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| - Can a single meal completely change your perception of fine dining?
Can a single meal radically alter your relationship with food in general?
I think it can -- and Sage proves it. After my dinner here, I'll never look at food quite the same way again. To say it was my favorite meal in Las Vegas would be an understatement. It would be more accurate to say it was one of my top meals of *all time*.
It began with an 8pm reservation for two. Sage, located in the Aria hotel, has a relatively unassuming entrance, but that belies that grandeur to be found inside. The restaurant is immense, with high ceilings, sumptuous furnishings, and a gorgeous color scheme with lots of golds accents and stunning chandeliers. Needless to say, Sage is just as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the taste buds.
After we were seated, our incredibly friendly and kind server, John, came by with the breadbasket. We each had the sourdough roll and a bacon brioche -- and both were excellent. They were served with sea salt (served on a tablespoon) and whipped butter.
Deciding what to order was easy as pie -- we both had the 4-course tasting menu ($79). My dinner companion splurged on the wine pairing ($39). Our server's wine pours were *very* generous -- a lot more than the advertised half glass per course . In fact, I was able to enjoy some wine with every course without bothering to order the wine pairing myself.
Below is a run-down of everything that we ate. Absolutely everything was cooked and presented with the utmost class and sophistication. The refinement of this dinner was unlike anything I'd previously experienced.
**AMUSE BOUCHE ... PRE-DINNER**
A shot glass of gazpacho. Fresh and tangy. A wonderful starter.
**COURSE #1**
Wagyu beef tartare with buttered crostini. Easily the finest tartare I've ever had. The beef was unctuous and fresh; the egg only added to the indulgence. Chocolate shavings provided an unexpected layer of complexity.
**COURSE #2**
Seared Maine dayboat scallops with broccolini, braised oxtail, mushrooms, and caramel reduction. The scallops were cooked beautifully and fall apart when touched with a fork. The broccolini was tender. The caramel sauce provided an intriguing sweetness that contrasted against the saltiness of the shellfish.
**COURSE #3**
48 hour beef belly with braised apples. I've never had beef this tender and succulent in my life. Each bite dissolves on your palate and overwhelms you with flavor. Apples provide a gentle acidity that works well against the umami of the beef.
**COURSE #4**
Pistachio tart with strawberry ice cream. A culinary work of art -- oodles of individual components meticulously arranged. Bold, fresh flavors all over the plate. An enjoyable juxtaposition of hot and cold.
**AMUSE BOUCHE ... POST-DINNER**
Hot white chocolate with mint and coconut, served in a white porcelain shot glass. A sweet, uplifting treat at the end of a fantastic meal.
After this meal, I wasn't just full and satisfied -- I was exhilarated, knowing that I had a world-class gastronomic experience. The staff at Sage earned every penny of their tip.
This isn't the sort of meal I can have everyday -- but it's worth doing once in a while, if for no other reason to remind yourself that fine dining can truly be life-changing.
If you subscribe to the "you only live once" philosophy, than a dinner at Sage is a must.
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