I was in the mood to be spoiled while in Las Vegas, so dinner at L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon was an absolute must. We’ve dined here twice prior (here and here) and the hospitality is always exceptional.

Hardly famished due to our sizable Shake Shack lunch, The Astronomer and I both selected the “create your own menu” option for $98, which included an amuse bouche, three menu items, and dessert.

Dinner began with three varieties of bread—mini baguettes, crusty rolls, and flaky croissant-like rolls—and plenty of salted butter.

Next to arrive was the amuse bouche: a foie gras parfait with port wine and Parmesan foam. Even though we’ve been served this same starter twice, it never seems to get old, foam included.

To start, I selected “Les Huitres,” fantastically briny and rich baby Kushi oysters that were poached, bathed in French salted butter, and served on the half shell.

The Astronomer ordered Les Crevettes, a super-fresh shrimp carpaccio with a vibrant lemon poppy seed vinaigrette.

I selected “Le Foie Gras” for my second course, a traditional torchon served with toast points and little else. While the slab of foie gras was perfectly decadent, I was hoping for additional accompaniments because the flavors grew monotonous quickly. This was the least creative and most disappointing dish I’ve been served here.

The Astronomer’s “Le Saumon,” salmon and baby leeks in a buttery lime and ginger sauce, was delicate and delicious. We especially appreciated the crispy skin.

Fortunately, my final savory course was solid. “Le Homard” ($10 supplement) consisted of “spiced” Maine lobster served over tagliatelle pasta.

 

Both the noodles and the lobster were perfectly cooked, while the savory sauce tied everything together. Beautiful stuff.

The Astronomer’s final course, Malabar pepper-coated beef tenderloin (supplement $35), was also a winner. Cooked to a perfectly pink medium rare, the steak had a fantastic crust and tender texture. Served on the side were Joël Robuchon’s famous potatoes and a sauce that wasn’t really necessary because the steak was already so flavorful.

To finish, The Astronomer requested his favorite raspberry-centric dessert. This time around, I managed to capture a a shot of the white chocolate sphere as it melted into a puddle of yuzu ice cream and raspberry puree. Mmm…

For me, a jolt of java in various forms: coffee chantilly, chocolate sablé, and coffee ice cream.

Dinner at L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon was nearly perfect, save for the foie gras course that left something to be desired. Still, The Astronomer and I had an excellent time indulging in fancy food, reveling in each other’s company, and staying up way past our bedtime.

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L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon
3799 S Las Vegas Boulevard
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Phone: 702-891-7358

One year ago: La Azteca Tortilleria – East Los Angeles
Two years ago: Slacker.
Three years ago: Weekend Brunch at M.B. Post – Los Angeles (Manhattan Beach)
Four years ago: St. John Bar and Restaurant – London
Five years ago: Schwartz’s Montréal Hebrew Delicatessen – Montréal
Six years ago: Cacao Sampaka – Madrid
Seven years ago: Ludo Bites 2.0 at BreadBar – Los Angeles
Eight years ago: The Tapasfication of Saigon
Nine years ago: Good Dog Bar – Philadelphia