Rating 6.5 Average Cost -- $45-$75
Located just steps away from the world famous Piazza San Marco in the Venetian Hotel, Enoteca San Marco, is the second project for Mario Batali in Las Vegas. Open all day, this is a casual eatery. The cuisine is pure Italian. It may not look exactly like the real Venice at this man-made-American Square, but Batali ensures the food is authentic.
Ordered to Table:
Antipasti; Carne & Verdure $35 & $28 -- The Carne appetizer comprised of sliced and cured meats; prosciutto di parma, mortadella, salumi, lonza, and testa. The procuitto was the most mild of the dish, having a sweet aftertaste, while the salumi was the strongest because of its fat content, making one want to chase with a morsel of pan or something from the Verdure plate of marinated olives, lentils, squash, eggplant and fine roasted beets. This is a great pair of appetizers, but I might recommend adding a cheese (formaggi) antipasti to the mix.
Grilled Pork Chop $26 -- Cooked Medium, this 1 1/2" combed cut was char grilled and then baked to perfection. No need for spicing for this prime cut, the meat spoke for itself. Char tasting up front and then vivid taste of pork loin comes through, followed with a mild char after taste. What a delight! Served with sauteed sweep peppers, onions and capers. The mix of juicing from the sauteed peppers and the loin was to die for, especially when sopped with the hard crusted bollios.
Grilled Lamb $30 -- Cooked Medium rare, a mile rib eye cut served with roasted potatoes, arugula and garlic. Lamb is an acquired taste for most, but this is one to experiment with if it is your first time. Slightly gamey, but not harsh at all. Grilled marked just right to give the blended bite of potato and lamb that one anticipates. Potato is the only vegetable to eat with lamb.
Batali runs one of the tightest ship in upscale dining. The wait staff is helpful translating and describing the menue to the first time comer. A first timer here would be wise to rely on the suggestion of the head waiter assigned to your table. A fun thing to do is have the waiter bring to you blind, the desert option.. What a fun experience!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Blossom at the Aria in City Center -- Las Vegas, NV
Blossom -- 6.5 Rating Average Cost $50-$75
If you get the chance while visiting in Las Vegas to eat before a late Frank Caliendo Show over at the Monte Carlo, try the 'Blossom' in the Aria, one of the finest Asian restaurants in Vegas. Blossom makes Shanghai Lily's fall a notch or two when looking for fine Asian dining in the Sin City. New to the dining scene in Vegas as all of the eateries in Aria, this one is sure to be a solid hit.
Ordered to Table:
Shiitake Mushrooms in Sweet Vinaigrette Sauce - $10 --Served as an appetizer, this is one to try. The reduced vinaigrette is wonderful to the taste again and again. The plate is served with raw tiny angel hair carrot and zucchini slaw. Shared by the table, making all anticipate the quality of the meal to come. Even if you are not a mushroom fan, try these, and you'll evolve!
Peking Duck - Bone in 1/2 Duck - $79 -- What a fine taste of the East. Perfectly cooked with crispy skin. If you are a dark meat connoisseur, this one will be a winner for you. A wonderful orange marmalade and pepper sauce are added condiments for the entree. No game taste here, just pure joy in the consuming. The wait staff is incredible here, changing plates and hot towelettes to keep things organized and clean on the table. This is such a difficult dish for the home cook, and should only be eaten when some else can do it as well as Blossom. This is one of the top ten meals of all time for this Critic. Worth the money, worth the try!
Kung Pao Chicken - Medium Spicy - $26 -- The great worry when ordering any Kung Pao dish is the heat that comes with it. True to the advertised menu, it was a medium and pleasant heat. The roasted red bell peppers blended with cubed zucchini and an unsalted whole peanut delivered more than what one would expect. Give this one a go, and get it served with the Pan-fried Red Rice cooked with Egg White, Dried Scallop and Vegetables or the String Beans in the Spicy XO Meat Sauce.
Banana Passion Dumpling -- $12 -- This is one of the four French deserts served at the Blossom. Pineapple bits and peach sauce tapioca was beyond decadent, and they more than compliment the banana dumpling. Everyone at the table raved. Incredible desert!
The staff up and down was attentive and assuring to the diners. 30% gratuity was easy to give for the experience. If you are unsure about the Asian experience, Blossom and the staff will make it pleasurable for sure.
If you get the chance while visiting in Las Vegas to eat before a late Frank Caliendo Show over at the Monte Carlo, try the 'Blossom' in the Aria, one of the finest Asian restaurants in Vegas. Blossom makes Shanghai Lily's fall a notch or two when looking for fine Asian dining in the Sin City. New to the dining scene in Vegas as all of the eateries in Aria, this one is sure to be a solid hit.
Ordered to Table:
Shiitake Mushrooms in Sweet Vinaigrette Sauce - $10 --Served as an appetizer, this is one to try. The reduced vinaigrette is wonderful to the taste again and again. The plate is served with raw tiny angel hair carrot and zucchini slaw. Shared by the table, making all anticipate the quality of the meal to come. Even if you are not a mushroom fan, try these, and you'll evolve!
Peking Duck - Bone in 1/2 Duck - $79 -- What a fine taste of the East. Perfectly cooked with crispy skin. If you are a dark meat connoisseur, this one will be a winner for you. A wonderful orange marmalade and pepper sauce are added condiments for the entree. No game taste here, just pure joy in the consuming. The wait staff is incredible here, changing plates and hot towelettes to keep things organized and clean on the table. This is such a difficult dish for the home cook, and should only be eaten when some else can do it as well as Blossom. This is one of the top ten meals of all time for this Critic. Worth the money, worth the try!
Kung Pao Chicken - Medium Spicy - $26 -- The great worry when ordering any Kung Pao dish is the heat that comes with it. True to the advertised menu, it was a medium and pleasant heat. The roasted red bell peppers blended with cubed zucchini and an unsalted whole peanut delivered more than what one would expect. Give this one a go, and get it served with the Pan-fried Red Rice cooked with Egg White, Dried Scallop and Vegetables or the String Beans in the Spicy XO Meat Sauce.
Banana Passion Dumpling -- $12 -- This is one of the four French deserts served at the Blossom. Pineapple bits and peach sauce tapioca was beyond decadent, and they more than compliment the banana dumpling. Everyone at the table raved. Incredible desert!
The staff up and down was attentive and assuring to the diners. 30% gratuity was easy to give for the experience. If you are unsure about the Asian experience, Blossom and the staff will make it pleasurable for sure.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill -- Las Vegas, NV
Rating 6.75 -- Average cost $35-$55
Wolfgang Puck has several Restaurants, Goods and Services all falling under Wolfgang Puck Worldwide. The Bar and Grill in Las Vegas is inside the MGM Grand facility. Reservation are not required but recommended. Starting with the famous Spagos and now internationally known Puck gives delight to all!
Ordered to Table were:
Spicy Tuna Tartare with Avocado, Pickled Ginger, Cucumber and Crisp Sesame Wontons -- $20
What a wonderful appetizer. The presentation of a genuine bearnaise blended with freshly sliced avocado was truly a delight. Light and fresh tasting along with the toasted sesame cracker gives the diner that smokey up front taste and on the back of the throat a satisfying after taste to be duplicated in every indulging bite. This appetiser is highly recommended to be shared. A little goes a long way!
Almond Crusted Salmon with Horsradish Potato Puree, Green Beans and Blood Orange-Red Wine Sauce -- $28
I have dined from the Alps to Tierra del Fuego, and this has to be one of my favorite dishes ever. The Salmon was perfectly broiled and almost flakey. The horseradish puree was beyond phenomenal layered atop the blood orange and red wine reduction. This is a must when in Las Vegas.. ... You will thank this Critic for the recommendation!
Puck's Restaurants only use organic and fresh ingredience. You can taste the passion of Wolfgang Puck's creative menue and innovative tastes!
Wolfgang Puck has several Restaurants, Goods and Services all falling under Wolfgang Puck Worldwide. The Bar and Grill in Las Vegas is inside the MGM Grand facility. Reservation are not required but recommended. Starting with the famous Spagos and now internationally known Puck gives delight to all!
Ordered to Table were:
Spicy Tuna Tartare with Avocado, Pickled Ginger, Cucumber and Crisp Sesame Wontons -- $20
What a wonderful appetizer. The presentation of a genuine bearnaise blended with freshly sliced avocado was truly a delight. Light and fresh tasting along with the toasted sesame cracker gives the diner that smokey up front taste and on the back of the throat a satisfying after taste to be duplicated in every indulging bite. This appetiser is highly recommended to be shared. A little goes a long way!
Almond Crusted Salmon with Horsradish Potato Puree, Green Beans and Blood Orange-Red Wine Sauce -- $28
I have dined from the Alps to Tierra del Fuego, and this has to be one of my favorite dishes ever. The Salmon was perfectly broiled and almost flakey. The horseradish puree was beyond phenomenal layered atop the blood orange and red wine reduction. This is a must when in Las Vegas.. ... You will thank this Critic for the recommendation!
Puck's Restaurants only use organic and fresh ingredience. You can taste the passion of Wolfgang Puck's creative menue and innovative tastes!
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