Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010 | 6:45 p.m.
How can you write about Vegas restaurants without including Bouchon? A totally valid e-comment, and a puzzle I'm happy to solve. With so many options on the Strip, so much buzz and hype, delicious experiences can slip through the cracks. But not this, the quintessential French bistro from the man himself, Thomas Keller. I should be ashamed.
Details
- Bouchon
- at Venetian, 414-6200
For locals, brunch at Bouchon needs to be perfect every time in order to make up for its pain-in-the-ass location off the Venetian's main lobby. Fighting through elevators filled with Sunday morning's checkout crowd can be painful, but once seated and cherry-picking through breads and pastries, we're back to perfect-ville. Baguette with butter, jam and Nutella, almond brioche and the heavenly strawberry croissant ... I don't think we need to order any real food. But we do. No one cares when I use my coffee spoon—the only utensil that doesn't have Nutella or jam on it — to scoop bright pink salmon rilletes onto crispy little toasts. Today's special: homemade truffle sausage over a wild mushroom and fig ragout. It's so good I'm angry this is my first time here.
I go overboard. Bouchon's chicken and waffles are not like the others, far from a quaint, gimmicky thrust at a soul food staple. It's a supreme dish, the fluffy bacon and chive waffle formidably savory against the best bird, roasted and crispy-skinned. Neither requires a bit of the sweetest maple syrup ever or the traditional sauce Chasseur served on the side. But there they are, so you should have some. Overboard.
In the spirit of Venice, The Venetian is a little piece of romantic Italy right here in Las Vegas. The Venetian is an "all-suite" hotel, with rooms accented with plush linens and Italian marble. The 4,027 suites are divided into two towers: The 36-story Venetian Tower that offers guests a taste of luxurious Las Vegas and the Venezia suites, which guarantee 12 floors of high-end elegance. The top five floors are the hotel's highest level of luxury with its private access, concierge lounge, upgraded features and even a dedicated staff.
Entertainment at the Venetian includes shows such as Tim and Faith - Soul2Soul, featuring Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, and Rock of Ages.
The flagship of Venetian nightlife is TAO, an ultra-hip nightclub located inside of TAO Asian Bistro. V Bar is The Venetian's super smooth ultra lounge, made by the owners of New York City's club Lotus and Los Angeles' super swank Sunset Room.
The Venetian features 19 restaurants including Thomas Keller's award-winning French restaurant Bouchon, Mario Batali's B&B Ristorante, Aquaknox for fresh seafood and the 42,000 square foot TAO Asian Bistro. There's also the food court inside the Canal Shoppes for those looking for a quick bite.
Guests can float along The Grand Canal Shops in an authentic Italian gondola ride and pass stores like Burberry and Kenneth Cole along the way. And if you haven't caught a real celeb, on the street in Vegas, you can head over to Madame Tussauds to check out a wax version.
Las Vegas Weekly’s Brock Radke will eat wherever you tell him to eat. Send him on his next mission at [email protected].
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