Now here’s a treat! We had one of the most relaxing, enjoyable meals of our stay in Las Vegas at Nobhill in the MGM Grand. Chef Michael Mina brings a bit of San Francisco to Vegas, and it’s fantastic. From great food, to great service to comfortable surroundings, this is a must on your list!
The restaurant itself is hip but also very inviting. Neutral colors, low lighting, and plush seats envelope you in style and comfort. Warm “San Francisco” sourdough bread is brought to your table to start you off, served with a selection of organic butters. As the butter melts into the hot, perfectly chewy roll–the ultimate comfort food–you know just how much you’re going to be cared for.
The menu boasts a number of tantalizing starters and appetizers, such as Cheese Fondue with the restaurant’s signature sourdough bread, or an equally tempting and enormous Shellfish Platter. We chose the Charcuterie Board, featuring delectable smoke meats and sausage, tangy cheeses, and incredibly mouth-watering marinated olives. Served with warm foccacia bread and a selection of mustards, this starter was perfectly satisfying. The whole grain and lavender mustards were particularly noteworthy–I could have eaten them up with a spoon.
Our selections for the main course are certainly worth writing home about! My dining companion had the famous “Michael’s Lobster Pot Pie.” And yes, it is as rich and decadent as it sounds. The pie features a Two Pound Maine Lobster, Fingerling Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables and a rich Brandy Cream sauce. Presentation is part of the fun: Our server arrived at our table with a large pot fit with a pastry “lid” atop a wheeled cart. The tender, golden crust was cut from the pot and placed on the dinner plate. The pie “filling” was then ladled in generous spoonfuls over the crust: heaps of sweet lobster meat, tender potatoes, and beautiful vegetables, all artfully presented. It is a monster of a course, but absolutely fantastic in every aspect!
For myself, I chose the Crispy Skin Japanese Snapper served over Butternut Squash Risotto, Chanterelle Mushrooms, and a Red Wine Butter Sauce. The flavors were so wonderful and complementary! I especially enjoyed the contrast of the salty, crispy snapper skin with the sweet, creamy butternut squash risotto. Based on the attention to detail and flavor in the dishes we ordered, you surely cannot go wrong with any of the entrees. And there are many offerings to tempt you (including non-seafood options), from seasonal tasting menus, to courses like Suckling Pig with Perigord Truffles, Red Snapper with Cauliflower puree, and a twist on comfort food: Whole-Fried Chicken For Two Truffle Mac N’ Cheese and Onion Jus.
Lest I forget, our meals were accompanied by a sampling of creamy mashed potatoes in various flavors: sour cream and chive, curry, mustard, horseradish, and classic. Served “family style,” this “side” was an unanticipated delight. I personally loved the exotic curry flavor and hot horseradish, while my dinner companion’s top choice was the sour cream and chive. Truly, there’s something for everyone here!
Nobhill features a good wine list, with plenty of tantalizing white wines to whet your seafood-inspired palette. There are choice reds, to be sure, but I feel you can never go wrong with a crisp, French Chardonnay, with that distinctive mineral undertone. Perfection!
How did we manage to have dessert, you ask? How could we not, I say, based on the calibre of the rest of our meal! I was delighted to find a twist on my favorite, crème brulee; the Cinammon Spiced Creme Brulee with Crisp Brown Sugar wafer combined the rich creaminess of crème brulee with my favorite spice. My chocolate-fiend companion enjoyed every bit of the decadent Valhrona Chocolate Soufflé with Milk Chocolate-Espresso Ice Cream.
Service was flawless. Our server was knowledgeable, friendly, helpful and attentive and kept the evening relaxing and laid back.
We recommend dining at Nobhill and will make it a priority to return there on our next Vegas trip.
Overall Dining Experience
We give Nobhill Five Stars – Outstanding!
For more information or to make reservations, visit www.mgmgrand.com or call (702) 891-7337.