Cote Las Vegas opens at The Venetian with Nas, Dr. Dre, and Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse flair
When the Steakhouse Becomes the Scene
Vegas has never been short on steak or swagger, but when Cote Las Vegas opened this week at The Venetian, it managed to outdo both. Part Korean barbecue, part Michelin-grade steakhouse, and entirely its own spectacle — this was not your father’s ribeye joint.
The moment I walked in, I could tell this wasn’t just another Vegas opening.
A-list energy buzzed through the room like static. Nas and Dr. Dre were holding court at a corner banquette, the DJ slipped in a remix of “Still D.R.E.,” and the servers were gliding by with trays of raw marbled beef that looked like edible art.
In a city that thrives on over-the-top, Cote somehow feels fresh — like Seoul meets SoHo with a Vegas dress code.
Steak, Omakase, and That Korean Precision
If you’ve eaten at Cote in New York (where it holds a Michelin star), you know the ritual: pristine cuts of beef grilled at your table by staff who handle meat like jewelers handle diamonds. Vegas takes that DNA and adds champagne, neon, and a sense of play.
The opening night menu was a master class in indulgence: USDA Prime and A5 Wagyu, kimchi that could double as sculpture, and a tasting menu cheekily dubbed the “Butcher’s Feast.”
Owner Simon Kim summed it up perfectly:
“Vegas is a city of theater, and we wanted to bring performance to the steakhouse.”
Mission accomplished.
Every table was its own stage. Flames flared, servers sliced ribeye with surgical calm, and the energy in the room felt like a cross between a supper club and a runway show.
A Bar Scene with Bite
The bar — a moody, marble-lit space at the edge of the dining room — could stand alone as a destination. This is where the city’s fashion set and music insiders are already gathering.
Cocktails riff on classics: the Korean Old Fashioned with sesame-washed bourbon, the Seoul Spritz with yuzu and Prosecco, and a dangerously smooth Soju Martini that pairs just a little too well with caviar and steak tartare.
When I ordered the “Dealer’s Choice” — a bartender’s freestyle creation — it arrived smoky, citrusy, and just mysterious enough to make me text a photo to a friend in LA with”
“You need to get here, now.”
It’s that kind of place: immediate bragging rights, no filter required.
Star Power and Street Cred
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Vegas opening without celebrity flashbulbs. On launch night, Nas, Dr. Dre, and a few high-rolling regulars from New York’s dining scene made appearances. The synergy was obvious — hip-hop royalty meets hospitality artistry.
If Carbone Riviera is Italian romance, Cote is Korean precision with swagger. It’s where culinary craft meets nightlife energy, and the result is pure Vegas magnetism.
That duality — fine dining that also feels like a party — is what makes Cote the city’s buzziest new arrival in the Las Vegas Fine Dining News October 2025 lineup.
Why Cote Changes the Game
Las Vegas has no shortage of luxury steakhouses, but few have a clear identity. Cote changes that. It brings point of view, storytelling, and precision. You don’t just eat here — you participate. The charcoal grill, the pacing, the cuts — it’s dinner as dialogue.
And the timing couldn’t be better. With the North America’s 50 Best Restaurants gala recently held at Wynn, and Michelin murmurs swirling again, Vegas is repositioning itself as the continent’s culinary power stage. Cote fits right into that narrative: international, expressive, and utterly confident.
Also, let’s be honest — any steakhouse where you can spot Dr. Dre at one table and a fashion editor from Berlin at another is exactly where we want to be right now.
FAQ: Cote Las Vegas at The Venetian
Q: What is Cote Las Vegas?
A: Cote is a Michelin-starred Korean-American steakhouse blending fine dining with tableside grilling, now open at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas.
Q: What’s the signature experience?
A: The “Butcher’s Feast” — a curated selection of premium beef cuts, banchan, and sides, served with tableside charcoal grilling.
Q: What’s the vibe?
A: Imagine Seoul sophistication meets Vegas spectacle — with a killer soundtrack and a cocktail list to match.
Energy, ambition, and one hell of a good night
By the time dessert rolled out — a glossy scoop of black sesame soft serve with caviar — the music dipped low, and I caught myself grinning. Cote isn’t trying to be everything to everyone. It’s trying to be itself, and in Vegas, that’s the most radical move of all.
Cote isn’t just serving steak — it’s serving energy, ambition, and one hell of a good night.
