Las Vegas' Palazzo Offers A Variety Of Dining Options
Checking into the palatial all-suite Palazzo is like entering an Italian villa which happens to house a casino. Located next to its adjacent sister property, the Venetian, the modern European-themed Palazzo stands 50 stories tall and houses luxury shops, entertainment and over 3,000 rooms. Loose yourself in Vegas luxury inside the lavish elegantly designed 650 -1,400 square foot suites, which offer marble, and granite clad bathrooms, sunken living rooms, curtained pillow-top beds with Egyptian linens, three flat screen televisions and handsome wood furnishings. Enjoy the view from the floor-to-ceiling windows or opt for privacy with the remote control shades and curtain.
The resort also offers some of the best dining options on the Strip. If you are planning a weekend getaway or just dinner, here are some places to entertain your palate.
Table 10
A short walk from Palazzo registration and ride up the casino escalator lead to Emeril Lagasse's eatery Table 10, named after the table in New Orleans where the Food Network star began planning his restaurant empire. The French Quarter iron gates at the entrance lend a New Orleans vibe, and the round metal-crafted center bar, glass enclosed wine cellar and display cases full of pantry supplies and chef's jackets provide a casual upscale environment. The menu features a roadmap of flavors, including the seafood and andouille gumbo or the Cuban pork sandwich. Sit at the food bar for a front row view of the big exhibition kitchen.
Carnevino
Just as the restaurant's name implies, it's all about the meat and wine at Mario Batali's Carnevino. Pass the life-size bronze bull to enter the elegant formal dining room with high ceilings, heavy drapes, Italian marble and dark wood sideboards. For a meal to remember, order the juicy "bistecca fiorentina" for two, fresh peas with walnuts, braised fennel and parmesan and rosemary pan fried fingerling potatoes. Make sure to leave room to share a bottle of one of the dozens of exceptional wines offered on the international wine list.
Bouchon
Go for the perfectly brewed coffee, the flakiest croissants outside of Paris, or the French country fare, but don't leave Sin City without a visit to Bouchon for breakfast. Renowned for his French Laundry fame, chef Thomas Keller's Parisian bistro atop the Venetian's Venezia Tower is relaxed, large and airy with tall mahogany columns running down the center, murals, and floor to ceiling paneled windows overlooking a flowering garden patio. Ask for a table outside and dine al fresco on fresh French bread with butter and pistachios, Croque Madame (toasted ham and cheese sandwich on brioche with fried egg and mornay sauce), Oeuf and Bourdin Blanc (white sausage with scrambled eggs and croissant) or select from Bouchon's extensive bakery items including muffins, pastries, croissants, quiches and breads. They also have great lunch and dinner menus.
Buddy V's
Located in the Grand Canal Shoppes is Buddy V's, Buddy Valastro's, star of the hit TL series Cake Boss, first restaurant. The huge new eatery, complete with bakery, is 11,000 square feet and offers beautiful views of the Strip. The menu offers new twists on Italian-American classics as well as the chef's family favorites including linguine with clams and lobster, steak pizzaiola and lasagna al forno. The impressive dessert menu includes a variety of cannolis, zeppole and Valastro's signature lobster tail pastry.
Aquaknox
Pass the elegant waterfall wine display and enter Aquaknox , home to 'global water cuisine'. The elegant dim lighting, chic décor and plush circular booths offer a romantic escape from the casino action with a variety of surf and turf items. Seafood aficionados and land fare food enthusiasts alike will appreciate the variety of menu items. Standouts include the Australian barramundi, porcini dusted moonfish, crab stuffed lobster, bone-in ribeye and cold water oysters.
SushiSamba
With a fusion of Japanese, Peruvian and Brazilian cuisine, the menu at SushiSamba has something for everyone. The 14,000 square foot restaurant is hip, trendy, and modern and features a dining room, sushi bar and drink bar. The soaring 16-foot ceilings house a three dimensional art piece of swirling orange ribbons. Menu standouts include the Pacific roll with King crab, avocado and Asian pear, lobster ceviche, duck breast robata and miso Chilean sea bass. They also offer "Sakeoke" every Wednesday night so you can sing to your favorite tune as you enjoy this fusion experience.
LAVO
Created by the same team that brought TAO to the Venetian (Jason Strauss, Marc Paker, Richard Wolf, Noah Tepperberg and Louis Abin), LAVO has a Mediterranean bathhouse theme and is both a restaurant and a nightclub. The entryway introduces the water design with worn tile walls and plaster. On one side of the lounge is the restaurant area which seats 200 and on the other side is the patio which seats 100 and features a hookah lounge and panoramic views of the strip. Inside, the 200-foot ceilings made of weathered wooden beams house low-lying chandeliers above diners in leather booths and Moroccan tables. The Italian menu offers clams, oysters, lobster, a variety of meatballs and Kobe stuffed rice balls.