LAVO – the restaurant as “Bathhouse”

Just when we thought The Palazzo couldn’t get anymore overstocked with swanky, over-designed and overpriced restaurants, comes the announcement that the Tao restaurant/nightclub group will open LAVO – described as a Restaurant/Bathhouse/Nightclub – there in August.

At last view, which was….uh….this past Saturday night, the existing ones that have opened their doors (Table 10, Carnevino, Morel’s, Dos Caminos, Mainland, CUT, Dal Toro, Restaurant Charlie/Bar Charlie et al), are hardly turning them away. Meaning: any party of 4 (and multiple parties of 4) could’ve walked into any of The Palazzo restaurants on a weekend evening and would’ve been seated immediately and received a “thank you very much for coming” from every member of the staff.

Despite reports of strife between the Palazzo and Tao teams (a lawsuit was filed, Shellie Adelson and his henchmen tried to have this Tao beached, bad faith allegations were exchanged), all appears to have been settled. Translation: the Tao boys get to open as planned, and Adelson takes another hit from the press and the courts.

So where will the customers be coming from? Well, it’s a fair bet none of them will be going there for the cuisine of Ludovic Lefebvre. This former top toque at L’Orangerie and Bastide in LaLaLand is one of the most talented chefs on the planet. His small plates menu of Spanish, French and Italian cuisine – served in a space that derives its inspiration from “…the bathhouses of ancient Mediterranean culture…” will no doubt be the equivalent of Yo Yo Ma playing “Turkey in the Straw.”

And why would such a creative, acclaimed chef relegate himself to serving 1,000+ idiotic poseurs a night? You tell me and we’ll both know.*

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* Perhaps he’s been Tourondel’ed to the dark side named for the ultra-talented Laurent Tourondel – one of the greatest chefs in America – who now devotes those talents to building an empire of superior steakhouses and burger joints.

10 thoughts on “LAVO – the restaurant as “Bathhouse”

  1. Boy, your review of LAVO is a bit harsh for the club/restaurant not even being open yet ya think? Why such anger? Haha

  2. No anger, just shock at the thought of an extremely talented chef slumming it by serving food to people who don’t care about it.

    I’m sure LAVO will be something to see, and if anyone can invigorate the food of the Tao group, he’s it. Like Tao and Tao Beach, though, it will be a see and be scene, where the vittles are secondary to the silicon.

    thanks for the comment!

  3. Why is such a “great” chef who has worked only in low volume venues trying to recreate his wonderful food in such a high volume restaurant. Are the owners of Tao trying to create an upscale food scene with the “scene”, especially after the loss of their talented corporate chef Sam Hazen? It will only take time for Ludo to lose his “lavo”, then this place will turn into a revolving door for “name” chefs because they can’t replicate the same quality that they did in a small kitchen to what the owners want on a grander scale.

  4. I agree with Matthew….why all the negative response???? How about being excited to have an amazing chef, in an amazing space, backed by a company that has proven to do some amazing things in the restaurant/club scene. I think it is going to do well….

  5. Oh John, your type amuse me. your cinisism seems to have blinded your reason. How could you possibly place the TAO group in a category of “Swanky, over-designed and overpriced restaurants” when thier price points for cocktails are $2.00 less than other strip rivals. Maybe you missed the small detail of TAO being the highest revenue grossing restaurant/nightclub in the nation. Your pompous attitude toward the masses is very annoying. I guess it is your job to be a douche so I forgive you. That’s a great picture of you. Let me congratulate you on finally getting that Oscar for ‘The Departed”…oh wait your not Martin Scorsese, he is someone insanely more successful than you. Just think if you would put as much effort into your research as you do into internet porn in mom’s basement, you would actually be entertaining. I think I hear mom calling now. Sounds like meatloaf tonight…yum!

    Your Dad

  6. looks like I missed the “Y.” Damn spell check! Since that is cleared up, now you can respond with some humor maybe?

  7. You know, Mark Andelbradt, who’s running the kitchen at TAO now, is a pretty respected talent himself, so you’d have to presume that company makes it attractive for someone with credentials… Sure, it’s interesting that Lefebvre is coming to Vegas in a venue that will certainly not champion his name, but for good or bad, Vegas is clearly an unique crucible for any serious chef to find a way to make his (or her) innovations palatable to masses without diluting the personality. Some succeed, others fail, but it’s a clear reminder that like it or not, being a successful chef is about having a successful venue as much as serving great food.
    How would you compare Lefebvre’s move to David Burke being attached to Hawaiian Tropic??

  8. I’d compare both moves to hitching a thoroughbred to a milk wagon…..but if that’s where the money is….who can blame them.

    thanks for a very thoughtful post and keep ’em comin’! john curtas

  9. Wow! I love how people can develop and flaunt an opinion with little or no knowledge on a subject. I can imagine John listening to “Turkey in the Straw” while posing for the ridiculous photo stage left. I could probably make him feel smaller than his fanbase, with half-witted-jabs and attacks on his character, but that would not be fair. I would need to meet him first, to see if my words were accurate.

    I highly suggest John, that you visit Lavo and taste the cuisine that you have already chewed up and spit out. Ludovic Lefebvre has been given a beautiful stage by an extremely talented and experienced group of directors. With an approach to perfection, that transcends throughout their entire cast, this is one show I do not want to miss!

    I fear John, that you have been doing this so long, that you now mistake your opinion for reality. Imagine someone stomping on your dreams, before you even close your eyes. Be fair and have fun, but most of all, do not let your ego get the best of you. Cheers!

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