Beau Rivage to reopen with 3 new restaurants

BILOXI — The Beau Rivage will reopen this summer with three new restaurants, including one of celebrity chef Todd English's Mediterranean cuisine Olives. Executives with MGM Mirage Inc., the casino's parent company, discussed the plans in a conference call Thursday after releasing an earnings report. MGM Mirage reported a 31 percent jump in earnings for the fourth quarter.

Beau Rivage is expected to reopen Aug. 29, the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina making landfall in Mississippi, said Bob Baldwin, president of the casino giant's Mirage division.

World-renowned designers will give the resort a new and fresh environment, he said.

"The property will reopen with 1,200 rooms, eight of its restaurants and all its bars and lounges," Baldwin said. "The balance of the amenities will reopen in the fourth quarter. Beau Rivage will reopen with three newly designed gourmet restaurants: a new steak house, a hip Asian concept and a Beau Rivage version of Olives."

MGM Mirage's Bellagio in Las Vegas also has an Olives restaurant. Others are located in high-end hotels in Aspen, Washington, New York and Tokyo.

In 2001, English was awarded Bon Appetit's Restaurateur of the Year award and was also named one of People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People."

Beau Rivage's casino will feature the return of a poker room, a contemporary high-limits area and a completely reconfigured table games layout.