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| - I'm not much of a foodie. And I'm not a fan of Indian food. Oh, and I don't know much about wine. So how come the Indian-inflected, wine-paired prix fixe menu at this classy spot was the best meal we ate in Vegas?
The three-course prix fixe is $59, and the wine pairing is, I believe, another 30 bucks. It's a treat for sure, but it's a reasonable treat. To be honest, ordering a la carte here would give me pause; it's a whole different price point.
We started with a basket of naan and pappadums, which the server felt compelled to explain. The naan was amazing, and you can watch a chef in the glass-enclosed kitchen making it all evening. This is accompanied by four sauces; the tomato chutney is by far the best, although a semi-spicy sweet chili dip is yummy too.
Husband's crunchy shrimp app was light and flavorful and beautifully presented. I had a bite (for research purposes) and moved on to my market salad, which was a nice combo of greens, excellent parmesan, candied pecans in an unobtrusive vinaigrette. And, holy Gruner Veltliner, Batman--that wine pairing was perfect.
Mains: Husband had the flatiron steak, which he praised, along with the pickled onions and "tater tots." My curried chicken came with basmati and raita; the buttery sauce was so good that I surreptitiously dropped bits of naan into the bowl to soak up more. Again, the wine, a shiraz blend with a goofy name, scored big flavor points.
For dessert, we both went for the chocolate thingy that's basically the best Kit-Kat bar you'll ever eat. It came with a scoop of ice cream that was not particularly flavorful, but who cares? The port that accompanied this course did all the heavy lifting.
The service is a bit old-school (i.e. napkins placed in laps, wine lists presented to the gentlemen), but not stuffy at all. I think they have to deal with a lot of tourists who are in over their heads, but they do so graciously. The waiter beamed at our praise, as if he was dying to run into the kitchen and convey the news.
The surroundings are, in a word, gorgeous. The other high-end restaurants at the Bellagio look formal, even a bit overdone and self-conscious. Sensi looks rugged and natural, minimalist but not cold. Rough-hewn stone, light wood, walls of waterfalls, inviting bar, various dining rooms tucked away. Being able to watch the chefs at work is an entertaining plus.
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