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L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon
Category: Restaurants French French [Edit]
MGM Grand3799 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Neighborhoods: The Strip, Eastside
(702) 891-7358
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 10:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Debbie G. said: "The food, the view and the service was fabulous. Everything was cooked to perfection. I highly recommend this restaurant. I Tweeted that I was going to the restaurant and the manager replied to my Tweet and made sure our dinner was…" read more »
393 reviews for L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon
Review Highlights
"We did the $155 tasting menu and loved every dish."
(in 147 reviews)
"One of the best foie gras I've ever had."
(in 151 reviews)
"Foie gras stuffed free-range quail with mashed potatoes."
(in 26 reviews)
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393 reviews in English
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Review from Matthew C.
Berkeley, CA
2/4/2012
It's been a while, but I meant to give this place a great review after my most recent trip to Vegas a couple of months ago. The food is stellar. I still dream of La Langoustine. The toasted poppy seeds added so much depth and complexity to what was already a sophisticated dish. People sitting around us at the bar tried to bribe/coerce every new person who ordered the dish into sharing it with them.
There's a ton of overpriced food in Vegas (Michael Mina's disappointing seafood restaurant down the hall, for example), but L'Atelier is the real deal. -
Review from Kit C.
Mountain View, CA
2/2/2012
All those other fancy restaurants and nightlife in Vegas is just fine.But if you're in Vegas by yourself, not really in a party mood but you're up for a good conversation, go here.
As a single person you dont need a reservation to sit by the bar. Enjoy a nice cognac and you've got a very good chance you'll meet someone your kind there for conversation and company. Goodluck! -
Review from James B.
1/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Talk about FINE DINING! Luckily we just strolled in here and got a table immediately without a reservation.
Decor:
Fancy, modern. There's seating around the kitchen, so you can watch all the chefs making your dishes. It's fun to watch!
Food:
We ordered the tasting menu, which consisted of what seemed like an endless number of courses. I felt like food just kept coming out nonstop! At some point, I gave up trying to remember the dishes and how many courses we ate because it required too much brainpower. The food was DELECTABLE. Joel Robuchon definitely knows how to please the palate.
My one disappointment was the bread. It was too dry. Felt like someone just doused my mouth with powder. The cheese, however, was delicious.
Wine:
Great wine selection, however, my liver wouldn't have been able to handle another glass of liquor from the weekend, so I decided to pass.
Service:
PERFECT. Everything was well paced and taken care of without either of us having to request anything. They gave very detailed, elaborate description of every entree they dropped off, but I kind of zoned out because I didn't know like 60% of the terms they used.Listed in: Vegas!
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Review from James M.
Irvine, CA
2/8/2012
Awesome and priced like it. Excellent food, the wine paring was phenomenal. I have to give a slight edge to the more formal Joël Robuchon next door, but this place was a lot of fun, and we got to watch the kitchen at work, which was a treat all in itself. Great place for a special occasion.
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Review from Robyn L.
1/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
I may be walking around with a bit more of a spring in my step now that I have dined on the cuisine of the chef of the century.
The are a few tasting menus to choose from. We didn't partake. Approximately 3/4 of the menu is small plates ranging in price from $25 - $35. 1/4 of the menu is entrees ranging in price from $40 - $90.
The small plates mean small. Each plate is 3 - 4 bites. Our server recommended 4 per person.
Pardon my French - (I don't know any) - we had the seared foie gras with quince, sardines and eggplant, onion tart, kobe and foie gras sliders, foie gras stuffed quail, oysters, poached egg with truffle. Everything was delicious. The plates were exquisite - almost too pretty to eat.
For entrees, we had the pepper crusted filet, hanger steak, and sea bass. They use the term entree loosely as it is still a very small portion. For example, my bass was a 4 oz. sliver with 6 artichoke hearts and 1/2 whipped potatoes. Aside from size, it was flavorful and lovely. The whipped potatoes both look and taste like pure whipped butter. They are unbelievably decadent. I'm not sure there is even any potato in there! The filet was the standout. The meat was absolutely sublime. Nothing less than expected from the $72 price tag.
The one major disappointment was the bread. I expected excellence and got dry overbaked, mediocrity served with cold unspreadable butter. Tisk tisk.
The service was flawless but paced. The long lapses are to be expected in this sort of dining.
I have yet to determine if the meal was worth the $580 price tag, but it was delicious and lovely. A nice experience. -
Review from Maya S.
Denver, CO
1/23/2012
I really think that this was the finest meal I've ever had in my life. We had the 5-course menu with wine pairing, and each course blew us away!
The attention to the tiniest details (we saw the chef literally using tweezers to assemble the plates) to the quality of every ingredient was perfect. While it might be easy to think that this is just expensive frou frou food with too many bells and whistles and not enough food -- this was not the case here! Everything on the plate served a distinct and delicious purpose, and we both left full, satisfied, and with memories that will last a very long time.
I recommend sitting at the "bar"/"counter," if I could even call it that. It was just really awesome to see the chefs at work, and the service was top notch! Not stuffy, pretentious, or rude. Just genuine, attentive, friendly, and so knowledgeable, which is what one would expect for this price tag. -
Review from Karla R.
Woodside, CA
1/13/2012
Had the $159 tasting menu with my coworkers during CES... with two bottles of wine, it was about $250 per person.
Service was good, but not as good as places like French Laundry, Cyrus, Jean Georges, etc.
Liked the casual bar-ish atmosphere... a nice change of pace from the places listed above.
Food was excellent, and for once, not an overwhelming amount of food (but don't worry, there was plenty).
I'd go back here without hesitation, although maybe get the smaller tasting menu if I'm paying the bill :-) -
Review from jane h.
San Bruno, CA
1/10/2012
I had dinner here this past Saturday night and everything was amazing... very rich, but flavorful and down right tasty to the last bite.
fioe gras parfait with Parmesan foam
butternut squash soup
crispy langoustine fritter with basil pesto
plate of cheeses
wagyu beef rib eye*** best steak ever! -
Review from Jessica P.
Las Vegas, NV
12/30/2011
Robuchon, the pinnacle, I mean he is the chef of the century. We had been waiting forever to try it and my birthday was a perfect opportunity. We tried the seasonal tasting menu, here is the breakdown:
L'AMUSE-BOUCHE - Foie gras parfait with port wine and parmesan foam - This was a great start to the meal, the richness of the foie gras paired perfectly with the sharp parmesan flavor. Very interesting pairing.
Celery mousse with wasabi, beef stew gelée and slices of foie gras - This dish was beautifully plated, but it was the low point of the meal and I am still trying to figure it out. It was cold and you couldn't taste the foie gras at all. In my first bite I tasted nothing but salt, my second bite was nothing but wasabi, so confusing and cold.
Poached baby Kussi oysters with French « Echiré » butter - I don't eat oysters, but these were beautiful. The plate was gorgeous and they were the perfect temperature, warm and rich! Yum!
Seared lobster on a macaroni with wild mushrooms - I was looking forward to this dish and it was good. The lobster was a little chewy, but the dish was rich and the broth was delicious.
White onion tart with smoked bacon, quail egg "mirror" and green asparagus - Another high point of the meal. This tart was delicate and beautiful. Everything worked well together, simply stunning!
Monkfish cheek and baby leeks, buttery shellfish sauce with lime and ginger - The fish was slightly chewy and difficult to cut, but the flavor was citrusy and overall fantastic.
Foie gras stuffed free-range quail with mashed potatoes - This is a signature dish and I could see why. It was so fantastic! The mashed potatoes are also a signature dish of Robuchon and I thought that was a little weird, but you haven't had mashed potatoes until you have had these! So amazing!
French-style hanger steak with mashed potatoes - The steak was good, nothing special.
Pecan cake topped with fresh apples cooked in Calvados, cinnamon-brown sugar ice cream - This is a lot like apple pie, good but I wished it was warm.
Orange infused with caramel and milk chocolate mousse bar - I am not a huge fan of orange and chocolate, but this wasn't terrible. The orange was tart and I wished I had something with a bit more chocolate.
We finished the meal with coffee. Overall, it was a fantastic journey, but not the best meal of my life. It was fun being at the counter and watching everything. It was definitely a pleasurable dining experience. -
Review from Jeremy B.
Missouri City, TX
1/19/2012
Wow!
I have dined at Joel Robuchon twice and enjoyed the experience very much. My only issues with that restaurant are the price and the very conservative ambiance (kind of awkward for vegas) . The food is phenomenal.
L'Atelier delivers not only AMAZING dishes it is also fun, with a relaxed atmosphere and much easier on the wallet.
We had the 9 course degustation menu for about $150. We sat at the bar over looking the kitchen (very entertaining). Each course was prepared with precision and beauty. The creativity and thought put into each dish was typical Joel Robuchon.
This restaurant caters to more adventurous eaters if you are picky this isn't for you. In my opinion with all factors considered this is the best restaurant in Vegas. -
Review from T K.
Los Angeles, CA
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
Can't go wrong with Joel. Everything was perfect as usual.
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Review from Elena L.
San Francisco, CA
1/28/2012
Last time I went to the Joel Robuchon next door, so I decided to try this one. I was very disappointed. The service was poor (they also took our forks before we finished our food, and took a very long time to bring them back). The food wasn't that impressive either, I thought it was pretty ordinary. The seating was definitely not comfortable for a nice restaurant like this. I don't think this restaurant has a Michelin one star's quality.
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Review from Leah K.
First off, you should know that I'm only reviewing on L'Atelier's desserts.
We had just watched the Andrea Bocelli concert in the MGM and came across Joel Robuchon's restaurant, L'Atelier. We knew about Mr. Robuchon's Michelin star restaurant and were dying to try it. but because the show ended so late, L'Atelier stopped serving kitchen food but were still serving desserts. So of course we sat down.
The breakdown:
Le Chocolat- chocolaté sensation, cremeux, araguani, oreo cookie crumbs.
The description sounds like it would be really heavy chocolate dessert of some sort but in reality it wasn't. The main point was really the textures (the cream, araguani, oreo cookie crumbs) harmonizing and balancing to form the perfect taste.
La Framboise- fresh raspberry surprise inside white chocolate sphere, yuzu ice cream.
This one is a bit hard to explain. The dish comes out with a white chocolate sphere in a bed of drizzled raspberry sauce. The server then pours warm raspberry sauce over the sphere which melts the white chocolate sphere and reveals the surprise inside, yuzu ice cream. Delicate presentation, an art really. The taste was tangy with textures of wafer.
La Chartreuse- green chartreuse soufflé, pistachio ice cream
This one needs 15 minute prep time. A wedge of pistachio ice cream is pushed into the warm soufflé top. The texture of the soufflé was airy, light and in combination with the ice cream was perfection.
Every plate was beautiful, even the coffee. I'm hoping to come back here and eat again sometime. -
Review from Michelle C.
San Jose, CA
Upon my second trip to L'Atelier, it has been concreted as my favorite restaurant in the world. Mind you, I haven't been everywhere, but I'm confident this is where the bar is set.
I love sitting at the bar and interacting with the guys behind the scenes. Each dish that comes out from the tasting menu is magnificent. I mean it. Every. Dish. With every plate that came out, my friend just gave me this incredulous look and exclaimed that was the best he'd eaten. Until the next dish arrived.
In addition to the seasonal tasting menu, we added the Iberico jamon to the experience. Aggressive adding an 11th dish -- but SO worth it. Executive Chef Steve came out to see how we were doing during this dish and even remembered me from the year prior!
The service is unparalleled. They're even good sports about taking photos of all the dishes. Including the wine pairings. They take the time to describe each menu item and will answer any question you have. You can tell that they take pride in their product. As I understand it, they go through 3 months of training before they work here. As my friend put it, you can tell they legitimately love their food. One of the guys, Sunday, told us that they're incentivized to not only enjoy the dishes themselves but to go to the gym.
COST
tasting menu - $155
wine pairing - $105
Some people will throw that away at a craps table with the blink of an eye -- I prefer to get something in return. L'atelier is my treat to myself.
I've noticed a trend with unsatisfied yelpers who chose the 3 course $39 pre fixed menu. Fork over the money and do the tasting menu. You'll be pleased (and satiated) with your decision.Listed in: Keys to My Heart
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/2/2011
How I've not reviewed this is beyond me. Perhaps it's that I was so blown away that I've just come… Read more »
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Review from Albert H.
12/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Still wonderful - we've been here once before a couple years ago for the more-or-less full treatment, but always wanted to come back. Had our chance when plans at another place in the MGM fell through ( closed for renovation, what?? ), and we wandered up to the front desk near opening time and inquired if they had a spot - just for a couple drinks and a couple dishes.
They are not really that sort of place - reservations seem derigeur - but after momentary hesitation, they found us a seat at the bar. Not the kitchen bar which takes up most of the restaurant, but the *actual* bar - almost unnoticed, right by the restrooms, about four seats in front of which they produce the cocktails.
The bar guy was friendly, if a little gruff at first. The drinks were well made. The food ( we concentrated on foie dishes ) was amazing as usual, even if we didn't quite see it being made this time.
This remains in my opinion one of the highest quality semi-casual fine dining establishements in Las Vegas - and definitely still an unique experience. -
Review from Cindy W.
Akron, OH
11/23/2011
SOLO DINERS, REJOICE!
Are you (or will you be) alone in Vegas and wish you had someone to share that gourmet tasting experience with, but not ready to call an escort service?
L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon in the MGM Grand is a wonderful answer. This exceptional restaurant is designed for interaction with the chef and his kitchen and serving staff as they perform culinary magic in their beautiful open kitchen, as well as with fellow diners seated at the counter.
Whether you choose one of the tasting menus or pick and choose from the a la carte offerings, the offerings are extraordinary, adventuresome and delectable, each dish presented as artfully as it has been prepared. For me, last night's Lobster Fricassee was to die for, as was my snapper starter, and all of us within earshot of each other waxed poetic over the potato accompaniment! And dessert? Simply not to be missed. The wine list also will delight solo diners, with a large offering of splits and wines by the glass.
All in all, dining to rival the best entertainment on The Strip! -
Review from Frances C.
Anaheim, CA
1/24/2012
The food was very good. The amuse bouche was some sort of foie gras pudding and was a very good starter. I remember that I liked the quail with foie gras better than the veal. The dessert was a chocolate cake with a strong lime flavor. Normally, I do not like my chocolate adulterated like that, but I think it has changed my mind. I would be willing to try chocolates with other flavors. The main problem I had with the place was that it was open to the casino so there were wafts of cigarette smoke coming into the place messing up the flavor of the food for me. OTW, it was very good.
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Review from Alicia C.
Berkeley, CA
12/12/2011
Amazing dining experience.
The honey and I celebrated Thanksgiving at L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, and we had a wonderful experience. We were seated at the bar, with a front-row view of all the action in the impeccable, zen-like kitchen. There, we were able to watch the chefs carving up paper-thin slices of Iberico ham, meticulously plate delicate pieces of uni, and observe the head chef move deliberately through the kitchen like a shark scoping out prey (and making sure that the dishes were up to snuff).
The honey and I both ordered the seasonal menu and each had a glass of the house's choice of bottled champagne. The champagne was the best I've had yet, and definitely set us back a pretty penny. But it was worth it for the holiday experience.
Our faves included:
- foie gras parfait
- poached baby oysters
- white onion tart
- foie gras-stuffed quail with mashed potatoes
- and the two awesome desserts (apple cake and orange/chocolate concoction)
Even for "not as fancy," this is a pretty fancy place with some really thoughtful and creative food.
My only suggestion would be to close off the dining space from the rest of the casino--the stench of stale cigarette smoke was a little distracting to the whole tasting experience during the first few courses of the meal. Otherwise, it would've been perfect. -
Review from Richard M.
Palm Harbor, FL
1/22/2012
I have eaten here twice - It's is a good as it is hyped to be.
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Review from Eric t.
11/23/2011
Did the tasting discovery menu, was outstanding. standouts were the onion tart (maybe I should have done the white truffle supplement but it was awesome as is) and the oysters poached in echiere butter. The orange dessert they had was out of this world.
Very consistent, great service. Changed silverware after every course, very quickly.
next time I may order off the menu though. -
Review from Christina R.
Orcutt, CA
12/11/2011
We enjoyed a memorable dining experience at the bar.
Superb dishes with delightful flavors.
Great wine.
The exquisite flavor of the amuse bouche was the stand out of the entire meal though!
Cannot wait to return. -
Review from MJ J.
Redwood City, CA
1/31/2012
Wow - this Christmas was our second time and it continues to stun . . the prix fixe at $95 is a good deal. Flavorful but not heavy. Light but very tasty. The wine is excellent.. The service is good but humorous. Just a real pleasant dinner out.
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Review from Francesca K.
Fremont, CA
12/27/2011
We made a reservation two weeks in advance and requested seatings at the counter. When we arrived 30 minutes early we were told the seats were overbooked and we were not allowed seating. Management gives preference to whomever they like and wales who get priority seatings. Stay away.
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Review from Jennifer J.
Ventura, CA
10/13/2011
If ever there's been a restaurant in which I've walked into with the "Wow Me" attitude, it was L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon. Unfortunately, I walked away feeling very UN-wowed.
Technically speaking, there was nothing wrong with my meal. I decided on the five course pre-fix menu so I could have the full experience. No course was bad, but there was no course that had me slap the table or punch my dining companion with a "holy crap this is amazing" revelation that one would expect from a restaurant with such a world famous chef.
Most seats are situated at a bar facing an open kitchen, allowing you to watch the chefs assemble plates with intense care. Periodically, like a character out of "Ratatouille," a stern looking chef in an impeccably clean chef's coat with French colors on the collar emerges from a back room to scrutinize their work. One could state, in fact, that this scene, coupled with the dramatic dining room décor, upstages the food altogether.
Perhaps one could sum it up as cuisine that is all technique and no heart. There was just something...je ne sais quoi...missing.
And I have to deduct a star simply for charging me $30 for ONE GLASS of Pinot Noir. I mean, I get it. It's upscale dining. But come on. -
Review from Roy Y.
9/14/2011
Yelp 365 Challenge: 45/365
The city of sin has come a long way from the days of $0.99 hotdogs and cheapo buffets. There was a time when chefs scoffed at opening a restaurant in Vegas. Disgusted by the unsophisticated palates of the hordes of visitors ingrained with the American mentality of quantity over quality.
However, today there is a new dawn in the culinary revolution of the 9th island of Hawaii. Every brand name chef has an outpost of their culinary empire proudly found along the neon lit "Strip" of Las Vegas. Names like Flay, Emeril, Batali, Colicchio, Bartolotta, and even Robuchon are now staples on the dining scene.
This new reality works perfectly into my Vegas agenda. Win money, eat good food, and drank (not necessarily in that order!). As luck would have it, I had the pleasure of dining at L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon during my last trip to Vegas. L'Atelier is the modern and chic outpost of Robuchon, found just next door to the "full service" Robuchon in the MGM Grand. Let me tell you, this was a dining experience I will never forget.
The evening started out as every other evening did... Pre-gaming in our room at the Palazzo. Grey Goose on the rocks with lime. Getting fresh and looking good. My partner in crime for the evening was a good friend from way back in the day. Funny thing is, she doesn't gamble, drink, or have a taste for fine dining... I know, I know, wtf was I doing in Vegas with her?!? We were on our way to see KA and I really wanted to check out L'Atelier. So it was my treat, grand degustation all the way.
You know it's going to be a special evening from the moment you walk in. The vibe of the restaurant is chic, sexy, and edgy. The color scheme is black, red, accented with hints of chrome. This is dining with an extremely sexy lounge vibe combined with the pedigree of Joel Robuchon. Seating at L'Atelier is predominantly counter style mixed with a few tables surrounding the bar. You want to sit at the bar, trust me. The orchestrated dinner show is a sight worth seeing. The legions of kitchen staff all work with such incredible precision and timing. It's a sure sign of the awesome evening to follow.
Our server delivers a basket of freshly made in house bread and confirms our dining and beverage selection for the evening. Grand Degustation and a half bottle of Cake Bread Chardonnay. The bottle arrives and the food starts cranking...
I've attached a few pictures of the menu we enjoyed and I'll describe the dishes that really stood out - good & bad. For the most part, everything was good to incredible. But there's only so much room for the review..
The amuse bouche is a foie gras parfait with port wine and parmesan foam. The presentation is simple and the taste is incredible. The interplay between sweet & salty provided by the foam is a great addition to the rich foie gras.
The white onion tart with smoked bacon and asparagus hit the spot for bold flavor mixed with french buttery & fatty goodness.
The egg cocotte topped with light mushroom cream was one of the best dishes of the evening. It was the perfect example of the french understanding of umami. Lucious egg with mushroom cream.
The foie stuffed quail with truffled mash was surprisingly good, but not slap yo mama good as I thought it'd be. The flavor profile of the foie slightly masked the natural flavor of the quail. The truffled mash however was to die for.
The mojito was a bit tough to eat. The white rum granite was extremely strong and the taste of alcohol over powered the other flavors.
Overall, an astonishing evening. A great opportunity to enjoy the works of one the highest rated french chefs in America. Even my friend said she enjoyed herself more than she thought she would. If you don't have the time or money to enjoy the "full service" Robuchon, L'Atelier is the perfect venue for you.Listed in: Yelp 365 Challenge
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Review from John L.
San Jose, CA
12/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great food, great service. We had the seating right up front, looking into the kitchen. It was great to see them prepare our dishes while we talked. The langoustine! YUM!
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Review from Ellin C.
9/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Perhaps the best meal of my life. We did the $155 tasting menu and it didn't disappoint. We started off with a grapefruit gelee and avocado amouse bouche and then the highlights of each mini course were:
***The langoustine carpaccio blew me away. The way the lobster was thinly prepared, seasoned and the soft chewiness of it really brought the aroma of the lobster out.
*** Les Tomatoes: The best tomato salad I have ever had. The simplicity of the fresh types of tomatoes, along with a little basil oil and fleur de sel were a heavenly transition from the amous bouche to the rest of the more entree' like dishes.
** Le Crabe royale: King crab a la plancha, vegetables with lemongrass oil: This dish was good, but didn't blow me away as much as the other dishes. It was well seasoned though, with an asian fusion flavor.
** L'asperge : Green asparagus kebab with quail egg "mirror", shimeji and Iberico ham: This is like the ham and egg combo, the mini egg sitting perfectly sunny side up on top of the asparagus. Cute little dish, with many interesting flavors.
***Main dishes: Lamb shoulder confit with eggplant compote and mashed potatoes: The lamb was delectable, moist and perfectly seasoned
and also the Foie-gras stuffed free-range quail with mashed potatoes: I've never been a big fan of quail, but this quail, however small pieces, were really tasty and the foie gras complemented the quail taste very well.
Dessert: My hubby and I asked for one big main dessert instead of the two little ones that were on the menu. Our waiter hooked us up with one huge dessert that was the best chocolate coated and covered dessert I've ever tasted as well as the Pecan cake topped with fresh apples.
We also watched as the lady next to us at the bar ordered a red ball with gold foil on top, with ice cream inside. After putting hot sauce over the whole thing, the sauce would melt the red ball to expose the creamy ice cream inside. It looked delicious as well.
We ended our meal with a nice hot cup of cappucino for me and a latte for my hubby.
Overall, I would go to another Joel Robuchon restaurant again. Coming to this restaurant, made me a big fan of his cuisine. Worth every penny of it!Listed in: Michelin Star restaurants
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Review from Joel M.
9/12/2011
Excellent food, cool layout, and a great overall experience.
The food here is very difficult to describe, its at that level of quality that you can taste immediately - fresh, unique, new, and completely satisfying. The drinks were outstanding as well, I recommend grabbing a couple while you wait. We sat around the bar at the kitchen and it was very entertaining watching the chefs prepare our dishes.
I know Vegas is expensive, but I'm not sure if the value was there. I could get a similar meal in Chicago or another big city for much less (or would get a better meal at this price). Don't get me wrong - you are going to have a special and unique experience - but you are going to pay the Vegas premium on top of an already expensive meal.Listed in: Shut up and take my money!
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Review from Dayana t.
San Jose, CA
12/29/2011
A $500 check for 2 but so worth it. The place is energetic (not romantic at all) as you sit, eat and enjoy the view of the kitchen. All the food was simply amazing (we combined two tasting menus). I'd love to go back.
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Review from Gabriel A.
Pico Rivera, CA
9/5/2011
After reading the high volume of 5 star experiences here I was really looking forward to my dinner here. I rarely eat dinners this expensive. And because I was trying a restaurant that is owned by the "Chef of the Century" I had no doubt it was going to be good. Well, my excitement quickly turned to disappointment. Me and my friend ordered the seasonal tasting menu ($155 before tax and tip). Honestly, the meal was, for the most part, forgettable. The bread that they served us was not warm and was a bit too hard for my taste. The butter that came along with it only tasted good towards the end of the meal after it had become soft enough to spread. In other words, it was hard and cold when it was first served to us.
As far as the food itself, I expected small portions. But very few dishes had flavor. The only two dishes that were good were the white fish and the lamb shoulder.
My recommendation (and something I wish I did while I was here) is to order items off the regular menu before you get stuck with a big bill and food you may or may not care for.
Other than that, the service and the experience of the place were great. If I ever come back here again I'm going to have to try the burger and foie gras sliders because everyone else around us was raving about them. -
Review from Sara K.
San Francisco, CA
8/26/2011 1 photo
Most people at the ripe age of 22 come to Viva Las Vegas for the fabulous night life, the endless Vegas shenanigans, and the luxurious spa treatments. Well fellow Yelpers, this lady right here comes here for the food.
My experience at L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon truly brought a tear to my eye. It's a foodie's dream to be able to eat food by an Executive Chef that was hand picked by the world-renowned Joël Robuchon himself. Before I get into details, here is what I had:
Menu Club - A 5 course menu for $96 per person.
Course 1: LA TOMATE - Chilled tomato gazpacho with croutons
Course 2: LA LANGOUSTINE - Crispy langoustine fritter with basil pesto
Course 3: LE VEAU - Veal piccata served with arugula salad
Course 4: LES FROMAGES - Selection of cheeses
Course 5: LES TARTES - Traditional tarts
We also added one of their signature dishes - La Caille au Foie Gras - Free-range quail stuffed with foie gras. DIVINE.
And let me tell you something - the absolute best melt-in-you-mouth mashed potatoes I've ever had. My god. I dream of them!
But what made my experience at L'Atelier the most memorable was being able to talk to the Executive Chef. Chef Benjamin probably thought we were crazy -- absolutely going insane over how beautiful and delicious the dishes were that were being served to us. These were true foodies in his restaurant. So what did he do? Yes -- he took the three of us into the back of the house and gave us a tour of the Joël Robuchon kitchen and even introduced us to the Executve Chef.
Did I mention he let us try the ham? Not just any ham -- THE ham. As in Iberico de Bellota. For those who don't know about this- GOOGLE IT. Quite possibly the most delicate and beautiful piece of food that has ever entered my mouth. It was just so...fabulous. It made my heart melt. To even have the opportunity to try this was a gift. And now I can check it off the bucket list.
Thank you Chef Benjamin (and phenominal staff!) for making this Vegas trip the best it could have possible been. We hope to see you all again someday! -
Review from Adri A.
1/10/2012
Just my humble opinion...Im sorry but I was prepared to be floored by this place. I wanted to go here so bad and frankly I left underwhelmed .. Im kinda over celeb chefs for the reason that food is overpriced ,super small (ridiculous) and the cult following doesnt seem to take the actual food into consideration I dont care that they use tweezers to plate while I watch...Its good and fine but at the end of the day I just want food not really a show. The quail was literally smaller than a chicken nugget lol. I read about some mashed potatoes that were mind blowing.. UMMM? they were mashed potatoes that tasted like regular mashed potatoes ! I know he is the chef of the century but although this was one of the most expensive meals in Vegas it was not the best at all. I got a glass of water knocked all over me by the waiter who seemed to care less because we look like kids compared to everyone in here .. I wouldnt return
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Review from Steve A.
Tampa, FL
12/21/2011
Simply incredible. The attention to detail at this restaurant is something that few people ever get to see. My girlfriend and I opted for some items from the small bites menu. Some of the standouts were the Langostines and Monk Fish Cheeks. This kitchen is the type of place where you can eat off of anything. Do your self a favor and visit this amazing restaurant.
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Review from Sean M.
8/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came here with my fiance a few weeks ago to celebrate our engagement. I had wanted to try Joel Robuchon next door, however it was closed for renovations during our stay so I opted for L'Atelier instead. It may not have been the best choice for our occasion but we have plenty of intimate fine dining meals, it was nice to change things up.
I really liked the counter service concept. I've eaten at plenty of counters and watched my food being made; but never food of such a high quality. It was great to see the chefs tediously preparing each course as we were eating the one prior to it. The kitchen's timing was impeccable! After a few courses I could tell when they were preparing our next course by how far along we were on the current dish. This was all done with seemingly clockwork precision. No running around or yelling in this kitchen.
We both had the $155 Seasonal Discovery Menu.
The amuse bouche of avocado and cilantro flavored grapefruit gelee and the turbot filet and baby leeks, buttery shellfish sauce with lime and ginger were real standouts for me' as was the la framboise dessert.
Not-so-hot was the heirloom tomato salad with basil oil and fleur de sel. It was good, but far from spectacular, it seemed like a filler. The foie gras quail was OK but neither of us could taste more than a slight hint of foie gras.
Overall a very good meal. So why four stars instead of five? The price and the portion size. While it was a great meal, I don't think that the portions we were served and the level of service (by design of the counter seating, not at all to the fault of the servers, they were fantastic!) warranted the $155 price tag.Listed in: My Michelin Stars
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Review from Mark F.
Newhall, CA
1/6/2012
Outstanding food but I think that's a given. Waiting over a half hour in between courses is not acceptable at these prices. And the prices are fairly absurd. Not sure if that's a vegas thing, L'Atelier in Tokyo seemed cheaper which is hard too believe.
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Review from David a.
Los Angeles, CA
8/2/2011
If you arrive here early in the evening, a reservation will not be necessary under normal circumstances, but Joel Robuchon is closed for remodeling so the Atelier seemed busier than usual. I have eaten here twice, and can say that it was consistently excellent on both occasions. My suggestion would be to get the discovery menu instead of ordering a la carte. If you enjoy flawless dining experiences and have a bit of money to spend, it will not be a disappointment. You will think about some of these dishes for the rest of your life such as the barely cooked oysters with melted European butter on top served on a bed of rock salt with a couple of thyme sprigs and the quail with foie gras mashed potatoes. Actually, you will think about ALL the dishes.
I did not opt for the wine pairing, but Karina got it and was beyond happy. I got a couple of great Belgian beers (bottled) and felt that they really went well with some of the dishes. Wine is not my friend and never has been. I am waiting patiently for restaurants to hire a cannabis sommalier.
Now, I am not going to describe in intricate detail each of the 10 courses that we ate, but the macaroni with lobster and asparagus was particularly noteworthy. The two dishes that I mentioned previously, (quail and oysters) need to be eaten to be believed. Trust me. The langostine fritter was also very, very, very special.
Atelier means workshop, and how wonderful it is to sit at the edge of this master craftsman's kitchen. I feel truly lucky that I am alive and that I have been able to experience the AMAZING food here. The line cooks and servers here get a standing ovation. -
Review from Sila D.
Washington, DC
9/4/2011
my dinner/experience here was was just fabulous.
From my experience, my waiter was extremely attentive and very patient. The waiter was also very helpful and knowledgeable when choosing from the menu. He was attentive in the sense that he was watching us like a hawk, making sure each dish was properly served within precise timing. We were not overwhelmed when going from dish to dish, leaving room for rest in between. I'm not a fan of being rushed into each dish I order, as if I'm being served from an assembly line.
Sitting at the counter seats facing the kitchen, I believe, made for a more enjoyable experience. I would suggest it with the intent that you'll probably have a better time than at a table... at least I did. Normally I'm not one to sit at seats facing a kitchen, but because this restaurant is very small and intimate, there are only a few chefs at work and you won't leave the restaurant smelling like the restaurant. You can watch how meticulously the chefs put together meals to perfection. I was lucky enough to try several things which were 'compliments of the Chef.'
Decided to go for individual plates rather than opt for the tasting menu. I'm glad I did...
What I had:
To start:
L'ARTICHAUT
et le crabe mayonnaise en frou-frou de légumes façon macédoine
Artichoke and king crab with mayonnaise, meli-melo of vegetables
LE MACARONI
gratiné au Comté, asperges vertes et poitrine de veau fumée
Macaroni in a Comté gratin, green asparagus and smoked veal bacon
the winner: L'ARTICHAUT
Main course:
I had the hanger steak dish but the potato puree, which came with, was far more memorable. Not saying that it wasnt a good steak (its only hanger steak after all) but the winner was the potato puree. It was definitely a very small 'boutique' serving, but the flavor was amazing. I feel like an idiot because I can't remember the exact name of the butter which is used to make it, but my waiter had mentioned that it was some sort of imported French butter (if anyone knows what it is, please inform me so I can edit this!). Whatever it was, it totally made the potato puree.
The decor was interesting and I kind of liked the concept of placing various vegetables in large jars/vases/bowls/etc., by color coordination. It makes for a nice touch, with pops of color spread throughout, against a stark black environment with touches of red furniture. Its unfortunate that when you walk out of this small, posh oasis, you're thrown into the tackiness of Vegas culture: endless casino with disgusting, utterly tasteless decor and cheesy carpets.
Sometimes, it just doesn't make any sense to have such a place in such an environment, but Vegas doesn't make sense anyway... -
Review from Michelle L.
Westwood, CA
9/14/2011
Upon entering, I absolutely loved the red/black decor and the innovative layout. You can view the kitchen from your seats and watch your food being made and plated, but after awhile, I think I would have preferred to have been seated at a table (with my feet reaching the floor) rather than being perched at a bar. But hey, that's how the place was designed.
Looking at the 9-course seasonal discovery menu, I thought it was way too much food. My boy ordered the 5-course menu club (really good from the samples I tried), and me being still considerably full from lunch, took the recommendation from our waiter to select 3 of their small tasting portions. We were told that 3 would be plenty for one person...wrong! haha
Along the amuse bouche, I ordered the following:
LES TOMATES
du jardin avec un filet d'huile de basilic et fleur de sel
Heirloom tomato salad, basil oil and fleur de sel
LES HUITRES
de Kussi pochées dans leur coquille au beurre salé
Poached baby Kussi oysters with French Echiré butter
LE BAR
au chorizo sur une barigoule d'artichauts à l'ibérique et coriande fraîche
Sea bass filet with chorizo, artichokes in barigoule sauce and cilantro
And for dessert:
LA FRAMBOISE
en surprise dans une coque ivoire acidulée au yuzu
Fresh raspberry surprise inside white chocolate sphere, yuzu ice cream
Service was warm and friendly, and very attentive and careful whenever reaching over the bar. Everything was delicious (I particularly enjoyed the heirloom tomato salad, the oysters, and the BEST mashed potatoes they serve with your meal), but the portions were extremely small. I was not even remotely full afterwards. And to have even thought I wouldn't have room for the seasonal menu =( Given the portion sizes, I guess the cost of the food and view might not be entirely worth it, but it was definitely a great experience. -
Review from Brent D.
Las Vegas, NV
9/23/2011
Food: We ordered the Langoustine Fritters, Wagyu Steak, Foie Gras-Stuffed Quail, and Le Chocolat dessert, and they were all exceptional; but the fritters and chocolate dessert were my favorites. I could write another paragraph about how good these dishes were, but that would bore you; so just take my word for it.
Service: The waiter addressed me by name, and was very friendly and courteous. Also, we were served a special platter with six different dessert tarts and "Happy Anniversary" written on the front. +5 bonus points for that :)
Ambience: They specialize in counter-top seating over-looking the kitchen. It was actually very interesting to see the sous chefs painstakingly place every leaf and flower into the salad bowl with tweezers. It was really nice to have something to watch to fill in those moments of silence. -
Review from Derek W.
After a failed attempt at dining here during my last conference in sin city, we finally were able to do so during our anniversary (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). I've been fortunate to have been able to dine at both and can say that I've become a fan of Joel Robuchon. The decor is contemporary and the open kitchen concept (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) offers a more relaxed atmosphere than the more formal dining next door.
I had a few dishes that I had in mind that I knew I wanted and after a few minutes of figuring out how hungry we were, we decided on the seasonal discovery tasting menu (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). Just shortly after our water was pourted, the bread basket was placed in front of us (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). Unlike Robuchon, L'Atelier only offers a few choices for bread. All 3 varieties were very good but the olive oil and sea salt croissant was amazing, flakey and very very tasty.
L'amuse bouche (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). Avocado and cilantro flavored grapefruit gelee. The grapefruit aftertaste left the palate with a light and refreshing and wished I had more than just the little shot glass.
Les tomatoes (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). The heirloom tomato salad was perfectly seasoned as the basil oil and fleur de sel perfectly matched the natural sweet taste of the tomatos.
Les huires (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). Poached baby Kussi oysters with French echire butter. I can honestly say that I'm not a fan of oysters but damn were these tasty. I've tasted Kussi oysters at Bouchon and thought they were good but these little bad boys blew those out of the water. May have been the butter...what isn't good with butter??
Le crabe royal (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). My piece of crab was a little chewy, maybe just an older piece of crab but was tasty nonetheless. The lemongrass oil left a refreshing aftertaste but wasn't overly impressed with the vegetables on top of the crab.
L'asperge (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). I was excited to see Iberico ham served with this dish but was disappointed with the two tiny hair like slivers on top of the quail egg. The asparagus was perfectly cooked and was very flavorful. After tasting the Iberico ham, I knew I had to order a side of it.
Iberico ham (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). This was brought out after the sole filet (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). At this point of the meal, I was getting extremely full and slightly buzzed as I ordered the wine pairing. That didn't stop me from devouring the entire plate. OMG I wish we could readily get this ham from a local butcher shop here in LA. The ham was sliced paper thin and literally melts in your mouth (http://www.yelp.com/bi...).
La sole (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). The sole filet was perfectly cooked and the buttery shellfish sauce perfectly complemented the fish.
For the main entree, I ordered the La caille (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). One reason is that I'm a huge fan of quail and that fact that I hate lamb. The piece of foie gras was slightly overcooked but the quail was awesome. Robuchon mashed potatoes were velvety and very very rich. A must try if you haven't had Robuchon mashed potatoes.
La fraise (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). Mascarpone panna cotta topped with fresh strawberries and served with balsalmic ice cream. The strawberries and balsalmic ice cream tasted amazing together. The panna cotta at the bottom was also very good.
La mure (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). Blackberry compote w/ spice cake and rhubarb sorbet. Another awesome dessert.
Le cafe (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). French pressed coffee served with a piece of chocolate!!
Not sure how I was able to fit all of the food into my stomach that night but damn I would do it all over again without hesitation. Hope to dine here in the near future. Oh service was awesome and needless to say the food was amazing!!!
