There’s something intoxicating about a restaurant that knows exactly what it is. Komodo, deep within the glitzy new Fontainebleau Las Vegas, doesn’t whisper its ambitions—it roars. The dining room smolders with crimson lighting and layered textures, a seductive tangle of bamboo columns, velvet banquettes, glowing lanterns, and mirrored illusions. It’s a jungle, yes, but one dressed in designer threads. This is nightlife dining at its most assertive, and behind the theatrics, there’s substance to match.
Brought to life by Miami’s hospitality impresario David Grutman, Komodo delivers a pan-Asian experience that’s bold, diverse, and unapologetically high-energy. While its nightlife leanings draw the camera-ready crowd, the kitchen underlines every course with serious technique. The menu stretches across borders—China, Japan, Thailand, Korea—curating a collection of greatest hits with Komodo’s own stylized twist.
The house specialty, a meticulously prepared Peking Duck, is pure ceremony. Served whole and carved tableside, its lacquered skin shatters like glass with each cut, revealing impossibly tender meat beneath. Accompanied by bao buns instead of the usual pancakes, scallions, cucumber, and an addictive hoisin glaze, the duck becomes a build-your-own indulgence that demands to be shared.
Dim sum purists will find themselves nodding in approval. Wagyu beef dumplings float in a pungent garlic ponzu; lobster dynamite bao burst with creamy heat; truffle mushroom shumai provide an earthy contrast. These are not nostalgic dim sum hall bites—each is calibrated for opulence, both in presentation and flavor.
Then there’s the Komodo Platter, an audacious display of sushi and sashimi meant for those who want to make a statement. The assortment of toro, uni, hamachi, and seared salmon belly arrives over crushed ice and orchids, a rainbow of marine delicacy that toes the line between indulgence and art. Those who opt for the omakase experience will find themselves on a carefully choreographed journey, where each bite builds on the last with restraint and reverence.
For heartier appetites, Komodo offers a towering dry-aged tomahawk steak—rich, marbled, and deeply charred, often carved at the table to gasps of appreciation. There’s also a Japanese A5 Wagyu option for those who prefer their steak with silk-like texture and buttery richness. Elsewhere, king crab lo mein and Chilean sea bass lend the menu additional depth and global reach.
The cocktail program is equally expressive. House creations play with tropical flavors and Asian infusions—think lychee, yuzu, Thai basil—blended into elegant, balanced drinks. The beverage menu leans toward the celebratory, with a well-curated sake selection and bottles that command the attention of tables all around the room.
Part of Komodo’s magnetism comes from its home. Fontainebleau Las Vegas is an opulent, 67-story reimagining of the Miami original—glass, gold, and glossy from every angle. The hotel’s energy permeates the restaurant, creating an immersive experience where dinner flows seamlessly into nightlife. DJs, elevated lounges, and pulsing music transform Komodo into a full-sensory playground as the evening progresses.
But despite the flash, the food remains the core. That’s the secret to Komodo’s allure—it never sacrifices flavor for flash. Here, the showmanship is a frame, and the cuisine is the canvas. Whether it’s a table of power diners dissecting sushi over sake or a birthday party sharing duck and laughter, Komodo delivers not just on what you see, but on what you taste.
Las Vegas is no stranger to spectacle, but Komodo sets itself apart by balancing theatrics with craft. It is lush, loud, and deliciously layered—an experience designed to dazzle the senses and reward the palate. For those seeking a night that’s equal parts dinner and destination, Komodo is the moment.
