V/Rated V-Rated And for the rest of us ...
Table for Two SNaG a Seat at oNe oF tHeSe romaNtic reStauraNtS aNd Your SWeetie WiLL ♥ You Forever
L’atelier de Joël Robuchon / MGM Grand For the couple who is really into food, grab a counter seat in this cozy black-box restaurant to watch the small brigade of chefs preparing such dishes as a crispy langoustine fritter or foie grasstuffed quail with Robuchon’s famous, silky pommes puree. The kitchen crew’s movements are so concise and purposeful in the small, nearly silent space that it’s almost like watching them dance. 702.891.7358; mgmgrand.com
Eiffel Tower Restaurant / Paris Las Vegas For the couple who wants to relive Paris, there’s no better spot than from the corner table at Eiffel Tower. Although the view may not precisely replicate that of its French counterpart, it’s still dazzling. Chef Jean Joho’s classic menu includes Dover sole à la Grenobloise and filet mignon Rossini style, with foie gras and truffle sauce. 702.948.6937; eiffeltowerrestaurant.com
Sinatra / Encore Las Vegas For the couple who is really into Ol’ Blue Eyes, there’s no better spot to hear the iconic crooner’s silky voice while dining on classic Italian cuisine. Chef Theo Schoenegger has some of Sinatra’s favorites—the Chairman of the Board apparently was a big clam fan—as well as traditional items that will become your favorites, including osso bucco “My Way.” 702.770.3463; encorelasvegas.com
Valentino / The Venetian For the couple who really wants to be alone in a restaurant, Valentino offers several private spaces off the main dining room. There’s the Barolo room, which is the wine cellar where guests can enjoy James Beard-award winning chef Luciano Pellegrini’s high-end Italian fare. And then there’s the chef’s table, a tiny space that is so secluded you’ll forget anyone else is in the restaurant. A word of warning: The chef’s table is often reserved for friends of the chef and VIPs, but you can request it for a $150 minimum. 702.414.3000; valentinorestaurants.com Aureole / Mandalay Bay For the couple who is really into wine, Charlie Palmer’s restaurant is a mecca, but with technological advantages. Aureole was the first restaurant to employ the electronic wine list, which keeps stock of its nearly 50,000 bottles contained in a two-story, stainless-steel wine tower. The Mission: Impossible-inspired Wine Angels procure your selection from its spot in the tower, while you enjoy Palmer’s signature contemporary American cuisine with a view of the mated-for-life swans from the Swan Room. 702.632.7401; mandalaybay.com
MORE WAYS TO CELEBRATE ANTI-VALENTINE’S DAY ... Pungent, creamy garlic dressing, to be enjoyed on a salad from Chicago Joe’s. 820 S. Fourth Street, 702.382.5637; chicagojoesrestaurant.com A straight-up bacchanal of meat at Fogo de Chão, where all the roasted meats arrive on skewers, much like your heart. 360 E. Flamingo Road, 702.431.4500; fogodechao.com Pink’s Hot Dogs, because nothing says “I don’t need anyone” like sauerkraut and onions on a long hot dog. Red Rock Casino Resort and Planet Hollywood; pinkshotdogslv.com
WiNe aNGeL From aureoLe vrated.com / 49
dine
Wine angel: anthony Mair
BY Grace BaScoS
Screw it, you don’t need a sweetie to have sweets—nor do you need to be paired up— to go out on February 14. Sugar Factory american Brasserie in Paris declares “love bites” with its anti-valentine’s day menu, so you can go stag with friends and give a big middle finger to the schmoopy couples strolling the Las vegas Strip. What’s the No. 1 ingredient you’re supposed to avoid on a date? Garlic. chef matthew Piekarski starts off the threecourse prix-fixe meal with heaps of the stuff in a creamy soup that will definitely amuse your bouche, even if you’ve just guaranteed yourself a kiss-free night. Follow that with the “bleeding heart” arancini, deep-fried risotto balls that ooze red when you cut into them thanks to a pocket of smoked salt beet gelée. You don’t need to be dainty for anybody, so get down and dirty for the main course: dryrubbed pork ribs with a side of blood orange barbecue sauce. Have an icebox where your heart used to be? dessert is right up your alley—vanilla semifreddo with pistachio butter and burnt cherry compote. You’ll be glad you don’t have to share with anybody. Sugar Factory is right across from the Fountains of Bellagio, so revel in the fact that you and your single friends have robbed valentine’s lovers of one of the most romantic views on the Strip. $40; served 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. February 14, Paris Las Vegas, 702.331.5100; sugarfactory.com