Yonaka is a truly tough review to write.
Step inside and you get the vibe you are right on the strip in a very cool restaurant. Very nice.
The staff could not have been more friendly or helpful. And they too have that cool strip vibe-and good job hiring those sexy floor managers.
So, again where is the issue? The food is decent and clearly an effort has gone into making a good presentation.
The issue is this- if I am going to trek off into the hinterland known as Flamingo Blvd I want at least ONE dish with the WOW factor. JUST ONE. Which one was that?
The guest reviewer for Eating Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago mentioned and I quote directly--"Now I love my desserts, but I can't remember a better one that wasn't in Le Cirque or similar..."
ARE YOU FRIGGING KIDDING ME!!! Did John Curtas have his secretary's third grader write that. Unbelievable. The dish he references is the Ringo Lico -yes the candied kumquats are good but that is a minor part of the dish. Melting shaved ice with no taste does not blow away desserts created on the strip by true culinary stars.
Someone dropped a lot of money to start this place and if they had spent as much time with the food as with décor and employees Yonaka would be a hit.
There are reasons why off strip places like DW Bistro are packed and others are not.
Two stars because anyone with this much cash needs to focus on the WOW factor and I mean in the FOOD.