COTE Vegas

The Las Vegas outpost of Cote is on a higher echelon than its award-winning counterparts in Miami, Singapore and New York’s Flatiron District. Not so much because of the food – visitors will find the menus similar – but because the 17,000-square-foot restaurant inside the Venetian is almost a theatrical space with tiered levels of seating that include emerald-green leather banquettes overlooking a central bar and an uppermost section with private dining skyboxes and a DJ booth.    

The vibe: Very clubby. Each evening, a DJ provides the soundtrack from an elevated perch above the entrance. It’s not overly loud, but it’s also not soft jazz. The room, designed by David Rockwell, offers a Vegas-only space with rows of amphitheater-like booths unfurling like flower petals, overlooking a central bar. The uppermost rung has rooms reserved for private parties along with a secret bar.       

The food: Much of Cote’s Michelin-starred menu is familiar, following the tried-and-true success of its other outlets. That means a heavy focus on Wagyu and dry-aged meats. While à la carte options are available, we prefer tackling the menu by either ordering the Butcher’s Feast ($88.88 per person) which comes with four cuts of beef accompanied by a series of sides including pickled vegetables, kimchi and doen-jang stews, an egg souffle or going with the premium steak omakase menu ($225) with higher quality Japanese A5 cuts. There are also a couple of Vegas-only options like the Blackjack Sandwich made with A5 wagyu, black truffle, and truffle aioli tucked between slices of milk toast. Caviar service is also available. 

The drink: The obvious move is to dive into the James Beard–nominated wine list. With over 1,200 labels, it’s quite the beast, but Cote employs several sommeliers who can guide you on your path. If that’s still too intimidating, Cote offers beer, soju and a few signature cocktails like the gin-soju blended Lychee Fizz and an over-the-top $75 Royal Margarita crafted with Reserva De La Extra Anejo tequila.     

Time Out tip: Each table is equipped with a smokeless, in-table grill, so you don’t have to worry about your clothes taking on a smoky barbecue scent.