A&E

How to LAVO Party Brunch right

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LAVO Party Brunch runs Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Courtesy
Jason R. Latham

Fall has arrived in Las Vegas, and let’s be real: It’s nice to have this little pause after pool season. Once the temperature drops below 90, we have a built-in excuse to break out a new wardrobe and take the festivities indoors for LAVO Party Brunch.

The 2019-20 edition of the restaurant’s famed daytime experience—a union of Champagne, fine dining and deafening beats—launched in early October and will continue to feed the culinary and celebratory desires of guests every Saturday through March. If you’re a seasoned bruncher, you’ll notice a few changes made in the offseason (namely the departure of longtime executive chef Marc Marrone), but none that should diminish the well-established party atmosphere.

Before you make your reservation, here are four must-do suggestions for this season’s LAVO Party Brunch.

Do arrive early

Party Brunch now begins at 11 a.m. “This is a party, but half of our guests are coming for brunch,” explains TAO Group co-founder Jason Strauss. “People were waiting in line to get in, so we’re opening earlier to meet demand.” If you make a habit out of being casually late, keep in mind that it’s the wise party bruncher who shows up early, enjoys a delicious meal and has time to relax before the curtains close and the music kicks in. It’s the unwise party bruncher who arrives at 2 p.m. and has to rush through the meal before he or she can get down and boogie.

Do try something new

Even without Marrone, the menu remains top-notch. TAO Group chef and partner Ralph Scamardella has new additions, including the lobster scampi pizza ($49) and the Kobe beef truffle slider trio ($58). The white polenta pancakes ($19) and avocado toast ($18) are must-haves, and LAVO's famed meatball ($32) is a mainstay.

Do enjoy the balcony

If you spend all day in a darkened club, you’re really going to feel it when “God’s flashlight” hits you on the way out. This season, LAVO has opened two new bars on its 2,000-square-foot Strip-side balcony to encourage guests to go outside. Use your time on the balcony to clear your head and contemplate life’s biggest questions, like why flannel never goes out of style and why that tourist thinks those heels will hold up on the long walk back to the hotel.

Do plan ahead

There are some weekends that will make you want to kick yourself for missing them. Last year, LAVO and Playboy partnered for a Bunny Bowl bash during Super Bowl weekend, and while a sequel hasn’t been announced, you might want to make a reservation just in case. Presidents’ Day weekend is another one to circle on your calendar, if only to see how LAVO embraces the patriotic theme. “I think we did Nixon masks a couple years ago,” Strauss says with a laugh. “But now we go for something sexier.”

LAVO Party Brunch Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., admission $20-$30. Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian, 702-791-1800.

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