Photos by Maggie Mancuso, location manager for the film Casino. Golden Steer was scouted as a possible location for Nicky’s bar in the film. Mancuso donated her photos to UNLV Special Collections & Archives in 2005.

History of Golden Steer

Maggie Mancuso Collection of Film Locations (MS-00504), UNLV Special Collections & Archives. Published 2/7/2023, updated 2/1/2025.

The restaurant is located in what was originally called the Lucky Shopping Center, developed by Richard Tam and Ted Wong, and opened Fall ‘60. The steak house was not among the original tenants of the shopping center. Preceding Golden Steer was Valentino’s restaurant which opened Nov. ‘60.

Las Vegas Review-Journal wrote, “Valentino’s Kosher Style Restaurant Opens Doors Friday to Serve Vegans ... This beautiful restaurant was designed by one of America’s most envied stage, screen, and television artists Jack’s of Hollywood. Seven full months were utilized in bringing about what people have said is one of the most beautiful rooms in all of Las Vegas … copper chandeliers, oak walls, wrought iron furniture … solid oak doors, and window frames against exquisite colored rock.” (11/10/60 p16) 

Valentino’s closed in ‘61. In its place came Golden Steer. Rex Littleton and Chuck Hensley opened the steak house in January 1962. 

An early postcard of Golden Steer matches some of the description of Valentino’s and shows the same copper chandeliers that accompanied the Valentino’s article. 

The opening date of 1962 is supported by all available public records, and by the Littleton family. There is no record of Golden Steer prior to 1962, and its earliest mention in the press, a blurb in the Review-Journal on Jan. 10, 1962, calls it, “the recently opened Golden Steer Restaurant.” Its first mention in the Las Vegas Sun is 2/7/62. 

The restaurant’s opening year appears to have been lost in the middle years: articles and ads published in the 70s, 80s, and 90s claimed the Steer opened at various dates ranging from the early 50s to early 70s. Leading up to Valentine’s Day ‘98, the restaurant placed ads celebrating their 40th anniversary and since that time the chosen “est. ‘58” date has been consistently used as the restaurant’s tag line.

Notes on Golden Steer’s opening date

Frank Musso may have been the owner some time after Littleton & Hensley. Joe Kludjian, owner through the 80s-90s, told a friend he “won it from Musso gambling.” Musso stayed on as manager and died at the restaurant in ‘91, in the lounge where he would sit every day with a cigar just before opening. 

Golden Steer was scouted for a scene in ‘Casino’ - See the photos

Dr. Michael Signorelli and family have owned and operated the restaurant since the late 90s. 

The restaurant is seen in its original form in photo 1, above. Photo 2 shows the restaurant expanded. The restaurant expanded again into the space on the left in the late 70s, and further expanded in the 2020s.

Sources include: Commercial Building Record, Clark County Assessor; “Lucky Shopping Center Opening.” Las Vegas Review-Journal, 12/14/60; D. Ebarb. “We Heard.” Review-Journal, 1/10/62; E. Krane. “Still going strong after 20 years.” Review-Journal, 4/11/89; The Musso & Kludjian stories are from Hollis Thompson Barnhart (2022) and Brian McCallabrian (2024).