless amounts of fan gear and professional photographs by Katarina Benzova, Lynn Goldsmith, Bob Gruen, Erik Kabik, Neal Preston and Neil Zlozower. In addition, the band’s Authentic Anvil Road Case will be on display and guests will have a chance to win it through an in-store contest. KISS guitarist and singer, Paul Stanley, is also confirmed to conduct three book signings, open to the public, on Nov. 8, 15 and 22 at 1 p.m. (The signings will be held in B. Side, the KISS pop-up shop located next to Culinary Dropout).
KISS Rocks Vegas takes over The Joint Nov. 5, 7 – 8, 12, 14 – 15, 19, 22 – 23. Tickets start at $49.50 (plus applicable service fees) and are on sale now. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit the Hard Rock Hotel box office, www.axs.com or charge-by-phone at 1-888-9-AXS-TIX. VIP ticket and room and show packages are available at www.hardrockhotel.com.