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Feast your eyes. It’s a well-deserved tagline for Cathedralé, the newest dining destination at Aria Resort & Casino. It is beautiful. The experience starts from the Aria lobby with a long hallway that sets the stage for the gothic yet chic decor. Entering the restaurant transports you to a dramatic, opulent interior with a mix of dark woods, rich fabrics, and gold accents. The centerpiece of the restaurant is a large chandelier made of Murano glass. Leather booths surround the exterior of the main dining area with tables & a bar in the middle.
Cathedrale seamlessly blends French and Mediterranean flavors in a stylish and inviting atmosphere. From the moment you enter the restaurant, you are greeted by an ambiance that exudes elegance and charm. The chic decor, warm lighting, and thoughtfully designed interior create a sophisticated setting that sets the stage for a memorable meal.
The menu showcases a fusion of French and Mediterranean cuisines, featuring an array of dishes prepared with precision and care. From the appetizers to the main courses, each dish is crafted using high-quality ingredients and innovative techniques, resulting in a symphony of flavors that delight the palate. Whether you opt for a classic French dish or a Mediterranean-inspired creation, the team at Cathedrale delivers a culinary experience that is both refined and exciting.
In addition to the exceptional cuisine, the service at Cathedrale is attentive, professional, and friendly. The staff members are knowledgeable about the menu, and readily available to answer questions and provide recommendations. We felt very welcomed and cared for throughout our dining experience.
Cathedrale also excels in creating a vibrant and inviting atmosphere. The restaurant offers a spacious, well-designed dining area that balances comfort and style. The sleek decor, comfortable seating, and ambient lighting create an inviting space where guests can relax and enjoy their meal. This is really where Cathedralé stands out: it is a beautiful dining experience and captures the “Feast Your Eyes” mantra they use in their advertising.
Our reservation was on Thursday, June 29, 2023, at 8:30 PM during our second day in Vegas. Our party included just two of us, my wife & myself. Because we had a large meal the night before at Carbone & visited Bulldogies (thanks Keith Lee!), we just had an appetizer, two entries, & one side dish. After-tax, our bill came out to $126 + $25 in gratuity.
To set the stage, Cathedralé is in the lobby of Aria Resort & Casino & just opened in May (almost exactly two months before this review). It is stunning visually & felt pretty full in the main dining room. We had reservations for nearly six weeks & were incredibly excited to try the newest restaurant in Aria. Overall, we really enjoyed our dinner even if it didn’t stack up to some of our other (amazing) dinners during the week.
The Drinks: Tapwater ($0)
Boring, I know, but after a very long day at Meow Wolf, shopping, & driving around Las Vegas, we weren’t in the mood for a cocktail. I know Cathedralé is known for their cocktails, so I wanted to make sure to call out that we may have missed out on part of the overall experience because we skipped the drinks. They have a very impressive wine & spirits list & the drinks we say around our table all looked fabulous.
Appetizer: Warm Dates ($12)
First, the “freebies”. Sticking with the visually stunning displays, the first course came out long, thin breadsticks. They were nice and crunchy & nice to nibble on while checking out the rest of the menu. Shortly after, fresh bread & honey butter that was perfectly sweet & savory. I am a sucker for a good bread & butter combo & this was very good!
We also ordered the Warm Dates stuffed with Marcona Almonds, Roquefort Cheese ($12). It was a fairly easy decision because we love dates! The Roquefort cheese is in the blue cheese vein & complemented the sweetness of the dates nicely (assuming you like blue cheese). They are a delightful combination of sweet, savory, and tangy elements. The contrast of textures, from the soft and luscious dates to the crispy or creamy fillings, creates a delightful sensation with each bite. We were told this appetizer is a popular choice for those seeking a unique and flavorful start to their meal, and it exemplifies Cathedrale’s dedication to creating a memorable dining experience.
Sides: Macaroni & Ham Gratin ($18)
Based on a recommendation from our waitress (who grew up in Italy), we choose the Macaroni & Ham Gratin ($18) as our side dish. She told us the macaroni was done in a traditional Italian preparation & was not similar to what we think of as mac & cheese. The noodle was a long, circular tube that came out as one piece. It was a comforting and indulgent dish that combined the beloved flavors of macaroni and cheese with the savory addition of ham. This classic comfort food is elevated with the restaurant’s own twist, resulting in a rich and satisfying experience.
To create the Macaroni & Ham Gratin, Cathedrale starts with al dente macaroni pasta, which is combined with a creamy and flavorful cheese sauce to create the Macaroni & Ham Gratin. The sauce is velvety and smooth, enveloping the pasta in a luscious coating. Tender pieces of ham are added to the dish’s richness and added to the macaroni and cheese mixture. The ham provides a savory and slightly salty note that complements the creamy cheese sauce, creating a delightful contrast of flavors.
This fairly large dish could easily be shared with four or more diners. It was honestly way too much for the two of us & we sadly left over half because we didn’t have any more room. In addition, since we each got a main dish that could have easily been shared, our order sizing was very off.
Would we order it again? YES! This was my favorite part of our meal at Cathedralé! It was unique & delicious. This will be a staple of my Cathedralé order & would have been even better for a larger table to split amongst friends.
The Main Course: Pané Diable ($39) & Grilled Branzino ($48)
For our main dishes, I went with the Grilled Branzino (Capers, Baby Greens, Preserved Lemon) for $48 and my wife had the Pané Diable (Breaded Chicken Breast, Mustard, Endive, Asian Pear) for $39. Both were large portions that would have been plenty to split, especially with the large portion of Macaroni & Ham Gratin. Both dishes were beautifully presented & each came with a lemon to squeeze.
I’ll start with my Grilled Branzino. Branzino, also known as European sea bass, is known for its tender white flesh and mild flavor and is one of my favorite fish. This was filleted and grilled with the skin & tail still on. The grilling process imparts a subtle smokiness and a slight char to the fish, adding depth to its taste. The butter & cappers, mixed with the squeezed lemon, was light and satisfying, allowing the natural flavors of the branzino to take center stage.
Everything about this dish was solid. It was a nice size fillet, the fish was cooked to perfection, and the sauce added to the dish & let the fish shine. It was everything I was expecting and didn’t disappoint. That said, it also didn’t have a wow factor. With the myriad of options & limited time in Vegas, I am always on the hunt for “my new favorite dish. This didn’t hit that level, but still was a very nice diner, especially for the price!
Next, the Pané Diable. This smashed, thin chicken breast is breaded and pan-fried. Of the two dishes, this was my favorite & paired well with he Macaroni and Ham Gratin. Crispy is on the outside yet tender enough to cut it in the fork. The greens slaw with Asian pear complemented the fried crust, giving a depth of flavor that worked well in the dish. There was plenty of flavor in the breading & it had something special that made it different than your run-of-the-mill fried chicken cutlet.
This dish would have been perfect for sharing as a main or splitting amongst a larger table. The combination of two entries, side, & appetizer, was quite a bit too much food for the two of us & we ended up leaving about half of everything besides the dates.
Would we order it again? I’d have no problem ordering each dish again, but I’d probably try more on the menu before circling back to these mains. The Pané Diable was very good, so I could see ordering it again if we went with a larger group to share if we went with a more family-style meal. In addition, for an early dinner or late dinner and drinks, it could be a perfect entry to split because of its very attractive price point for this level of food. If you’re worried about some of the more fancy items on the menu, the Pané Diable should work for about any pallet. The Grilled Branzino was solid, but I would want to try the other fish dishes before circling back.
Final Thoughts: Cathedralé Las Vegas Review
Overall, Cathedralé is one of the most beautiful restaurants I’ve visited. It’s really quite stunning. I am very glad we could get reservations & enjoyed our experience. I do think we missed out on the experience a bit by skipping drinks & dessert & if we go back, I might focus more on those aspects for a late-night dinner & drinks or more of a happy hour experience.
Strange as it sounds, I think the beautiful decor & experience seems to be the focus. It’s evident in their tagline, “Feast your eyes” and is one of the most Instragramable places on the strip. That’s not to say the food isn’t good, but it is a bit overshadowed by the decor & presentation.
I will also admit that we did not pick the most recommended dishes, so we could have missed that “it” factor because of our selections. I’ve heard so many good things about The Omelette (Kaluga Caviar, Potato Chips, Crème Fraîche), but we didn’t consider it for just the two of us. Again, if we were going with a larger group, we could have tried a few of those types of dishes.
I would recommend Cathedralé, especially if you have been going to Vegas for a while & have tried a lot of different restaurants. It’s a beautiful space & an awesome dining experience. Everything we had was solid, and I have nothing bad to say about any aspect of the dinner. The one thing that surprised me a bit about the restaurant was the size of the menu. It is fairly small, which I don’t mind. I also thought the prices were relatively good for the quality.
Would we go back to Cathedralè? Yes! I would love to go back with a larger group interested in sharing family style. It’s not the only way to go, but I want to try everything Cathedralé offers. I’d also go back for drinks & a light meal, as I think we missed out by skipping the extensive drink menu & signature cocktails.
What was the star of the meal? The Macaroni and Ham Gratin was awesome. It was the one dish that really stood out & that I would order every time. I love a good twist on a classic staple and this dish hit it out of the park.
Our Cathedralé Las Vegas Receipt with Prices
Cathedralé Las Vegas Menu
