Cosmopolitan Promises Free Food and Drinks at Second Annual Block Party

^{Eateries like Hattie B’s Hot Chicken and Momofuku's Bāng Bar inside Block 16 Food Hall will offer free food and drink during the second-annual Block Party on Sept. 5. (Photo: Vanessa Alves-Johnson / Casinos.com)}

It’s rare to find eats and drinks on the Vegas Strip at a cheap price, and it’s even rarer to find free food unless you’re a high roller.

That will change when The Cosmopolitan throws its Second Annual Block Party on Saturday, Sept. 5, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m at the Block 16 Food Hall on the casino's second level. The event is free and open to guests of all ages, making it a rare family-friendly event on the Vegas Strip.

Free Bites From the Best on the Block

Guests in attendance can receive free food and drink samples from the vendors at one of the best food halls in Las Vegas. The Block 16 Food Hall has eateries exclusive to The Cosmopolitan as well. Here's what the vendors will have available for free during the Block Party:

• Naughty Patty’s: The Strip’s burger babe returns with limited-time dishes like the Beer Cheese Burger and Blueberry Lemon Pie Concrete. There will also be photo ops with character cutouts and colorful backdrops at this spot.
• Hattie B’s Hot Chicken: The Nashville chicken will turn up the heat with spicy tenders, wings, and Block Party specials.
• District: Donuts. Sliders. Brew: The New Orleans original will showcase its sweet-and-savory combinations with over-the-top donuts, sliders, and specialty menu items.
• Tekka Bar: Handroll & Sake: Expect fresh signature hand rolls alongside sake shots and sake bombs.
• Bāng Bar by Momofuku: This spot was among the first on the Strip to popularize hand rolls. They will be giving out chewy bāng bread and boba tea, complemented by a live vertical rotisserie display.
• Lardo: Born from a Portland food cart, Lardo will be serving up a Hot Italian Beef sandwich layered with black truffle, fontina, and onion soup dip.
• Ghost Donkey: The hidden mezcal and tequila lounge brings its fiesta-inspired vibe to the celebration with colorful décor, samples of specialty cocktails featuring LALO Tequila, and festive photo opportunities.

Some items available during the Block Party will be available only for the four hours of festivities. In addition to the free food, the event will feature live DJ sets, surprise performances, photo opportunities, and limited-edition merchandise for purchase.

"Block 16 embodies the creativity, flavor, and energy that define The Cosmopolitan's food and beverage portfolio," said Jessica Somple, VP of Food and Beverage at The Cosmopolitan, in a statement. "We're excited to bring Block Party back for a second year with even more opportunities for guests to discover the diverse culinary concepts, innovative chefs, and vibrant atmosphere that have made Block 16 a must-visit destination."

While there are free food samples and drinks, guests can still pay regular prices for full servings from the respective menus.

Foodie fests and parties are great ways for casinos to promote their restaurants, but they’re even better when there are free items for guests.

Food Halls Bring Value to the Strip

It’s no surprise that everything on the Vegas Strip is more expensive than elsewhere in the city and around most of the country. 

Having said that, food halls have become havens for visitors looking for a good, fairly priced meal. Prices are relative to full-service restaurants in the area, where breakfast and lunch can run around $30 per person.

Food halls are essentially elevated food courts. They don't have fast-food restaurants or chain restaurants, but the dining options may be unique or from local and regional favorites.

These are often quick-serve eateries where the food is freshly prepared and takes about 5 to 15 minutes to cook. Meals and dishes are priced accordingly, around $20, for unique options and freshly prepared food. This isn’t “cheap,” but it’s less than full-service restaurants.

Hot chicken tenders paired with sides at Hattie B's offer great value, with portions that two people can easily split. (Photo: courtesy of MGM Resorts)

The Block 16 Food Hall is a personal favorite of mine. The coffee from District Donuts is among the best on the Strip, and Hattie B's non-sandwich meals are large enough for two people to share. Bāng Bar serves Korean food found at only a few Strip casinos.

Few venues make this former New Yorker feel like he's back home more than Ghost Donkey, which is hidden behind an emergency exit door with a donkey decal.

As prices have increased in Las Vegas over the past five or six years, I've found myself eating at food halls more often during breakfast and lunch, since neither meal needs the presentation and service of a full-service restaurant. Moreover, the money saved by dining at a food hall can go towards a Michelin-rated Las Vegas restaurant.

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