3.8 stars. Julian Serrano is a tapas restaurant located in the lobby of the Aria Hotel next to the front desk. The restaurant is decorated in vivid colors and is enclosed by a short clear divider that leaves part of the restaurant exposed to the eyes of lobby guests. Since the divider is only a few feet tall and clear, I think that the people who dine at these tables get a more casual atmosphere since it almost feels like you are dining in the lobby itself. However, the rest of the tables are tucked further back into the restaurant giving it a more private and cozy atmosphere.
I have been here a few times and the people who dine here have always ranged from extremely casual ("Hi, I just came from the pool") to dressed to impress ("I'm going to the cluuuuub!"). I've seen families with small children here and I've also seen bachelorette parties here. The good thing is that the ambiance can really accommodate anyone, and the restaurant is spacious enough that you can sit far away from small children if you prefer.
The service has always been excellent - no complaints there. As for the food, it is definitely pricey for the size of the dishes. I believe each small plate is $8-$14 and they are tiny. However, the dishes are great if you want a high-quality light meal. One dish that I was impressed with based on its size is the paella. It is HUGE. I ordered it when I was with a party of 10 girls - 4 of us really wanted paella, and the menu said that the portions are designed for 2 people. Based on the size of the tapas, we were thinking that the paella would also be small and fulfilling, so we asked to get a 3-person serving for $75 (expensive IMO). The paella dish was so big that it easily fed 8 of us (in addition to the small plates), and we left happy and full.