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More info on Beauty & Essex, the next restaurant to open at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The long-anticipated project with a built-in pawn shop from Tao Group and chef Chris Santos makes its first appearance in the former Comme Ca space on the third level of the resort with a patio overlooking the Strip on May 16.
This restaurant designed by the Rockwell Group and spanning 10,000 square feet takes its inspiration from jewels. Beauty & Essex plans to have more than 230 seats for dining, and another 90 seats in the bar and lounge. Pearls, gemstones, vintage jewelry boxes, antique and heirloom pieces all make an appearance here.
Guests walk through a "gritty" pawn shop-inspired space into the Pearl Lounge with a custom chandelier made from thousands of draped pearls hanging from ceiling and down the walls to tufted purple banquettes.
Next comes the Mirror Bar, where a deejay will spin from a gold deejay booth. Guests then walk through a corridor with a 40-foot-long screened wall made of framed vintage lockets that leads guests to three ornate dining rooms with metallic and jewel-toned hues and "glamorous" lighting.
Santos, who has appeared as a celebrity chef judge on the Food Network’s Chopped, plans to serve some of his New York dishes along with new items only found in Las Vegas. Look for tuna poke wonton tacos, Thai-style crispy shrimp and tomato tartare from New York as well as new dishes such as roasted bone marrow and oven-braised chicken meatballs, all meant to share.
Santos also plans to serve dishes from his first New York restaurant, including French onion soup dumplings. Pastas, prime dry-aged meats, burgers and desserts round out the menu.
On the drinks menu, expect to imbibe on the Emerald Gimlet and Beauty Elixir as well as an extensive wine list.
Also on the agenda, brunch, starting in late summer.
Beauty & Essex also plans to open in Los Angeles later this year.
Tao Group already has Tao at the Venetian with its nightclub and Asian bistro, Lavo with its casino club and restaurant at the Palazzo, and Marquee at Cosmopolitan.
Beauty & Essex plans to be open daily from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
