After months of wowing Las Vegas diners at assorted pop-ups and a residency at Durango Social Club, Chef Tyler Vorce has finally opened a permanent home for his restaurant Lilli.
The new eatery debuted October 8 in Chinatown, at the corner of Spring Mountain Road and Valley View Boulevard, on the ground floor of the Green Leaf Lotus building. It’s the culmination of a journey that has taken Vorce through some of the world’s most celebrated kitchens, including Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry, and brought him to Las Vegas to establish a restaurant of his own.
Food & Loathing recently stopped by Lilli to speak with Vorce about the new space and what guests can expect.
“Our goal was always to have a brick-and-mortar,” Vorce told us, crediting his time at Durango Social Club and his collaboration with owner Dan Krohmer for helping him establish himself in Las Vegas.
The Chinatown location, he said, offers the best of both worlds.
“We wanted to be a part of a neighborhood but be close enough to the Strip, so we can have tourists and locals alike come through.”
Fine Dining Without the Formality
While Vorce’s résumé includes some of the world’s most formal dining rooms, he doesn’t want Lilli to feel stuffy.
“The vibe here is elegant but relaxed,” he said. “Our goal is to be that date night spot that people can come to and really enjoy themselves, get away from the craziness of everyday life.”
The restaurant offers several ways to experience his cooking.
In the dining room, guests can choose a four-course prix fixe menu for $98 or an eight-course tasting menu for $188. The Lounge offers a more casual à la carte experience, with dishes like Melon & Beets with country ham, chicory, and beet reduction at $19, along with cocktails and wine.
As for the cuisine, Vorce describes it as his personal interpretation of French cooking.
“I kind of call it our version of French food,” he explained. “It’s American ingredients, but through the lens of, I guess, French technique.”
That approach emphasizes seasonal ingredients sourced from American farmers, ranchers and fishermen, prepared using classical techniques without being constrained by traditional French flavors.
It’s a philosophy Vorce has been developing since his earliest appearances in Las Vegas, including the Durango residency and collaborations with fellow French Laundry alumnus Sean O’Hara.
Now, with his own kitchen, dining room and lounge, he finally has a permanent place to share it.
Lilli is located at 3616 Spring Mountain Road, Suite 101. The dining room and lounge are open Tuesday through Saturday, 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Reservations are recommended for the dining room, while walk-ins are welcome in the lounge. More information is available at Lilli.Vegas.
Hear our interview with Chef Tyler Vorce on the October 23 episode of the Food and Loathing podcast.
