18 Dec 2008
Il Mulino Restaurant, Las Vegas
Many consider Il Mulino the finest Italian restaurant in New York. As such, it is no wonder then that they followed the trend and opened up another in Las Vegas.
What is unusual is that I feel the Las Vegas branch is better than the original. The reason is that here there is elbow room and reservations are honored. In New York, the food is great and you eat there in spite of their tardiness and close seating proximity.
All the food is great. The portions are large and the “free” appetizers they bring in at the beginning are enough for an entire meal.
For the Sea Bass crowd, this is the best in town (tied with Bartolatta at Wynn Las Vegas). Pictured above, Poker celebrity JJ Liu is being presented with a beautiful salt-encrusted whole sea bass.
If you like rich pasta, you’ll love the Ravioli filled with Porcini Mushrooms, in a black truffle sauce, covered with their delectable cream sauce. The Osso Bucco works well for the meat fans and is a perennial favorite.
You get the point. It is a big bold meal that you’ll remember, and want to repeat once in a while.
Check them out online at IlMulino.com.
17 Dec 2008
Koi Restaurant, Las Vegas
Koi is one of the great new spots in Las Vegas. Already a very hot spot in both LA and New York, it fits right in at The Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. A celebrity favorite, Koi is known for both its Japanese-inspired cuisine with California accents, as well as its great service, décor and attitude. This is a fun evening with great food.
Although we shared many delightful items that are familiar to folks who dine at these type restaurants, I strongly recommend the Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna.
JetSetWay tip - Besides a lovely dining room, there is a second more intimate room with glass windows overlooking Bellagio Hotel. It is called The Fountain Room. I highly recommend sitting in there if possible. The room seats 75 on comfortable couches and can be reserved for private parties where one can leisurely enjoy the exquisite meal while watching the Bellagio fountains or the busy street below.
The two kids in the silly picture with me are Allyn’s lovely daughter Jessica and her friend George.
Visit Koi online at KoiRestaurant.com.
16 Dec 2008
Joel Robuchon, Las Vegas (Part 2)
I still am on a high from my meal at Joel Robuchon. I must write a second blog even though I cannot possible write nearly as well as they can serve a meal.
I mean, who gives a private menu on a meal for seven?
Just check out the pictures to see the perfection of how each course is served let alone prepared.
Their breads were so outstanding that after a couple times around they come by apologizing for its greatness and offer to bring however much we wanted, but cautioned us about filling up.
Although we have seen this before, it is always the height of luxury for Allyn to have a proper bench upon which to put her purse.
Finally at the end of the evening they gave each woman a gift to take home – a wonderful pound cake.
15 Dec 2008
Joel Robuchon, Las Vegas (Part 1)
For what will probably be the most memorable dining experience in your life, go to Joel Robuchon in the MGM Grand.
Generally my favorite is not fancy French, as tasting menus tend to make me hungry not full, and four hour meals give me schpilkas. Having said that, this was perhaps the most amazing dining experience that I have ever had. Everybody at the table shared my view.
The restaurant is so gorgeous that upon arriving you just know you have a treat at hand. Sometimes fancy French brings stuffiness along with it (in the U.S., never in Paris), but this was not the case here.
Then, of course, there is the food. It looked so pretty that it was a shame to eat it, but what the heck. Click here to see our personalized Menu.
We had their 16-course meal. They are always fine tuning things. Two of the plates actually had 3 courses on each. That way they could trim down an hour. I guess people start getting a bit antsy after four hours.
We ate in the private room, which made the experience even more superb. True it cost an extra couple hundred dollars, but given the bill was $4,900 for seven of us, it seemed like a bargain.
In tomorrow’s blog I will have more food detail. Until then, visit them on line here.
12 Dec 2008
Mimmo Ferraro’s Restaurant, Las Vegas
Mimmo Ferraro’s is a bone fide authentic Italian restaurant serving some of the best food in town. It is always nice to find a place where the locals patronize that is off the strip.
They are well known for their sumptuous Osso Buco. We started with an outstanding salad, Cappuccina con Gorgonzola, which is almost like a butter lettuce wedge with some extra.
We were particularly impressed with an incident over Allyn’s Fettuccini Pomodoro. Although it was prepared exactly as per usual, it was not prepared the way she prefers. The waiter heard the conversation and immediately brought out the chef. The chef professionally and kindly listened to her preference and five minutes later she had a fresh plate with her food cooked exactly as per her preference. They could not have been nicer.
Normally I stay away from dessert, but somehow tonight I shared their Hazelnut and Chocolate Crepe with Marscarpone Cheese served with Vanilla Gelato. It is the BEST.
One reason it is always so good and consistent is that Mimmo is always around. Tell him I sent you. Visit them online at FerrarosLasVegas.com.