IGOTT2 culinary suggestions PART 2: Sage at Aria

My favorite hotel in all of Las Vegas is Aria. It's located at City Center which happens to be the middle of the Las Vegas strip. I've had some excellent meals at American Fish (a Michael Mina restaurant) on the 2nd floor. But only a few weekends ago I had dinner at Sage on the main casino floor near the reception area and adjacent to Bar Masa and Shaboo. I have to tell you that this is one of the better meals that I've had in Vegas recently.

The entrance is interesting with walls of bottles of wines.

Tables are spread apart and spacious. There's a large bar area near the entrance and a second dining room that is looks like it's used for private parties.

My dining companions ordered Chef McClain's signature tasting menu:

For me, I ended up creating my own tasting menu by ordering 2 appetizers and 2 smaller portions from the main menu:

Truffle butter and Australian sea salt to go along with our bread:

Our amuse bouche compliments from the kitchen. A foie gras mouse with dried cranberries and toasted nuts. Creamy, crunchy, sweet and savory all in one tiny bite:

The first course on the tasting menu is one of Sage's signature dishes. The foie gras custard brulee. This sounded strange, but I had to order it because I heard that it was fantastic. And it was true, this dish was delicious, the only complaint I had was that they didn't give me more of the salted brioche bread to go along with this:

Compared to the full size order which was large enough to share:

I love oysters so I ordered their market oysters (kumomoto's) with a dollop of piquillo pepper and tabasco sorbet, and a splash of aged tequila mignonette:

Another delicious appetizer was the chilled dungeness crab salad:

Back to the tasting menu, the main dayboat scallops with braised oxtail on the bottom in a salt caramel reduction. Just like the foie gras brulee it sounded strange but was excellent:

The other 2nd course was the maine lobster casoncelli. Chunks of Maine lobster mixed with spinach and marscapone wrapped up like a Chinese potsticker. These were also delicious:

An appetizer portion of the yukon gold potato gnocchi with califlower and aged pecorino cheese:

The main entree on the tasting menu was the 48 hour braised beef pork belly with morel mushrooms:

And an appetizer sized sugar snap peas and green garlic risotto with shaved asparagus and black trumpet mushrooms. I loved this dish, the risotto was perfectly cooked and the snap peas were light and crunchy:

And the other meat on the tasting menu the Iberico pork loin. Of the two meat dishes, I like the beef belly a little bit more than this pork loin:

And finally a full order of the Maine lobster casoncelli:

Now onto desserts. Our waiter was very insistent on us trying the carrot cake. And she was spot on with her recommendation as this was even better than the one we had at Aureole:

And just as delicious was the crunchy chocolate and peanut butter tart:

Next up we'll go around the restaurant circle at Aria for dinner at American Fish, Sirio, and Jean George Steakhouse

Regards,
ED-209

This message has been edited by ED209 on 2011-05-23 23:20:47

I enjoyed Sage!

By: DRMW : May 23rd, 2011-23:21

thanks for the pics Ed, Sage was an enjoyable meal! -MW

Very enjoyable

By: ED209 : May 24th, 2011-18:04

And one of the better dining experiences I've had in Vegas recently. Thanks to a special VIP PuristS for treating me to dinner here Regards, ED-209

Sage is GREAT!!!

By: ATM : May 24th, 2011-00:03

Hi ED209, Meals at Sage are tasty. I can't wait to go back & dine at Sage 6 days from now... counting down. Regards, ATM

It sure is

By: ED209 : May 24th, 2011-18:06

Hi ATM, Can't wait either. I really enjoyed making my own little tasting menu. That foie gras was delicious and definitely something I'll order again. Regards, ED-209

I have heard about Sage..

By: ocwatching : May 24th, 2011-08:06

and that looks really good... the truffle butter looks divine... and that foie gras brulee! WOW, what an idea! LOOKS awesome! (going back to my room and weeping) Thanks for the into ED-209

:) Gotta try it someday

By: ED209 : May 24th, 2011-18:07

Hope you and family have a chance to dine at Sage soon. American Fish was my former favorite at Aria, now Sage has taken it's place as number 1. Regards, ED-209

I too am a fan of Aria, Ed

By: AlexSunrise : May 24th, 2011-10:56

However, last year that I visited I did not gave myself the opportunity to go try one of their restaurants. Sage will be atop of my list for my next visit. Perhaps not during IGOTT as the schedule will be tight, but next time for sure. Thanks for sharing,...

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