What are five things I should know about La Cave?
La Cave restaurant is located in the Wynn Las Vegas. Our Forbes Travel Guide editors recommend knowing the following five things about La Cave:
1. La Cave’s spirit is derived from the Latin phrase “in vino veritas” (in wine there is truth). The space is designed as a wine cellar and hideaway where you can indulge in wine and small plates for lunch, dinner and late-night.
2. There are 50 wines by the glass from all over the world, which you can try as a flight, or as smaller pours from an Enomatic machine.
3. La Cave’s full name is La Cave Wine & Food Hideaway, where the “cellar” room is meant to evoke being in a Tuscan wine cellar, with cobbled oak wood flooring, low ceilings and a metal trestle showcasing Latin phrases. The words “in vino veritas” hover above your head in red neon lights.
4. Chef William DeMarco’s menu focuses on regional American small plates to share. La Cave staff recommends two plates per person to share.
5. Not sure which wine to sample first when your flight arrives? The plank the glasses rest on has Roman numerals under each wine to help you; start with I and end with IV.
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On May 18, 2012Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
Is La Cave a romantic restaurant?
Any place that offers a couple of quiet, dark nooks to perch in with that special somebody is tops on our romantic list. La Cave, which of course means “the cave,” is one such place. The wine cellar room at the entrance of the restaurant features low ceiling and a sexy red neon sign above that says “in vino veritas,” or “in wine there is truth.” You can cozy up over flights of wine while sharing nibbles of cheese and charcuterie or over any luscious dishes such as beef carpaccio with arugula and truffle oil. In the garden lounge, lights that hang like lanterns warm the room with their low candlelight. You can sit back on the low, plush couch together like you’re in your own living room, a spread of small plates and wine on the coffee table in front of you as you snuggle in this romantic place. -
On May 18, 2012Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
Does La Cave offer any special or rare bottles of wine?
La Cave’s motto is “in vino veritas” (in wine there is truth), so wine is the lifeblood that flows through this space. Wine bottles are carefully placed on nearly every surface; two wine rooms on either side of the bar in the dining room are stacked high with the over 250 selections from mostly boutique producers from around the world. The rare or special bottles of wine can change often, depending on what wine director Chloe Helfand has in store. A good way to sample new wines is through the Enomatic, housed behind the bar in the cellar room. This machine allows you to try smaller, measured pours before committing to anything bigger. It’s ideals if you want to taste many different wines in one sitting.
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On May 18, 2012Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
Who is the sommelier at La Cave?
La Cave has such a carefully crafted wine list, it’s not shocking to find a serious wine connoisseur behind it. La Cave wine director Chloe Helfand maintains the wine selection, tailoring flights to appeal to everyone from wine novices to full-on oenophiles. Some of the flights are divided up by country, but others are a tour of the world through great reds or dazzling whites. Helfand does admit to a love of Spanish wines, and in the future, he will be building the list to reflect some of her favorites. If you’d like a taste of what Helfand likes, check out the sommelier selection, which features two reds and two whites that she enjoys drinking. -
On May 18, 2012Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What is the food presentation like at La Cave?
As a wine and food hideaway, La Cave keeps its food presentations simple and rustic; think of a crusty chunk of fresh bread and just-made cheese in a wine cellar in Tuscany. The flatbreads, charcuterie and cheeses are served on wooden planks, ready to be picked up with your hands. Dishes such as those from The Sea or The Farm are placed in the middle, family style, so everyone can dig in as they choose. The atmosphere of this Wynn Las Vegas restaurant is casual and relaxed and the food follows that same theme. Dishes are made to be shared and enjoyed in a communal fashion. -
On May 18, 2012Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
Are there any signature desserts at La Cave?
Dessert at La Cave is a sweet ending after a decadent meal, and chef William DeMarco has his own special selection to finish you off. The s’mores flatbread is exactly what it sounds like: chocolate, marshmallows and graham crackers. Eating it in the garden room, especially when the big windows are open to the elements, brings on that campfire feel. Another favorite is the beignets tossed in plain sugar, then served with raspberry sauce and crème anglaise. Forbes Travel Guide editors also suggest the strawberry bruschetta, a uniquely flavored dish with bright, ripe berries combined with sour cream ice cream. -
On May 18, 2012Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What are the desserts like at La Cave?
The desserts at La Cave are a selection of American favorites, simply and elegantly presented. The Forbes Travel Guide editors suggest the Beignets at La Cave; it’s fried dough rolled in sugar, and served with fruity raspberry sauce and vanilla crème Anglaise. The chef’s specialty is the S’mores flatbread, a traditional combination of chocolate, marshmallows and graham crackers melted in the same oven as the savory flatbreads for a proper gooey consistency. The strawberry Bruschetta offers bright, ripe berries with sour cream ice cream. With so many options on the dessert menu, you’re bound to find something that pleases your palate. -
On May 18, 2012Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What is the cheese course like at La Cave?
La Cave specializes in little bites of many different flavors, so it’s more like a meal of sampling, rather than coursed out like a traditional French meal. Cheese doesn’t have to be just a course after your entrée, because after all, what better pairing is there than wine and cheese? Choose from a selection of cheeses made from cow’s, sheep’s and goat’s milk of varying textures, densities and ages. Our Forbes Travel Guide editors suggest indulging in creamy Buttermilk blue, tart pecorino or smoky aged Gouda for only $6 each. If you’d like to some charcuterie on your board as well, you can opt for three cheeses and three meats for $33. -
On May 18, 2012Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What vegetarian and vegan dishes does La Cave offer?
La Cave may be a wine cellar, but that doesn’t mean it’s all meat and cheese as noshes with the wine. The restaurant’s contemporary American-driven menu has a little something for everyone, even those who do not eat meat or dairy. From the Garden is a section on the menu that can speak to all those who love vegetables, including dishes like warm salt-roasted beets topped with funky whipped goat cheese and pistachios. If you’re looking for a most substantial dish, our Forbes Travel Guide editors suggest the mushroom risotto with pecorino cheese. Vegans will be happy to learn that any dish with meat or dairy can be made without it, and guests can ask for a specific vegan and vegetarian menu. -
On May 18, 2012Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
Does La Cave offer special menus for food allergies?
La Cave is meant to be a hideaway for all those who want or need refuge from the casino world. All are welcomed with open arms to enjoy a glass of wine and a moment of peace. While the menu is great for most diners, those who may have allergies or dietary restrictions can ask for the vegan/allergen/gluten-free menu. This menu is similar to the regular menu, in that a lot of the dishes are the same, just arranged by whether a dish is seafood-free, dairy-free or meat-free, or whether it’s gluten-free or not. Many of the dishes that have meat accents can be made without. -
On May 18, 2012Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
Does La Cave offer wine pairings?
As La Cave is the premier wine bar of Wynn Las Vegas, it’s safe to say that there’s plenty of wine to be had even without being paired with food. But La Cave’s wine list and food menus work in tandem with each other. The beauty of the small-plates menu is that you can order a number of different dishes that might go with the varying wines of your chosen flight. Each flight offers four wines, so there are plenty of nuances to explore with food. You can choose wines that are all from France or Italy, or you can take a tour through various reds or whites from around the world. With each of these sips, there is a bite from the menu to complement it.
