Some restaurants look as delicious as the food they serve. Cathédrale inside ARIA Resort & Casino is one such place, with all of the charms of an antique study imbibed with romance and “urban grit.”
If you’re in the mood to wear light-catching sparkles and relax among the beautiful people, this should be next on your list.
An Elegant Yet Hardcore Ceiling
Every detail pays homage to NYC, from the color palate to the food — but it’s be remiss if the ceiling wasn’t mentioned.
A 6000-pound cluster of metal-hued chains hangs throughout the restaurant, equaling nearly nearly 50 miles in length. The main dining room boasts a 4,000-pound installation of beautiful geometric design, while the front bar simply drips in these chains. South African designer willowlamp is responsible for creating the vision, famous for luxury light fixtures that turn the ordinary into the OG.
Cocktails For All
This cocktail program is pure comfort. Every creation is unique and delicious in its own rite.
Earthy and refreshing, the Camellia de Mûre with Belvedere, crème de mûre, black tea and lemon comes in a teapot with a delicate china cup and saucer. Order a La Caffè Vita for your espresso martini fix, mixed with Jack Daniel’s rye, Amaro Averna, Carpano Antica Formula sweet vermouth and Grand Marnier barrel-aged for three months with coffee beans.
As for the signatures, the Quintessentia with Maker’s Mark, Nonino Amaro, lemon, blood orange and egg white is the elevation of your favorite standard drink. Caviar fans, the Quaternary is a must-try. Ketel One, Plymouth Gin, Dolin dry vermouth, orange bitters, Castelvetrano olives and Kaluga Caviar comes on branded ice with hard-to-beat presentation.
Cathédrale Menu
In typical Vegas fashion, the menu offers comfort classics elevated to the moon. A Cathédrale meal is caviar, truffle, seasonal delights and all of the freshness one might expect in French-Mediterranean cuisine.
I’m a huge appetizer person, so the bulk of our meal was actually starters and snacks. The Hamachi Crudo and Roquefort-stuffed dates are sweet and salty treats, while The Omelette is the lineup’s touchstone dish. Truffle potato chips and homemade crème fraîche with a generous plop of caviar round out this treasure for $37.
Don’t skip dessert — but don’t go at it alone. Everything is shareable. Dessert was a gigantic hazelnut Paris-Brest, loaded with hazelnut cream and drizzled chocolate sauce. While this wasn’t part of my lineup, I saw a tableside cart of crepes and immediately regretted not ordering them. Orange caramel and vanilla chantilly poured over hot, fresh crepes? I’m going back just for those.
Note: For mains, I ordered the truffle pasta and lobster. Both were lovely, but the bookend dishes shine at Cathédrale.
Nightly Fun
When a Tao Group venue wants to zhuzh it up, they know exactly how to do it. Cathédrale adds touches of flair to their nightly goings-ons.
We saw gorgeous, scantily-clad Victorian-era ladies with powdered wigs and hoop skirts peering at diners through binoculars. A trombone player in a silky patterned shirt weaved between tables blasting some smooth tunes — with a muffler on for noise, of course.
Since the dress code is upscale chic, some glamorous fits were on display. Sparkling dresses paired with designer bags ruled the scene, with smart suits complementing the feminine fits.
Our service was also excellent, partially biased reasons. Our Bulgarian server was a quick-witted and funny, and we exchanged a few words when he found out that I lived in Bulgaria for six months.
In all, Cathédrale is perfect for spending leisurely hours sampling bites and enjoying the atmosphere.
Explore National Treasures
Did you get a hint of wanderlust from this? Good. There’s more where that came from.
Avison Ventures a travel-centric, food and drink-friendly source that loves to celebrate fine fare and fun. To explore more luxury restaurants like Cathedrale and high-society travel spots, check out the blog. I’ll see you there.