It was a family affair at Nellie’s Southern Kitchen’s opening in Las Vegas on Saturday night. The Jonas Brothers – yes, Frankie Jonas was there, too – all stepped out alongside their parents, Kevin Sr. and Denise Jonas; Kevin’s wife, Danielle Jonas; and Kevin and Danielle’s two daughters, Alena Rose and Valentina Angelina Jonas, to celebrate their new family restaurant at MGM Grand. The restaurant is inspired by the Jonas family’s matriarch, Grandma Nellie, and the family’s roots in North Carolina. The Las Vegas restaurant is the first West Coast location, with the original restaurant being in Kevin Sr.’s hometown of Belmont, NC.
With the new Las Vegas restaurant, which apparently was Nick’s idea, Kevin Sr. tells POPSUGAR, he hopes visitors can experience the warmth and comfort of true Southern hospitality through their food, in-house live music, and the entire restaurant staff. Grandma Nellie, the Jonas Brothers’s great-grandmother, passed in 2011, but her inspiration is felt throughout the restaurant, from the custom decor to the menu, which includes some of her original recipes.
Kevin Sr.’s favourite dish on the menu is the chicken and dumplings, while Frankie’s is the chicken and gravy, or “The Frankie,” as his parents call it. But he also has a “special place” in his heart for the Sweet Potato Caroline, his mom’s “special recipe.” Joe just loves that fans can now enjoy the recipes that have been in his family for years, like the biscuits and gravy and the chicken and dumplings. My personal favourites were the lobster waffle (a recommendation from Denise) and the banana pudding (hot take: it’s even better than Magnolia Bakery’s).
Grandma Nellie is not only the inspiration for the restaurant, but she was also a strong pillar for the Jonas family. Kevin says she taught the Jonas Brothers the importance of “gathering around the table” and “making quality time to eat together,” a lesson the brothers are now passing on to their own children.
Unfortunately, Sophie Turner – who’s currently expecting her second child with Joe – and Priyanka Chopra – who recently welcomed daughter Malti Marie Chopra Jonas with Nick – were not in attendance. But Kevin Sr. did tease the possibility of taking the restaurant international with a location in Mumbai after being inspired by Chopra and Nick’s Indian wedding in 2018.
In addition to the restaurant opening, the Jonas Brothers kicked off their five-night summer residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM on June 3. They have three remaining shows on June 9, 10, and 11. Ahead, see photos of the Jonas Brothers and their family at the Las Vegas opening of Nellie’s Southern Kitchen.
