When you think of French cuisine in Las Vegas, fine dining palaces with acclaimed names of international master chefs dominate the conversation. But it doesn’t have to be a fancy night out; there’s plenty of more accessible and casual French fare worth sampling in this city at cozy bistros, brasseries and cafés sprinkled all over the valley.
The obvious starting point has to be Bouchon (702.414.6200), the landmark Venetian restaurant from influential chef Thomas Keller, open for weekend brunch and dinner nightly in a comfortable, indoor-outdoor space. Separated from the active casino floor in the distinct Venezian Tower, Bouchon remains a serene oasis unlike any eatery on the Strip, forever focusing on Keller’s modern takes on bistro classics. At brunch, start with oysters or mussels before moving on to quiche Florentine, roasted chicken with bacon-chive waffles, housemade merguez sausage served with eggs (any style), or jumbo lump crab Benedict. Dinner favorites include steak frites with caramelized shallots, leg of lamb with white bean and sausage cassoulet, or escargot with parsley-garlic butter. Be sure to take home some treats from Bouchon’s bakery for your breakfast tomorrow.
When it comes to a true, friendly neighborhood French café, look no further than Ohlala French Bistro (702.222.3522) in the neighborhood surrounding Summerlin. Recently celebrating its fifth anniversary serving diners from all over Las Vegas and Henderson, Ohlala is open for lunch, brunch and dinner and nails everyone’s favorite dishes, from rich onion soup topped with melty Gruyère cheese to sole meuniere, pan-seared in brown butter with garlic, parsley, capers and lemon. The beef burger topped with bacon and Brie is a midday marvel, and the vegan herb arborio risotto showcases the kitchen’s stunning versatility.
Speaking of favorites, the welcoming Favorite Bistro (702.844.4700) along The Linq Promenade is one of the Strip’s easiest crowd-pleasers in the French genre, serving three meals a day with a focus on comfort food and casual ambiance. It’s impossible to pass on a baguette with baked Brie, honey and toasted hazelnuts to get the appetite going, and the classic profiteroles are the perfect meal-ender. In between, consider a croque monsieur sandwich with bechamel, a roast beef-and-provolone French dip sandwich, or seared salmon with sautéed asparagus and ideal beurre blanc sauce.
There’s plenty of people-watching and fun sights and sounds when you’re dining at that Strip destination, but a whole new relaxing world awaits at neighborhood legend Marche Bacchus (702.804.8008), nestled against the man-made Lake Jacqueline in the lovely Desert Shores community. The experience begins with one of the best wine shops in the city, where you can pick your bottle and have it poured for you while dining on the patio and taking in the views and enjoying the celebrated cuisine that’s always being updated and refreshed. An everyday brunch menu was recently launched, offering everything from a truffled goat cheese Napoleon to Prince Edward Island mussels mariniere. Try surf and turf Marche Bacchus-style with seared scallops and Colorado lamb chops, served with potato puree and eggplant caponata, and tie up the experience with a layered pistachio macaron and gelato cake.
Click here for your free subscription to the weekly digital edition of Las Vegas Magazine, your guide to everything to do, hear, see and experience in Southern Nevada. In addition to the latest edition emailed to every week, you’ll find plenty of great, money-saving offers from some of the most exciting attractions, restaurants, properties and more! And Las Vegas Magazine is full of informative content such as restaurants to visit, cocktails to sip and attractions to enjoy.
