MGM Grand is the second restaurant location for Nellie’s Southern Kitchen, which began in Belmont, North Carolina. Nellie’s Southern Kitchen is a celebration of Nellie, Kevin, Sr.’s grandmother, who lived in Belmont working in the cotton mills by day and cooking delicious meals for her loved ones by night. Nellie combined music and food into nightly rituals around the table, forging the tight-knit traditions the Jonas family continues to this day.
Nellie’s welcomes guests to a seat at the Jonas family table to enjoy recipes passed down from Grandma Nellie and reimagined favorites from executive chef Mario Nichols, who was raised in North Carolina and began cooking soul food with his family at a young age.
- Appetizers – Guests will feel right at home with a mix of Southern staples and delicious takes on favorites to kick off their meal. The Collard and Artichoke Dip with collards, artichoke and parmesan is an extra savory version of the beloved starter. A Las Vegas exclusive, the Southern Rolls feature BBQ chicken, creamy mac and cheese and collards rolled in a crispy fried egg roll, served with Nellie’s signature sauce. No meal is complete without a basket of Grandma Nellie’s famous pillowy Biscuits with cinnamon-honey butter and jam.
- Entrées – Fans of traditional homestyle dishes will be enchanted by Nellie’s Chicken and Dumplins, a must-try Jonas family dish featuring chicken and house-made dumplins in a rich broth served over silky mashed potatoes, gravy and collard greens. For a unique variation on a seafood staple, guests can opt for Chef Nichols’ Shrimp and Grits with fried grit cakes and blackened shrimp topped with Cajun cream sauce and fresh pico de gallo. Guests also can enjoy fresh Fried Catfish filets, salt-and-pepper fried and serve with coleslaw, french fries and house-made remoulade.
- BBQ Essentials – Bringing backyard favorites to the dining table, Nellie’s offers an assortment of burgers, steaks and sandwiches served with classic sides. The Hawg Hill Pulled Pork Sandwich features pecan-smoked pulled pork tossed in a tangy sauce and served on a soft brioche bun with coleslaw. Guests looking for something heartier will enjoy the Carolina Burger made with specialty blended beef and served with chili, slaw, onion and mustard; as well as the Chef’s Choice Steak, featuring a Chef’s selection of chargrilled steak and the option to add shrimp or lobster tail for a full surf-and-turf experience.
- Lighter Fare – For those opting for something lighter, Nellie’s serves up scrumptious salads including the Nellie’s Cobb Salad with chopped romaine lettuce, grilled chicken, cherry tomatoes, diced bacon, bleu cheese and a boiled egg; as well as protein-packed plates such as the Grilled Shrimp Plate with grilled or blackened shrimp and grilled veggies. Other dishes include the Molasses Glazed Salmon, featuring wild-caught salmon tossed in a special South Carolina molasses glaze paired with roasted potatoes and green beans; and the Cajun Chicken Bowl with blackened chicken breast served with roasted potatoes and trinity corn.
- Dessert – For the perfect send-off, guests can indulge in Nellie’s rich Banana Pudding, which is made with fresh bananas, layered and topped with whipped cream, then garnished with wafer cookies.
The folkloric aesthetic of Nellie’s Southern Kitchen, designed by OLY Studio’s Kate McIntyre, transports visitors to Kevin, Sr.’s upbringing in Belmont. The charm of small-town North Carolina is recreated through weathered barnwood, white shiplap cottage walls, and unique handmade furnishings and artwork inspired by the beautiful Smoky Mountains.
Design highlights include:
- Entrance – Guests enter through a sculptural hallway inspired by the quilts Grandma Nellie collected and are welcomed with her towering portrait, which celebrates Nellie’s simple-yet-remarkable life. Amongst other references, cotton from the mill is transformed into diamonds in her hair. A banjo and spoons at the front of her dress represent Nellie’s lifelong love of gathering friends and family around music and her home cooking.
- Front Porch – The Front Porch invites diners to a bright space reminiscent of Grandma Nellie’s front porch, punctuated with birdhouses and hanging flowerpot-inspired chandeliers overhead. Table legs take on the form of tree trunks, signifying the beauty of the Belmont region beyond the cotton mills.
- Bar(n) – Nellie’s bar area features playfully designed tables that sit atop horse legs as if guests just pulled up to the stable. Kevin’s uncle always joked if he ever opened a restaurant, he would need a reserved table for knocking back a couple of beers after work – so Kevin and Kate fashioned tables that could give him a ride home, too.
- The Meadow – Private dining rooms evoke Belmont’s blissful meadows. Memories of running through freshly laundered sheets blowing in the wind inspire the wavy, cloud-like roof. The walls are adorned with merry paintings of blue skies, billowy clouds and green landscapes that complement the blues and greens in the rooms’ lush furniture.
- Night Owl – Featuring live music nightly, Nellie’s moody back room is built around a state-of-the-art performance stage and A/V system designed by the same companies who oversee the Jonas Brothers’ concert experience. A captivating full moon light fixture juxtaposed with chandeliers emulating dew drops on blades of grass define the seated section, which is watched over by large owl portraits. Cozy couches with colors and textures inspired by nature offer a comfortable lounge vibe for both dining and enjoying music.
Nellie’s Southern Kitchen is located in The District opposite the MGM Grand Garden Arena. It is open for lunch and dinner daily from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.