By Olivia Cuccaro
Viva Las Vegas – city of lights, casinos and now, modern Japanese cuisine. If you like to save your gambling for the poker table, the newly opened Zuma Las Vegas is a safe bet for sophisticated dining from an award-winning restaurant group.
Creator and cofounder Chef Rainer Becker has established Zuma as an authentic Japanese restaurant inspired by the casual izakaya concept. Designed by Noriyoshi Muramatsu of Tokyo-based Studio Glitt, the Las Vegas location embraces the glitz and glamour of its hometown while incorporating natural elements, resulting in an upscale atmosphere. The 8,000 sq ft venue is located on the third floor of The Cosmopolitan, featuring dazzling views of the Las Vegas Strip. For intimate dining, two glass-enclosed private rooms each seat 14 guests, with customized menus and wine pairings available on request.
Zuma Las Vegas offers dishes from three kitchens: the main kitchen, the sushi counter and the robata grill. The focal point of the main dining area is an open-plan kitchen cooking up signature dishes like suzuki no sashimi (thinly sliced seabass with yuzu, truffle oil and salmon roe) and wagyu gunkan no fuyu torifu (wagyu beef tartare with black truffle). At the sushi counter, guests can savor an array of market-fresh sashimi, nigiri and maki sushi, including a Zuma special sushi menu. Zuma’s open-flame robata grill draws on the traditional cooking methods of Northern Japanese fisherman to serve charcoal-grilled dishes like kobuta no ribs yawaraka nikomi (glazed ribs with cashew nut and scallion) or, for the vegetarian, yaki toumoro koshi (japanese sweet corn with shiso butter). Sharing plates is encouraged, so dine with a date before playing the tables at the property’s casino.
Sake is a must on the spirits front, served both warm and cold for a genuine experience. Try it in a signature cocktail, like the “rubabu,” which is made with rhubarb-infused sake, Tito’s Vodka, passion fruit and lemon. The beverage menu also includes “nomikai,” kurashikku,” and “heritage” cocktail lists in addition to Japanese beers and non-alcoholic “Zuma cleansers.”
Zuma Las Vegas is located in The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109. For more information, please call +1 877 551 7776 or visit cosmopolitanlasvegas.com.