So, we stroll into the upstairs part of the restaurant because we have heard that they are doing a five course innovative tasting menu for $75 and wanted to see how it stacks up.
The overall vibe of the restaurant was certainly different than the downstairs portion. A cool contemporary setting with a subtle elegance was very welcoming.
We met at the bar and told the Bartender Tony to make us "whatever was good". He whipped up a specialty cocktail that was a gin based drink with some hand extracted ingredients like lime, cucumber nectar and some other things that slipped my mind. I had three in about 15 minutes because they were absolutely amazing!
So we go to our table, a bit buzzed and get the spiel from Jeff, who goes over the difference between the ala carte and tasting menus. We all agree to get the tasting menus, which by the way were very nicely presented in a cool glass holder.
I tell Jeff to pick out a menu for me as long as it doesn't have a few things that I'm allergic to, and we're off.
The dinner that ensued was just awesome. I have a wide variety of people with me and even the "non-foodie" type enjoyed the experience.
First of all, the carp roe that they serve with the bread is some kind of cross between pure heroin and video poker on the addictive scale.
The Salmon amuse was awesome. The beef tartare perfect. The bouillabaisse was down right strange and not a hit with my friend, but I thought it was kinda cool. The foie gras two ways was perfect and the late harvest white Grenache that it was paired with was out of this world. The Walu was "the best thing one I've ever tasted" according to one of my friends. The rabbit loin was the best I've had and the "Irish Car Bomb" dessert was delish.
The overall dinner took us a little while as it should because we were intaking a lot of food and tasty beverages.
The most amazing thing about the whole experience was the price. We paid for some supplements for some of the dishes, but the cost of the tasting menu alone without booze was still under $100 a price which is so far under the Vegas standard for food of that quality.
I was with five guys on this trip, but I'm certainly going to bring a gal by next time and venture further.
Just a great dinner all around.