Zenaida’s Cafe and Catering

The cafe is named for a middle name. When chef Sterling C. Burpee and his wife, Clea, opened their East Tropicana restaurant in 2016, they called it Zenaida's, after hers. The idea was nostalgic comfort food that leaves people feeling good, and Sterling still works the dining room in his chef's outfit, stopping at every table.

Forty years in the business

Burpee apprenticed under master chef George McNeill and spent decades in casino and hotel kitchens. He was on the opening team at Bally's Park Place in Atlantic City, cooked at the Sands and Caesars, and later served as senior banquet chef at the Marriott Marquis in Manhattan and corporate chef at UCLA. In Las Vegas he ran the buffet at Wynn Las Vegas, then led the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas as executive chef and vice president of culinary operations, before helping build airport restaurants from Dulles to LAX.

The diner itself

Las Vegas Weekly described an eastside diner with a rainbow-tiled floor, art for sale on the walls and a funky jazz soundtrack. It serves breakfast, lunch and brunch. Yelp ranked it No. 24 on its Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S. for 2023 and No. 25 for 2024, and the fan favorites named then were baked French toast, eggs Benedict, cinnamon rolls smothered in sweet cream and berries, and smoked salmon latkes with horseradish apple slaw. Other plates worth knowing:

• Crab cake and caprese versions of eggs Benedict
• Shrimp and grits, jerk chicken hash, and fried chicken livers over grits
• Biscuits and gravy, fried chicken and waffles, and a Monte Cristo breakfast sandwich
• A vegan and vegetarian section with a tofu scramble and soyrizo breakfast tacos

Burpee has vegan and vegetarian family members, and the cafe says it has become known for finding ways to feed meatless diners well.

Catering

Zenaida's Catering handles in-house and off-site events: weddings, receptions, corporate galas, open houses, craft services and private parties. Every menu is custom built. Sample menus run from grilled filet mignon with port jus and pan-seared salmon to Mongolian beef, sesame-ginger shrimp and a backyard barbecue spread. Have your date, guest count and dietary needs ready when you call.

Visit or contact Zenaida's Cafe and Catering

3430 E. Tropicana Avenue, Suite 32, Las Vegas, NV 89121
(702) 476-3117
zenaidascafeandcatering.com

Researched September 26, 2026. Source 1; Source 2; Source 3; Source 4; Source 5. This is an independent directory listing, not a claim that the owner has joined or installed a badge. For a correction or removal, contact Cody. Listings are free and badges are optional.