Sin City may want to consider rebranding as Steak City, if this upcoming opening is anything to go by.
Cote, called the best steakhouse in America by many, will debut its very first West Coast location in Las Vegas early next year. Situated within the Venetian resort, the restaurant will join Cote’s original location in New York and outposts in Miami and Singapore. The owner Simon Kim and his Gracious Hospitality Management are also behind the N.Y.C. fried-chicken-and-Champagne hot spot Coqodaq.
“I went to UNLV and my first formative job in the world of hospitality was in Las Vegas so opening a COTE in this entertainment epicenter is more than just any traditional opening—it’s a triumphant homecoming,” Kim said in a statement. “While COTE Korean Steakhouse is a concept I created in NYC, the pulsating energy, music and entertainment of Las Vegas has always been intertwined in our brand’s DNA, and we’re taking that to the next level with this opening.”
The Las Vegas restaurant will draw inspiration from the other Cotes around the world, while including touches that scream Sin City. Favorites from the menu—which combines the best of Korean BBQ and American steakhouse classics—will feature here as well: There’ll be the Butcher’s Feast, the Steak & Eggs, and a 1,200-plus label wine list. David Rockwell and his Rockwell Group are similarly designing a space that includes Cote’s signature touches, such as in-table smokeless grills, a dry-aging room for all that meat, and dramatic lighting. (While Rockwell wasn’t involved in the other three locations, he did team up with Kim to design Coqodaq, as well as Gracious Hospitality’s upcoming concepts at 550 Madison in New York.)
Cote Vegas, though, will also emphasize details that won’t let you forget that you’re on the Strip. The dining area is being envisioned as a tiered space, like a theater in the round. The central bar will be surrounded by skybox private dining rooms, while immersive lighting and a DJ booth will ensure that the vibes are on point all evening long.
Since opening back in 2017, Cote has gained a number of industry accolades, including a coveted Michelin star. And since the pandemic, the steakhouse and Gracious Hospitality have been on something of an expansion tear. The Miami location debuted in early 2021, with Cote Singapore following suite in January. Coqodaq, which also opened earlier this year, is still one of the hardest tables to land in New York right now.
Steak-loving West Coasters, who have been traveling far and wide to chow down on Cote’s high-quality meat, can finally breathe a sigh of relief that Kim is bringing his lauded concept to their side of the country. And while they’ll have to hold on a little bit longer for the debut of Cote Vegas, it sounds like the show will most certainly be worth the wait.
