Can you review a place after only having one item? Sure, I can. We stopped by DOCG after dinner at STK looking for dessert. I knew what I wanted before setting foot in the establishment. I was on the hunt for my new favorite dessert — the budino.
Let’s back up for a second… A couple years ago I was floored by “Nancy Silverton’s Butterscotch Budino” at 112 Eatery in Minneapolis. That amazing Italian pudding was instantly etched in my mind as the best dessert I’ve ever had.
I heard that DOCG had a budino on their menu so I was hell bent on trying it to see how it compared. Their caramel budino was rich and smooth. Sweet enough to satisfy my sweet tooth, but light enough to not make me regret eating it. The combination of the sweet pudding and cream and the salty caramel is heavenly. While I still prefer the butterscotch budino to the caramel equivalent, the DOCG version shouldn’t be missed.
4 Stars
— Updated below: May 8, 2012 —
I finally made it back here for a proper meal. This is Scott Conant’s more casual Italian spot at the Cosmo. My visit to Scarpetta last year was amazing and I had high hopes for this place too. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as good as its sister restaurant.
Our meal consisted of:
• Beef carpaccio ($17) – caper aioli, baked ricotta salata
• Malloreddus ($19) – semolina pasta, sausage, porcini mushrooms
• Braised short ribs ($28) – parsnip puree and wild mushrooms
• Wood roasted chicken ($27) – winter root vegetables
All were good dishes with bold flavors but lacked the finesse and care that went into Scarpetta’s dishes. Olives and over seasoning made the malloreddus way too salty and the short ribs, while tender, was largely forgettable. Surprisingly, the standout dish was the roasted chicken. Chicken isn’t something that we normally order at a high-end place, but they made is so succulent and juicy that I would gladly order it again if I return.
3 Stars
The Cosmopolitan
3708 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(877) 893-2001
