RoobiFood

Enoteca San Marco

3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South

(702) 677 3390

My family and I spent the week of Nov. 19th in Las Vegas. It was my husbands birthday and we thought this would be the spot to have some fun, see a show or two, get some sun and of course win or lose a few bucks, depending on our luck.

As with every vacation the challenge is to figure out where to eat. First we decide what we want. Should it be casual or a more formal affair and then of course how much do we want to spend. On this particular evening we take a gamble on a Restaurant that’s within the Venetian. Enoteca San Marco is the name of both the restaurant as well as the square where it’s located.

As we walk through the Venetian shops I admire all the work that was put into creating a village like atmosphere. Each shop has its own unique store front. a slight resemblance to walking through the streets of Venice. The ceiling is a beautiful mixture of crisp white and soft baby blue giving you the feeling of a beautiful Las Vegas or Venetian day.

Crossing the bridge into the San Marco square we spot the restaurant. Most of the seating is outside in the square. A large area that contains a round bar with outside kitchen sits in the middle. Beautiful dark wood adorns everything. We’re greeted by two friendly hostess and decide to sit just inside the restaurant where it’s a bit more intimate and romantic.

Our waiter is very friendly and accommodating. The service is very good. The menu is simple and covers all the basics for an Italian meal. For our antipasti we choose: Cauliflower Siciliana, which is not as spicy as I had hoped but tasty,   Eggplant Caponata, it’s good but a little to sweet for our palettes,   and finally the Roast Beets with saba. Both golden and red beets were used here, very earthy and sweet a great combination.

I tried the Caprese Mozzarella Pesto Tomato salad. A delicious spin on the classic tomato, mozz., basil dish. The Roma tomatoes in this salad were roasted and then served chilled with a nice portion of fresh mozzarella topped with a delicious pesto. Caprese is my favorite and this one  certainly ranked up there. I will defiantly try to re-create this one at home.

Our dinner entree’s were as follows: My daughter chose the Quattro Formaggi. A four cheese pizza that included taleggio, cacio, ricotta and mozzarella on top of a tomato sauce. The crust was thin and crispy as we like it and the combination of cheese, oh so tasty. My only comment here is that the cheese needed to be more evenly distributed amoungst all the slices.

I had the Albacore Tuna that was pan seared and served with a caper berry, geato olive and fingerling potato mixture on top. The first bite was tasty but as I took another bite I found the mixture on top to be just to salty and so overpowering that it took away from the fish. A smaller portion of the topping over to the side of the fish would be a better presentation in my opinion. That way one can enjoy either one together or alone.

My husband ordered the Gemelli Gorgonzola. The first bite was a shock to his teeth and taste buds. The pasta was so undercooked that it crunched between our teeth and was sticky. When we told a passing waiter he said that they cook the pasta to “al dente” and many do not like it this way, he’d be happy to take it back to the kitchen to cook it a while longer. Now I’ve traveled through Italy and had many, many pasta dishes and never was the pasta so displeasing as this was. When it was returned the result was not much better. I’m to understand that they sauteed it a little while longer. As an Italian speciality chef with my Personal Chef business I know that a couple of minutes in a dry pan won’t do to much. In the end we will say that the flavors of the dish were very well put together but I would defianlty recommend that the word “al dente” be re-visited.

We tried some house made gelato that was so smooth and yummy. The apple basil flavor I was afraid to try but turns out it was our favorite and very refreshing. A great way to end the meal.

Overall our evening was just what we we’re looking for. A quiet spot away where we could eat some food and be with one another. Mission accomplished.

Bellagio Resort & Casino 
3600 S. Las Vegas, Blvd. 
Las Vegas, NV 89109 
Phone: (702) 693-8300
http://www.lightgroup.com/dining/yellowtail-sushi-bar-restaurant-las-vegas

Advantageously situated in the center of the Bellagio’s water-show ‘lake,’ Yellowtail Sushi Restaurant & Bar summarizes much of the Las Vegas experience; glamorous visuals with moderately interesting substance underneath.  The visuals are in the form of a stunning view of the Las Vegas strip, which offers a tantalizing vantage point from which you can watch the Bellagio water-shows while you eat.  The moderately interesting substance indicates somewhat inventive food that ever so slightly falls short of expectations.

If you are lucky enough to land a reservation on the outdoor veranda, then the experience at Yellowtail is certainly one of the top dining experiences in Las Vegas (as far as the ‘total visceral experience) is concerned.  However, since there are only about eight to ten tables available on any given night, the chances of this happening drastically diminish the more popular the season.  At any rate, it is always worth a quick phone call it see if a table will be available.

First and foremost the service experience is immaculate.  Our every need was not only tended to, but anticipated before we actually needed it.  The wait staff was knowledgeable and extremely interested in helping us navigate the menu, which offers unique choices above and beyond your standard sushi restaurant.  Because the veranda is so small, it seems the staff assigned to it are less territorial about their tables, and gladly help out anyone who has a question or request.  Our ‘assigned’ waiter was even nice enough to play paparazzi for us, and took several shots during a water-show with very pleasant results.

For dinner, we went with a mix of sushi/sushi rolls, a signature, and whats termed ‘cool shared plates.’ Specifically, we tried the seaweed salad, Yellowtail Serrano, unagi & banana roll, spicy tuna roll, and Japanese snapper.

In a word, the sushi was…mediocre.  It wasnt unbelievably fresh, nor were the portions even remotely close to what you might find at a DC or NoVA sushi place such as Matuba or Sakura.  And, given the prices, there is a certain sense of sticker shock.  However, I suppose you must bear in mind your surroundings, and when put in context the price and quality are much more palatable.  The Yellowtail Serrano was interesting,  but contained a scant few pieces of sushi, in a sauce that was supposed to contain cilantro and Yuzo-Kosho – though I have my doubts the correct amount(s) were included in our dish.  The unagi & banana roll was served warm (which struck me as odd) and the combination simply didnt sit well with me.

However, this was balanced by the seaweed salad, which was a delightful combination of four different types of seaweed, bound together by a savory and sweet dressing.  Also of note was the spicy tuna roll — though not particularly large in portion size, the flavors were balanced as masterfully as Ive ever had before, with the right blend of tuna and heat, that left you wanting more (we ended up ordering a 2nd roll) without burning you so badly that you are forced to consume an inordinate amount of water.  For dessert we shared some kind of fried rice ball ice cream concoction, but to be honest it wasnt very memorable, and the specific ingredients escape me.

In re-reading my summary of our dining experience, I hope my lack-luster descriptions illustrate my over-all impression of Yellowtail; I was enthralled with the design of the restaurant and the spectacular view of the strip and Bellagio water-show, but for the price paid the food left me decidedly under-whelmed.

3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89119
702-632-9364
http://www.mandalaybay.com/dining/burgerbar.aspx

Perhaps it should come as no surprise, but the Burger Bar in the Las Vegas resort Mandalay Bay is a fantastic place to eat. Combining the casual atmosphere of any local sports bar with the cache value of eating ‘custom built’ gourmet burgers (in a Vegas hotel/casino no less!) is really a no-brainer.

There isnt much I can say regarding the service experience as I ate at the bar.  However, I can certainly comment on the food. Essentially, you can choose between a pre-made burger combination (who does that, anyway?) or create your own by mixing and matching different types of meat with your choice of ‘bun/bread’ and toppings.  I went with the turkey burger on ciabatta bread, topped with petso sauce, portobello mushrooms and American cheese.  All burgers come with lettuce, tomato, red onion and a pickle.  My dining partner for the evening selected the Angus beef on a wheat bun and topped it off with some standard button mushrooms.

My main comment about the burgers is in relation to their size. The portions are fantastic!  The burgers are large enough to leave you completely satiated, but not so mammoth that you feel like passing out when you are finished.  My burger was ever so slightly over-cooked,  but I suppose thats somewhat to be expected with turkey.  The Angus burger was perfect.  All toppings were well portioned to the burgers — enough that you didnt feel cheated, but not so many that they spent more time on the plate than on your burger.  And, at $.99 or $1.99 per topping, that was much appreciated.

All told, each burger came to about $13 – $14 — not bad at all for a Vegas eatery.  And, for a kick-ass late night burger, the price was well deserved.

When I think of Las Vegas I usually think of cheap food in mass quantities. This is ideal for me because I am on a budget and have a big appetite. Quality, on the other hand usually comes at a price. By this I mean I can eat all the mediocre food I want to cheap, but to enjoy the most quality, I need to visit one of the pricier establishments.

The last time I visited Vegas, I learned that there are exceptions to every rule. The Market Street Cafe in the California Hotel and Casino is cheap without sacrificing quality.

Simple white fish can be a very bland and boring dish. It takes a great deal of skill to make this into a meal to enjoy. Up until this point, I have only had good white fish at restaurants on the pricier side over $20 an entree. I still decide to order the $7.95 white fish (called Butterfish at this establishment).

What arrived was a generous piece of white fish not over-cooked with a unique sauce in just the right proportion to add a quality flavor, but not cause you to forget the fish. On the side was plenty of steamed vegitables and rice.

The unanimous remarks at the table was that it tasted like a home-cooked meal.

Although this was not “all you can eat” it is still a generous portion for a heathy appetite.

If you are in Vegas and short on cash, but still want a good meal, take a trip downtown to the California Hotel and Casino and visit the Market Street Cafe. Not only is there quality food for a good price, but there is some great gambling down there too.

Jason