Luscious Liana flew in from Honolulu to celebrate our 40th birthdays together this past February. I’ll share a full rundown of the festivities from our 45 hours in Las Vegas but first, a play-by-play of our exquisite dinner at the incomparable Joël Robuchon.

Located inside the MGM Grand (next to a sea of glowing slot machines and the Cirque du Soleil theater), the restaurant’s been on my bucket list for the better part of my adult life. And after what’s felt like a never-ending pandemic, it was beyond lovely to experience seasoned hospitality again.

While I have eaten at L’atelier de Joël Robuchon on three occasions (1, 2, 3), this was my first time dining at the mothership. It was hard not to feel giddy seated inside the plush purple temple dedicated to French-style fine dining. From the bread cart at the start to the dessert trolley near the end, and the impeccable dishes in between, the meal was as spectacular as I’d imagined.

A well-made Old Fashioned made for stiff and fabulous start to the meal.

Next to arrive was the iconic bread cart. My heart skipped several beats as the server walked us through more than a dozen different varieties, including a gluten free option.

To accompany the expertly baked bread was butter from Brittany, France and olive oil from Alicante, Spain. Both were gratuitous as the bread was perfect on its own.

My favorite breads included the classic puff pastry, a saffron roll, and the pain d’epi with bacon and whole grain mustard.

Under chef Christophe De Lellis’ care, the evening’s tasting menu included a number of Robuchon classics, along with newer dishes inspired by late chef Robuchon’s meticulous aesthetic and attention to detail.

First up was Ossetra caviar served atop king crab in a crustacean gelee dotted with cauliflower puree and parsley chlorophyll.

The following course was composed of three separate but harmonious dishes: Maine lobster with celery root, sweet and sour dressing, and black truffle; shaved truffles and potatoes with olive oil and avocado carpaccio; and a duo of beetroot and apple with fine herbs and a green mustard sorbet.

A close-up of the beetroot and apple served with a really good and very green mustard sorbet.

The next dish, a phyllo-wrapped soft-boiled egg with smoked salmon topped with Imperial caviar, was my favorite of the evening. I loved every crisp, rich, and satisfying bite.

Another trio of dishes arrived after: sea scallop a la plancha with kumquat and caviar; truffled langoustine ravioli served with simmered cabbage and foie gras sauce; and prawns in a shiitake macaron with a mushroom cream.

A close-up of the delicate sea scallop a la plancha.

The caramelized black cod with daikon velouté and yuzu came next.

Followed by the spit-roasted duck with honey and coriander. The duck’s crisped skin gave way to moist and flavorful meat, and served on the side were glazed turnips stacked with seared foie gras. The dish was exquisitely over-the-top in the very best way.

Liana was served the walnut-roasted Scottish venison with black truffle in a glossy red wine reduction instead of the duck. The few bites I stole were scrumptious.

And then the cheese cart rolled tableside. Our selections ran the gamut from runny to hard, assertive to mild, tangy to stinky. It was all over-the-top and so good.

Transitioning our palates from savory to sweet was a pair of lighter desserts: a sponge verbena cake with buttermilk chantilly and lemon confit; and a blood orange sorbet with vanilla cremeaux and raspberry gelee.

Then came a maple budino with pecan praline, Ghana chocolate cremeaux, and vanilla caramel.

Finally, the mignardise cart rolled to our table. Our limited gastro real estate meant that we could only try a handful of the sweets. My favorites were the coffee-flavored cream puffs, passion fruit caramel, and mini-canele.

Nobody executes fine dining quite like Joël Robuchon — What an incredible way to celebrate our milestone birthdays. Cheers!

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

Previously in Las Vegas…

• {SWOON} SPIKED LEMON AT SPAGO LAS VEGAS
• BOUCHON BAKERY – LAS VEGAS (THE VENETIAN)
• CARBONE – LAS VEGAS (ARIA RESORT AND CASINO)
• CHINA POBLANO – LAS VEGAS (THE COSMOPOLITAN)
• FOUNTAINS BRUNCH AT JASMINE – LAS VEGAS (BELLAGIO)
• JEAN GEORGES STEAKHOUSE – LAS VEGAS (ARIA RESORT & CASINO)
• JULIAN SERRANO – LAS VEGAS (ARIA RESORT & CASINO)
• L’ATELIER DE JOËL ROBUCHON – LAS VEGAS (MGM GRAND)
• L’ATELIER DE JOËL ROBUCHON – LAS VEGAS (MGM GRAND)
• L’ATELIER DE JOËL ROBUCHON – LAS VEGAS (MGM GRAND)
• LE CIRQUE – LAS VEGAS (BELLAGIO)
• LOTUS OF SIAM – LAS VEGAS
• OYSTER BAR – LAS VEGAS (PALACE STATION)
• TOM COLICCHIO’S HERITAGE STEAK – LAS VEGAS (THE MIRAGE)