SUSHISAMBA strip is now open.  Located at The Palazzo Las Vegas on the retail level of The Shoppes at The Palazzo, SUSHISAMBA's newest, and largest location at 14,000 square feet reflects the theatricality and exuberance of its decadent desert domain.  In early August, SUGARCANE, the first extension of SUSHISAMBA'S New York boutique nightclub concept will open.  SUSHISAMBA strip is the group's first location on the West Coast and the seventh in the group.


The restaurant offers a dining room that seats 150 people, a 21-person sushi bar and a main bar accommodating 35 people.  Eclectic menus dinner will be offered with Sunday brunch and lunch expected to begin later this year.  Another first for the Las Vegas location: SUSHISAMBA's distinctive robata grill showcasing dishes such as Lamb Chops with Guava Ponzu, Tobiko and Spiced Panko and Grilled Jumbo Prawns, complementing the restaurant's extensive menu of classic Japanese tempura, Brazilian churrasco and feijoada and Peruvian anticuchos, or marinated skewered meats roasted over an open fire. 


SUSHISAMBA strip was designed by ICrave, an award-winning design firm with deep roots in the hospitality industry.  Guests are greeted by an architectural glass façade inspired by the Mondrian hotel in its linearity, color, and sharp edges.  Dramatic 16-foot ceilings create a soaring atrium that houses the main restaurant space, a vibrant, Carnaval-inspired environment that mirrors the energy of the Las Vegas Strip beyond its doors.  The area is anchored by an oversized art installation - a three-dimensional illustration through space of swirling "ribbons" that explode from the center of the room and wrap their way around eating spaces, winding around the sushi bar and lounge, evoking a feeling of movement and dynamism.  The robata station is encased in semi-transparent Frit glass to offer a glimpse of the fiery grill.  Customized millwork fuses pale blonde ash wood with dark wenge wood for the bar tables.  Artful projections move continuously on scrims and walls, with visuals featuring the colors, flavors, and cultures of Japan, Brazil, and Peru.


Chef Jose Mendin is SUSHISAMBA strip's executive chef.  Among his favorite dishes: EastWest, which combines Kobe Style Beef Tataki with truffle oil-tofu crema, ponzu jelly & shimeji mushroom and Beef Tenderloin Seviche with Peruvian ‘canario' bean, avocado, lime, tamari soy and aji panca oil on one plate.  Chef Mendin brings his unstoppable energy and passion to the kitchen of SUSHISAMBA strip, making him one of the growing restaurant group's shining stars.


As for décor, celebrated Brazilian artist, Felipe Yung (also known as "Flip"), lent his talent and spray paint to SUSHISAMBA's décor.  Flip's following began when he became one of the first graffiti artists to draw characters without letters throughout the streets of Brazil.  His work is influenced by urban culture and Japanese calligraphy.  His signature characters, including "Flipitos" (little ones) and "Jagunços" (giants with small heads), are showcased throughout the space.


Next month, SUGARCANE will open.  This Favela-inspired late-night space is muted in coloring, creating a sultry atmosphere.  A stage, dance floor and DJ booth are highlighted by materials that have a "raw" feel – gold and chocolate brown leather, bamboo, wenge wood, smoked and frosted acrylic, resin and paper.  A custom-made, simulated "sugarcane" ceiling contains moving lights that wind through the tubes and rods.  Internationally renowned lighting designers Isometrix developed an innovative lighting program with theatrically-colored lights that project through the dramatic sugarcane ceiling terrain.  Glimpses are stolen back and forth between the main room and VIP area which is situated behind a barricade of broken-down walls and fencing behind the bar.  The VIP area includes plush seating, mood lighting, Third World relics and Brazilian Favela street finds.  SUGARCANE is open Thurs. through Sat. from 11 p.m. until 4 a.m. and provides 174 seats and a VIP section seating 20 people.  This no-cover charge, intimate lounge welcomes private events and frequently host promotions such as SUSHISAMBA's annual Carnaval celebration.


SUSHISAMBA offers inventive fare uniting bold Brazilian flavors, precise Japanese technique and exquisite Peruvian culinary traditions on one plate.  In addition to the Las Vegas debut, SUSHISAMBA has outposts in New York, Chicago, Miami, Dallas and Tel Aviv.  Please see www.sushisamba.com for more information.


THE SHOPPES AT THE PALAZZO


The Shoppes at The Palazzo is a 450,000-square-foot luxury destination retail center located within The Palazzo Las Vegas, a $1.9 billion stand-alone resort developed by Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS) adjacent to The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino. The Shoppes at The Palazzo is owned and operated by General Growth Properties and includes Barneys New York, more than 60 premier luxury brands and nearly a dozen restaurants, many led by world-renowned chefs.  General Growth Properties, Inc. is the second largest U.S.-based publicly-traded real estate investment trust (REIT) and largest retail developer and owner in Las Vegas


Palazzo Resort Casino