Vegas Magazine - Niche Media - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/260044
ABOVE LEFT: Honey Salt's burrata draws guests back time and time again. FAR RIGHT: Wynn's newly redesigned Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare. RIGHT: Mario Batali puts the "It" in Italian. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEMAL COUNTESS (BATALI); BILL MILNE (BURRATA); BARBARA KRAFT (BARTOLOTTA) I n a town where competition for the favor of fickle diners means that restaurants often have shor ter shelf lives t ha n in a ny ot her city, becoming a culinary icon is no small feat. Still, a few have managed to devise their own special algorithm for success. Call it the Vegas restaurant X factor. Naturally, it doesn't hurt to be helmed by a legend. A chef w it h na me recog nit ion like P uck, Bat a li, or Boulud is a n at t ract ion on his or her ow n. W hen t he M ichelin- st a r red Da niel Boulud Brasser ie at Wy nn closed in 2010, it left a noticeable gap in the celebrity chef – d r iven cult u re of t he St r ip. Now t he acclaimed French chef is returning with DB Bra sser ie, opening at Venet ia n t h is Apr il, a nd he's br ing ing what Seba st ien Silvest r i, Venetian's vice president of food and bever- age, says w ill be some of h is t ime -honored specialties. "We want people to identify the food with what I am," says Boulud. "I'm not a chef who needs to follow the trends." Pa r t of t hat bra nd recog nit ion, Silvest r i explains, has to do with the ability of Boulud and ot her celebrit y chefs to deliver a consis- tent meal regardless of where they land. "I've visited Mario Batali's restaurants all around The It Factor WHAT MAKES A LAS VEGAS RESTAURANT AN "IT" RESTAURANT? IT'S MORE THAN JUST THE FOOD. BY SUSAN STAPLETON continued on page 82 WHERE TO FIND "IT" B&B Burger & Beer Venetian, 702-414- 2220; venetian.com The latest concept from Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich serves burgers made from USDA Prime Black Angus beef that's ground fresh daily, plus American and imported craft beers. B&B Ristorante Venetian, 702-266-9977; bandbristorante.com Italian marble, dark maple, and plush leather banquettes complement this fine-dining restaurant's progressive Italian menu, featuring the largest selection of Italian wines in Vegas. 80 VEGASMAGAZINE.COM FOOD FOR THOUGHT 080-084_V_ST_FoodForThought2_Spring14.indd 80 2/11/14 12:08 PM