American Express today announced it is partnering with James Beard Award® winning1 Resy chefs Mashama Bailey, Sarah Grueneberg, Kwame Onwuachi, and Mike Solomonov, alongside renowned Bar Director Harrison Ginsberg, to form The Culinary Collective by The Centurion Lounge, creating a menu of dishes and crafted cocktails2 inspired by the dishes from their renowned restaurants across the country.
New menu items will be available in all 15 U.S. Centurion Lounges beginning July 29, 2025. Select recipes developed by The Culinary Collective by The Centurion Lounge will also be available at Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, an entirely new, intimate airport lounge, expected to open at Harry Reid International (LAS) in Las Vegas in 2026, making American Express the only credit card issuer with two lounges at LAS.
“We know how much Card Members love the food and drinks at the Centurion Lounges and look forward to seeing what’s new. With help from our Resy chef partners, we’ve brought together a group of some of the most exciting culinary minds in America to create incredible menus, available all in one place for the first time ever,” said Audrey Hendley, President of American Express Travel.
“You’d be lucky to make it to each of their celebrated restaurants across the country, but now visitors to our Centurion Lounges will be able sample dishes created by these chefs.”
Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge
Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge is a new kind of airport lounge designed for eligible Card Members looking for a quick bite or drink before they board their flight. Guests can enjoy gourmet small plates and signature drinks curated by The Culinary Collective by The Centurion Lounge in a space created for travelers with limited time.
“Many of our visitors spend less than an hour in our Lounges, and we’ve created Sidecar specifically for them,” said Hendley. “The first Centurion Lounge opened in Las Vegas in 2013, so it’s fitting that we’re launching this new lounge concept at LAS as we continue to innovate to meet our Card Members’ needs.”
The speakeasy-inspired design will feature a palette of earth tones and desert hues, with accents of natural stone, brass, and lush greenery. Access will be complimentary for Card Members who currently enjoy access to The Centurion® Lounge Network, including Platinum Card Members. Guests will be eligible to access Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge within 90 minutes before their flight departs. Eligible Card Members will continue to have access to the Centurion Lounge at LAS.
The Culinary Collective by The Centurion Lounge
The Culinary Collective by The Centurion Lounge’s menu offers a variety of dishes from four celebrated chefs, inspired by the food at their coveted restaurants, which are available on Resy. They are:
Kwame Onwuachi is known for his vibrant cuisine approached through an Afro-Caribbean lens and drawing from his Nigerian, Jamaican, Trinidadian and Creole background. Onwuachi and his acclaimed restaurants, Tatiana in New York and Dōgon in Washington, D.C., have received some of the most highly coveted media and industry accolades in the country. Examples of Onwuachi’s dishes include Suya Short Ribs and Tamarind Ice Box Cake.
“A premium dining experience depends on comfort, ambiance, and of course, incredible food. The Culinary Collective by The Centurion Lounge is building on the signature experience of the Centurion Lounge and giving us the opportunity to elevate the in-lounge menu,” said Onwuachi.
Mashama Bailey first learned to cook from the women in her family before moving on to formal training and experience in New York and France. She taps into her previous experiences to create innovative Southern-inspired dishes that are deeply layered, contextual, and evocative in their flavors.
Bailey and her critically acclaimed restaurant, The Grey, have received numerous accolades, with an expansion to Paris is coming soon. Examples of dishes from Bailey include gluten-friendly Paprika Chicken as well as a torched Espresso Crème Brûlée.
“We are excited to be in a season of growth, and expanding our reach with the Centurion Lounge is the perfect way to take Southern Food on the move,” said Bailey.
Mike Solomonov is known for putting rich and diverse Israeli cuisine at the forefront of dining in America. He owns eight restaurant concepts across New York, Philadelphia, and Miami. His first, the highly celebrated Zahav, became the first Israeli-American restaurant to be awarded “Outstanding Restaurant” by the James Beard Foundation in 2019.
Examples of dishes from Solomonov will include Pomegranate Glazed Salmon topped with Tabbouleh, as well as Charred Broccolini with Kashkaval Cheese & Lemon.
“The Culinary Collective by The Centurion Lounge is so inspiring and works incredibly well because each of the chefs, and American Express, share the same ethos. We care about food, innovation and diverse flavors – key elements of this collaboration,” said Solomonov.
Sarah Grueneberg blends the traditions of Italian culture, culinary techniques and ingredients with influences from her global travels as well as her family heritage. She is the award-winning chef-partner of Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio in Chicago, which has continuously earned a place on numerous “best restaurant” lists since the restaurant opened nearly a decade ago.
Examples of dishes from Grueneberg include vegan Lemony Orzo with Artichokes and Dill, as well as a Grilled Corn and Cucumber Salad with Avocado and Cilantro Salsa Verde.
“I’m honored to be a part of the Culinary Collective by the Centurion Lounge, joining forces with chefs I love and respect. As an avid and curious traveler myself, it’s an incredible experience to be able to collaborate on menus for guests visiting Centurion Lounges across the country,” said Grueneberg.
Creative cocktails in U.S. Centurion Lounges will be crafted in Overstory Bar Director Harrison Ginsberg’s signature, elevated style:
Harrison Ginsberg is a passionate and experienced master mixologist and Bar Director, known for elevated, imaginative cocktails and recognized worldwide for his innovative approach. He leads the beverage programs at the acclaimed restaurant and bar concepts of Kent Hospitality Group in New York, including Overstory – named 2025’s 6th best bar in North America by 50 Best Bars – Crown Shy, and SAGA.
Examples of cocktails from Ginsberg will include “The Centurion,” a refreshing vodka-based drink with, yuzu, soda, and lime with just the right amount of sweetness, along with non-alcoholic drinks including “The Green Tea Tonic,” featuring green tea, lemon, grapefruit, and a botanical non-alcoholic spirit.
“Traveling helps form the way I think of cocktails – whether it’s discovering cool ingredients or having conversations with locals that influence a drink. The cocktails I’m creating each have an element of travel inspiration, and I’m looking forward to travelers exploring the menu,” said Ginsberg.
Changing seasonally, dishes from the Culinary Collective by The Centurion Lounge will make up approximately half of the menu in the U.S. Centurion Lounges, with the other half inspired by cuisine local to the city where each lounge is located. Specific dishes offered by The Culinary Collective by The Centurion Lounge will also vary by lounge.
Get information on the restaurants from The Culinary Collective by The Centurion Lounge and make reservations through Resy.
Meeting More Card Members in More Places
With more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer3, the American Express Global Lounge Collection™ is just one of the many ways American Express supports Card Members while they travel. Eligible Card Members have access to more than 1,550 lounges worldwide, including 29 Centurion Lounges.
American Express continues to expand and enhance the Centurion Lounge Network with plans announced to open a new lounge at Haneda Airport (HND) in Tokyo tomorrow, at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) in Salt Lake City later this year, and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in New Jersey and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) in Amsterdam in 2026.
ABOUT AMERICAN EXPRESS
American Express (NYSE: AXP) is a global, premium payments and lifestyle brand powered by technology. Our colleagues around the world back our customers with differentiated products, services and experiences that enrich lives and build business success.
Founded in 1850 and headquartered in New York, American Express’ brand is built on trust, security, and service, and a rich history of delivering innovation and Membership value for our customers. With a hundred million merchant locations on our global network in over 200 countries and territories, we seek to provide the world’s best customer experience every day to a broad range of consumers, small and medium-sized businesses, and large corporations.
ABOUT THE CENTURION LOUNGE
The Centurion Lounge is the signature lounge program within the broader American Express Global Lounge Collection, which includes complimentary access to American Express Centurion Lounges, Escape Lounges, Delta Sky Club® for Card Members flying on Delta, Priority Pass™ Select Lounges upon enrollment, Plaza Premium Lounges, select Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, and Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges–a total of more than 1,550 lounges across 140 countries and counting. Eligible Card Members can find a lounge at the Global Lounge Collection website, https://americanexpress.com/findalounge, or by using the American Express® App. They can also begin their check-in process for select Centurion Lounges through the mobile check-in tool within the American Express® App.
ABOUT RESY
Resy is a digital dining platform that powers restaurants around the world and provides reservation booking for passionate diners. With the powerful backing of American Express, Resy has created best-in-class software that elevates dining experiences and connects restaurants to a vast network of highly engaged diners. Resy is a destination for restaurant discovery, exclusive access, original content, and chef-driven culinary events.
[1] James Beard Awards® – Kwame Onwuachi (Rising Star Chef of the Year – 2019), Mashama Bailey (Outstanding Chef – 2022), Mike Solomonov (Outstanding Chef – 2017), Sarah Grueneberg (Best Chef – 2017)
[2] Must be 21 years of age or older to consume alcoholic beverages. Please drink responsibly.
[3] Based on comparison with other U.S. credit card programs, as of 10/2024.
All images credited to American Express Centurion Lounge
