Lucky dragon casino

When the north Strip's Lucky Dragon Hotel & Casino began construction last month, there were no visits from the governor, drummers, acrobats or Steve Wynn to herald the progress. The $373 million, 206-room boutique hotel and 19,000-square-foot casino project simply got on with the job and are now working full tilt for a 2016 debut.

Spearheaded by the PENTA Building Group and a stunning vision from EV&A Architects, the laying of the foundation for the 10-story, ruby-red, Asian-themed resort is rapidly progressing. Project owners, The Las Vegas Economic Impact Regional Center,have now released more visions of their lush design plan for the resort, as they hope to lure final rounds of foreign investment money.

Night Market Buffet: Rendering - Las Vegas Economic Impact Regional Center

Promising an "authentic Asian cultural and gaming experience," Lucky Dragon's dining will range from high-end restaurants, to noodle bars, to high-end dim sum, to tea cafés. Newly previewed is the elaborately themed Night Market Buffet.

Night Market Buffet kitchen: Rendering - Las Vegas Economic Impact Regional Center

At heart of the casino floor will be the Center Bar, sitting beneath a dragon chandelier and surrounded by baccarat, pai gow, fan tan and sic bo gaming tables. "Several Feng Shui designed private gaming parlors" will also be provided. Four lounges were initially proposed and new renderings reveal the second-floor bar looking down on the casino floor.

The fine dining options will feature views of the south Strip, SLS Las Vegas and MGM Resorts Festival Grounds directly across Sahara Avenue, seen through a window cut into the center of the "podium casino restaurant building." Both northern and southern Chinese food from "notable international chef partners" are expected for the menus, with "Ming Zhu" the current working name for one the restaurants.

Ming Zhu Restaurant: Rendering - Las Vegas Economic Impact Regional Center

Three buildings make up the 2.51-acre parcel of land — a 10-story hotel tower, a parking structure in the rear and the separate casino and restaurant complex. The hotel's check-in desk will feature direct views of the pool area, home to a "private bar."

While no theater for live entertainment is part of the plan, amenities for guests include "tea and traditional herbal remedies" and retail offering "jewelry and unique Asian artifacts" and "cutting edge fashion sourced from boutiques throughout Asia."

Lucky Dragon construction footprint: Photo - Las Vegas Economic Impact Regional Center

On site, only a small, modest sign obscured by a large fence gives any indication of the very busy construction work ongoing behind the scenes.

Although the concept is Asian themed and hosts and staff will be multilingual, the dominant language will be Chinese, with future signage at the resort to be written in both Chinese and English. The owners remain committed to a 2016 debut.