I was in Vegas last week at the Bellagio, but was unable to dine at Michael Mina's place as I already had all my dinner reservations booked and was so dissapointed after reading his menu & taking a peak at his restaurant in our hotel- just beautiful!!
So, this week, I went to his restaurant the Borgata Hotel in AC & it was just incredible!!
The place itself is called Seablue & aptly named. Contemporary seafood restaurant, surrounded by large glass windows of lovely serene fish swimming about in the glass enclosed tanks in areas all around the entire restaurant. The rest of the decor is quite magnificent, inviting and hip.
I was so tempted to have the lobster pot pie, but was a little embarrassed, as it was (is) HUGE!! I supposed, really meant for to to share- an enormous puff pastry top with the most delectabile
filling inside (from what ALL the people around me were saying) It just looked outstanding! Next time for sure!!!
His other signature dish" is his phyllo crusted Dover sole, which was beyond off the hook! But, less me disgress.
He offers a tasting menu , with or without a wine pairing and it includes his famous cookbook. quite lovely & very tempting, but my guest and I decided to do our "own thing" and after some very nice wine, we ordered our appetizers. The tuna tartare was the most sensational, melt in your mouth large portion, served with a small quail egg on top, pine nuts, diced japanese daikon radish and large warm toast points. Just amazing!
Next- the chef sent over a 'little treat" with his compliments- Hamachi- the thinest translucent piece of sushi I have ever eaten, topped with thin sliced of avocado, shaved hearts of palm, and thin slices of jalapeno in a light grapefruit viniagrette- it was beyond words.
My dover came, served with phyllo that has been dried, places in a food processor to make a dust and then encrusted onto the moist fish to give it just the perfect crunch, served on top of crab mashed potatoes, and sprinkled with delicious brussel spouts leaves. OMG.
My guest had the other 'special"that evening which was roast chicken- with half of the chicken pureed into a mousse and then filled and stuffed into the rest of the chicken, and sliced with crispy skin, served over polenta in a brown forester sauce with lots of mushrooms. It was beyond spectacular & delicious, to the point where we were making sounds!! The sides-
in describable but I will try.
The roasted carmelized brussel sprouts with a hint of rich balsamic glaze, raisins, capers and gooseberries. Phenomenal! The other- one of my favorites- Gigante beans, large white beans, simmered with broccoli rabe in spicy olive oil. Just wonderful.
The desserts were just mind blowing. We had the chocolate trio- A slice of opera cake topped with a quenelle of chocolate sorbet, 2 mini mini thin chocolate chip cookie wafers, a cu of chocolate pudding with whipped cream and a chocolate molten cake, that was rich dense and so damn good- what else can I say!!
Michael MIna- no wonder you have 16 Restaurants!! My next trip back to San Fran , I will make it my business to go to the Westin, in addition to all his other places in Detroit, Vegas, Miami, Scottsdale, Georgetown, (just to name a few) plus his Bourbon Bar Burgers in three locations.
OUTSTANDING!!!!!
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