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Review of Black Tap Craft Burgers and Beer – Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas

July 5, 2019 By karin Leave a Comment

The bar at Black Tap (Venetian Hotel)
The bar at Black Tap (Venetian Hotel)

Craving caft beer, piled-high burgers, and monster milkshakes? Black Tap at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas has your back. This was our second Black Tap experience, the first being in Manhattan in a funkier, more hole-in-the-wall location. In Vegas, not surprisingly, you’ll find a more spacious venue. As in New York, the restaurant has a laid back atmosphere, great service, and very generous portions. Extremely generous. Great spot for a casual burger lunch on the strip!

Dogfish Head Flesh & Blood IPA
Dogfish Head Flesh & Blood IPA

An excellent selection of craft beers on top and cocktails, too – so if you’re just in the mood for a drink or a pint, this is good option. We dined inside, but outdoor seating overlooking the hotel’s ‘canal’ would make a fine afternoon beverage break option.

Moscow Mule with Candied Ginger
Moscow Mule with Candied Ginger



 

Burger are in the $15-22 (USD) range and are served with fries, which can be swapped out for salad, onion rings or sweet potato fries for an additional $2. Below is the delicious Chili Cheeseburger, topped with ‘frizzled’ onions and paired with an order of (massive) house-made onion rings. Other intriguing choices on the menu (for ‘next times’) include the The Truffle Burger with wagyu beef, gouda, black truffle mayo and a truffle vinaigrette and The Greg Norman, also with wagyu and blue cheese.

Mmmm...Frizzled...
Mmmm…Frizzled…

For a lower carb (but certainly not low-cal) option, there’s a great selection of burger salads. I chose the Black Tap Burger Salad, basically an old-school deluxe undone bacon cheeseburger with a thousand island type dressing, and scrumptious pickled onions. Other burger/salad options include: a turkey burger, vegan burger (black bean patty), and even a falafel burger salad.Black Tap Burger Salad

Black Tap Burger Salad

On to Black Tap’s signature “CrazyShakes” (~$15-17) – basically hybrid shake-sundae-cakes-candy concoctions (on steroids). Below is the Cookie Shake made with vanilla ice cream, crumbled cookies, chocolate drizzle, and whipped cream…

The ridiculously monstrous Cookie Shake
The ridiculously monstrous Cookie Shake

…oh — and note the whole ice cream sandwich stuck to the side of the shakes’ topping.

Yes. That's an ice cream sandwich stuck to the glass.
Yes. That’s an ice cream sandwich stuck to the glass.

Guests from another table literally came over to snap a photo of this showstopper.

Other crazy/creative shake ‘themes’ include: Churro, Fruity Pebbles, Cake (slice of cake artfully included ‘on’ the shake) and more…

Black Tap is a smart addition to the Venetian – casual atmosphere, food with wide appeal — unfussy, good quality ingredients — and some over-the-top sweet treat options if you’re in the mood.

For more information or to view the menu, visit www.venetian.com/restaurants

Filed Under: Restaurant Reviews Tagged With: burger salad, casual dining Venetian Las Vegas, chili cheese burger, craft burgers, crazy shakes, Dogfish Head beer

Review of Costa di Mare – Wynn, Las Vegas

June 24, 2019 By karin Leave a Comment

Welcome to Costa di Mare
Welcome to Costa di Mare

Costa di Mare – a gorgeous, elegant, but also friendly and vibrant Italian restaurant in the Wynn Las Vegas Hotel. Our experience from start to finish tops the list of our dining adventures in my books. From the coastal Mediterranean cuisine, to the stylish decor, and to the excellent – even exuberant – service, our evening at Costa di Mare was one to remember. First of all – what an entrance!

Bar and Lounge at Costa di Mare
Bar and Lounge at Costa di Mare

Curving lines, domed ceiling, and a circular balcony overlooking the main dining area give the restaurant an open feel and make it particularly inviting. The wall of windows overlooking the lagoon adds to the restaurant’s sense of glamour and beauty.

Vodka Martini
Vodka Martini

Starting with a terrific vodka martini, it was time to peruse the menu. At first glance, it was somewhat overwhelming: the sheer number of dishes to choose from,  the parade of dishes offered even in the curated tasting menus….I was hoping for expert guidance, and everyone delivered.  All or our servers were attentive and extremely knowledgeable, demystifying the process but more than that, setting the tone that made us feel like welcomed guests for a refined family feast. This is exactly how I would characterize our dinner – elegant enough for a couples evening, but with the warmth of being taken care of like family members.

Costa di Mare Tasting Menus
Costa di Mare Tasting Menus

In the end, we went for it all – the Gran Menu di Mare tasting menu. An example  of the sort of guidance we received from our wonderful servers: we had a discussion right at the outset about what sort of wine could (possibly) pair with the variety of foods we were about to sample. The sommelier was immediately dispatched to our table, selecting gorgeous Italian wines – white and red – that we are likely never to find again, but that we enjoyed immensely. To ensure seamless blending of food and wine, the sommelier arranged to have certain dishes from the tasting menu modified or altered once we’d made our selections to keep things on point. This attention to detail was characteristic of everything that happened during our meal.

Fresh from the seaFresh from the sea

Everything on the tasting menu is served family style and it all sounded – and was – delectable. Seafood was at the heart of nearly every dish, and yet the preparation in the fine Italian coastal style was not something we’ve experienced often. Not only was there fish flown in fresh from the Mediterranean that we had never tasted before, the combination with San Marzano tomatoes, olives, and pasta made for bright and surprising combinations.

Ricciola cruda con limone
Ricciola cruda con limone (raw amberjack with lemon)

The ricciola cruda con limone was a simple dish, but utterly delicate and sumptuous. We were off to a marvelous start.



Saute di vongole, Cappesante dorate con mostarda di rabarbaro e gremolata di noci, Polipo Ligure alla grigilia
Saute di vongole, Cappesante dorate con mostarda di rabarbaro e gremolata di noci, Polipo Ligure alla grigilia

The festival of food continued with a trio of dishes: clams with tomato sauce, seared sea-scallops with a fennel and endive salad (refreshing!), and a heartier dish of grilled octopus with olives, potatoes and pepper sauce.

Exquisite ingredients expertly prepared
Exquisite ingredients expertly prepared

 

Delectable grilled octopus
Delectable grilled octopus

We added the grigliata, grabbing the chance to enjoy the fresh shrimp, spiny lobster, and langoustine. The preparation was simple so that the beautiful flavor of the grilled seafood took centre stage.

Griiled shellfish - grigliata mista di gamberi, scampi, aragosta
Griiled shellfish – grigliata mista di gamberi,
scampi, aragosta

Primi - including: Calamarata pasta rings, scopion fish, and risotto with seafood
Primi – including: Calamarata pasta rings, scopion fish, and risotto with seafood

The main course consisted of a number of seafood dishes – a beautiful, velvety risotto with scallops, cuttlefish, lobster, and more (above right). The center dish in the photo above was a rich seafood, pasta and tomato sauce concoction,  a substitution to pair with the red wine we were enjoying at this stage of the meal. On the left was a flavor party: calamarata pasta rings, scorpion fish, eggplant and San Marzano tomato sauce – of all the dishes we enjoyed that night, this is the one that stands out in my memory, summing up the spirit and style of this exciting cuisine.

Closer look at the velvety seafood risotto
Closer look at the velvety seafood risotto
Tagliatelle di seppia with cuttlefish and shellfish
Tagliatelle di seppia with cuttlefish and shellfish

Shown above was the fourth dish in this course – an incredibly tasty combination of cuttlefish ink ribbon pasta, shrimp, and lobster.

Seafood feast assembled on the plate - lobster with pasta and San Marzano sauce
Seafood feast assembled on the plate – lobster with pasta and San Marzano sauce

 

Calamarata con scorfano, melanzane e pomodoro
Calamarata con scorfano, melanzane e pomodoro

 

Seafood feast assembled on the plate
Seafood feast assembled on the plate

Unfortunately, we neglected to snap a photo of the impressive next course, pescato d’amo al forno – a whole-roasted Mediterranean fish. It was brought out to the table gleaming and whole, then expertly filleted and presented on our plates. The fish was paired with tomato and olive sauce absolutely bursting with flavor – another dish that stands out in my memory as emblematic of our Costa di Mare experience.

Whole roasted fish - Pescato d'amo al forno
Whole roasted fish – Pescato d’amo al forno

 

Sauce rich with tomatoes and olives
Sauce rich with tomatoes and olives

Here is where things began to drift into the unbelievable. We had already enjoyed copious flavors and textures. But dessert was still to come. And not just a small slice of tiramisu as you will see below.

The aptly named Symphony of Desserts
The aptly named Symphony of Desserts

The course is called sinfonia di dolci – symphony of desserts – and it was most certainly that. Sugared ‘fritters’ on apples and caramel with gelato, tiramisu, and a flight of half a dozen sorbets, all looking too pretty to eat. It was all incredible even though at this point we were reduced to a bite of this and a bite of that.

Heavenly 'fritters' and rich gelato
Heavenly ‘fritters’ and rich gelato

 

Cappuccino
Cappuccino

 

Perfect Tiramisu
Perfect Tiramisu

 

Flight of sorbets
Flight of sorbets

 

More sorbets...
More sorbets…

 

Sinfonia di dolci
Sinfonia di dolci

One final but important note – as someone who suffers from severe food allergies (tree nuts/peanuts) it can be a challenge (to say the least) to dine outside the home; for a dinner where there is this much food, with so many ingredients, and where a foreign language (to me) is used to describe the dishes, the challenge becomes even greater. But every single one of the many servers who attended to our table knew my concerns, and intimately knew every ingredient in each dish. Modifications were made for me as necessary. I felt perfectly comfortable, once again like an honored guest in someone’s home who had bothered to prepare the finest dishes with me in mind.

This was a delicious meal in beautiful surroundings with genuinely friendly and attentive service. I recommend it to you and am counting the days until my next visit.

For more information on Costa di Mare or to make reservations, visit www.wynnlasvegas.com/dining

Filed Under: Restaurant Reviews Tagged With: Costa di Mare, fine dining Las Vegas, fine dining seafood, fine dining Wynn, Italian restaurants, Italian seafood, Italian tasting menu, restaurants at Wynn, seafood, seafood tasting menu

Review of Cipriani – Wynn Las Vegas

May 21, 2019 By karin Leave a Comment

Our table at Cipriani
Our table at Cipriani

We dined at the brand new Cipriani this past December, a fine dining establishment at Wynn Las Vegas. Open just a few weeks in the new Wynn Plaza Shops area of the resort, the experience was a treat from start to finish. If there were any complaints to register, it was that there may have been too many good things, namely too many attentive servers checking in on us, too many rich dishes to sample together on the recommendation of our server. But if these are the sorts of kinks Cipriani shows in its opening weeks, we believe things will only get better from here on out…

On to cocktails:

Cocktail Menu at Cipriani
Cocktail Menu at Cipriani

Bellini - The Original!
Bellini – The Original!

So let’s start with the Bellini. Cipriani has a great origin story to boast  –  Giuseppe Cipriani Sr. was the inventor of this famous bevvy.  Made with white peach pureé and prosecco, it was absolutely refreshing way for me to begin the meal. For him – a dry and bracing Frozen Martini served in a shot glass that lives in the freezer.

Frozen Martini
Frozen Martini



Cipriani Menu - Ask for Guidance
Cipriani Menu – Ask for Guidance

As you can see above, the menu is very full. It presented a bit of a puzzle when it came to assembling a meal. Our server was very knowledgeable and helped us navigate, making some great recommendations. Although in the end, we found the particular combination of dishes to be too much and  too heavy and rich. (This may be in part due to the fact that it was the final evening of our holiday, capping several nights of dining indulgence- but something to keep in mind.)

Cipriani House Wines
Cipriani House Wines

Carpaccio "alla Cipriani"
Carpaccio “alla Cipriani”

With a plan to share everything, we began with the delectable beef carpaccio, another legendary Cipriani original, named after Vittore Carpaccio, the Italian painter who apparently used the striking red colour in his art that is characteristic of the dish.

Salad - Burrata "alla Mediterranea"
Salad – Burrata “alla Mediterranea”

The salad was decadent and delicious – and huge, as pictured above. Split in two, it was still a very generous portion. The tomatoes were gem-like, ruby-red, and delicious – a treat at this time of year.

Burrata salad shared between us
Burrata salad shared between us

Jewel-like tomatoes!
Jewel-like tomatoes!

2014 Gaja Barbaresco
2014 Gaja Barbaresco

We indulged in the 2014 Gaja Barbaresco, knowing the elegant nebbiolo would be a beautiful match for the luscious flavours in the rich Italian dishes. It was everything we had hoped for – big, rich and spicy, full of flavor, and yet silky.

Cipriani's Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Cipriani’s own Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Risotto with Mushrooms and White Truffle from Alba
Risotto with Mushrooms and White Truffle from Alba

There was a bit of delay in the preparation of the risotto dish, due to a break down of communication between wait staff and the kitchen. We love to linger over a great dinner, but this delay did stretch out the time between courses a little beyond the comfortable zone, with no fewer than six difference servers checking in on us to see if we were ‘okay’. A bit much perhaps, but once again due to those ‘opening weeks jitters’ of this very new restaurant.  I’d fully expect that by now these kinks have been ironed out. And the risotto was delicious.

Risotto with white truffles
Risotto with white truffles

Being in season, we added the white truffle from alba to the risotto and  the following dish, the Uovo in Ravioli (Egg in Ravioli). Every paper-thin slice was well worth it.

Uovo in Raviolo with White Truffle
Uovo in Raviolo with White Truffle

The Uovo in Raviolo was deliciousness itself, but I recall that it was here that I hit my wall in terms of the richness of the dishes. Burrata, risotto, and then this decadent dish while all outstanding felt very heavy at this point. They were all so good, it was hard to practice restraint knowing what was coming next (such problems, I know…). On a return visit, I’d take out at least one of these three opening numbers, and insert a  greener salad. Having said this, if the menu contained any missteps, they were certainly tasty.

We ended our meal with another rich, delicious dish, but this time in beef form, a melt-in-your-mouth sliced Wagyu steak to share. I would have enjoyed it more had I not so thoroughly enjoyed the previous dishes. We both ended up leaving more than a bit behind, which felt like a shame. There was certainly no room for dessert.

Overall, this is a place we’d return to. The food was decadent and delicious, the service was attentive, and the decor comfortable and interesting (designed with a glamorous nautical theme in mind, meant to evoke a yacht.) Any detractions here were due to the newness of the establishment, our own unfamiliarity with the dishes on the menu (now cured!), and perhaps that we chose Cipriani to cap an already full week of food and wine. Do certainly consider making a reservation when you’re next in Vegas.

For more information on Cipriani at Wynn Las Vegas, visit www.wynnlasvegas.com

Filed Under: Restaurant Reviews Tagged With: beef carpaccio, bellini, burrata alla mediterranea, Cipriani, fine dining Wynn, frozen martini, Italian food Las Vegas, uovo in raviolo, white truffle

Review of Terrace Pointe Café – Wynn Las Vegas

May 16, 2019 By karin Leave a Comment

Perfectly spicy Caesar at Terrace Pointe Cafe
Perfectly spicy Wynn Signature Bloody Mary at Terrace Pointe Café

The Terrace Pointe Café is a casual dining option at The Wynn. Open 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., it’s a great spot for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or maybe an indulgent afternoon drink or dessert. Though casual, the interior is quite elegantly decorated, with the fresh and somewhat whimsical colors you see all over the Wynn hotel. There’s great natural lighting, and spacious, comfortable seating both indoors and out.

Eating outdoors in December
Eating outdoors in December

On our recent visit, we were fortunate to have great weather for sitting outside on the patio that overlooks the hotel’s beautiful pool. Plenty of umbrellas made it comfortable on a very sunny day. We weren’t faced with a wait of any kind to be seated as the restaurant is quite large. Having said that, we found very little to be busy in Vegas in early December – so factor in time of year if you’re visiting.

Bacon Avocado Omelette
Bacon Avocado Omelette



Arriving at around noon, we were offered a choice of breakfast or lunch menus, and looked at both for good measure. There’s an extensive list of selections as you might expect, with hearty brunch choices like Crispy Fried Chicken and Waffles, massive omelettes stuffed with goodies like half an avocado and bacon (served with a salsa that I wished I could have purchased!), a rich sounding Croissant French Toast, and a selection of different eggs benedict.

Ham and Cheddar Cheese Omelette
Ham and Cheddar Cheese Omelette

Sandwiches and salads also abound, and as you’ll find at other Wynn dining locations, there are a number of Hawaiian-inspired options (poke bowls), smoothies and fresh juice bar selections, and a full vegan menu. Lighter calorie meals are also flagged throughout the menu. (Can’t comment – didn’t eat those.)

Crispy Fried Chicken and Waffles
Crispy Fried Chicken and Waffles

The service was great both times we dined here on our trip – friendly, attentive, and well-paced. Prices hover around the $20 mark (US) for most plates – we found the portions to be more than generous, and well-prepared.

Note to Blood Mary/ Caesar lovers – we ate here to kick off our first full day in Vegas, and maybe it was just that beginning-of-the-vacation magic but the Wynn Signature Bloody Mary I sipped on was absolute savory/spicy heaven, one of the best I’ve ever had.

If you’re staying at the Wynn, or just hanging out at the Wynn casino on the earlier side of the day, consider relaxing poolside with a meal (or Bloody Mary!) at the Terrace Point Café.

For more information or to view the full Terrace Point Café menu, visit www.wynnlasvegas.com

Filed Under: Restaurant Reviews Tagged With: breakfast, casual dining, chicken and waffles, dining at Wynn, lunch, omelettes, outdoor patio

Review of Mesa Grill – Caesars Palace, Las Vegas

January 28, 2019 By karin Leave a Comment

At Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill
At Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill

Looking for amazing, premium margaritas and delicious Southwestern fare? You must check out Mesa Grill in Caesar’s Palace. Owned by celebrity chef Bobby Flay, Mesa Grill is a definite bright spot in the imposing, cavernous casino. We’ve been on a number of occasions, always for lunch as it happens. Each time, Mesa Grill has more than delivered a great meal and experience, to the point that it’s become a must-do on our Vegas trips.

First and possibly foremost there is the margarita menu. As you can see, what sets this menu apart is the selection of tequilas that are offered.  You really can’t go wrong choosing any of them – they are all top quality 100% Blue Agave tequilas. For us, it’s been a matter of coasting along with one of the server’s recommendations, or just selecting something we’ve never heard of or that looked interesting (or both).

Large selection of margaritas
Large selection of margaritas

Margarita menu,
Margarita menu



Signature margaritas at Mesa Grill
Signature margaritas at Mesa Grill

This time around, I had the Partida Margarita. (Correction, I had two Partida Margaritas as I had nothing much planned afterward.) This beverage avoids the simple syrup, triple sec, cointreau, etc. and is sweetened only with agave nectar. I thought it was absolutely perfect and without the added sugary sweetness could fully enjoy the tequila and fresh lime.

 

THIS is chips and dip - Goat cheese Queso Fundido
THIS is chips and dip – Goat cheese Queso Fundido

We were here for lunch, but a leisurely one, so sharing a tantalizing appetizer seemed appropriate. Our server recommended the Queso Fundido, featuring melted, piping hot goat cheese and roasted peppers and a blistered serrano vinaigrette. Blue corn tortilla strips for dipping completed the dish.

 

Smoked shrimp tacos
Smoked shrimp tacos

For him – the smoked shrimp tacos with a tasty cabbage slaw, served with guacamole, a vibrant mango salsa, and a fresh tomatillo salsa. The shrimps were presented on skewers and served with grilled tortillas for assembly.

 

Smoked chicken and black bean quesadilla
Smoked chicken and black bean quesadilla

I chose another appetizer for lunch, and the portion was more than ample: the smoked chicken and black bean quesadilla. Topped with a beautiful guacamole, fried garlic slices, and garlic creme fraiche, it was an excellent and very filling choice.

Lunch dishes with fantastic fresh salsas
Lunch dishes with fantastic fresh salsas

We’ve never ventured over here for dinner but based on several lunch visits, we’re sure it would be a fantastic option. Service is excellent, the food and flavours very appealing, and the quality of tequila and margarita selections truly unparalleled. Not a frugal option by any means (price, quantity), but well worth it.

I’d also like to note that we had absolutely no problem getting a table at lunch time on this recent visit – in fact, the restaurant was very quiet. Time of year was early December which could certainly be a factor. In the past, we have encountered a wait (still worth it!).

Delicious!
Delicious!

For more information about Mesa Grill, visit www.mesagrill.com

Filed Under: Restaurant Reviews Tagged With: Bobby Flay restaurant, Caesars Palace Mesa Grill, lunch Las Vegas, Mesa Grill, partida margarita, premium margaritas, quesadillas, shrimp tacos

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