One of the best things about Las Vegas is that ever-present promise of surprise—that even the most seemingly ordinary experiences will contain that element that creates memories to last a lifetime. Nowhere is that element delivered with more elegance and panache than Petrossian Bar, an already high-end experience that has now added a new caviar menu.
Petrossian has one of the best locations on all the Las Vegas Strip—in Bellagio, right off the reception area, allowing plenty of people watching in complete comfort, whether from the indoor “patio” area (with live piano music to really set the mood) or “inside” near the bar. And even if you’ve been to the venue many times, please plan on scheduling a return trip. You do not want to miss this.
Let’s start with the new cocktail program; after all, you’re at a bar. That’s the first thing you’re ordering, right? This is cocktail presentation unlike any you’ve seen before:
• A glass globe, etched with the countries of the world and a caravel in the center, gets filled with the Worldly Old-Fashioned, a delicious combination of Yamazaki 12-year Japanese whisky, WhistlePig 10-year rye, Craigelliache 13-year Scotch, Demerara syrup and Angostura bitters. Remove the globe from its delicate holder, uncork the end, and enjoy.
• A container filled with smoke arrives at your table, piquing your curiosity. You have to wait for the smoke to dissipate before seeing what’s within—the Poof!, a cocktail made with Bulleit rye, Copper & King apple brandy and Carpano Antica sweet vermouth. And this one comes with small bites, duck confit croquettes.
• Perhaps the most impressive of all: The Bellagio Martini. It’s served on a sizable block of ice, containing a conical mold which holds the martini glass perfectly. In addition to the ample olives in your vodka-based drink full of lemon essence, this presentation also comes with a small bite—an Ossetra caviar cigar, so light and full of concentrated flavor in every bite.
It’s a good thing the latter comes with caviar, for it will prepare your palate for the wonders still to come. As Bellagio executive chef Wesley Holton puts it, “Petrossian Bar has long been heralded as an iconic people-watching destination featuring exceptional caviar, high-end spirits, and tea service. We took those core elements and world-renowned offerings, then infused them with modern concepts for an engaging lobby bar experience that cannot be found anywhere else.” Start your epicurean experience here with Caviar Tacos, thin and crispy potato shells filled with a base of Hamachi, lemon, chives and olive oil, after which they are topped with Daurenki caviar. Eat this bit by bit or all at once—there’s no wrong way.
Up next is something which feels almost counterintuitive, but which might change your mind about caviar’s flavor profile forever: caviar pie. This time, the caviar arrives atop a tart made with green apples, lemons, crème fraîche and brown butter. The saltiness of the caviar perfectly offsets the extreme sweetness of the tart, creating something truly unique. We could eat this every single day (if we could afford it!).
Now it’s time for dessert, and this is where Petrossian really puts things over the top. The dark chocolate “caviar” presentation has so many elements it’s hard to know where to start. The dark chocolate pearls—that look exactly like caviar—are accompanied by Meyer lemon gelée, fresh citrus supremes, rose champagne sorbet and vanilla Chantilly, which you spread on thin, circular hazelnut tuiles. It’s just heaven from start to finish.
If you’re not a caviar fan, there’s still plenty to enjoy here. Petrossian also offers an elevated afternoon tea experience from 1-4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Enjoy freshly baked scones, flavorful dessert and your choice of tea. As with everything else on the Las Vegas Strip these days, reservations are required.
Bellagio, 702.693.7111, Bellagio.com
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