• I tried the $1,000 beef patty at Papi Steak, the celebrity-favorite restaurant at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
• The 55-ounce Australian Wagyu, delivered in a diamond briefcase, has become a viral sensation.
• It’s a brilliant business strategy for a Vegas restaurant, and the steak was delicious.

Within minutes of finding our table at Papi Steak, the glitzy, equally glitzy Miami transplant Fontainebleau Las Vegasan EDM song blares from the speakers. Our server politely excuses himself, answering the siren’s call.

He joins the wave of waiters and dancers circling a nearby table, holding strobe lights and chanting “Hey! Hey! Hey!” in perfect unison. A woman leaves her dinner to join them, waving her napkin. We turn our heads to marvel as a man presents a briefcase that glows gold every time he teases her.

Inside is a 55-ounce Australian-bred wagyu steak. It’s marked right then and there, a plume of smoke rising above the diners’ heads like a new pope announced at the Vatican.

This is the $1,000 Beef Carcass and I was about to try it. (Business Insider paid a media rate for the meal.)

Your favorite celebrity’s favorite steak

You know the scene in “When Harry Met Sally” when Meg Ryan tries to prove her point – enough strong — at Katz’s Deli, and an older lady turns to the waiter and says, “I’ll have what she’s having?” The Papi Steak Beef casing is something like this.

David “Papi” Einhorn, co-owner of Papi Steak, told me that the most cases of beef sold in one night was 78, a record the restaurant set during Super Bowl in Las Vegas. I counted 15 during my two hour dinner.

It’s an effective business strategy for a city that works further extravagance and spectacle. One table orders a box of beef and the rest fall like dominoes. You can practically see the high wheels looking out and saying, “I’ll have what they’ve got.”

But there wouldn’t be a $1,000 beef patty without the original Papi steak, once just an accessory to Einhorn’s star grills. His 32-ounce Glatt Kosher Tomahawk steaks (and secret dairy-free sauce) were all over Instagram, catching the attention of David Grutman, the Groot Hospitality investor behind Miami nightlife spots like Komodo and LIV.

“He said, ‘Why don’t you come over to my house for a barbecue?'” Einhorn told me. “So we flew all the meat down and made the secret sauce, and Leo DiCaprio and all the A-listers were there and everyone went crazy for it.”

Grutman put the Papi steak on the Komodo menu in 2018 and it was a hit. Einhorn said the Kardashians loved the dish so much that he would be called into the kitchen to make it whenever they were in Miami.

A year later, Grutman and Einhorn opened the first Papi Steak restaurant in South Beach. When the Fontainebleau Las Vegas opened its doors in 2023, the two knew they wanted to bring their concept to the West Coast.

Once again, the stars – including DiCaprio, Jennifer Lopez, David Beckham and Tom Brady – followed.

The food is as good as the atmosphere

The vibe at Papi Steak is pure Sin City. The tables are marble, the booths are red leather, and a blue chandelier shines in the center. The wallpaper is black and there are fresh orchids everywhere.

He is bold. It is tough. It’s sexy.

I’ve visited Vegas over 20 times and seen my share of brilliant restaurants. But as I dug into Papi Steak’s dishes, I was delightfully surprised to find that this steak wasn’t just easy on the eyes.

My boyfriend and I kicked things off with the $24 Caesar salad, which hit every note – crisp lettuce, a rich tangy dressing, and some of the best croutons I’ve ever tasted. They had a softness to them but were soft in the middle, each bite revealing a delicious herby flavor.

When we told our waiter about them, he said that the croutons are always made to order.

I also opted for the $18 latkes, among Papi Steak dishes inspired by Einhorn’s Jewish heritage.

The dish was memorable, with its light yet firm texture and satisfying crispy crust. Each latke was savory and comforting, especially when paired with crème fraîche and fresh applesauce.

I completely cleaned both plates. Then it was time for the $1,000 Beef Carcass.

What’s in Beef Carcass?

When Einhorn’s butcher first offered him a 55-ounce Australian wagyu for Papi Steak, he said he had no idea what to do with it. The wholesale price is the same as the most expensive steak on its menu.

Then Einhorn remembered a gift he had been given: a diamond briefcase with Papi Steak’s logo engraved in gold. He decided to put the Australian wagyu in the briefcase and create the special show, realizing that he could turn the Meat Carcass into a classic Las Vegas moment – without the need for bottle service..

“Today, a lot of people like to put on a show, but they don’t want to go to nightclubs as much,” he said. “Through this, they get the atmosphere, the music, everyone around them, they feel special, they feel important, they’ve had a great meal – all those things that come together are what make the steak a really special experience.”

The Beef Case isn’t all literal smoke and mirrors. Our Australian Wagyu – which could easily feed at least six people – was cooked to perfection after being branded with the Papi Steak logo and taken back to the kitchen after the show.

I loved the perfectly charred edges that gave way to the tender meat. The secret sauce had a surprising sweetness, while the chimichurri provided a punch of fresh acidity.

My boyfriend and I were in heaven with every bite.

It’s easy to fake a good time – that was the whole point of the “When Harry Met Sally” scene. And in a city like Las Vegas, plenty of hot spots use their Instagram influence and high-end clientele to mask an uneven dining experience.

But Papi Steak has the food to back up its hype. In addition, the service was similar to what I have experienced at Michelin star restaurants. Even if Carcass de Vita isn’t in your budget, you could still have a great meal and time.

Just don’t be surprised if you go back to the waiter to say, “I’ll have what I get.”