that's Vegas baby.
After a long weekend of debauchery I can testify that Vegas is just that - sensational and sparkling, even with a diminished audience. There are few that haven't felt the effects of the recession, and Vegas is no exception. A world-renowned mecca for tourism, Vegas is at the forefront. As such, it's no surprise that deals are plentiful for tourists who aren't tightening their fannypacks as tight.
While we decided to pass on the 99¢ shrimp cocktail and the $4.99 steak dinner, we did take advantage of the $45 3-course lounge dinner for two at Japonais.
As six of us made our way through the lounge, we were delighted when we were seated at a comfortable table surrounded by a comfortable couch with pillows. The lounge was dim, but we were surrounded with vibrant red and orange lanterns and were seated in front of the illuminated bar. Sophisticated and simple, yet very relaxed.
Japonais is on the list of restaurants I've been meaning to go to, so I'm glad that I had the opportunity to enjoy a decent sampling of their menu. When it comes to our meal, we had a good experience overall. Especially considering the fact that we ended up paying $40 to share two appetizers, two entrees, and a dessert, in addition to another appetizer and drink each. While not outstanding, our meal was an incredible value and the atmosphere was exactly what you'd look for when you're out in vegas - young, trendy and buzz-worthy (considering that it's critically acclaimed and well recognized).
I ordered a Floating Orchid to kick off the evening - Japonais' signature drink which contains Stolichnaya vodka, Cointreau, fresh pear and lemon juices with an edible orchid on top. It was light, delicate and sweet, just like I like my cocktails. The best part is that it was $7 - a part of the lucky 7 lounge special which featured certain appetizers and cocktails for $7 a piece.
Since Japonais is fusion, it wasn't a surprising that many of the dishes we sampled were catered to the American palate. We started off with the lobster spring rolls, which were plated over a mango relish and served with a blood orange vinaigrette. The spring rolls were tasty, but the lobster was completely lost in the dish. The spicy terriyaki chicken drummettes were more of a disappointment, because they weren't particularly different from the average terriyaki wings, other than that they were overly sweet and had too much soy sauce.
While the two appetizers were a bit disappointing, the rest of the meal was really enjoyable. The softshell crab roll was nice, and the presentation was really interesting with the legs placed on top of the maki which helped the roll preserve its nice crunchy texture. For our entree, we had the petite filet with uni butter served over truffled mashed potatoes and asparagus. The filet was so tender and the butter just melted into the meat, making every bite delicious. It really had that wonderful melt in your mouth sensation. The potatoes were good, as well. The mashed potatoes also had a strong truffle essence which was really nice, though they were a bit too dense for my liking.
The dessert was also a pleasant surprise since we were unaware that it came with our meal. Flipping the paradigm on the traditional cheesecake, it was light with a whipped pumpkin filling, and a crust that seemed more similar to the cheesecake we're used to, both from a flavor and texture standpoint - it was dense and creamy.
The goods:
Since the group was on somewhat of a budget, Japonais was our finest indulgence, aside from the plentiful buffets. Afterall, what trip to Vegas would be complete without some snow crab?
The crab:
1 comment:
im tried tightening my fanny pack, but it just made me look fat :-(
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