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Bouchon

Leading the way for authentic French bistro fare, Thomas Keller's Bouchon essentially swept the 2005 Best of Las Vegas Awards and continues to delight. Bouchon came into existence so that Keller and his friends could enjoy their favorite French recipes in a more subdued atmosphere than their world-famous French Laundry restaurant. Stepping into Bouchon is like stepping into the quintessential Lyon bistro. Simple presentation, bold flavor and a superlative wine list make Bouchon a must for the serious foodie.

Bouchon -- An honest bistro

Tucked away on the second floor of the Venetian resort, Thomas Keller's Bouchon bistro is a well-known destination for the serious foodie.  It is place that celebrates the authentic, which is evident in antique cast iron lighting and French murals on walls that have been painted to look like the product of 100 years of patina. But most of all, this is evident in the food. There are no sauces painted on the plate by chef-artists armed with piping bags here. This is a restaurant where you order your meat rare, scatter pistachio shells on the table, and chow on perfectly prepared pommes frites with big, earthy red wines.

First of all, this is a restaurant that demands your complete attention. There is no view here. There are no fountains, flashing lights, open fires, or shops to distract. Nobody wanders into Bouchon off the street. The patrons at Bouchon are here because they heard their friends talk about steamed mussels and steak frites. They are lured in with the promise of superlative charcuterie. They come because they've heard of the famous relationship Bouchon chefs have with their seafood vendors. Most of all, they come to eat the kind of food you simply cannot get anywhere outside Lyon.

This is the restaurant where chef Anthony Bourdain became famously flustered with the fries, spilling red wine all over the table in a fit of jealousy. Bouchon may have what is considered to be the finest pomme frite on the planet. The fact that they'll sell you an order a la carte for $5.50 is just one of the endearing qualities of this bistro.

It is a bit of a hike to get to Bouchon. Down long marble halls, up an elevator, and down more long marble halls, the Venetian's baroque opulence lessens as diners turn the corner and are smacked square in the olfactory senses with the smell of reducing jus and julienned potatoes frying somewhere in the kitchen.

The restaurant is quite long, and almost resembles a railway platform. Wrought iron lights look like they were ripped off street corners and transported to Las Vegas Boulevard. Murals of bicycles and hats by Paulin Pâris adorn the walls. But the first thing that catches the eye is the pewter seafood bar, 30-feet long, showcasing the freshest shellfish to be found in the Las Vegas valley. The pewter bar continues most of the length of the restaurant, showcasing the bistro’s liquor selection.

Nina and I were led to our table and a bowl of pistachios and braided bread were rather haphazardly deposited on our paper tablecloth. I ordered Washington oysters and a glass of Chimay Cinq Cents to start.  I had been looking forward to the oysters all week. We had the best oysters of our lives at Harrod's in London not two months ago, and I wanted to see how Bouchon's selection stacked up.

Kelly, our waitress, brought orders of Savavie, Shamis Bay, and Sister Point oysters. The oysters were served with a traditional cocktail sauce and a shallot-infused red wine vinegar. I found both sauces (and lemon, for that matter) to be entirely unnecessary. The oysters were divine. While Nina preferred hers with a little vinegar, I thought the natural oyster liquor and the slight Belgian twang and sour note of the Chimay was all they needed.

So, how did Bouchon's selection compare to Harrod's you may wonder? The Biscay oyster liquor tasted more of the sea, but the flavor of the meat was heavenly. My Washington oysters had a liquor I could drink by the glass, and an excellent flavor as well. Considering my oysters at Bouchon cost half what I paid at Harrod's, I was very pleased. The flavor of both clung tenaciously to the palate, in this case only relenting for my onion soup.

For an hors d'oeuvre Nina stayed with seafood, ordering the Beignets de Brandade de Morue. The cod was absolutely silky, wrapped in a pear-shaped, lightly-fried beignet. The three beignets sat on a confit of sun-dried tomato – the acidity brightened the fish while the sweetness complimented.

I took a different tack: French comfort food. I ordered the onion soup, and I am so glad I did. I own the Bouchon cookbook but I have not attempted the onion soup. According to Keller, the onions must be caramelized for five hours. Five hours!

I was happy chef Marc Hopper took the time when my generous crock of beefy goodness arrived. After my first sip of broth, I thought “veal” but Kelly told me it was simple beef stock. It may have been beef stock, but it certainly wasn’t simple. The stock was velvety and luxurious, with a hint of marrow. The onions bought their caramelized sweetness to the dish. Even after tasting the soup, I don’t think I’d want to spend five hours making a batch. I’d rather return to Bouchon and pay nine-fifty.

Nina kept with her seafood path, ordering the Dayboat Scallops off the specials board. The dish featured four U-15 scallops in a red wine butter, with crusty skins and tender centers. The accompanying pomme pureé bought comfort to the dish, and provided a venue for mopping up all the red-wine butter. The scallops were paired with sweet sautéed rhubarb. Nina said the rhubarb was all the dessert she could possibly need.

I thought about my dessert course, until my Steak Frites arrived. Bouchon uses the flatiron cut from the shoulder. The flatiron is all the rage these days, because once the connective tissue is cut away, the steak is second in tenderness only to the tenderloin, and has the powerful flavor of a skirt steak. I ordered mine rare and it arrived perfectly rare and well rested. A mountain of the best frites I had ever tasted came with, and this dish absolutely finished me.

The steak itself was just what I expected from a bistro, full of big flavor, topped with caramelized shallots and a maitre d’hotel butter. You have to love the French for topping their beef with several ounces of dairy fat.

I enjoyed a ripe Grenach/Syrah blend with my steak and Nina paired her scallops with a Melon de Bougogne. Nina finished her scallops and was enjoying her rhurbarb as I wrestled with a seemingly unending pile of frites, sopping up beef juices. I finally had to cry “uncle.”

I would love to comment on the desserts here, but that will have to wait for another review. I was killed by french fries, which in retrospect is not a half-bad way to go. The dessert menu also features six excellent cheeses, and an assortment of tarts and crémes. I was hoping to have a go at the profiteroles.

There is a generous assortment of ports, sherries and dessert wines. Bouchon also offers cigars, but sadly only “to go.”

To summarize, I had very high expectations of Bouchon, and the chefs delivered. Every item on the menu is a classic, and created using slow, traditional techniques.

Manager Dan Boyer told me the only problem he faces is customers who arrive at Bouchon expecting “French Laundry Lite.” I can see his point. The food of our great-grandparents has sadly become foreign to us. There is no tripe or cheek meat to be found at the meat section of the local megamart. And the kind of butchers who specialize in unusual cuts are fast disappearing from the American landscape. More’s the pity.

Bouchon is a screening of “Casablanca” in a world of digital effects. It’s old school, steeped in tradition. For the uninitiated, Bouchon is crash course in honest French cuisine.

Nina and I will be returning here often. If nothing else, I anxiously await trying the steamed mussels with fries.
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Restaurant Info

  • Address: 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas NV 89109
  • Cross Street: Flamingo Road
  • Location: Las Vegas Strip |
  • Cuisine: French |
  • Cost: $$ | Inexpensive | $25 - $50
  • Category: Fine Dining
  • Star Rating:
  • Reservations: Recommended
  • Dress Code: Casual Elegant
  • Meals Served: Breakfast | Dinner |
  • Parking: Private Lot | Valet Parking |
  • Payment Options: VISA | Amex | MasterCard | Discover | Diners Club |
  • Corkage Fee: N/A
  • Phone: (702) 414-6200

Business Hours

Monday
Main Dining Room | Breakfast 7 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Main Dining Room | Dinner 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Tuesday
Main Dining Room | Breakfast 7 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Main Dining Room | Dinner 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Wednesday
Main Dining Room | Breakfast 7 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Main Dining Room | Dinner 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Thursday
Main Dining Room | Breakfast 7 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Main Dining Room | Dinner 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Friday
Main Dining Room | Breakfast 7 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Main Dining Room | Dinner 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Saturday
Main Dining Room | Breakfast 7 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Main Dining Room | Brunch 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Main Dining Room | Dinner 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Sunday
Main Dining Room | Breakfast 7 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Main Dining Room | Brunch 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Main Dining Room | Dinner 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Features

  • Full Bar
  • Hotel Dining
  • Outdoor Seating
  • Winning Wine List
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Personal Wines Allowed

Occasion

  • Romantic Dining
  • Dining Alone
  • Business Dining
  • Meet for a Drink
  • People Watching
  • Quiet Conversation
  • Special Occasion
  • Trendy / Hip

 


F.A.Q. - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Bouchon is open for breakfast daily from 7am until 10:30am.
Bouchon's oyster bar is open from 3pm until 10pm daily.
Yes, Bouchon serves brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 8am until 2pm.
Reservations are not required, but they are recommended.

Menus

Dinner Menu

Fruits de Mer & Caviar

Salads

Hors d'oeuvres

Plats Principaux

Les Accompagnements

Fromages

Desserts


Map

Restaurant Address: 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas NV 89109

User Reviews

Fantastic French Find  

We ate here on a Saturday night with reservations at 7pm, however, we were early and they sat us anyway. It was quiet in the restaurant and the attention paid to us by the wait staff was by far the best we have had in a very long time. My water was never lowered by more than a sip before being refilled. The food was excellent, the suggestions by our waiter, Michael, were spot on and we couldn't have been happier. We will most definitely make this a regular stop when we are in Vegas. The place did start to fill up around 9ish and the noise level picked up, but it was nothing like the noise levels down in the Strip restaurants. Eating here took us back to France and the wait staff had none of the haughty pretentiousness. The pork shank prepared sous vide was too die for!

A must visit Vegas restaurant  

LOVED IT! The wait staff was great. The recommendations they made were spot on. The under-waiters were great and extremely attentive. The service was some of the best we have ever had anywhere in the world. The food was amazingly good and we loved every bite. We had the specials of the night and were not disappointed. The duck confit appetizer was great, but the pork shank sous vide was out of this world. Definitely one of the best meals we have had in a long time eating out and it didn't break the bank. You will have a quieter meal if you eat a little early, the place fills up about 8pm.

Wonderful food and service  

Bouchon was a wonderful dining experience for my son and me. The food was exceptional, the ambience lovely and the service couldn't have been better. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.

A truly great restaurant  

On the strip, Bouchon is as good as it gets in that price range.

awesome experience  

we went there for a bachelor party dinner and the restaurant did not disappoint us. awesome food and great service from our waiter, who has an outstanding knowledge with the food and wine which greatly enhanced our dinning experience. Great value for the quality of food and wine. The only down side is that we made a reservation at 8:15 but were not able to sit down until 8:45, and the food is a little bit salty for my taste. But still, I'm very willing to give it a 5 out of 5. should definitely try the foie gras and duck confit!

Excellent meal  

We have dined at the Yountville CA location and were not disappointed by the Las Vegas location. The food is outstanding and the service was great, even entertaining. Our waiter Jeff, from Chicago, was quite the entertainer! All five of us loved our entire meal! Thanks to them for making my birthday celebration memorable!

Table Mom  

The best food in the world is prepared by mothers in their home kitchens for their families and served with love. Dining at Bouchon was this experience for us. The food was unbelievably good, and the wait staff is very possibly the best in the world. We felt welcomed and cared for as soon as we entered. From appetizers to aperitifs, the experience was top of the line. We will be returning. Every time we visit Las Vegas. No exceptions. Don't miss it.

Bouchon Restaurant, Las Vegas  

This is a high end restaurant. It was fabulous. Service was excellent. My husband said the steak was the best he ever had. My scallops were fantastic. The portions of food was wonderful. The macaroon ice cream sandwiches were superb.

Incredible meal with impeccable service!  

Lovely French bistro atmosphere with excellent fresh food prepared in interesting ways. Great wait staff! Lovely wine list and knowledgeable servers.

Fabulous!  

We had the most amazing meal at Bouchon, Las Vegas. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who would like a special meal. The atmosphere was laid back and very pleasant. The waitstaff was extremely knowledgable, helpful and very friendly. Everything that was served to us, from our appetizers to deserts, was prepared by masterful chefs! I could have dined here everynight!

Beautiful Buchon!  

From appetizers to dessert, everything was fabulous! The wait staff was very knowledgable, friendly and helpful. Everything we ordered, from amazing appetizers, followed by main courses to dessert were prepared by masterful chefs. This restaurant is amazing. We absolutley loved it. If I could I would have eaten there every night during my stay in Las Vegas. It was my first visit, and it won't be my last. I can't wait to go back and dine there again!

Bon Appetit at Bouchon  

Excellent dining experience. Good service, ambience is excellent. Tends to be a bit noisy, especially if seated near the bar. Small plates delightful. Allows one to have a tasting.

dinner ar Bouchon  

Great restuarant! Great food, service and ambiance. Would definitely go here again.

Fabulous meal !!!  

My husband and I have been to Bouchon 5 or 6 times! We've had breakfast and dinner and both have been excellent ! I highly recommend this restaurant we are a big fan of Thomas Keller!!! The breakfasts are superb!!!

Excellent  

From the server to the wine to the food to the overall ambience this is a Las Vegas must!

we'll be back......  

great atmosphere; friendly wait staff; quick service, really good food.

Bouchon complements  

Bouchon was a good change from the usual  

If you are tired of stuffy and pretentious Vegas restaurants serving overpriced, mediocre food, try this. Nice, un-fussy ambience, if a bit cramped; food was good, not spectacular, but good and not as over-priced as some other "celebrity chef" places. Bread is great, bistro food is good, wine list is good. Be prepared for lots of "french frites." I'd probably sit in the bar area next time.

Excellent dining experience......  

The food and service were excellent. Over all wonderful dining experience. Very resonable prices. Would recommend this restaurant to friends, would come back and dine again.

bouchon  

food great. casual experience. great oyster selection and service. great wine list.

Boucheron  

We enjoyed the evening

Amazing food and service, but LOUD  

Brilliant food and service, including somellier service, but this place is really loud - just the way it's designed. Business meetings are very difficult, but very small groups with a very small table no problem.

Very Good, but far from Authentic  

Bouchon aims to re-create a medium-end French Brasserie in the heart of the Ventetian Casino in Las Vegas. In terms of decor, menu, ambience, wine/beer list, location and overall value, it's a good attempt. However, as a Brit, living in Bruxelles, with a French wife, it does fall short on the overall food quality and flavour balance. For brunch, while the couissants and boudin blanc were good, the bread was hard, dry almost impossible to cut, an unforgivable sin for any self respecting French restauranteur. For dinner, the escargots were too sweet to be a fair reproduction of French cuisine, and for the gigot of lamb, the greens used were so bitter that they dominated the whole dish and overpowered the lamb. Overall good quality, but expect flavours to match more American than French culinary tastes. The service was excellent - a freshing change from obnoxious parisiens.

Overall Good  

While the food and wine selections are very authentic (we lived in Paris area for 3 years), the service was a little less attentive than expected in this upscale venue (bit of a "bouchon" in that area). I live in Phoenix(5th largest city in USA) and we have nothing that compares. Love Bouchon.

Not the French Laundry Experience  

While the decor was good as was the service, the food preparation did not met our expectations.

Good food but not for special occasions  

Food is good but limited options. Good service. The restaurant ambience is too casual for the price. Not for special occasions.

Too many great places to eat in Vegas to eat here  

Food was OK, $ 50.00 for 3 drinks, the place was so loud. Our 8PM reservation was meaningless. At 8:30 we decided to eat at the bar. If you want French food go to the Paris, Mon Ami Gabi, its great

Lasy staff  

We had booked table 2 months in adwance and it didn's seem that they had our reservation. Even thought there not were full house the waiters was not interessered in us as guests. There were few meat options. The waiter didn't not ask if we wanted wine, we had to ask for wine. We has ordered sparkling water, but the refill was with tapwater. The waiter did not ask how the meal was.

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