TAO Group and Chef Chris Santos are at it again as they’ve taken their iconic Beauty & Essex, a New York staple since 2010, and expanded it to a second location. The destination this time is inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, putting it alongside the highly successful Marquee Nightclub & Dayclub. Beauty & Essex Las Vegas spans 10,000 square-feet with the Rockwell Group-designed space functioning very much like its Lower East Side sibling. Walk through the pawn shop and you’ll make your way to a 230-seat dining area or the bar and lounge, which can accommodate another 90. The theme focuses heavily on jewels, so look for pearls and gemstones, vintage jewelry boxes, and even antique and heirloom pieces throughout. The Pearl Lounge features a custom chandelier that’s comprised of thousands of draped pearls which radiate from the ceiling and down the walls to plush, tufted purple banquettes. This may be our favorite room of the entire restaurant. The Mirror Bar’s got a gold DJ booth, while there’s a 40-foot-long screened wall that’s got framed vintage lockets, a walk-way that leads to a trio of dining rooms, each complete with custom finishes, metallic and jewel-toned hues and the perfect ambiance for any gathering.
In terms of the menu, Chef Chris Santos is offering up some of his best dishes from the New York City Beauty & Essex and even from Santos’ Stanton Social restaurant and tossing in some LV-exclusive dishes as well. Look for a good range of multi-ethnic signatures that include Tuna Poke Wonton Tacos, Roasted Bone Marrow, Oven Braised Chicken Meatballs, French Onion Soup Dumplings, and an award-winning burger that’s worth the trip. Speaking from experience on that one.
Beauty & Essex Las Vegas is open now for evening reservations and will begin opening for brunch later this summer.