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So curious to finally visit the internationally acclaimed line of restaurants by the chef with the most Michelin stars ever and instead of being disappointed by the hype like I often am, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Cost to worth it rating: 3 (quite expensive, but if you do the tasting menu it's on par with other fine dining/Michelin-starred places)
Eve award: best amuse ever (shot glass of foie gras parfait with parmesan foam)
Highlights:
- Setup: relaxed counter seating like at a diner but fancified version with fine dining food--love the concept since I love high quality food but could do without the stuffy formal atmosphere that often comes with
- Redefines a dinner show: you're looking right into kitchen which is amazing live entertainment for a Top Chef watching foodie like me. Loved watching the precision in the process of one of the best kitchens. It's crazy they aren't allowed to talk to each other which so not like you see on TV (or read about in Anthony Bourdain) with those yelling chefs
- Different levels of menus: from a small set all on one plate to a 4 course and a 10 course
- Don't all have to do the same menu: awesome option for the hub and I as most places insist on the whole party being in synch and complain about timing discrepancies, etc.
- Unique presentations: amuse was served on a lava rock, pumpkin soup in a martini glass in a circular vase with fall accents
- Scallop with chives: never had this tender preparation before--more delicate fish-like texture than traditional seared style
- Onion tart: sounded so simple but was almost like a small pastry disc of a sauceless pizza with bacon and hearty mushrooms and shavings of amazing cheese
- Sole with baby leeks: light yet substantial and purely delightful
- Hanger steak: melt in your mouth with fried shallots delicately placed on top
- Dessert: quartet of tarts (including snickers and passion fruit) were scrumptious, but the real star was the peach confit infused with moscato d'asti in an apricot milkshake--unexpected and refreshing sweet dish
- Service: excellent and professional, easier for them to be around more with the smaller space to work. All of the staff was happy to chat as well as simply present the food and disappear for a more pleasant well-rounded experience.
- Wine: when I inquired about a wine plan, the waiter served few glasses to work well with multiple courses
- Teppanyaki: when I've been in fine dining kitchens I don't remember seeing one of these long flat cooking areas so I found that interesting
Lowlights:
- Overwhelming when you see a la carte menu prices for appetizer size items around $40--go for one of the tasting menus instead
- They don't advertise wine pairings so I had to ask about it and they did have one to offer
LOVED this meal--best I've had in a while with every course being fantastic. I'd be more than happy to return--soon. :-)
Food: 4/5
Ambiance: 3.5/5
Services: 4/5
Prices: $$$$ (avg 100/person)
I believe this is the first Michelin Star restaurant in the USA that I have eaten since living in the USA from 2004. Another restaurant that i think is Michelin worthy is "da Marco" in Houston, TX.
This is definitely the IT crowd, the decor is very contemporary & stylish with fresh cuts carrots, cucumbers and what not submerged in water in different sizes of the jars display around the open kitchen... My partner & I were seated at the counter by the corner just when you comes in from the entrance. Its narrow and a bit too close to your neighbor to be gossiping about other diners ;-)
There are 3 choices - the Club (Fall Tasting) 5-course Menu $75/pax, the 8 or more course menu for $148/pax and of course the ala carte! The appetizer and entree average from $25 and above... if you have the money, go for the ala carte, otherwise, check out the well worth Club Menu like us as the first timer! Eventhough the portions are small but by the time you done with your desserts, you are just right! But dont expect the "American" size stuffed till your neck stuff ok...
We started with a glass of Rioja, always a great wine. Then the amazing culinary experience begin as follow:
L'amuse bouche - Foie gras parfait with port wine and parmesan foam. By far this was the best tasting and utterly amusing little teaser i ever had. They gave you a spoon to scoop the parfait slowly enjoying each layer of it...
Soup - some sort of pumpkin cream soup. Again, perfect texture with sprinkles of spices and sunflower seeds.
La langoustine - Crispy langoustine fritter with basil pesto. The perfectly boiled langoustine wrapped in some sort of wonton skin & deep fried. My opinion, the basil pesto sauce for dipping is redundant, its too bland, could have been better if they mix a tiny bit of mustard in it. Nevertheless, I wish i can get more... if you order ala carte, you get 4 of these yummy fritter!
Entree - We chosed the salmon over rib eye. Very decent size, nicely seasoned and grilled salmon. Unfortunately, with all the amazing taste from the previous dishes, this entree tasted too "normal", nothing special but still great.
Cheese - 3 very strong French cheese plate which i cannot remember what's what! Again, i'm more of a gorgonzolla, camembert, rocquefort kinda guy.
Dessert - 4 small pieces of Chef choice desserts. I was too stuffed to really enjoy the rich, chocolaty desserts.
I would have given this 4.5 Stars if the entree would have been kept the same par with the previous dishes... But still, this is a well worth visit and if i ever go back to Vegas, I will definitely check out the other restaurant and have a proper table sitting instead. Some may say, this is just another hype partly due to the "Michelin" thingy. I used to think the same but from my eating extravaganza around Europe, some of the Michelin place is definitely over-rated and over-priced but some are truly genius and deserve the accolades, Joel is one of them!
The Vegas of my youth was a neon jungle, rife with tacky buffets and decor.
The Vegas of my adulthood, I am happy to report, is filled with the single most wonderful thing I can possibly imagine - Fine Dining.
Perhaps, this is, like all things, both blessing and curse. As the increase of culinary gems also tends to increase my jeans size whilst decreasing my fundage. But I digress....
Nothing is more befitting a Yelper Vegas Vacation quite like a visit to a world renowned chef. Especially if that chef is Joel Robuchon.
To be fair, it was the first night in Sin City and hence, I was forced to ration the amount of gambling money spent on dinner. However, even having purchased the most minuscule of the tasting menus from Vegas Restaurant Week, I found the meal just as fulfilling as if I had hit a blackjack...
The Tomato Basil salad was great.
The Short ribs were delectable.
The desserts (I was able to sample each) were wonderful.
However, the best of the best were the foie gras ravioli in broth that I decided to double down on with my counterpart, Felicia C.
It's well known in my culinary circles that if Foie was a human, not only would I marry him, I'd chain him in my home and keep him as my personal sex slave so as to partake in his wonders whenever my little heart desired....and I'd desire it quite frequently.
What can I say, I heart the Foie.
Now picture, if you will, my lover, in all his silky wonderfulness, encompassed within the best carbohydrate on the planet - pasta. And not just any pasta; light, fluffy, savory pasta.
Bathe those little pillows of perfection into a robust broth, and honey, we got ourselves a freakin jackpot.
Upon my next outing to the City of Culinary Enlightenment, I will be sure to save up for my visit to L'Atelier so that I can play with the big kids menu and spend it all...
Small place, and we had to wait 40 minutes despite our reservation.
Service was excellent, Food was even great.
Did the 9 course tasting menu. Nothing was bad... there were a few items that were just ok or good, but some of the itmes were so amazing I can't even describe it.
The Foie Gras Stuffed Quail, the seared foie gras with quince, the pumpkin soup, the eggplant and mozarella amuse bouche, and teh braised beef cheek were unbelievable.
We were not able to get reservations next door at Joel Robuchon, so we ended up at L'Atelier. No regrets here -- one of the best meals of my life. Cuisine is modern French -- traditional ingredients mixed with international flavors, and all dishes were executed skillfully. More than a meal, eating at L'Atelier is an experience -- be sure to get a table at the counter to watch your dishes skillfully prepared in front of you in complete silence.
1. Foie gras parfait with port wine and parmesan foam -- the first of three foie gras servings of the night, this was presented in a small glass. Savory and creamy, the port wine added the neccesary tartness to contrast the richness of the foie gras. B-
2. King crab on a turnip disc with sweet and sour sauce -- two large bites of an extremely high quality (blue?) crab meat; left me wondering how they made the sauce taste so good. A-
3. Sea scallop cooked in the shell with chive oil -- one of the best courses of the night, a single scallop that was packed with intense flavor due to the coating of micro-chives. A-
4. White onion tart with smoked bacon an grilled mushrooms -- very soft and creamy, almost pancake like. B+
5. Duck foie gras with confit quince and yuzu -- the sweetness and tartness of the quice and yuzu was the most perfect fruity pairing with foie gras that I've ever had. A-
6. Dover sole fillet, baby leek and ginger -- perhaps the only miss of the night for me, but I'm not a sole fan. Fish was dry and flavorless, however the toppings were great (but not enough). C+
7. Foie gras stuffed free-range quail with truffled-mashed potatoes -- their signature dish, do not leave without trying it. The cremiest mashed potatoes you will every try! A+
8. Peach confit infused with Moscata d'Asti, apricot milkshake -- the first sweet course, this was fantastic (and I don't even like peaches or apricots), with crunchy white chocolate covered corn flakes throughout. A
9. Chocolate cake cremeux layered with espresso ice cream and toasted almonds -- the second sweet course, also good, left me wanted some more of the cake. B+
Finished with espresso.
~$380 for two with tax and tip (excluding wine).
I came to Vegas looking for sin.
And I found six of the seven deadly ones right here at L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon.
Read their decouverte tasting menu and tell me it doesn't inspire gluttony and greed. Baby Kusshi oysters, Maine lobster, langoustine carpaccio, foie gras stuffed quail with truffled mashed potatoes.
Look at the photos and tell me it doesn't inspire lust, followed quickly by envy.
Dine here and tell me you don't feel a tinge of arrogant pride as you consider the buffet-dining hoards.
And enjoy nine perfect courses and tell me your satisfaction is not soon followed by a blissful, slothful afterglow.
Walking up to the black-clad restaurant, "L'Atelier" glowing red like both a warning and an invitation, it's hard not to be seduced by the presence of the "Chef of the Century". Even if only by name. Standing next to the opulent and all white Joel Robuchon, L'Atelier beckons you to the dark side.
Inside, the black and red decor continues, right down to an open black kitchen. Black tiles, black surfaces. Austere. Stark. A few tables for groups of four or more but most of the dining occurs at the bar around the open kitchen. Half the spectacle is watching your dishes work themselves through the different stations.
Of course you can order off the a la carte menu or go with their three or five course tasting menus. But you're at L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon. That would be like stopping at foreplay. Go on, order the nine course tasting.
[Pics here: http://bit.ly/odv2O]
LES CRUSTACES : Shellfish cream, piquillo pepper coulis and fennel foam
The amuse bouche comes out in a small porcelain eggcup atop a piece of rough hewn, heavy volcanic rock. A lobster and langoustine cream sits at the bottom, layered on top with a piquillo pepper coulis and topped with the fennel foam. Dip your spoon right to the bottom and dig out the cream and combine the coulis and foam in a single mouthful. The essence of the shellfish is both distinct and powerful. The texture, on the other hand, is of a smooth custard.
LA LANGOUSTINE : Langoustine carpaccio with roasted poppy seed dressing
The natural sweetness of the langoustine is tempered with a slightly tart, almost Asian, dressing. The roasted poppy seeds add a bitter crunch. Dip into the streak of chili oil if you want a slight kick or the basil oil for a more green flavor. But, for me, this dish was all about the natural flavor of fresh, raw langoustine.
LES HUITRES : Poached baby Kusshi oysters with French "Echiré" butter
Imagine butter melted over slightly poached oysters. Except infinitely better because these are Kusshis and the butter is Echiré. Go on, be an ingredient snob. A perfect illustration of how quality ingredients can elevate a dish. This one was sensational.
LE HOMARD : Maine lobster in a tomato sauce and green asparagus
The lobster was very well prepared and I like the presentation of leaving the tail meat partially in the shell. It makes for a beautiful plate. But the star here is the rich and dense sauce a l'américaine, beautifully bringing out the flavor of the lobster. Really, this is lobster layered on lobster. You can't ask for more than that.
LE FOIE GRAS : Foie gras ravioli in a warm chicken broth with herbs
I think I'm giving up chicken noodle soup as a comfort food in favor of this dish. Except I don't think L'Atelier delivers when I'm sick. It's a shame. These foie gras raviolis were delicate and delicious.
LE SAINT-PIERRE : John Dory filet with baby calamari and artichoke
Growing up in Australia, I ate a lot of John Dory as a kid. So much so that it became a very ordinary fish for me. This John Dory was anything but ordinary. Firm and well seasoned, it was just a very good piece of fish. The baby calamari was perhaps the only slip up in the whole meal, being rather rubbery.
LA CAILLE : Foie gras stuffed free-range quail with truffled-mashed potatoes
How could I not love this dish? Three of my favorite ingredients on the one plate. Press down on the slightly crispy skin of the quail and melted foie gras oozes out of it. Cut through the quail and coat liberally with foie gras ooze. Alternate with bites of the thick, creamy truffled mash flecked with black truffle. Earthy. Gamey. Offally. Superb.
LA PECHE : Peach confit infused with Moscato d'Asti, apricot milkshake
A stunning and surprising dessert. A peach sorbet sitting in an apricot "milkshake". A coin of sugar topping the dish. Dip into the apricot foam and you'll find bits of crunchy frosted cornflakes. All presented in a stemless martini glass balanced in a glass bowl.
L'ACAI : Acai granite light caramel cream
A final fun dessert to end the meal, this one comes topped with a ball of pink cotton candy and a small raspberry. Like a sweet and airy breast. Start by letting the cotton candy dissolve in your mouth. Then dig down into the tart and refreshing acai granita...
[That's the word limit. Full review with pics: http://bit.ly/odv2O. Don't forget to UFC here!]
Where do I begin? The experience was amazing. The ultra chic black and red lacquer bar is fun to sit at and look into the open kitchen as they prepare ever so carefully every morsel. No, Really I watched the salad chef check every lettuce leaf and then the sous chef who was expediting the meal criticize her work enough she had to start over. If was a "Gordon Ramsey moment".
the 9 course meal was delicious and full of surprises. joel robuchon is culinary giant. I'm going to save my pennies to get to his restaurant in Vegas then take out a second mortgage to go to his restaurants in Paris.
Unable to get last minute reservations at Joel Robuchon (go fig), we opted for the cafe next door. I had the Discovery Menu - a 9 course meal of modern delight:
From the lobster carpaccio to the foie gras ravioli, I thought everything was excellent except for the John Dory - which was bland and dry, and the steak was just mediocre. I wasn't totally blown away, but my favorites would be the kusshi oysters, and the foie gras ravioli in chicken broth.
At $148/pp - it was worth a try, but I'm not likely to go back. It was definitely neat to watch the chefs at work in the open kitchen. I'll be sure to make my reservations at JR way in advanced next time!
Tip - let them know if it's a special occasion - they'll top off dinner with a wonderful array of decadent desserts!
I first experienced Joel Robuchon in September 2009. Unbelievable, unbelievable food! From the beginning until the very end.
First off the dining experience is wonderful- open kitchen and you can interact with others around you. We started with the crispy langostine- perfect, light and crispy. Then the mini sliders- this was a 2 biter that I took 6 bites to savor each and every bite. THen I had the lobster in a creamy tomatoe broth- This was one of the top 5 restuarant experiences I've ever had!!! YOU NEED TO GO NOW!!
l'atelier's decor is a lot like the rojo room at the bazaar @ SLS. the interior design is stunning--modern and posh but warm and luxurious at the same time.
however, the the food reminds me of XIV.. in other words, i was disappointed..
Foie gras parfait
- nice presentation but unmemorable taste
Foie gras ravioli
- awesome idea, but overall was so salty that i could not taste the foie gras
Crispy langoustine fritters
- tasted like shrimp tempura, nice but boring
Seared Kampachi with crispy onion rings
- very nice taste and portion. the best executed dish of the night
LA FRAMBOISE
- crappy dessert. too crude, overly sweet. tastes like a mcdonalds strawberry sundae
nevertheless, i plan to come back again to try the other dishes
Love it. Love it. Love it.
Food: 9/10
Atmosphere: 9/10
Creativity: 10/10
Service: 10/10
Booked a reservation for two via the internet the day before. I got a reminder call in the afternoon and confirmed. But, they couldn't promise me a table.
We walk in 25 minutes late and couldn't get a table.... so glad we didn't. Sit at the counter and you will have fun watching the chefs work their magic. I look at the couple on our left and i see the waiter pouring a hot liquid over a white sphere. The ball melts away to a raspberry surprise. That presentation alone got me excited for this meal.
The wife had the five course tasting menu and I choose three delicious items from the menu. Everything was perfect. The wine pairing was perfect. The wait staff timed every dish with precise and perfect execution. My favorite dish was the poached egg over a hidden piece of toast accompanied by asparagus and Serrano ham. Try the sliders too....only a food addict can appreciate the foie gras and beef on a bun. A must! Everything was great on the tasting menu except for the wonton wrapped langoustine. Too much of the deep frying oil remained in the wonton and the dish didn't have that creative kick that all the others did.
Funny story here, we had reservations for the restaurant, but since we arrived around four minutes early, they didn't want to let us in ("we were too early"). We thought that was so stuffy--but we were expecting that since the menu de gestacion is around $300. So we walked outside the restaurant (which is actually inside the casino) and saw that there was L'atelier next door to the "high end" Robuchon (2 same restaurants next to each other). We went to see their menu because we wondered what the difference was--it seemed like the same stuff on the menu..So we asked, and in a very diplomatic manner we were told that what you really pay for is the "ambiance" (i.e. ATTITUDE--which we got when we walked into the first one), because the food was the same but for much less! Well--in that case let's get a seat now! So we ate at L'atelier instead for a couple hundered dollars less!
Everything that is said by the reviewers that give this restaurant 5 stars is absolutely true..This is really la crème de la crème as far as menus go--WOW. *Everything* we had was done so perfectly: perfect seasoning, perfectly cooked, perfectly presented--the FLAVORS--wow! NO WONDER it got a michelin rating! This is the type of restaurant that is *absolutely* worth the splurge. My husband also got the plate of tarts/pies for his birthday, and they were absolutely delicious. I can't remember what we had exactly, what stood out was the dessert we had; I can't remember what it was called, but it was like a pineapple custard, and I think they whipped some coconut cream until it was very light and airy (must have had heavy cream--it was SO decadent) topped with a caramel crisp... It doesn't sound extraordinary (I didn't think it did), but it blew us away..Also, we sat in the bar area WAY in the back, so the bartender (a very cordial gentleman) was helping us, and he gave great recommendations, including an apple WINE..Now we thought what you must be thinking--probably some expensive cider! To our pleasant surprise it really did taste like a delicious dessert wine, it didn't taste at all like apple juice/cider. It is a canadian wine and the apples freeze on the trees, leaving a very sweet residue that is extracted together with the bit of juice--honestly, you've never tasted anything like this! It's called "Neige" and we plan to buy a bottle! Anyway, this restaurant was amazing--hopefully we can come back for a special occasion!!
Many fine dining restaurants in Vegas resorts seem to be having recession specials right now, so we decided to take advantage of a $39 prix fixe menu L'Atelier is offering. We found out that they stop serving this particular pre-theater menu at 6:45pm. We were running late, and got in closer to 7pm, but the chef still accommodated us.
The three course meal was served bento box style, with even the dessert on the plate. I can see how this is a convenient wham, bam, thank you ma'am option for people rushing to catch a Vegas show.
I ordered the king crab and cous cous appetizer, osso buco entree and peach panna cotta dessert. While everything was tasty, portions were definitely on the small side, and nothing that blew me away. It wasn't the quality you'd expect from a Joel Robuchon restaurant.
Service was pretty mediocre as well. Just because L'Atelier is the more affordable and trendy alternative to its sister restaurant, it doesn't mean it shouldn't put out excellent food and service too.
Well, well, well... we have finally tried L'Atelier in Vegas. What can I say other than "awesome"! Of course, the food was awesome. The only thing is the atmosphere here is typical Vegas, the people, I mean. And also the silly concept of an "affordable prix fix meal."
It's hard not to compare with the original in Paris (the city). Here, in Paris, everything is perfection - the seating, the colors, the people, the food, the wine. In Vegas, it's all basically the same as Paris, sans the people. Also, I didn't like the bento box concept - takes away from the experience of special food. Special food should be special, don't try to make "affordable." It will cheapen it. Please - this is a Michelin star restaurant - get back to the basics. There is no such thing as affordable Michelin star.
Hence, I take away one star.
I was not impressed.
Ambiance was ok. Black, red, dark. Very modern Vegas, but looked like a place where True Blood vampires would dine at.
Had the 3 course $39 prixe fixe special and came out feeling hungry and unsatisfied.
Ordered a melon appetizer, halibut main entree, and an unmemorable rum dessert.
The entrees came out looking like an entire tv dinner on one plate, similiar to a bento box. Um, what happened to a real dining experience? No drum roll? Just slam-bam-thank-you-ma'am plates?
Staff was friendly though and I liked the wrap around bar.
However, the food lacked the quality and substance of Joel Robuchon.
I enjoyed the company of good friends, but I did not care too much for the culinary experience here.
there haven't been many restaurants that i've anticipated dining in as much as l'atelier de joel robuchon. this was my first chance to dine at the michelin star rated restaurant founded by the "chef of the century". who wouldn't be excited for this?
after much deliberation and considering my gambling losses, we decided upon the middle option (~$75). the guy next to me ordered the ~$39 menu and he seemed to enjoy it. to be honest, it looked like a pathetic tray of food. the top option (~$140) would probably be ideal for accurately judging l'atelier, but that was simply not in my budget.
the amuse bouche was a forgettable bite of some sort of seafood custard undercut by a piquillo pepper gelee. it seemed that every subsequent dish had a piquillo pepper component. guess that was the ingredient of the day. the first real dish was a cup of gazpacho served in a bed of ice topped with croutons. it was light and refreshing, albeit a tad boring. i think the best part of the early courses was the bread and butter.
next was a lightly fried langoustine adorned by a simple salad. unfortunately, it was more wrapper than langoustine, but the flavor was good. i ordered the pork belly as my main course and it was served with mashed potatoes. the pork belly was succulent and was the ideal mix of fat and meat. the mashed potatoes were smooth and velvety. the main course neared the michelin star quality that the rest of the meal lacked.
next was the cheese course. it was okay. one of the cheeses was brie so that tells you how interesting it was. finally, my dessert consisted of a series of tarts. they were tasty, but i was far too full to really notice anything special about them.
final verdict: you can tell that this place is quality, but it just didn't seem to be of the highest level that i expected. considering some of my courses mirrored the top option, i couldn't help but be disappointed.
I was quite disappointed by the food here and was expecting much better from a Michelin One-star restaurant. Especially after reading all the rave reviews and seeing how this place is near the top of the Yelp Las Vegas restaurants list, I was expecting a Gary Danko-like experience.
Alas, it was not to be.
I came here last weekend with a group of college friends, and we were MUCH THE EXCITES for the foods! Tip: If you want the 3-course prix fixe, you must book a reservation before 6:45pm. We all ordered the 3-course L'Unique dinner for $39.
Here's a recap of our experience; aite, here we goes:
+ The decor was BOLD BOLD BOLD. Bright reds against a dark black background. Very sexy colors. The centerpiece at our table was a bunch of vibrant red roses. HOT. Like a lot of things in Vegas.
+ They gave us two baskets of bread, each basket containing like seven or eight giant pieces of bread. The bread was FANTASTIC. It made my favorite Ratatouille-Crunchy-Bread Sound!! When you squeeze, it makes the sound!! Crusty on the outside, soft on the inside. Perfect with some butter. Two of my friends and I each DEVOURED 3+ sticks of bread EACH. It was AMAZING.
+ Our three courses came all at once, on a giant plate. I got king crab over semolina for my appetizer; tender veal and mashed potatoes for the main entree; and some type of peach custard thing for dessert. Rundown of the froods:
- Semolina was a bit bland, and DIFFICULT to eat! 3/5, I think.
+ Veal was a bit on the salty side, but tender and fell off the bones! Yum!! The mashed potatoes were a good complement and helped to lighten the saltiness of the veal.
- Um, the dessert was just WHACK. It was like something I'd expect from like Quickly or some other cheapass Asian dessert place. It was like custard/sago with the very strange addition of POPROCKS in there. Uh, what? Yeah. Do not like. Half star! That dessert does not belong in a restaurant like this! Crappy Asian dessert house, maybe. Definitely a no-no here!
I think the dessert alone brings down the review one star. And then the mediocrity of the appetizer brings it down another half star. The final half star is taken away because the entree, though good, wasn't knock-your-socks-off spectacular. My friend got the halibut for her main entree and was also not impressed.
Overall, disappointed with L'Atelier, but hey it seems like a lot of people loved it so maybe I just might have to make another trip here and order the $75 five-course menu to get a better taste of the other items.
It was overall sort of meh, but still good enough that I'd come back and eat.
The bread alone is worth it. I'm a greedy carb eater, and I CHOMPS the BREAD!!
Anyway, much luck to you if you eat here, hope your fooding experience is much the awesomes! Or at least better than mine.
As an adult, I often reminisce over the experiences of my youth, my first kiss, the first time I went to a concert, or heard my favorite band. The rush, the excitement, the innocence of it all. It was invigorating. As we grow older, and learn more and experience more, there are less "firsts". Eventually, it seems, most of us become stuffy critics who seem to lose the ability to appreciate.
This was my first truly amazing fine dinning experience. I make no claim of even knowing what i am talking about, but, I can say that this was the best meal I have ever eaten. Surely, that may change, but I will never forget my first.
I came with my beau. We both ordered the prie fix summer menu, with the wine pairing.
The meal started with a poached quail egg a'mouse bouche. The creamy yolk mixed well with the other ingredients. I've had quail egg before, but this was the first time I was able to appreciate the rich flavor.
Next, les legumes, an assortment of Mediterranean vegetables, roasted, then cooled, piled between buffalo Mozzarella, and some sort of basil cream reduction something. It was delectable.
The crispy wrapped langoustine, and a basil pesto was served next. The langoustine was cooked to perfection.
We found ourselves drunk on wine and giddy over the food, often giggling in disbelief at uniqueness of each dish.
We ordered off of the small plates menu - le cebette, an onion pastry with bacon and asparagus - i believe my port had made it out by this time, as the entree was next. It paired well with the savory onion flavor.
For the main dish, I had the braised pork belly with confit sweet onion, and mashed potatoes. This was by far my favorite dish. I kept re-creating the experience and flavor in my head on the ride back from Vegas. It was immaculate. The sweet onion complimented the park belly in the most exquisite way!
These plates were small, ut by the time we finished our main course, we were almost full. we were served plates of imported cheese next, with three artisan breads. After that, the desert, an assortment of flavored ice cream and sorbet - the pistachio was my favorite.
During the meal, we sat at the bar, and were able to watch the chefs prepare the food. The decor is modern, and there are fresh vegetables and food on display. The restaurant is dark, small and intimate. I would definitely go back. expensive, but worth it!!!!
Wonderful culinary experience! The Foie gras amuse bouche and burger were my absolute favorites! We decided to order al a carte rather than doing the tasting menu, just because we wanted the freedom to pick and choose.
Other favorites:
-amuse bouche
Foie gras parfait with port wine and parmesan foam
-les langoustines
Crispy langoustine fritters with basil pesto
-le burger
Beef and foie gras burgers with caramelized bell peppers
-le kampachi
Lightly seared kampachi with crispy onion rings
-le veau
Veal cheek with primeur vegetables
-le ris de veau
Calf sweetbread with fresh laurel and stuffed romaine lettuce
LE CHOCOLAT
-le chocolat
Chocolate sensation, crémeux Araguani, Oreo cookie crumbs
The meal ended with a tasting of mini tarts. The ones that I remember are the "snickers" and lemon tart, little tiny tarts that are so packed full of flavor it makes me want to eat a bucket of them. The pomme puree is also a must have. Such a simple preparation yet it tasted like velvet potatoes with vanilla.
Make sure to try and sit at the counter. Watching the kitchen in action adds to the whole dining experience. One of my favorite things about L'Atelier is the vibe of the dining room. Everyone seems so excited to experience their food. And i say experience because eating here isn't just a meal, it truly is an experience. There's an openness of the restaurant that encourages discussion. Everyone turns their head to see what others are ordering and they feel free to ask as well.
L'Atelier is a definite must-go, especially if the Mansion is too pricey for your wallet.
Service was wonderful (it did help that I knew the vice-GM). Atmosphere was contemporary with a focus on the kitchen area where you can watch all the makings of the food. The bar-type setting was original and functional. Be sure to make reservations, especially on a weekend.
I had the summer prix fixe menu for $79 and a glass of champagne (which I forgot the name).
Amuse Bouche - Foie gras w/ port reduction and form Parmesan served in a shot glass. 10/10: I've never had an amuse bouche that wasn't delectable, but I wanted thirds and fourths servings of this particular one.
Les Legumes - Layers of tomato, eggplant, zucchini with Buffalo Mozzarella and dabs of Basil puree on the side. 7/10: This was my least favorite dish, yet it was still enjoyable.
La Langoustine - Crispy Langoustine Fritter with Basil Pesto. 9/10: The textures involved were smooth and stiff while well balanced.
4th dish - Can't remember the dish, but it had beef (I want to say some type of hanger steak) and mashed potatoes. 9/10: The mashed potatoes were buttery, rich, and creamy. It's actually the best mashed potatoes I've ever had. The beef was well seasoned and very juicy.
Les Fromages - Blue cheese, Creamy sheep cheese and Camembert. 9/10: I wish I could savor the cheeses fully, but I was already borderline full by the time I reached this dish. I love cheese and L'Atelier was very close to representing a variety makes of cheese with only three types.
Sorbet Selection - 8/10: By this time, I was was pass full, but I did try to savor each sorbet. I believe there were at least 6 different types. I remember one making my face wrinkle due to the level of tartness. The company I came with had the traditional tarts, which were tasteful and also had a very acidulous tart.
I would definately come back here when visiting Vegas.
3.5 Stars
maybe i ordered the wrong thing, i'm not really sure. my pockets weren't deep enough to try everything i wanted to on the menu. the dishes all cost a pretty penny or two. it's fancy and service is great but almost too formal. i don't think our waiter laughed or smiled once, kinda like a robot.
originally, i planned to order the prix fixe menu for $39 but the choices didn't seem appetizing. instead, i ordered the La Caille (Fois gras stuffed free-range quail with truffled-mashed potatoes) and a Martini. The drink was "meh" and the quail was shockingly tiny. i was expecting more than its legs. they were smaller than fried chicken waaaangs. i knew french portions were much smaller than american. i even asked the waiter how big it was and he made it sound like it was a decent dinner portion. ah well, i got duped.
i thought the quail was a little dry and the fois gras was tasteless. i was expecting exquisite food. i mean it's joel robuchon! the chef of the century according to top chef and wiki. i wanted to taste magic! *sighs*
i sampled some of my friend's plates and i really enjoyed their dishes more than mine especially the La Cebette (White onion tart with smoked bacon and asparagus) and Le Porc Fermier (Braised pork belly with confit sweet onion) from the 7 course menu.
my mistake was having very high hopes for this place. honestly, i really didn't think it was worth the $$$$, IMO. i'm glad i tried it. maybe next time i'll go next door. =)
I'm a starving student...well, not that starving since I'm a yelper, but when I dine out, it's usually on a budget. Lucky for me, Vegas gave me the gift of restaurant week for my birthday weekend in Vegas. It's what every girl dreams of...
L'Atelier was where I chose to have my birthday dinner, and what an amazing dinner it was. I opted for the special prix fixe menu for restaurant week.
- Course 1: gazpacho. Now, I'm not a huge fan of gazpacho, it's really just cold soup, right? Wrong. At L'Atelier, it's light and flavorful with great presentation.
- Course 2: langoustine fritter with basil pesto. Great presentation and even better flavors. The wrapper was fried to a light, crispy perfection, and the langoustine was prepared simply enough to not detract from its natural flavors. The pesto was a great complement to the dish.
- Course 3: Rib-eye with mashed potatoes. The presentation on this was so simple...literally just meat and potatoes, but wow, they were spectacularly done. It was a lesson in how simple food could be incredible--no foam, or extraneous garnishes to marr the plate or the tastes. The rib-eye was seasoned perfectly and incredibly tender. The potatoes had been whipped into submission with tons of butter and milk, but still had great texture.
- *Bonus* Raspberry birthday tart: one of my dear friends informed that waitstaff that it was my birthday, and they brought out a beautiful raspberry tart with 'happy birthday' written on the plate and a candle. After my friends all sang to me, the waiter whisked it away and cut it into pieces and served it to everyone. It was simple but very good.
- Course 4: soufflé with pistachio gelato. It was served tableside with the gelato. It was very light, and the presence of egg whites was noticeable in the texture, but it paired very well with the gelato.
The price of such a dining experience? $50.09. Quite a steal if you ask me. They have several other prix fixe menus of different prices, so even if you don't come during restaurant week, you can still have a great meal without breaking the bank. Save that for gambling.
# 100 :D
On my last trip to Vegas, I tried profusely to make reservations on the MGM website for L'atelier, but failed! Three Michelin Star Chef Joel Robuchon's L'atelier is beautiful and sleek, filled with black and bright red accents, and colorful fruit and vegetable shape decor. I needed to go! Since I'm not eating at the Mansionuntil I win the lottery, I was determined to eat at L'atelier! So, we walked right up to the hostess and demanded to be seated right now or else! And it worked! Yah, right. I don't want to be blacklisted forever from Mr. Robuchon's world! He holds the key to the Mansion.
We waited about an hour and half for a seat at the bar. I thought we were going to be treated like second class citizens, who sits at the counter at a French restaurant?! It's because we're yellow! I know it!! I know it!!!
But, I was wrong! It's the best seat in the house!
At most fine dinning restaurants, I always feel like a 8 year old kid wearing her mommy's dress, heels and makeup, looking ridiculous, sitting nice and straight, drinking water with her pinky up, pretending to be an adult. The bar seating at L'atelier created a world of unpretentious fine dinning, removing the stuffiness out of fine French restaurants yet creating warmth from the close proximity of the chaotic cooks working together to provide delicious meals and fellow foodies taking in each dish with all their senses. In fact, I was able to have greatconversation with my neighbors about their food and get recommendations as they were eating. I had to stop myself from grabbing my fork and stealing a bite of their food.
After our 15 minute conversion, don't I know you well enough for you to give me a piece of steak? Pretty please??
I was overwhelmed with the menu and since I had been donating $$ to casinos all weekend, I went with the summer prix fixe menu for $75 instead the discovery menu for $149.
It included:
Amuse-Bouche! - foie gras with port reduction and form Parmesan served in a shot glass. I took a spoon full and closed my eyes as the salty Parmesan, foie gras and sweet port hit my palette and partied in my mouth. Loved it.
Les Legumes - Layers of tomato, eggplant, zucchini with Buffalo Mozzarella and dabs of Basil puree on the side. All the vegetables were well seasoned. Each layer of vegetables brought a different dimension to the dish. I loved the tomato confit. It was very sweet and tasty.
La Langoustine - Crispy Langoustine Fritter with Basil Pesto. Tissue thin fried batter wrapped around a sweet Norway lobster. Yum. It was nice and crispy. Although, it tasted 100 x better after I figured out that the micro-salad had a purpose other than decoration. One piece of La Langoustine + a few piece of micro salad + a dab of basil pesto = a good favor combination of fresh, sweet and crispy.
La Porc Fermier - Braised Pork belly with confit sweet onion. Very sweet melt in your mouth pork belly. The mashed potato was really tasty. I can taste a heart attack waiting to happen.
Les Fromages - Blue cheese, Creamy sheep cheese and Camembert. Although, the cheeses were awesome quality, I thought that this was a filler, so I don't leave starving. I would have rather eaten something else.
I wanted to try the traditional tarts, but they were sold out. So sad! So, being difficult, I petitioned to substitute the assorted sorbet for the La Framboise - fresh raspberry inside white chocolate sphere, yuzu ice cream. It was a little too tart for me, but the sweetness of the white chocolate combined with fresh berries and the distance flavors of yuzu ice cream created a very distinctive unique flavor.
I loved my meal and my experience. It was a beautiful window into Mr. Robuchon's world and # 100 worthy and cost about that much too.
This place did not impress me for a Michellin 1 star restaurant. Service was eh and I expected more from the atmosphere.
We ordered the $39 menu so I'm not sure if I would've given this place 4 stars if we went with the other tasting menus. The appetizer was a avocado mousse with white asparagus (it tasted just like guacamole so I was kind of disappointed). For my entree I ordered the beef carpaciao. My friends ordered the halibut which was quite tasty. I thought it was a bit awkward to serve beef carpaciao for an entree, it was good but I regretted ordering it. Then for dessert I ordered the chocolate tart - good but not over the top good.
The best part was the bread, crunchy on the outside and chewy soft inside. I ate two pieces, and would've eaten one more if it wasn't so full of carbs!
I wouldn't come again, but next time I want to go next door to Joel Robuchon. It was closed that night, not sure if it was because of the economy.
By now, I think we all know that Americans like to eat and we like to eat a lot. Our cities seem to compete to see who can claim "fattest city" like it's a prize and once they receive the title, it dawns on them that gee, maybe they have a problem and should encourage their residents to stop stuffing their faces with deep fried fat droppings. So, it's no wonder that after our delicious meal at French-inspired, smaller portioned, L'Atelier, we Americans were left craving more food, in hopes of having to roll our newly rotund selves out the door.
I dined at L'Atelier during Restaurant Week. For the occasion, they offered a special 4-course tasting menu. It began with an amuse-bouche that set the stage for a fantastic meal. Don't ask me what it was called, 'cause I'll butcher it. What I can tell you is that it was layered with cream and lobster essence. With each spoonful I could taste a different, delightful flavor. The chef got was off to a great start and my bouche was amused (sorry, I had to). The first course was a gazpacho. My tomato-hating heart fell at the sight of gazpacho on the menu. Why, someone please tell me why, people insist on trying to make me eat pureed tomatoes? Do you want me to be sick? Why not just throw some mushy okra innards in there to put me over the top? Don't you want me to be happy? But, I decided to suck it up and try the gazpacho. I have to admit, and remember this is coming from someone who'd rather throw tomatoes at Dane Cook than eat them, it was pretty damn good. I only took a couple of sips and then pushed it away, but if you can make me appreciate gazpacho, you've done your job.
The second course was by far my favorite - the langoustine. Oh crustaceans, how I love to eat thee. I'm sorry, but I do. I was in heaven. A lightly, tempura-style, breaded strip of langoustine along with a basil pesto. We were only served one each, much to my dismay. In fact, my dismay was so strong that each time I saw a server walk by with langoustine for another table, it was all I could to do keep myself from lunging at him to grab it off the tray in one quick dive. But, I must be a lady, so I refrained. Also, I wasn't dressed for lunging and diving, it would be even less appropriate if one of my chest balloons fell out in the midst of a food grab.
The third course consisted of the smoothest, creamiest mashed potatoes I've ever tasted - they practically melted in my mouth. Accompanying the pommes was a perfectly seasoned beef rib-eye. When I say perfectly seasoned I mean that I didn't have the urge to be uncouth and ask for steak sauce. It wasn't necessary. It was so good that I was almost tempted to eat the fatty portions of the beef and the thought of eating fat disgusts me, but I had to have more. Forget being ladylike, I ate some of the fat and when I noticed that one of my friends didn't finish his potatoes, I asked if I could have them. Oh yes, I did.
For the final course (tear), we were served a soufflé with pistachio ice cream poured down the center tableside. The soufflé wasn't my favorite - it was done very well, very light and fluffy - but, it just didn't wow me. I did enjoy the pistachio ice cream on the other hand; it was an inspired combination.
The presentation was picturesque. I loved the atmosphere at L'Atelier - it was warm, cozy and swathed in dark red. It was upscale without being stuffy. Our server was accommodating (substituting lactose-free items for the milk-hating stomachs), and informative (explaining to the less experienced foodies like myself, what exactly a langoustine is).
Thus, while I and some of my dining companions left L'Atelier wanting more, and ruminating over the porkiness of Americans, I would definitely love to return, and perhaps wear some clothing more suited for food diving.
I ordered their $150 tasting menu and it turned out to be an interesting journey for my taste buds. It is on the pricey side. But I think it's worth to give it a try.
The service was just OK. It could be better. It wasn't as attentive as other experienced. Maybe we were just at the wrong time of the night. It took them really long time to bring us bread and water that night. (*argh*).
Food quality wise, when it's 1 star, it's within the expectation. Only a few items from the tasting menu really impressed me and gave me a great surprises. However, it doesn't mean the remaining items weren't delicious. They tasted good - but it's not like going to wow you after you had been to various fine dining restaurants.
I enjoyed the open kitchen and seeing the action in the kitchen. :D Will I go back again, probably not since I just realized L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon has a place in Hong Kong as well (and there are so many other places to try in Vegas - I guess that's why it has the $39 menu eh?!).
This is definitely in my top 3 favorite dining experiences ever. I opted for the $150 tasting menu, but they had other prix fixe options starting at $40/head. Their a la carte dishes seem to range from 20-50. In the tasting, I enjoyed almost every dish that came out. The only dish I thought was mediocre was their signature quail and foie dish which seemed dry and overcooked. For the most part, the dishes kept getting better as the tasting menu progressed.
Service was attentive but not over bearing. It was definitely at the level you expect in this class of restaurant.
The atmosphere is more casual than most fine dining restaurants in this price range which I view as a positive.
Given how bad the economy is, I was able to easily make a reservation a couple of days before. I was surprised to see the restaurant pretty full on the Sunday at 7:45 when we were done dining.
I still may have to try Joel Robuchon at some point. However, I will definitely be back to L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon on my next Vegas trip.
Truly an exemplary dining experience. L'Atlelier is sort of tucked away in the MGM Grand. The restaurant's atmosphere hits you immediately. The kitchen is centrally located, the lighting is moody and the smell of the wonderful food inundates the senses. The staff is very attentive, they focus on the details.
Seating is...interesting. My dc (dining companion) and I were seated at what is basically the bar. I was a little concerned at first, I was thinking they sat us here for a drink then we would get our table. Certainly not the case.
The placement was great with the kitchen being open, we saw the amazing meals being prepared. Also, it was fun to watch the interaction; seeing people work with, through and around each other. Quite the orderly chaos.
The menu itself can be somewhat shocking, price wise I mean. This place will give your card an intense workout. The prix fixe options weren't to our liking, so we went with individual items.
A few highlights:
The Spaghetti: My initial thought was "How can a high end place like this offer spaghetti?? Well that was dashed when I tried the first bite. Served with chopped pork bellies, this was an absolute treat.
Le Foie Gras: Foie gras ravioli in a warm chicken broth with herbs. I'm not sure I put into words how amazingly succulent this dish was. I don't have much experience with foie gras and this dish had me clamoring for more.
Also, they have Chimay Blonde, on tap, for $7. That's cheaper than a CB in Atlanta. And they give you a healthy pour, which is nice. Probably the cheapest item on the menu.
Our server was a rockstar, always prompt and certainly answered our questions without hesitation.
Highly Recommended.
I'm a former cook of this kitchen and I must say that you get what you pay for. We imported the butter (which is hand made) and cheeses from France. We had one of the biggest kitchens in Vegas filled with some of the most talented chefs I've ever met. It was one of my hardest cooking jobs ever. They strive for perfection.
Anywhoo, I had the tasting menu prior to joining the kitchen staff and it was top-notch.
Service was attentive and great (no stench of pretentiousness)
the execution and quality of food is excellent... really a mind blowing experience, the gazpacho was one of my favorite dishes as well as the quail with foie gras...
it's also one of my favorite looking restaurants that I've been to, sleek and clean cut, well defined and compliments the product that they deliver.
"ask them about their $50billion million dollar meat slicer, and don't be surprised when you find that your dinner will run you $500 for two.
Wow, this was one of the best meals that I have ever had.
We started out with amuse bouche which had a bit of foie gras in it. It was so good.
We had ordered one of the tasting menus which included a mediterrean vegetable starter that was stacked with mozzarella and very light and tasty. We then had the langoustine fritter with basil pesto. Nice. Next was the rib eye which was cooked perfectly and so tender. The rib eye came with these mashed potatoes which were so incredible! Wow, I wanted more. We also ordered an onion tart as a seperate dish which was really good. The only distraction for me was the cheese dish which didn't really do much for me. We had the sorbet and ice cream dessert which was outstanding.
We were served by Kawika who was very professional and informative. We had a glass of Alsace and the total was $150 for a two hour big smile experience. Thank you Joel Robuchon.
I cannot rave about this restaurant enough. Fantastic! We did the $75 tasting menu at the counter - like some others I thought sitting at the counter was a bit weird at first but I quickly adjusted to it. Beautiful dark interior. It was a lot of fun to watch the kitchen work together (so quietly!).
Now, I have to admit I was a little hungover from a previous night of hard partying so when I saw the foamy amuse bouche arrive and our server describe it - fois gras, reduced port wine and a Parmesan foam I thought I was going to lose my lunch. But then I tasted it and had to admit it was pretty good. The vegetable napolean was delicious, as was the crispy appetizer. I had the salmon for my main course and then following the cheese; the tart assortment. I could go on and on about the tarts... Delicious! I kept looking from the tarts to my husband and back to the tarts asking, "are these all for me???" I was like a kid in a candy store. Spectacular meal. Will be back next time for the full tasting. Tres bon!
Virg's shortest review EVER...
Very good, as fine dining goes. And at $75, the four course tasting menu was a good value. Service was on the ball and the menu was varied.
But what makes this experience unique in my book is sitting at the counter and watching the kitchen painstakingly prepare my meal. Those intricate and fanciful dishes take a steady hand...only to be taken down by yours truly, minutes after preparation. So if you have a small party, make a reservation for the counter seating...it's pretty darn cool :)
I STILL HAVE YET TO EAT ANYWHERE BETTER THAN L'ATELIER DE JOEL ROBUCHON.
I mean there is the Mansion by Joel Robuchon right next door. But let's talk about L'atelier for now.
When I first walked in I really didn't know what to expect. The kitchen is right dab in the middle of the restaurant. So my friends and I sat by the bar. Service was a complete 10/10. The waiters do not skip a beat. Everyone works together and food is up to the minute. I didn't know what to order really because I was knew to this whole fine dining experience. I just went with the Menu Decouverte. It was $135 and my knees were buckling BUT I can tell you this. I don't regret spending ONE RED CENT. So here is what I ordered:
for my L'amuse Bouche I had cucumber gelee with tarragon and cumin yogurt.
Blue Fin Tuna with tomato infused olive oil, scallops cooked in the shell with seaweed infused butter, egg cocotte with mushroom cream, light chestnut veloute with carmelized foie gras and crispy bacon, slightly smoked salmon with confit potatoes, free range quail stuffed with foie gras with Robuchon's infamous Pomme Puree (his version of mashed potatoes) They simply melt in your mouth and is the equivalent of eating butter and a Hanger steak with fried shallots.
for dessert.. i went with the sheep's milk yogurt panna cota.
For the best chef in the last decade? I definitely would make it a point to put this restaurant on your TO EAT list.
hands down right now... My favorite restaurant in Las Vegas. The room is fabulous. Very sleek. If you sit at the counter, you can view the chefs at work in the kitchen.
I have been twice. The first time i had the short summer tasting menu - but it was a tad rushed because i had a flight to catch.
The second time, I went with 6 of my friends and we all had the longer tasting menu - i think it was called L'Exploration or something. and we did a wine pairing. the somelier can pick and choose a wine pairing based on your price point. it was amazing. Every dish was tasty.
Its been a while but my highlights were langoustine carpaccio, stuffed quail, and his extreme buttery mashed potatoes that come in a mini creuset. There are so many more... I highly recommend a tasting menu! :D
Similar to Alice entering another world by simply falling walking through the rabbit hole. Or John Mayer singing about his ladies "wonderland"s. As soon as you walk into the doors of L'Atelier you feel as if you are emerged into a colorful kaleidoscope, a seemingly whole new world. The shockingly colorful display of: shaved carrots, sliced cucumbers, bunches of on- vine tomatoes, and other produce set the frame for the ironically steely cool heartland, the kitchen. The colors of the produce are so vibrant that one can easily come to the conclusion that L'Atelier uses only the finest and freshest of ingredients.
There is no crap here.
The kitchen is somewhat somber and serious. Yet it is open and visible to almost every seat of the intimate restaurant. The numerous stations within the kitchen boastfully display; an army of methodical perfectionists that seem to express themselves not through emotions but through the bravado of flavors of each plate. The counter that serves as a moat keeps the regular people patrons at bay, and only seats about 20. The other seats in the establishment are geared for larger parties. But no worries, grab a seat at the counter and enjoy the show.
L'Atelier amused my mouth with a lovely foie gras with a port wine reduction and parmesan foam. The decadent, flavorful, and savory amuse bouche rolled off my tongue like butter.
We then moved onto a surprisingly refreshing buffalo mozzarella with vegetables. Basil, zucchini, sweet sundried tomatoes with spears of basil pesto.
Our next course was quail stuffed with foie gras and truffled mashed potatoes. (This was an additional dish not included in the $75 winter tasting menu).
Deep fried langoustine with basil. The paper wrapper was fairly thin and crispy so if I were you (instead of a fork and knife) I would opt to pick it up by the toothpick and stick it in your mouth pronto.
Hanger steak with onions. Be aware that L'Atelier cooks their meat the exactly the way you ask for it. My steak was a bit too rare for me.
Did someone say cheese? Fromage!
The sorbet and ice cream selection. Variety of tarts and cheesecakes to conclude our meal.
The highlights of my meal: foie gras parfait, mozarella and vegetables, quail and foie gras, langoustine, and tarts.
The executive chef, Steve Benjamin, reminded me of the Queen of Hearts. Luckily L'Atelier has 4 AAA Diamonds and a Michelin star to back it up. L'Atelier, your kitchen is a wonderland.
The hard thing about rating this restaurant is that the menu changes so frequently. I give this one 3 stars because the exquisite wine pairing and friendly service. The price vs. quality of food is good for 75 and 5 courses, but I think it was kind of lacking in the creativity and journey.
The l'amuse bouche was excellent and quite the dish. The other star of the show was the pork main dish. It was reminiscent of samgyupsal with a French twist. The wine that the sommelier chose with it was excellent! The other highlight for me was the digestif chosen. I'm not sure what it was called, but I believe the translation was "slap me in the face with an apple". It was so good I had to have another glass.
I will try my best to the review short and sweet. While the chief's tasting menu is deliciously in many ways, there were a few things lacking in my experience here. For one, I was a little bummed that there was no option of adding wine pairing with the courses. I suppose 10 glasses of wine would be a bit much, but still..2 or 3 would have sufficed. My boyfriend and I sat at the bar and one of the best part of the night was watching the sous chief chopping, cooking, slicing our courses while the chief would yell in French every now and then. The kitchen was busy and the wait staff was attentive, but lacking in personality a little bit. We absolutely love it when waiters and waitresses joke around with us and have light conversations every time they check up, but this place was a bit bland.
Other than that I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this restaurant. It is topnotch and beautiful. Both my boyfriend and I agreed that while the experience was worthwhile, we would rather go back to the neighboring Craftsteak that offers family style tasting menu, wine pairing and a jolly waiter. Also, even though the food melted wonderfully in your mouth, after 2 or 3 bites, the taste of heaven is gone. Maybe we are a bit gluttonous but hey, it is Vegas after all!
First off, I'm not one of those two star reviewers. You know the kind: "It cost so much!" "I don't get the food, I like hamburgers." "This place is too fancy, so here's your one star." That's not me. I am a foodie. Check my other reviews for proof. So, given this disclaimer here's my two cents on L'Atlier...
One word:
Half-assed.
Pre-game:
Our group of nine ate here this last weekend. I made reservations in advance. They required a $75 reservation fee (non-refundable and not applied to the meal) . That's a first. And because we were a large group we were limited to tasting menus only. Fine. Ain't no thing - this place is #2 on Yelp. I'm excited! I love food!
The experience:
We were smashed into the wall. There was not enough room to get into our seats. Once the table was moved so all the ladies, in their lovely dresses, could shimmy in, they were trapped - the whole meal - full bladders and all. The service sucked. They already had their guaranteed 20% gratuity (because of our party size). So, we endured a meal full of empty glasses, missing silverware, and a wonky table.
The Food:
Average. We had two vegetarians with us (the restaurant knew about this ahead of time) and when the amuse arrived they were served foie gras mouse. You can't take the time to whip them up a gazpacho shooter? Two of the courses (in a row) had the same pesto sauce. Not a big deal, but the primary components were so bland all you could taste was pesto. "Sir, for your fist and second courses this evening you will be having pesto." Come-on! Most of the dishes were one note. In general the meal was uninspired.
In summary:
We left disappointed. Michelin should revoke their one star. I know it's harsh, but it's truth. Do you hear me, Bibendum?
Sit at the bar, do the tasting menu with wine pairing, marvel at the food preparation, and sit back and enjoy some of the finest food on the planet. I've also dined at L'Atelier in Tokyo and had a similar experience. Biggest take away experience from my last visit - the cream, butter whipped potatoes - certainly a cholesterol nightmare, but man, total nirvana. There are tables off one side of the bar, but to me the experience of this place is sitting at the bar (in Tokyo there is only bar seating at the Roppongi Hills location). The tasting menu here varies and it's always an adventure. We are going back to Vegas in October '09 and L'Atelier is on the list of place to dine. A true five-star experience.
The "little brother" or "workshop" of Joel Robuchon next door -- by no means a bargain (well, only if you compare it to the $350 tasting menu next door!) But worth it. Of the "small plates" we had the veal cheeks with vegetables and the fresh anchovies arranged in a perfect rectangle on a bed of eggplant with graduated sizes of onion rings arranged kittycorner across. Entree we had stuffed quail stuffed with fois gras. The absolute bargain is the $14 cheese plate, generous tastes and the best part -- raw milk soft cheeses! The waiter told us that it was technically illegal in the U.S., but they have a supplier. We've tasted "lait cru" cheeses in Montreal and Europe, but alas, never in the U.S. (hard cheeses, yes, but not soft.) You might wonder why I'm raving about the cheese, but raw milk cheese is very special. U.S. bries taste like butter in comparision.
The only cloud in my coffee: be prepared to sit at the counter. There's only a handful of tables, for larger groups.
2 for 1 Specialty Vodka…
Las Vegas, NV
$45 Prix Fixe
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas, NV
Category: French
Las Vegas, NV
Category: French
Las Vegas, NV
Category: French
Las Vegas, NV
Category: French
Las Vegas, NV
Category: Seafood
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