Grilled Bacon
Smith & Wollensky gets it. If you’re visiting the Las Vegas Strip, odds are you’re spending most of your time indoors—after all, the temperatures are scorching, and that air-conditioning feels oh, so good. They also get that there’s a lot of Vegas locals who, because of COVID-19 concerns, might not be doing any traveling right now. Their vacation may very well involve the nearby Strip.
For both groups, Smith & Wollensky is offering its “Summer Steak-Ation” menu, and it’s designed to take your mind off both the summer heat and the current concerns the world is facing. It succeeds on both counts, and there’s a good chance you’ll be back before you leave for home—wherever that might be.
There’s no better way to feel refreshed than starting your meal off with a cocktail, and Smith & Wollensky’s selections are geared toward fans of every spirit. Whiskey lovers will want to try the Tennessee sidecar, featuring Uncle Nearest 1884 small-batch, Martell Blue Swift cognac, crème de peche and lemon juice, while gin fans need to order the blueberry gin sour, a fizzy blend of Gunpowder gin, fresh blueberry syrup, lemon juice and club soda. Don’t worry, vodka fans—there’s a lot to choose from, although we recommend the strawberry sipper, Sobieski vodka, strawberries, pink peppercorn syrup and club soda. Actually, we recommend two of those.
Appetizers are as satisfying as the welcoming and spacious atmosphere at Smith & Wollensky. (Social distancing here is a breeze.) Highlights include the classic burrata, the refreshing baby heirloom tomatoes, arugula and pistachio pesto offering a perfect complement to the summer heat. If your tastes veer more toward meat (and you’re at “America’s Steakhouse,” so odds are they definitely do), make sure to try the grilled bacon, served with chunky peanut butter and jalapeño apple gastrique. Trust us, it’s unforgettable.
Now it’s time for some steak, and you’ve definitely got some hard choices to make! If money is no object and you are really hungry, there are few steak experiences in town that can match the 44-ounce, dry-aged American wagyu, swinging tomahawk ribeye from Snake River Farms. It’s served with crispy beef-fat potatoes and carved tableside, and you will feel like royalty as you feel every head in the place turn your direction.
Burrata
No steakhouse is complete without a surf and turf option, and Smith & Wollensky’s wagyu and lobster Steak-Ation feature is a truly memorable one. Wagyu hangar steak is rubbed with cocoa and coffee and served with chimichurri and summer corn relish. Paired with Rhode Island-style fried lobster, it simply has too many flavors to describe. And if just surf is more your style, Chilean sea bass, drizzled with a miso glaze and served with Szechuan green beans and cashews, and herb-crusted salmon, served with warm tomato compote and lemon nage, are both solid seafood options.
A meal this fun has to be topped off with dessert, and the classics are all here, from a gigantic 10-layer chocolate cake brushed with Baileys Irish Cream and New York-style cheesecake to a campfire sundae (think s’mores in a glass) and a warm skillet chocolate chip cookie topped with ice cream. Welcome to your new summer dining headquarters!
The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Palazzo and The Venetian, 702.637.1515
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