Vegas Blog November 2007 Japonais
Japonais opened it’s Las Vegas location at the Mirage in 2006. Proclaimed as being “one of Chicago and New York City’s most adored and critically acclaimed restaurants” combined with our love of Japanese food made this restaurant a must. Having previewed and reviewed, on more than one occasion, I might add, we were looking forward to a wonderful meal in a beautiful setting We trepidatiously approach the labyrinth that is Japonais and Japonais Lounge. Overlooking the casino floor, this massive 11,000 square foot space is beautifully, if somewhat confusingly, divided into several lounge, and distinct dining areas, which according to their website “allow guests multiple ways to experience the restaurant. Upon finding the restaurant proper, entrance, we were promptly seated for out 8pm reservation. Our circular booth toward the back of the dining room provides a beautiful overview of the space. Curved walnut “fins” cover the ceiling, copper and onyx details, and the beautiful red walls, combined with the dramatic lighting, makes this a truly beautiful place to enjoy a meal. I am particularly struck by a mirror treatment, in which many square foot tiles of mirror are placed to form one large mirror which breathtakingly reflects a blue glass waterfall.
The menu, as reflected in the name, presents - Japanese with a twist of French, a plethora of choices. Sushi, Chef’s special rolls, maki nono, Les Entrees Froides – Cold Appetizers, Les Entrees Chaudes-Hot Appetizer, Robata, Toban Yaki, and of course Les Plats Principaux. What could be a rather daunting menu, is broken down and easy to understand and while having many different cooking- or uncooked- styles does not present you with a perverse number of choices within each style.
Dining with four hungry men can be either a good thing or not. Keeping with my positive energy I choose to exploit their hunger allowing for us to try many of the offerings at Japonais. We began with toro, it is November, and we are relatively close to the west coast, and toro is kind of like caviar, if they have it, you should get it. Rich and buttery, both the Otoro and Chu toro were lovely. The Maki mono, Spicy Tuna and Unagi Avocado, nothing to write home about, yet nothing to complain about. If you have a decent sushi restaurant at home, you will most likely be able to find a comparable roll. And if I can find it close to home, why am I traveling across this great country to eat it?
The Sakana Carpaccio featuring thinly sliced tuna, whitefish and salmon with individual sauces, fits the same bill, although you can never go wrong with really fresh raw fish, nothing so far had really separated this sushi.
“The Rock” appetizer, consisted of thinly sliced marinated New York Strip steak, brought to the table raw, accompanied by a rectangular black rock on which to cook it. An impressive presentation and the flavor, I am told, was wonderful as well. The Tuna Flatbread, ahi tuna, mocha cheese with olive anchovy sauce on fresh made ohba and wakame crust, was a unique and unusual combination of flavors that really worked. Both the Seafood and Jumbo Asparagus Toban Yaki, served on Hot Japanese Clay Pot, with yuzu butter were wonderful. The Nori skin encrusted Salmon Japonais with horseradish oyster leak stew, was medium to well – although I do not know if a temperature was taken. The highlight was the newly added SeaBass en papillote, was presented with a beautiful brown broth with a glistening white piece of fish, in clear plastic with a chopstick enclosure that was removed by the server. The plate, with the plastic un-enclosure on it, was then topped with a tomato conserve. The combination of flavors was divine, and in my opinion, the best thing on the menu.
Our server was knowledgeable, making several suggestions on both how to order and particular dishes to order. Michael twice had tap water added to his sparkling and the proliferation of plates on the table was sometimes overwhelming, but overall the service earned the requisite 20%.
Japonais
Mirage Hotel and Casino
3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Lunch: Mon - Fri: 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Dinner: Sun - Wed: 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Thur - Sat: 5:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Reservations: 866.339.4566