A Visit To Nobu Las Vegas
Posted on Aug 04, 2013 under Archives, Las Vegas | No CommentLast time I was in Las Vegas I got very lucky. I was fortunate enough to stay at the new Nobu hotel.
Nobu Hotel is the first celebrity chef branded resort in Las Vegas. Opened earlier this year, the 181-room boutique hotel inside Caesar’s Palace is one of several nationwide Nobu properties planned to open by partners Robert DeNiro and Chef Nobu Matsuhisa.
The hotel takes the place of Caesar’s old Centurion Tower and offers lots of high-end features for guests. Check in takes seconds via staff’s ipad’s and automated elevators. You just swipe your room card and the elevator automatically knows which floor and directs you to your elevator. Very cool. This was the fastest check-in for me in five years of writing about Las Vegas.
Guest rooms feature origami-inspired décor, teak fittings, multiple shower heads, huge egg-shaped basin sinks and the most comfortable beds on the Strip. We especially loved the low ultra comfy bed, huge shower and really deep sink.
The spa also offers a “Nagomi Ritual” with herb and food enhanced treatments including a honey foot scrub, massage with lavender aroma oil and a CO2 facial. If you are a guest at the hotel a visit to the spa for this treatment is a great add-on to your stay.
The biggest draw for us besides the comfy beds were the luxury amenities for food lovers. Shortly after check-in, room service delivers complimentary Japanese tea and rice crackers to each room. The mini-bar stocks Japanese beer, Nobu branded sakes and chocolate covered Pocky pretzels.
Downstairs, guests have private access to and guaranteed seating in the largest Nobu restaurant in the world (12,775 square feet and 327 seats). Designed by David Rockwell, it is the first Nobu in the U.S. with teppanyaki tables where chefs cook on three flat top grills in front of diners. The menu features signature items including black cod miso, shrimp and lobster with spicy lemon, salmon skin salad, bento dessert box with flourless chocolate cake and green tea ice cream and a huge variety of tobanyaki, sushi, kushiyaki and tempura options. Additionally, diners who want to experience a tasting menu have a variety of price ranges to choose from – $90 to $190 for seven courses and $280 for eight courses. Here is what Sheila and I sampled when we dined at Nobu Las Vegas:
Our waiter talked us into ordering this one, as neither of us are spinach salad lovers. It was one of the best things we had all weekend – a lovely fresh spinach salad with dry miso. This was so good we could have eaten a dozen of these.
The lobster and tuna tacos were fresh and tiny. Next came the signature Black Cod Miso, which was delicious.
We also sampled a great sushi mini platter and some very fresh sashimi.
We also ordered the shrimp and Maine lobster with spicy lemon which was a nice mix of a small amount of heat with buttery shellfish.
We knew the appetizers and main courses would be amazing but we were surprised at how good the desserts were as well. If your budget doesn’t allow for more than a few pieces of sushi or sashimi at Nobu (let’s face it, it is a bit pricey) make sure to add on one of their desserts. The ones we tasted were amazing.
The bento box came with a flourless chocolate cake, white chocolate sauce, shiso syrup and the best green tea we have ever had. Best. Ever.
We also had the suntory whisky cappuccino with a coffee almond crumble on the bottom, coffee cream, milk ice cream and a whisky foam. Beautiful. Our waiter again suggested we try another dessert, we hesitated but he insisted that since we loved the ones we already tried that the third one would be just as tasty so we submitted. We were served the heavenly toasted rice cake which was equally amazing. A butter mocha cake with citrus creme fraiche, lemon gelee, almond crumble and a fresh guava sorbet. Best desserts on the Strip.
Another huge lure for food-lovers is the unique in-room dining menu. Highlights include the High Roller Bento Box featuring lobster wasabi and Wagyu steak, rock shrimp buns, and a takami burger with foie gras and truffle oil. The one-of-a-kind breakfast menu items include blueberry and yuzu soba pancakes, scrambled eggs donburi with salmon nori and rice and green tea waffles with braised short ribs.
Here is what we sampled for our in-room breakfast:
Whether you choose to dine in or enjoy the large trendy restaurant, eating and staying at Nobu Las Vegas is a sure win. Located at 3570 Las Vegas Boulevard South, inside Caesar’s Palace on Nobu Way. 702.785.6677 for reservations.