Sinatra at the Encore - Las Vegas

As 2012 comes to an end, my husband Jorge and I decided to end the year with a bang in none other than Sin City. Las Vegas is one of my favorite cities to dine in and our first night there Jorge wanted to surprise me with dinner. I had no idea where we were going and as soon as we walked in and I saw the name Sinatra, I had the biggest smile on my face and just about fell to the floor. I had no idea there was a restaurant dedicated in memory of Frank Sinatra, who, if you haven’t already noticed, is my absolute favorite (thanks to my mom). When you walk in you’re surrounded by pictures and memorabilia of Ol’ Blue eyes and the sweet sound of his voice is playing during your entire dining experience. The service was nothing short of wonderful and the food was just the same. For an appetizer we decided on the Carpaccio. Thinly sliced beef tenderloin, salsa verde, wild arugula with shaved parmesan and croutons. This was my first time having croutons on carpaccio and it was a fantastic change. For dinner our server recommended the Ossobuco “My Way” which is braised veal ossobucco with risotto milanese and gremolata; he mentioned they braise it for hours so I was excited to try it. The flavors were amazing and the meat so tender and delicate. Jorge can never say no to a filet so when the server mentioned the specials he decided on the 10oz Filet Mignon which was accompanied with asparagus and mashed potatoes. He was a happy and full man that evening. At the end of our meal we received a CD of Steve Wynn’s (the owner of Encore and the Wynn in Las Vegas) favorite Sinatra songs; it was a pleasant touch at the end of the evening. Sinatra is definitely on the pricey side but if you are a fan of Frankie or even if you’re not and want to go to a beautiful restaurant this is the place.

 

N9NE Steak House - Las Vegas

We were lucky enough to have our good friends Will and Germaliz come on a recent trip to Las Vegas for my husband’s Softball tournament and to enjoy some fun in the sun and of course tasty food . I made reservations at N9NE Steak House in the PALMS Hotel and as with any fine dining restaurant you need to make reservations in advance. When I read reviews on this place the main complaint was people who had made reservations still had to wait and the hostess said the same thing to everyone, get a drink at the bar. Basically everyone was thinking it was a gimmick to get you to spend more money. I for one didn’t mind it, when in Vegas…you drink. After waiting about 30 minutes we finally sat down. Food was great but service was not so great. Our bus boy was more attentive then our server. We even made sure to thank him with a tip at the end of the evening and told him the server was horrible. On the other hand the food was superb; we started with Ahi Tuna Tartar it had Avocado, Lime and Chili oil accompanied with Crispy sesame crackers. The seaweed on top was citrusy and paired well with the tuna. I Love Love Loved this appetizer. For dinner the boys got the 8 ounce Filet Mignon which they said was cooked excellent and finished with a sprig of rosemary. I ordered the special which was seared halibut on a bed of Spicy Cucumber Serrano Gazpacho Sauce. I loved this dish so much I recreated it at home, or tried to but the flavors I can not quite get the same, I actually did it with a chicken breast because that’s what I had on hand. Next was the Organic Scottish Salmon with a white soy Balsamic Glaze, we both agreed it was yummy,seared and crispy on the outside and flaky and juicy on the inside. For sides we all shared the Garlic Green Beans and Georges Creamed Corn. We had a great time at dinner and ended up checking out club Rain which was fun but the most exciting part of the night was running into Corey Feldman. The Goonies is one of my all time favorite movies. “Hey you guys!”