Itsy Bitsy: Ramen and Whisky Opening in Downtown Vegas

Fremont East Entertainment District in Downtown Las Vegas will soon welcome a new resident with Itsy Bitsy: Ramen and Whisky, an intimate Asian restaurant and bar opening this spring at 150 N. Las Vegas Blvd. at the base of The Ogden.

Itsy Bitsy is born from a dynamic partnership between Corner Bar Management Group, the company behind Park on Fremont, Commonwealth, BLVD. Cocktail Company, Due & Proper and Whist Stove & Spirits; Martin Koleff, the celebrated restaurateur behind Aburiya Raku, Sweets Raku, Kyara Japanese Tapas, Trattoria Nakamura-ya, Café de Japon, Goyemon Sushi House, and more; DJ Five, one of Las Vegas’ top DJs; and Downtown Project.

“DJ Five and I have a friendship that was built on our love of food, and Raku, as well as Martin Koleff’s other concepts, are some of our favorites,” said Corner Bar co-owner, Ryan Doherty. “Opening a restaurant that combines our talents is something that has been in the works for years, and the space at The Ogden couldn’t be a better fit to open Itsy Bitsy.”

Located in the space formerly occupied by Wild, the new dining destination will join the ranks of other outstanding Downtown Project small business investments including EAT, Carson Kitchen, Bocho and many more.

“Itsy Bitsy will be a great addition to the ongoing revitalization efforts of our flourishing neighborhood,” said Downtown Project’s Executive Vice President of Operations, Michael Downs. “We look forward to the continued growth of our partnership with Corner Bar through this and other future projects.”

Quirky, colorful and full of flavor, Itsy Bitsy combines the expertise of Koleff, one of the top restaurateurs in the nation specializing in Asian dining, with mixology, art and design, which have become signature qualities of Corner Bar’s concepts. The menu is simple, but satisfying, in offering a blank canvas for patrons to create their own ramen bowl through three steps: 1. “Pick Your Noodle,” 2. “Pick Your Broth,” and 3: “Choose Your Topping.” Plus, Itsy Bitsy offers an array of other selections, including Japanese Wakame seaweed salad, Gyoza dumplings, garlic edamame; an array of hand rolls including Kurobuta sausage and spicy tuna; and design-your-own rice dishes. Itsy Bitsy’s dishes will be made with modern techniques and locally-sourced ingredients.

Itsy Bitsy will also feature an extensive beverage menu, complete with masterfully mixed cocktails, craft beers, Japanese sake and an array of Japanese whiskeys. Mixing classic Japanese spirits with flavors from around the world, Itsy Bitsy will offer libations to rival any modern spirit bar.

Named for its 2,500-square-foot footprint, Itsy Bitsy’s decor combines modern and old world sensibilities with an Asian tinge, filled with black-stained reclaimed woods and copper accents. Designed by Doherty, the convivial interior will be complemented by a playlist curated by DJ Five.

Itsy Bitsy will be open for lunch and dinner, daily, as well as for late-night service on select nights. More information is available on the website at www.itsybitsylv.com, Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ItsyBitsyLV, Instagram @ItsyBitsyLV and Twitter @ItsyBitsyLV. Itsy Bitsy will offer takeout as well as deliver to residents at The Odgen.

ABOUT ITSY BITSY: RAMEN AND WHISKY

Itsy Bitsy: Ramen and Whisky will introduce an intimate, flavorful dining experience to Downtown Las Vegas featuring the cuisine of Marten Koleff with its opening next month. Located at 150 N. Las Vegas Blvd. at the base of The Ogden, Itsy Bitsy will offer an array of create-your-own ramen bowls and rice dishes, as well as several hand rolls and more than a dozen Asian-inspired appetizers. Itsy Bitsy will be open for lunch and dinner, daily, as well as for late-night service on select nights. More information is available on the website at www.itsybitsylv.com, Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ItsyBitsyLV, Instagram @ItsyBitsyLV and Twitter @ItsyBitsyLV.

ABOUT CORNER BAR MANAGEMENT GROUP

Corner Bar Management Group was founded in December 2012 with the opening of Commonwealth, a pre-Prohibition cocktail style bar on 525 E. Fremont St. in Downtown Las Vegas. The bar was quickly recognized as one of “7 New Reasons to Hit Las Vegas” by the New York Post and its speak-easy, The Laundry Room, was recently named “Best Cocktail Bar of the Year” by Nightclub & Bar and among Playboy’s “Best Bars of 2014.” Shortly following the success of Commonwealth, Park on Fremont opened in March 2013 down the block at 506 E. Fremont St. A popular neighborhood bar and restaurant, Park on Fremont is widely known for its distinctive, whimsical design, handcrafted cocktails and laid back menu. Corner Bar opened its first venture on the Las Vegas Strip in March 2014 with BLVD. Cocktail Company, a progressive mixology bar serving flavorful cocktails and live entertainment, with the centerpiece of a baby grand piano. Early this fall, Corner Bar introduced two new concepts: Due & Proper and Whist, both located in The District at Green Valley Ranch. All of Corner Bar Management Group’s projects are art, mixology and design forward. Corner Bar Management Group is a partnership between Ryan Doherty and Justin Weniger, along with varying partnerships among the different venues.

ABOUT MARTIN KOLEFF

Martin Koleff is the creative mind behind some of Las Vegas’s top restaurants, which have received widespread acclaim in the New York Post, New York Times, Huffington Post, CNN, Washington Post, Condé Nast Traveler, and more. One of Koleff’s original concepts, Aburiya Raku, opened in September 2008 and features the cuisine of Mitsuo Endo. Chef Mitsuo and Aburiya Raku have received numerous awards, including “Best Chef: Southwest” in 2012 and “Best Chef: West” selection as a finalist in the 2014 James Beard Foundation Awards. His other concepts include Sweets Raku, which opened in August 2013; Naked Fish, which opened in December 2007; Kyara, which opened in February 2011; Goyemon, which opened in June 2011; Kabuki, which opened in October 2011; Trattoria Nakamura-ya, which opened in November 2011; Café de Japon, which opened in April 2012; and Curry House ZEN, which opened in October 2012. All of the restaurants are located in the Las Vegas Valley, and most are located on Spring Mountain Avenue in Las Vegas’s China Town community.

ABOUT DOWNTOWN PROJECT

The goal and purpose of Downtown Project is to help make Downtown Las Vegas a place of inspiration, entrepreneurial energy, creativity, innovation, upward mobility, and discovery. The community-oriented organization does this through the three Cs of collisions, co-learning and connectedness in a long-term, sustainable way.

Downtown Project has allocated $350 million to aid in the revitalization of Downtown Las Vegas, where they have invested in real estate, small businesses, and education as well as tech startups through the VegasTech Fund.