Photo by: Ōkami
A Las Vegas hot spot with a stellar location in The Venetian recently made its reappearance after an inspired refresh, leaving a space that emulates an Italian garden feel and a menu that brings back treasured favorites and introduces new dishes as well.
Step into the new Lavo, just a short distance from the Strip (in fact, Lavo has a Strip-front terrace), and you’ll be struck by the lovely atmosphere, decorated in warm tones accented with pops of blue and red. A curving bar makes a perfect place to grab a drink—wait until you see the barstools, looking like oversize wooden candlesticks with cushy seats. The rest of the lounge is equally as impressive, with aged brick accents dividing the area from the restaurant proper, and there’s plenty of additional seating around inviting cocktail tables.
Those impressive cocktails include house specials like the Secret Garden, a mix of The Botanist gin, basil, Liquore Strega (an herbaceous liqueur with saffron lending a yellow color), elderflower tonic and fennel, and the Appley Named, a delicate sip with the flavors of apple, lemon and rosemary mixed with Absolut Elyx vodka and St-Germain elderflower liqueur.
Photo by: Ōkami
In addition to the décor, the Lavo menu got a refresh, with a mix of new dishes and Lavo favorites. Appetizers include beef carpaccio with black truffle, a pristine burrata, grilled octopus and salads like the baby beets with Sicilian pistachio vinaigrette—you’ll be tempted to make a meal out of those alone. But you’ll miss out on excellent pasta and entrées, so be restrained, if only a little.
That restraint is sure to be tested by Lavo’s signature, The Meatball. This is an enormous mound of ground wagyu (from purveyor Imperial Wagyu Beef), Italian sausage and veal, with marinara and whipped ricotta. You’ve simply got to share! The black truffle pizza is another people-pleaser, one of five brick-oven pizzas that will leave you wanting to order another.
For those pasta dishes, try the bucatini carbonara with crispy guanciale and egg yolk, or the truffle ricotta cavatelli, a personal, perennial favorite. Rigatoni melanzana has a wonderful depth of flavor, with fresh tomatoes lending a brightness of flavor to the meaty tones of the eggplant.
Photo by: Ōkami
Head over to entrées and you’ll find seafood dishes like scallops puttanesca, sautéed Dover sole and grilled branzino, plus chicken Parm and double-cut lamb chops. The beef options abound—try the 36-ounce Meyer Ranch porterhouse, served with crispy smashed fingerling potatoes, or the succulent 14-ounce New York strip.
If you’re a brunch person, then Lavo is the spot for you. The venue hosts its celebrated Saturday Party Brunch from 1-6 p.m., and it has everything—food, fun and cocktails. And on Sunday, Lavo hosts Endless Brunch from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., where you can get a menu of favorites, plus entrée add-ons (like The Meatball) and bottomless mimosas or Bloody Marys for an extra charge. There are lots of other dishes to order, including sheep’s milk ricotta pancakes, and chicken and waffles. So no matter when you come in, you’ll find it was the right time.
The Venetian. 702.791.1800 or taogroup.com
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