JW Marriott in Summerlin is a luxury hotel with a casino located in northwest Las Vegas overlooking the Las Vegas strip to the east and the mountains of Red Rock to the west. Along with a Mediterranean style spa, championship quality Las Vegas golf courses and other entertainment, there is Ceres, pronounced Sear-es, Restaurant, a wonderful gourmet treat surrounded in luxury and yet considered casual dining.

 

Located in the Spa Tower, Ceres features continental fare and the cuisine of Executive Chef and Culinary Olympian Bruce Knapik.  With his extensive experience and well-earned reputation, Chef Knapik is a good fit with JW Marriott Summerlin to continue an exceptional dining reputation for both JW Marriott and Las Vegas.

 

"I knew coming here was a fabulous opportunity," says Knapik. "Las Vegas has quickly become an extraordinary culinary destination and so when the JW Marriott called, I jumped at the opportunity. And even today, it's still an exciting and fun challenge for me, to maintain the standard of dining excellence that comes with the JW Marriott name."

 

Chef Knapik is considered one of Canada's top chefs, highlighted by his appointment as Captain of the National Culinary Team for the World Food Festival in Singapore in the 1990s. As Executive Chef for the Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Hotel, Chef Knapik guided that property to win the Best Hotel Dining two years in a row, and four other nominations in the Where Magazine Annual Restaurant Awards. Recently, Chef Knapik’s talents were utilized during Las Vegas’ first Celebrity Chef Tour dinner benefiting the James Beard Foundation held at Ceres Restaurant, the first such tour to be featured in Las Vegas.

 

The contemporary dining room of Ceres Restaurant features ceiling to floor windows to enjoy the views of the surrounding waterfalls, pools and the garden beyond with outdoor seating available for times such as now when the weather is balmy and inviting.

 

The lunch menu includes starters such as Butter Nut Squash Soup; Tomato and Mozzarella Salad; Grilled Chicken Paillard with Crisp Greens, Artichokes, Green Beans, Fingerling Potatoes, Arugula Almond Pesto; Steamed Blueshell Mussels with White Wine, Garlic, Shallots, Tomato, Basil, Focaccia Points and Mediterranean Flatbread with Olives, Red Onion, Artichokes, Cherry Tomatoes, Feta Cheese, Arugula Pesto.  One of the favorite dishes offered has to be the Steak Salad Flatbread made with Striploin Steak, Spinach Chiffonade, Sautéed Mushrooms, and Mustard Dressing.  There is the Smoked Turkey Wrap with Snow Peas, Mixed Greens, Sprouts, Thai Peanut Dressing, all served in a Spinach Tortilla.   This burger deserves its name of “the All American Burger” made from Ground Sirloin with Bacon, Cheese, Herb Kaiser, and all of the fixings you would want on a burger. The Grilled Chicken Clubhouse is a Pan Roasted Chicken Breast with Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, on Texas Toast.

 

Ceres offers not just any fish and chips but Salmon Fish and Chips with Tartar Sauce, Malt Vinegar, and Lemon.  How abut Pappardelle Pasta and Italian Meatballs with Tomato Sauce, Veal and Proscuitto Meatballs, topped with Parmesan Cheese? Offered on the menu is the Bar-B-Qued Pork Chop with Smashed Red Potato, Roasted Corn, Leek Ragout, and Crispy Onion.  For those who love fish, there is the Pan Seared Wild Salmon with Toasted Almond Mashed Potato, Asparagus, Roast Tomato Dressing or try the Roasted Chicken Breast with Crisp Potato, Zucchini, Baby Carrots, and Artichoke Cream.

 

For dinner, you can begin with Butternut Squash Bisque, Roast Chicken Apple Soup, Watercress and Endive Salad with a Riesling Poached Pear, Toasted Walnuts and Herb Vinaigrette, Fresh Shrimp “Saganaki,” with Tomato, Kalamata Olive with Lemon, Capers and Feta Cheese, “Frito Misto” Calamari, Pan Roast of Bouchot Mussels with Saffron Brodo, Braised Fennel with Crushed Tomato, Fresh Basil, Toasted Ciabatta and Spiced Braised Short Rib, just to name a few of the items offered. 

 

For a main course, you can indulge in Line Caught Wild Salmon with Confit Fingerling Potatoes, Caramelized Fennel, Artichokes, Chilled Tatziki or Crushed Black Peppercorn “Seared Rare” Yellowfin Tuna with Celeriac Puree, and French Beans.  For seafood lovers, enjoy the Hand Harvested Day Boat Scallops with Spiced Braised Short Rib, Roasted Parsnip or Pan Roasted Alaskan Halibut with Braised Leeks, Fingerling Potatoes, Shaved Red Onion, Lemon Watercress and Garlic Nage.  There is traditional dining with a char grilled New York Strip Steak and Roasted Garlic Rubbed Domestic Lamb Rack with Potato Gratin, Pot-Au-Feu of Fall Vegetables; Best of Beef Center Cut Filet with Potato Puree, Sweet Shallots, Asparagus and Rosemary Cabernet Sauce and Free Range Chicken with Black Olive Potato Puree, Lemon Dressed Arugula

 

For vegetarians, Chef Bruce has created the Autumn Vegetable Tasting with Roasted and Braised Winter Vegetables and a Warm Potato Gratin. Of course, there is always coffee and dessert available along with a fine selection of wines and spirits.

 

Ceres offers a cozy sitting room with plush leather couches and a full bar to enjoy before or after your meal with the same attention to detail and service. 

 

Ceres is located at JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa

221 North Rampart Boulevard

South of Summerlin Parkway on the west side of Rampart.

The phone number is 702-869-7381 and the web site is www.jwlasvegasresort.com

 

The hours are:

Breakfast from 6 am to 11 am

Lunch is 11 am to 2:30 pm

Dinner is 5 pm to 10 pm