Gordon Ramsay to open restaurant at Caesars Virginia

Cantankerous celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay plans to open a restaurant called Ramsay’s Kitchen at the $750 million Caesars Virginia casino in Danville by the end of 2024, the casino resort announced Tuesday. 

“Caesars Virginia sets the standard for approachable luxury, and I’m so proud to open my first [Virginia] restaurant here inside this beautiful resort,” Ramsay stated in a news release. “My longstanding partnership with Caesars has proven to be a fan favorite time and time again. I’m beyond excited to continue that here in the commonwealth of Virginia by sharing my take on global cuisine.”  

Born in Scotland, Ramsay grew up in England. His restaurants hold eight Michelin stars, a prestigious ranking given to restaurants with outstanding cooking. Ramsay is the star of several TV shows, including “Hell’s Kitchen” and “MasterChef.”

In a news release, Caesars Virginia described the restaurant’s menu as “elegant yet approachable.”  Dishes will include beef Wellington, vanilla mascarpone cheesecake and Virginia oysters. Ramsay’s Kitchen will be inspired by the chef’s travels, according to a news release, “taking guests on a global culinary journey infused with flavors close to home.”  

“Ramsay’s Kitchen brings an elevated dining option not just to our resort, but it brings a world-class option that the region hasn’t seen,” Chris Albrecht, senior vice president and general manager of Caesars Virginia, stated.

Ramsay’s Kitchen will be located adjacent to registration at the resort, steps off the casino floor, and will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. The restaurant will offer more than 250 seating options, including a private dining room and an outdoor patio “with iconic views of Danville’s historic Three Sisters Smokestacks,” the news release states.   

In 2019, Lion Capital, a United Kingdom investment firm, reportedly agreed to fund $100 million over five years for 50% of Gordon Ramsay North America, Ramsay’s U.S. and Canadian restaurant business. Currently, Ramsay North America boasts 28 restaurants, several of which are in partnership with Caesars Entertainment, a hotel and casino entertainment company based in Nevada. Gordon Ramsay Restaurants worldwide portfolio includes an additional 58 international locations. 

The temporary Caesars Virginia casino in Danville, which received its casino license in April 2023 and opened in May 2023, reported $18.25 million in adjusted gaming revenues for September. All Virginia casinos reported cumulative revenues of $56.56 million for the month.

Set to open in late 2024 and owned by Caesars Entertainment and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the permanent Caesars Virginia resort casino will offer a 320-room hotel and more than 90,000 square feet of gaming space, including 1,500 slots, 79 live-action table games, 24 electronic table games, a World Series of Poker room and Caesars Sportsbook. Described as “Roman luxury meets Southern charm,” the Danville resort will also boast a full-service spa, pool, dining, bars and lounges, as well as 50,000 square feet of meeting and convention space.