perfect word that comes to mind for this restaurant is totally "OVERRATED"!!!
I've never been to a restaurant categorized as fine dining to be this horrible from start to finish!
stayed at ARIA couple of weeks ago for the wknd and wanted to dine inside the restaurant mainly due to convenience. saw this beautiful lobby to the restaurant and looked at the menu...i think the uni risotto and foie gras was the decision maker for us to go here.
got to the front to ask,
first question: do we need to make reservations?, their response was "it's highly recommended" OK!! not even a "hello"! WTF!
second question: do you have an opening for 8PM?, their response was "no, but what about 7:45PM. OK!! really???
third question: what's your next availability after 7:45PM, their response was "unfortunately, we do not have ANYTHING available"
WOW!! so i'm thinking sure 745PM is good....get back to our room to relax a little then we hurry to get ready in order to make our reservation. I was very apologetic b/c we were 15 minutes late and the host takes us to our seats. WTF! the place is more then half empty!! Who are they kidding???? REALLY? You couldn't give me a later reservation??
OK, so we look at the menu and ordered the Uni Risotto with Black Trumpet Mushroom with Truffle, Peking Duck with Foie Gras in Moo-Shu Skin and couple of other items not even worth mentioning. Everything came in such small portions and it tasted like CRAP!! I also asked for a recommendation for sake and the waiter said the sparkling sake was really good. I warned him that I do not like sweet alcohol b/c most people just assume that girls like sweet drinks. The sparkling wine was sweet...yuck!!
We literally stayed for 30 minutes which cost the 3 of us $300 and we ended up going to another restaurant right after b/c we were still hungry!!
I wish I did my research before going here but we were in a hurry and didn't have time!
This restaurant seriously needs a complete makeover to stay in business! GET IT TOGETHER!!