MURTEC Restaurant Adventures - Day One - NOBU
Dinning at NOBU
Highly anticipated, completely satisfying, a little pricey, that sums up the experience, and now for the details.
Eating at Nobu Caesars Palace was an amazing experience. First just finding the place inside of Caesars was an adventure and the concept of a hotel within the palace was very cool. Both hotel and restaurant just opened in February and among its many other unique features, actor Robert De Niro is a part owner. USA Today has great photo gallery of the opening day.
Nobu Caesars Palace is the largest NOBU restaurant in the world,(12,275 sq ft.) and it did not disappoint. As you enter you pass the bar area, which like the entire restaurant is visually stunning. Designed by David Rockwell, founder of the Rockwell Group, Nobu is noticeably out of place in Caesars, and that is by design. Stepping into the hotel/restaurant area you are taken into a ultra modern Japanese experience that makes you forget the swirl of activity happening all around you.
Once at the table you are greeted by, what I will assume is, a Japanese table setting. Unusual at first glance, but like much of Japanese culture nothing more than you need, down to the small, odd-shaped piece of porcelain, that I found out later was a chopstick rest. No forks here.
I started with a water and a Mia Margarita, which had an interesting passion fruit flavor with a delightful bite at the end of each sip.
From there it was on to a delicious California Roll, prepared at the Sushi Bar just steps away. The sushi bar is open 24-hours and had at least seven Sushi Chef's working at the time we were there.
As I was travelling with a colleague, we each decided to get a different entree. All entrees are served family style. The reason given: so that everyone could sample a variety of foods, flavors and textures.
First out was the Mixed Seafood Toban-Yaki. This was a delectable array of chef's choice seafood and steamed vegetables prepared on a ceramic plate. Also on the table was the Black Cod Miso, a signature Nobu dish, which melted in your mouth with a light, clean taste and just enough of the miso to accent the flavor of the fish.
All-in-all this was an amazing meal. The atmosphere, although in the midst of Caesars casino, was relaxing and inviting. The wait staff was knowledgable and helpful, not condescending when asked about menu items that were unfamiliar. The food, as detailed above, was outstanding, and not overly filling. The prices are higher than you may typically want to spend on a meal, but its Vegas and it was an experience.
If you are really interested in NOBU this link will take you to additional articles that ran opening week of Nobu in the Las Vegas Sun.