Lynyrd Skynyrd Tour Their New Las Vegas Restaurant

Those who were expecting a quiet sit-down family meal at Lynyrd Skynyrd's soon-to-open restaurant in Las Vegas might want to make alternate dinner plans. True to the band's spirit, the new BBQ-themed destination sounds like it's going to be a rip-roarin' good time that will leave an impression that goes far beyond the food and spirits they'll be serving.

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Johnny Van Zant, Gary Rossington and Rickey Medlocke toured the new 'Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer' prior to their sold out show this past weekend in Las Vegas. Located at the Excalibur Hotel & Casino, the new joint is set to open in December.

The Southern rock legends were clearly pleased with the progress made on their new digs, saying that it already felt like the "friendly kind of cool place that they can't wait to hang out in."

Appropriately, Van Zant yelled out what was probably the first of many future utterances of "Free Bird!," watching the newly hired bar-top dancing bartenders perform for the band.

“I’ve always wanted to stand in the audience,” Van Zant added as the bartenders commenced a sizzling routine, set to a mash-up of Skynyrd classics, while the legendary rockers clapped and whistled, giving the ladies a nod for their dancing skills.

The Skynyrd boys are very excited about the partnership they've formed with the legendary Schmidt family of Kreuz Market in Texas, who will spearhead the BBQ end of things for the new restaurant. “All this is cool, but the food has gotta be good,” Rossington says.

A new press release promises a menu featuring "mouthwatering ribs, brisket, chicken and more." The restaurant will hold normal hours for meals at breakfast, lunch and dinner, segueing into a "late night high-energy rock club" each night with a slate of great music and entertainment.

Replicating the feel of the band's original 'Hell House' practice space, the walls are made of authentic barnyard wood, adorned with memorabilia from the band's incredible five decades together. Concrete floors and brick help to round out the down home feeling of the space (memo to self: concrete floor will not feel good on contact after one too many beverages!).

Lynyrd Skynyrd recently announced plans to enter the studio later this year to begin work on a new album. Van Zant says the songs are still in rough form, but they've got a full album's worth of material and he promises that as usual, it sounds like Skynyrd.