Wynnspresso: The Salad Spot Poker Players Don't Know They Need

^{Espresso at Encore is open and fresh with a multitude of options waiting for you behind the glass cases. (Photo: Christina Bradfield / Casinos.com)}

LAS VEGAS – I recently wrote about Truth & Tonic, a hidden gem of a wellness café tucked inside the Canyon Ranch Spa at The Venetian. It got me thinking about other small nooks in casinos that offer a quiet reprieve from the tables.

One of those places I’ve always found to provide a mental escape while also serving my favorite salad is at the Encore. I go there often when I go to the Wynn Poker Room, which some may be confused to know is at its sister property to the north. 

The Wynn is currently hosting the Wynn Summer Classic, one of several tournament series in Las Vegas running parallel to the WSOP. This series runs May 20 through July 13 across 88 events – typically two per day – with buy-ins ranging from $600 to the $25,800 NLH High Roller. Formats include Mystery Bounties, Mixed Games, and dedicated Seniors and Ladies fields. The marquee event is the $10,400 Wynn Summer Championship, with a $10 million guarantee. There were 1,537 entries last year, and the prize pool totaled $15,062,600.

A Short Walk From the Poker Room

A five-minute walk from the poker room, if that, Espresso is located across from Encore registration on your left if you’re looking out at the pool. I would highly recommend looking at the pool. Ceiling-to-floor windows give you a picture-perfect view out to stunning topiary gardens, a gazebo where you check in for the pool if you’re a guest, and tables and chairs if you want to sit outside.

Previous

Next

^{Beautiful gardens are right outside Espresso, another option where I can eat my salad at the Encore. (Photo: Vanessa Alves-Johnson / Casinos.com)}

You can also get there from the Encore self-parking garage, which is free for the first few hours of your visit and $20 per day for non-registered guests. Coming off the elevators, it’s straight ahead and to your right.

Inside Espresso, crystals hang from the ceiling, and clear cases display some of their food options. It feels open, fresh, and a bit bougie. It has white marble, wood, and gold accents reflected in the cases and comfortable chairs at the tables.

What to Order at Espresso

Their menu has a wide range of coffee options from a classic Café Latte to a Cortado, a Spanish-style coffee made with a 1:1 ratio of espresso to steamed milk. From there, you can choose artisanal pastries, lunch specialties such as tomato and mozzarella focaccia, and maybe a Golden Girl Juice (pineapple, turmeric, and lemon ginger) to drink with it. They’re open every day from 6 am to 4 pm.

The cups of fresh fruit beckon at Espresso. (Photo: Christina Bradfield / Casinos.com)

My standard order is the shrimp skewer Caesar salad (no croutons) and a mix of melons or berries artfully displayed in a clear cup. The salad is $27, and the melon mix is $10.25. My inner bougie is awake at the Wynn and Encore, so my fruit needs will not be denied.  

If your inner bougie is also calling to you, avocado toast is available with the option of smoked salmon for $27. Their breakfast bowls are pretty reasonably priced at $13 for vanilla Greek yogurt with up to three options, including granola, strawberries, and blueberries. If you’re in a sandwich state of mind, you could order a beautifully crafted tomato-and-mozzarella focaccia for only $15.

My first experience at Espresso was while I was working the World Poker Tour Championship, held in multiple Encore ballrooms during December a few years back. It was a quick escape when work days were long, and they had beautiful salads and fruit, which were usually hard to find while working a poker tournament. 

The Fruit is the Point

I love living in Vegas, but one thing that’s been challenging has been finding great fruit. In the casinos, they’re amazing, delicious, and fresh. Room service, on point – Red Rock, I’m looking at you! But at the grocery store, you usually have 24 hours to eat it before the fruit gives up. That’s a small window.

I order my salad and sit down at a table as they make it to order, ensuring it’s fresh and the shrimp is warm. Seats and tables can be hard to come by as Espresso is almost always busy, especially during lunch. If you lurk for a few minutes, one usually opens up. They package your food to go, and you can sit outside if it’s too crowded in the café.

Soon enough, they call my name to let me know it’s ready, and I return to the table. I’ve always had a good experience with the staff there. They’re dressed in all white with black hats, appearing as if in a chef’s uniform, and go above and beyond. I feel pampered, and the $27 for the salad seems surprisingly worth it in that setting.

I’m grateful for the comfort I can find knowing good fruit is that close.