American Fish

Michael Mina's American Fish is one of the 16 restaurants located inside of Aria Resort and Casino.  Upon arriving and checking in, I asked 3 different hotel staff members which restaurant was the one that I could not miss during my stay...all three employees answered, "American Fish".

We entered the bar area around 6pm to grab a drink and try a few of the appetizers. The restaurant was large and airy inside with an open kitchen in the back of the room.  The decor was masculine and had a contemporary cabin feel; lots of warm colors, think brown, peach, and orange.  Mina uses four signature cooking methods including: salt-baking, wood-grilling, cast-iron griddling, and ocean-water poaching.

I sipped on a glass of 2009 Lurton Pinot Gris (Valle de Uco, Argentina) and my handsome beau had  one of their specialty cocktails, the Diablo, which consisted of reposado tequila, fresh lime, creme de cassis, and ginger ale...delicious.  There was an intriguing selection of tapas-style appetizers: Maine Lobster Corn dogs, BBQ Shrimp and Grits, Truffled Mac and Cheese, Yellowtail Sashimi with Black Garlic, and Foie Gras "Poppers".

The Main Lobster Corn dogs stole the show for me. Big pieces of lobster surrounded by a melt-in-your-mouth cornbread coating with a perfectly seasoned remoulade for dipping.  The Truffled Mac and Cheese was surprisingly light - the peas and mushrooms added a unique textural element. The BBQ shrimp were cooked perfectly and the cheese grits paired nicely with the shrimp. Everything was delicious and portioned well. An added plus is the fact that all of these appetizers are a friendly $5 a plate during Happy Hour starting at 5pm daily.

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