Rivea (Las Vegas, NV)

Rivea
Delano Las Vegas
3940 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89119
Dining date: 4/27/17

Rivea opened in late 2015 atop the Delano Las Vegas, a re-conceptualization of the former Mix Restaurant and Lounge. Alain Ducasse remains the executive chef, bringing his French and Italian Riviera-inspired restaurant to The Strip. This is the third location of Rivea, after Saint-Tropez and London.

A tasting menu is available, 5 courses for $115, but our party of 5 decided to go a la carte.

Given the restaurant’s placement at the top of one of the southernmost hotels on the strip, views were impressive.

Bread service was just fine here – a trio was presented but none of them were particularly interesting.

LOBSTER & VEGETABLE SALAD spicy tomato jelly

ARTISANAL LINGUINI & CLAMS

LOBSTER RISOTTO

BOMBARDONI PASTA braised short ribs, red wine reduction

JOHN DORY clams, calamari, prawn, bouillabaisse broth

LIBERTY DUCK BREAST turnips, nougat, bigarade sauce

PEPPER CRUSTED BISON TENDERLOIN

ROSSINI angus filet mignon, duck foie gras, black truffle sauce

VEAL CHOP TOMAHAWK celery and carrots

TIRAMISU

CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE vanilla ice cream

I thought we had a very good meal at Rivea; it’s one of the rare restaurants with food to match the view. The consensus in our party was that we preferred this meal over the previous night’s dinner at L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon. Highlights from the appetizers were the lobster risotto and pasta with short rib ragu – both were excellent. The risotto featured a great shellfish flavor mixed with sweet chunks of lobster. The pasta had a nice chew with a very rich and deeply savory sauce. The “artisanal” linguine disappointed; the pasta was just too soft.

My favorite of the mains was the veal chop. It was cooked a nice medium rare, juicy and very flavorful. Both the bison and steak Rossini were cooked nicely too, as was the duck breast paired with a very interesting nougat topping. Both desserts were excellent as well, especially the soufflé. I would return here.