LAVO

A new restaurant/nightclub open in the Palazzo by the people that brought you Tao (Venetian).

LAVO at the Palazzo - LAVO is a marble-everywhere, Mediterranean bathhouse-inspired pro duction from the people who brought you TAO. Start your evenings in the lounge where you'll notice low chandeliers and a trove of authentic Moroccan antiquities; in the restaurant where Chef Ludo Lefebvre serves Spanish, French and Italian dishes and pizzas; or on the outdoor terrace overlooking the Las Vegas Strip.

Here's the press release:

LAS VEGAS, July 21, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The innovative team behind the uber-successful Tao Las Vegas is proud to announce LAVO, a new dining and nightlife concept set to open this August at The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas.

Latin for "to bathe or cleanse," LAVO is an AvroKo designed space that derives inspiration from the bathhouses of ancient Mediterranean culture with a menu that highlights the best of the region's cuisine.

The journey from lounge to restaurant to nightclub begins with an entry into the lounge surrounded by worn tile walls and water stained plaster. Twenty foot ceilings of old wood and low chandeliers crown an area featuring a curved bar, leather seating and Moroccan tables. The restaurant is highlighted by a spectacular glass and wood screened bridge and is bordered by a grand carved stone wall.

Turkish water basins flank the bridge that leads to the second floor nightclub and the bridge itself becomes a gathering perch from which guests can observe the action below. The nightclub features vaulted glazed tile arches opening to a domed ceiling above the dance floor. Revelers can enjoy a sexy, elevated VIP area with posh banquettes, embossed leather walls and mirrored mosaic tile niches.

THE RESTAURANT & CUISINE
Chef Ludo Lefebvre and his team of experienced chefs will treat guests to a culinary journey with selections of signature dishes from countries such as Spain, France and Italy. The menu is designed to encourage sampling and sharing among friends.

With classic French training, Lefebvre comes to Las Vegas from Los Angeles, where he held the distinction of being that city's only chef to earn the prestigious Mobil Travel Guide Five Star award at two different restaurants; L'Orangerie and Bastide.

The 300 seat restaurant includes a 180 seat main dining room, a 20 seat private dining room and 100 seats on the outdoor patio overlooking the famed Las Vegas Strip. The restaurant will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, with late night dining until 2 am.

A place to find celebs:
"Lavo’s nightclub may be a magnet for celebs, but so is Chef Ralph Scamardella’s Italian menu. Everyone from Hilary Duff to Jennifer Love Hewitt has been seen at the Italian hot spot, which in recent months has become a very popular venue for celebrating birthdays: Wayne Brady, Diablo Cody, Cheryl Burke, “Office” star Mindy Kaling and even Hewitt’s boyfriend, Jamie Kennedy, have all blown out their birthday candles at Lavo."