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Small Barrels Magazine

Reviews of Fine Wines, Luxury Hotels and the Best Restaurants on Earth

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Nobhill Tavern (Las Vegas, NV)

January 1, 2009 By karin Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: Restaurant Reviews Tagged With: fine dining, James Beard, Las Vegas, MGM Grand, Michael Mina, Nevada, NV, Review of Nobhill Restaurant

The Signature at the MGM Grand (Las Vegas, Nevada)

March 6, 2007 By karin Leave a Comment

Three stunning new towers now grace the ever-changing skyline of the famed Las Vegas strip. What a spectacular place to stay! At The Signature at the MGM Grand, you have the access to the strip and all of its amenities (for which, no doubt, you made the trip in the first place), but you can “come home” to a luxurious place that feels relaxing and far away from the non-stop action, making your Vegas vacation truly a vacation!

We stayed in a gorgeous junior suite on the 26th floor of Tower One. With a spectacular view of the strip, we were energized by this “city that never sleeps.” However, we were surrounded by such luxuries and sense of welcome that the stress we had come here to escape instantly evaporated.



The suite’s décor was clean and bright, with a contemporary yet very inviting feel. Plenty of storage space in the living room, bedroom, and bathrooms let us spread out our things so that we never felt cramped or obliged to live out of our suitcase–for a few days — this was truly a home away from home. Our suite was appointed with a generous sitting room and full kitchen, a lovely marble-topped counter for food preparation, all the dishes and utensils you might need, oven, microwave, sink, a full fridge, and so forth. Not that we came here to cook and do dishes, but we certainly could have, and with the highest quality amenities! Two bathrooms, each with a generous shower stall meant no negotiating or compromise needed. The master bathroom was also outfitted with a massive soaker tub, and two huge “his and her” vanities. Complimentary June Jacobs products were generously supplied. (My personal favorite was the grapefruit bath gel–invigorating!)

Our bed and linens were incredibly comfortable. (I’m prone to having a few nights of “adjusting” to my new sleeping place, but not here). I’m not sure many people associate coming to Vegas to sleep like a baby, but I assure you, it can be done at The Signature! And though you are somewhat off the strip, it’s more of a feeling than an inconvenience. A quick covered walkway (complete with “Meet George, Jetson”-style moving sidewalks) gets you to the adjoining MGM Grand in a matter of minutes. Once you’re there, you’re in the midst of the massive MGM Grand casino, shopping, some of the best restaurants in Vegas (be sure to check out Nobhill and the incomparable Joel Robuchon), and of course, quick access to the strip itself.

Worthy of note (especially for one as inclined toward coffee as myself!) is the Starbucks just off The Signature’s lobby. Stopping in for a latte before hitting the strip made for a great morning ritual. As a Signature guest, I also took advantage of access to the MGM Grand All-Access Spa Pass and indulged in a treatments at the decadent MGM Grand Spa.

Our stay at The Signature proves that you can come to Vegas to relax. Highly recommended!

Overall Experience
We give The Signature at MGM Grand 5 Stars- Outstanding!

The Signature at MGM Grand is located at 145 East Harmon Avenue, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109. For hotel reservations, call 1-877-612-2121 or visit www.signaturemgmgrand.com

Filed Under: Hotel Reviews Tagged With: Las Vegas, MGM Grand, Signature towes, The Signature at MGM Grand, Vegas accommodations

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