No money? No Honey? No Vegas! In this city of big bucks and fast weddings, ROBIN ESROCK lists his 10 best eats, including the most expensive meal in America and the best steak of his life.
RESTAURANT GUY SAVOY (Caesars Palace)
In recent years, Las Vegas has attracted the world’s best chefs with promises of deep pockets and unlimited creativity. France’s Guy Savoy is the superstar—awarded three Michelin stars, along with all the accolades and acclaim that come with them. Known as serving the “most expensive meal in America,” the 10-course, Menu Prestige, this restaurant often books months in advance, serving delectable French cuisine that fully deserves the hype.
CUT (Palazzo)
CUT brings Wolfgang Puck’s highly successful New York and LA steakhouse to Vegas. The best meat in the world melts on your tongue, blasts you with flavor, and is grilled with time and wisdom. Having feasted in Argentina, Australia, Alberta and South Africa, I did not expect to have the best steak of my life in Las Vegas.
AUREOLE (Mandalay Bay)
Chef Charlie Palmer’s Aureole is an absolute head-turner. The star attraction is the three-storey steel-and-glass wine tower, housing some 10,000 bottles of wine. To get that Bordeaux you’re craving, a flying “wine angel” uses a system of harnesses to float up and down the tower. A decade on, it’s still something to see, and Aureole is something to taste.
JOEL ROBUCHON (MGM Grand)
Fine French dining doesn’t come any finer than from the “Chef of the Century” Joel Robuchon. His restaurants have earned 26 Michelin stars, more than any other chef. Perhaps best appreciated by food connoisseurs and those with deep pockets, flour is flown in from France for a kitchen that demands absolute perfection. Another reason the Menu Degustation will set you back around US$385 (around Php 17,000) per person.
SWITCH (Wynn Encore)
My eyes didn’t know quite what to focus on. The tower of seafood on the table, loaded with king crab, oysters, giant prawns, ahi tuna, lobster, clams and scallops. Or the fact that every 20 minutes, music would announce in a grandiose fashion that the entire restaurant was about to, well, switch. The walls begin sliding, the ceiling opens up like a puzzle box, and 18-foot crystal chandeliers descend, adding even more excitement into an already exciting meal.
PIERO’S ITALIAN CUISINE (Off-Strip)
Piero’s represents old-school Vegas. Low lights and circular leather booths recall some of its illustrious customers: members of the Rat Pack, Wayne Newton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, even a President or two. Framed photos on the wall add to the ambiance, while the delicious Italian menu is something mama would be proud of. How authentic is Piero’s? It was used as a location for the classic movie Casino, starring Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone.
RM SEAFOOD (Mandalay Bay)
Celebrity chef Rick Moonen is committed to sustainability, saving the oceans while still enjoying its wonderful bounty. Maybe that’s why his lemongrass coconut crab soup tasted extra delicious. The restaurant’s dining area resembles a cruise ship. Each dish drowns in thought and creativity, an artistic mastery of fresh ingredients, preparation and presentation.
BARTOLOTTA RISTORANTE DI MARE (Wynn)
Award-winning chef Paul Bartolotta brings his shellfish in daily from the Mediterranean. Whatever your thoughts on your meal’s carbon footprint, there’s no denying that Bartolotta is consistently ranked as one of the top restaurants in Vegas. His restaurant recalls an Old World Italian charm, complete with its crystal chandelier and outdoor garden patio, looking over a lagoon. The Italian menu serves up various seafood and meat dishes, complimented by a range of house-made sauces.
“Fine-dining” sliders served at the unpretentious First.
“Fine-dining” sliders served at the unpretentious First.
FIRST (Palazzo)
There’s a distinct rock n’ roll feel to First’s design, attitude and menu. Items like the basic hamburger are familiar, yet prepared with the attention and detail that give First its reputation as one of the best restaurants in the city. Drawing patrons from all classes and at all hours, First is proudly considered as “fine dining”, without the usual accompanying snootiness.
DB BRASSERIE (Wynn)
The menu at Daniel Boulud Brasserie seems intent on stimulating your palate into submission. Start with a grand Shellfish Plateau, or perhaps its famous Charcuterie of meats, pates and pickles. The delicately presented smoked salmon wins rave reviews, and then you get into mains like the grilled swordfish with figs and fennel, or the 32-ounce rib-eye for two, with eggplant caponata and salsa verde. All this served in elegant dining salons, looking over the Wynn’s shimmering Lake of Dreams.
