Alex
Las Vegas, NV 89109 (888) 352-3463
- Hours:
Mon, Thu-Sun 6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Garage, Valet
- Attire: Dressy
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
26 Reviews for Alex
You ought to check this french restaurant inside Wynn Resort Lasvegas five star Hotel !!! Chef makes really yummy food there! Do not judge a book by its cover...You will not regret!
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in the last 8 years, we have only celebrated our friend's birthday once together. which is really sad and why we went to alex for a special birthday dinner.
alex is a swanky and gorgeous restaurant. and even though it's one of the most expensive restaurants i have ever dined in, they make sure you are stuffed with french goodness when you are ready to leave. the wine list is extensive and the mark-up high, but you really don't want to order too much wine here anyway. you need to have all your senses ready to experience the food.
presentation, taste, texture is all excellent and done with care. the foie gras was enormous and delicious as were the scallops. my rack of lamb was perfectly cooked. my meal ended with my favorite dish of the evening, the crunchy chocolate carmel bombe. a dark chocolate heaven.
even though the tasting and prix fixe menu is set they are ready at a moment's notice to serve the customer. my palate cleanser had mango in it (which i am allergic) and the waiter immediately whisked it away and presented me with a different palate cleanser- just as beautifully presented as the first set down before i even put my wine glass down. they are knowledgeable about the food and even though alex could be a stuffy-stiff kind of place, the staff makes you feel welcome and comfortable.
alex is a reason in itself to come to vegas and have a good time.
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I'm upping the stars @ Alex.
Finally Alex has impressed me as a WHOLE. The ambiance was gorgeous as usual, the service was impeccable and now the food.
There were four compliments of the chef: breadstick proscuitto, fried pork, carrot puree & ahi on a scallop chip. All were fantastic.
Lobster ravioli was so succulant and generous in portioning.
Loved the presentations of Wagyu and Toro. Really beautiful texture.
The monkfish cut like butter and I didn't know it could actually taste like it too.
Desserts incorporated the fruits of the season rhubarb and peaches. Sinful.
Yep, they still gift the chick with a box of meringues and nope I still haven't eaten any of them yet.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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04/17/2006
First to Review
Imagine descending down a flight of stairs into a sumptuous dining room fit for royalty. Everything… Read more »
Best meal of my life! Had the 7-course tasting menu, which was fabulous. The personable service and a gift box of macaroons on my way out was icing on the cake!
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Been a while since we went, so this is from memory.
Definitely in the top three meals of my life - the others have been at Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons and La Tante Claire.
Amazing room, the staircase give entering the place a real sense of occasion.
The four of us went for the tasting menu, with the wine matching. The amuse bouche were all very interesting, and every course was a knockout, with beautiful flavours and textures in every bite, Never really got the foam thing until I experienced some of the ones on this tasting menu.
The menu changes, so I won't go into details, just to say the wines and food matched perfectly. Even more impressively, my wife doesn't eat shell fish, so the first two dishes (spotted prawn tartare and sea scallop) were swapped out for her, and they also changed the wines to match her dishes - great attention to detail.
The wines are introduced with each course, and were truly international - champagne, Chile, Italy and Germany all represented.
The wine list mark up in the restaurant here is the same as it is in the Daniel Boulod brasserie - i.e. steep but not necessarily heart stopping (apart from the Bordeaux first growths and Burgundy Grand Crus - if you order one of those and let me share it, I'll pay for your meal...)
We're going back for my 40th - further updates soon.
Vegas is a place to drop your money so don't be surprised to spend A LOT of it here.
I am always up to experience new restaurants so when my friend suggested Alex, I agreed without hesitation. From the moment you step foot into Alex, you are greeted warmly and in awe from the beauty of the decor and service. My clutch was also pampered with a plush stool next to me.
To start the night off, there was a variety of 4 breads but I preferred the cranberry one. The Amuse Bouche - Carpaccio on bread sticks, ahi tuna tartare and butternut squash puree was also delightful.
We all chose the 7 course tasting at $195 versus the 3 course of $145. I enjoyed majority of the selections like:
* Marinated Yellowtail and Osetra Caviar
* Roasted Sea Scallops with White Asparagus and Sea Urchin
* Seared Foie Gras with Sweet Onion, Cabbage and Black Truffle Consomme
* Japanese Wagyu Beef with Fava Bean Pure, Candied Shallots and Bordelaise Sauce - the sauce over powered the beef too much
I should have said something about the Daurade 'Royale' with Rhubarb, Caramelized Endives and Spiced Red Wine Syrup because the fish was over cooked and stuck to my teeth.
We opted to try the cheese platter for a supplemental $25 per person.
Of the 5 perfectly presented desserts, my fave was the Strawberries and Mascarpone Cream with Brown Butter Cake and Strawberry Sorbet. As if that is not enough, they also served fresh tiny madelines and petite fours.
Overall experience was great but I would not want to visit again because the meal didn't justify the price. At $300 per person, I had Fuji water only. I blame my own spoiled SF palate for the lack of excitement after the meal. The box of macaroon I walked away with was great for the late night snacking after some Vegas style partying.
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I am a full blown foodie, and this was hands down, one of the best meals i've ever had. The food was adventurous, andthe service was impeccable. The check was pretty outrageous, so it's definitely a 'special occasion' outing.
I am giving this restaurant 3 stars because of temperature. I really do not like high end french food so if you are a foodie you should ignore my review. I was more cold at this restaurant than I have ever been other than in my grocer's freezer aisle. They brought me a shawl which was nice but it could have used a trip to the dry cleaner. But the fact that they have shawls on hand is also concerning as you think they'd just turn down the AC--obviously!! I think this is a good place for uptight guys in fancy suits - with cashmere jackets. Your dates will be cold...tell them to bring some fur. I ordered the squab bc it was the only thing on the menu I could decipher and it came very very rare. I guess that is how fancy people eat squab. I would have preferred a cheeseburger.
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The Crystal Guide: *****
It was very exciting to eat at the Wynn. Unlike Mon Ami Gabe, the hostess was very pleasant and gracious when I called to let them know that we were going to be late.
Alex felt like a huge dining room in someone's mansion. I didn't like the decoration because the roses on the curtains look like mountains. The staff was extremely attentive and the food was absolutely delicious. We had a wonderful time trying this 2 star Michelin Guide Restaurant. The presentation and service was not as good as Joel Robouchon but worthy of a second visit.
They let us subsitute my beef for a seafood dish and foie gras for spotted pawns. Most restaurants would not allow you to subsitute but they were as easy going as Manresa. This restaurant does not have the same reputation as Joel Robouchon but deserves the same amount of attention and praise.
The bathroom had wonderful condiments like much needed hairspray, lotion, and mouthwash on the counter.
TASTING MENU
Marinated Yellowtail and Osetra Caviar with Coconut-Cucumber Custard
Charles Ellner, Cuve Prestige, Champagne, Epernay, France 1998
Roasted Sea Scallops with White Asparagus, Pink Grapefruit and Sea Urchin
Domaine Morey-Coffinet, Btard-Montrachet, Grand Cru, Burgundy, France 2004
Seared Foie Gras with Sweet Onion Compote, Savoy Cabbage and Black Truffle Consomm
Weingut Zilliken, Saarburger Rausch, Riesling, Auslese, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany 1983
Daurade 'Royale' with Rhubarb, Caramelized Endives and Spiced Red Wine Syrup
Oriel, Alma de Llicorella, Priorat, Spain 2001
Japanese Wagyu Beef with Fava Bean Pure, Candied Shallots and Bordelaise Sauce
Tua Rita, Giusto di Notri, Tuscany, Italy 2003
Passion Cheesecake with Graham Crumble
Strawberries and Mascarpone Cream with Brown Butter Cake and Strawberry Sorbet
Klein Constantia, 'Vin de Constance', Muscat de Frontignan, Constantia, South Africa 2001
Tasting Menu $195
Including Wines $325
As a courtesy to other diners, please refrain from using cellular telephones.
An automatic gratuity of 18% will be added to parties of seven or more.
The Restaurants at Wynn Las Vegas feature signature items based on seasonal availability.
Menu items and prices are subject to change
For Restaurant Reservations, please call 702.770.wynn or 888.320.7110
APPETIZER
Quail and Foie Gras Terrine with Waldorf Salad and Toasted Country Bread
Spotted Red Prawns with Spring Vegetable Crudits in Black Truffle Vinaigrette
Robiola Cheese Agnolotti with Crispy Chicken, Watercress and Chanterelles
Frogs Leg's 'Meunire' and Crayfish with Green Garlic Custard, Sorrel and Tomato Confit
Duck and Foie Gras Salad with Roasted Cherries, Pistachios and Balsamic Vinegar
Fennel Crusted 'Toro' with Nioise Flavors and Black Olive Pure
Roasted Veal Sweetbreads with Fettuccine 'Carbonara' and Aged Parmigiano
Maine Lobster with Creamed Leek and Lobster Ravioli, Wild Mushrooms and Porcini Sauce
Roasted Breast of Squab with Foie Gras, Rhubarb and Spiced Pineapple
Filet of John Dory with Heirloom Peas, Carrots and Morel Mushrooms
Roasted Spring Lamb with Savory, Purple Artichokes, Pancetta and Spring Garlic
Atlantic Halibut with Shellfish Fricassee and 'Chteau Chalon' Sauce
Stuffed Saddle of Rabbit with Roasted Spring Vegetables and Chickpeas 'Provenal'
Pancetta Wrapped Veal Tenderloin with Morels, Asparagus and Potato Gnocchi
Crispy Atlantic Bass with Roasted Fennel, Tomatoes, Olives and Basil-Lemon Sauce
Jenifer Witte, Pastry Chef
Selection of Imported and Domestic Cheese with Seasonal Garnish
Hazelnut Caramel Crunch with Praline Ice Cream
Coconut Cream and Mango with Macadamia Crumble and Roasted Banana Ice Cream
Caramelized Orange Crpe 'Souffl' with Sour Cream Gelato
White and Dark Chocolate Napoleon with Milk Chocolate Ice Cream
Raspberry Meringue with Toasted Lemon Pound Cake and Vanilla Yogurt Sorbet
Prix Fixe $145
MAIN COURSE
CHEESE AND DESSERTS
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The Girl and I went here on a quick trip to Vegas a few weeks ago. It was a pricey day of pampering, from treatments at Bath House, to dinner at Alex, to a showing of Le Reve.
I called the week before and they were very accommodating since Wynn houses both Alex and Le Reve. We were given a 6:30pm reservation, plenty of time to enjoy dinner and walk the 500 feet over to Le Reve.
When we got there, it was still fairly empty, but by the time we left at 8:30pm it was filled to near capacity. The place is ornately furnished and dimly lit, the tables are spread out and the ceilings are very very high. The lavishness of the surroundings is astounding. The atrium is atop a staircase that looks over the dining area. The bathroom is no slouch, either. For the women, they had these little stools that you could put your handbag on. It was ornate but somewhat funny looking. They had all the unused ones lined up against a wall which made them look like little booster chairs. For babies. In 19th century England. For royalty. Who wipe their tushes with gold leaf.
HUGE wine list but The Girl and I are essentially teetotalers. At least that night we were. This place costs a pretty penny. We got the tasting menu sans alcohol and still paid $500 flat including tax and tip. A more detailed review of each dish to follow. All in all, the experience was excellent but I've only had 2 other meals that cost this much per person and both outshined this one. We definitely enjoyed ourselves and had a memorable time, but I walked away thinking that it simply cost too much. Were it about 25-30% less expensive, it might be a 5.
Bread. Whipped butter with sea salt and your option of four breads. I can't remember them all but one was rosemary and another was toasted corn. Very good. [4/5]
Amuse Bouche, Carpaccio on breadsticks and mini croquettes, ahi tuna tartare and butternut squash puree.
Very good start to the meal. All very tasty little morsels, particularly the tartare and the croquettes. [5/5]
Nantucket Bay Scallop Crudo with Dashi Pearls, Miso flakes and Osetra caviar. The scallops were sweet and tender and the osetra caviar (my first in a LONG time!) was perfect. The saltiness of the dashi and caviar complemented the sweet scallops. [5/5]
Spiny lobster and fresh hearts of palm, sea urchin and black truffles. The lobster was succulent and slightly sweet. The palm added a different and welcome texture. The urchin and truffles added just a touch of earthiness (I sound like an Iron Chef judge) that went well. [5/5]
Seared foie gras with caramelized onions, brussel sprouts and spiced apple broth. I'm not a huge foie gras fan but I can eat a few morsels. For foie gras lovers this must be heaven. It was flavorful and rich and after about half I simply couldn't eat any more. The onions and apple broth soothed my palate a little but cutting into the richness, but I could only withstand so much. [3/5]
Brioche crusted aji with roasted fennel, provencal relish and balsamic-red wine sauce. The brioche crust added an interesting crunchiness, but combined with the wine sauce I think the taste of the aji got lost. [4/5]
Japanese wagyu beef with shallot-bone marrow gratin, parsnip puree and bordelaise sauce. This is what brought us to Alex, the Wagyu beef. It was definitely medium rare and cooked perfectly. The gratin was interesting and it was good although I'm not a huge fan of bordelaise sauce. [5/5]
Meyer lemon parfait gratin with vanilla citrus. At first this dessert didn't look too interesting, but the lemon parfait was just tart enough and the fruit on the bottom was sweeter than we thought, which was a good thing. [4/5]
Dark chocolate and cherry port caramel with hazelnut nougat. This thing was HUGE (that's what she said). Dark chocolate (it seemed like it was fondant, but I'm not sure) was smothered over a marshmallowey bar with caramel. The presentation was excellent but I didn't quite get the mix of creme and crunchy hazelnut. Nevertheless, it tasted good and we were glad we had a large dessert to finish the meal. [4/5]
All in all, the experience was excellent and we had a great time. They even gave me the menu so I could record it as I am doing right now. We also left with a little box of freshly made macaroons which we've only opened last weekend but still taste good.
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This is a fantastic place.
What happens when Steve Wynn pilfers the greatest chefs from Vegas and the world and sets them up with their own restaurants at his Wynn Las Vegas hotel? Someone has to be top dog. Alex howls at the moon in the self-titled restaurant that, to be called French by category is wholly inaccurate. The category is Alex and nothing more.
There are lots of "celebrity" chefs out there that command big dollars because you've watched them on the Food Network or bought their book. Most have restaurants that vary wildly in quality of food and service and BAM! You spent a fortune for a meal that you could have acquired a lot less expensively elsewhere.
Alex is not that kind of restaurant. It is staggeringly not cheap. Your price fixe meal can run $175.00 per person to $195.00 per person without wine. If you go with the wine pairings on the $195.00 5 course meal, expect to add about $100.00 If you want anything with white truffles, offered, add another $50 to $100 per person. Your tip for two will run around $60.00 for a basic meal with limited beverages.
Now that you or your spouse has fainted, pick yourself up: This may be one of the only restaurants in the world that I can safely say lives up to its hype and is worth whatever you pay for it.
Alex is going to take you on a culinary adventure. 99% of the time you are getting some level of his personal attention. They make special events a treat with little extras, and the three courses, with little taste bonuses that the chef throws in, works out to be closer to five anyway.
Plates are set down in deceptively tiny amounts in front of you. Do not be fooled. This is very rich food, as my writing this in some level of exquisite agony at 1:30 am will attest.
You will experience tastes that you may never have experienced before, with a depth and subtlety that are simply shocking. Even the bread is amazing! We had a rosemary/orange infused slice that was, for this allergy-ravaged nose, a wonder.
Desserts are ordered at the time of your initial menu foray. Each one is rich and complex. My wife had some chocolate dish that was about as big as a Kit Kat bar in size, covered in dark chocolate with three toasted hazel nuts and ribbons of dark chocolate and a painting of gold leaf on the plate next to it, served with a small hazel nut ice cream that was so rich that she could only finish half. They do have doggie bags, but if you give any of it to the dogs, or your children, you are either insane or incredibly attached to your pooch (or rug rat).
Jackets are suggested but not required. Most men in the room wearing them worked there as waiters.
The waiters were beyond amazing and deserve the 20% that they command. Eat earlier and then jog about 13 miles to work off the joys of true gluttony.
If you can shell out money for the wonders of Cirque du Soleil, then you should worry little about giving this culinary acrobat your hard-earned dough.
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For a fine dining experience in Vegas you can do no better than Alex.
The chef came to the Wynn from his signature restaurant "Renoir" at the MIrage. The dining experiences at Renoir have been the finest I have ever experienced.
But that is not why I am writing this review.
I want to tell everyone about the extrordinary extent to which Alex will go to insure your quality experience.
My friend is having an 80th birthday celebration for his mother. Family is flying in from across the country and they have some special needs.
My friend decided to E-mail Alex to see if the restaurant could accomodate their needs. ( as a few high end locations could not ) Alex E-mailed back and set up a vegetarain meal and made arrangements for another specific dietary concern. He checked on the requirements for the cake to see if anything was needed.
All of this extra concern to provide a quility experience for the family states a great deal about the quality of this dining experience
If they are willing to go to this much extra for a family gathering - why would you want to go anywhere else for that extra special occassion.
This is perfection......
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This can be hit or miss, but when they're on, it's world class.
When I visit Alex I usually go for the tasting menu paired with the premium wine selections. Don't ask how much it costs. Just make sure you pay your mortgage or rent or car payment or whatever matters to you before you go here.
The array of colors and tastes and textures on the menu is superb. Here are some of examples:
Carpaccio of Red Prawns with Sea Urchin, Celery and Osetra Caviar
Saut of Foie Gras with Pomegranates, Aged Balsamico and Butternut Squash
Wild Turbot with Cauliflower Pure, Red Wine Sauce and Porcini Mushrooms
You just can't believe how complimentary these ingredients are. Who would have thought of fish with cauliflower and red wine and mushroom sauce? It sounds like an odd combination, but all of the dishes on the menu are like that. A symphony of taste, color and texture that is not to be believed until you try it.
The optional wine selection that accompanies the tasting menu is also amazing. The wine selection for the Foie Gras was Chateau d'Yquem. Need I say more?
The service is European style which means attentive and performed by a team, not just single waiter. It's much more in your face than we Americans are used to, but go with the flow and you'll enjoy it.
This is a special treat for a special occasion. I highly recommend it. Just make sure you pay the rent before you go.
I absolutely love the creativity of the chef. After dining at many "high-end" restaurants in SF, this is one restaurant that wowed me. From the purple cauliflower puree to the pear sorbet, it was just fantastic. Be sure to check out their wine list cause their selection is just HUGE. It's not the ordinary scallop, foie gras, kobe steak meal that you get. They actually give you something different! I'd go back there again next time I visit Las Vegas.
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Memorable restaurant. Very good food. Excellent service. The best part was the footstool for my purse.
One of the best dining experiences we've had.
When making reservations, the service rep was very accommodating with assisting with La Reve reservations along with our dinner reservations. The Wynn reps are some of the friendliest in Vegas on the phone.
With all the restaurants to choose from in Las Vegas, we made a reservation for Alex based on a family member's recommendation.
Upon arriving at Alex, you get the feeling of old Hollywood as you descend down the staircase into the well decorated dining room.
Loved the table for my handbag. Wish I could take that home with me!
The sommelier was not only very knowledgeable, he was very down to earth and friendly as well.
We had the tasting menus and we picked a reasonable bottle of Ramey Cabernet. Even with a reasonable bottle of wine, one should expect to spend a pretty penny. But the experience was definitely worth it. The only other restaurants that we feel can compare are Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford and Gary Danko's in SF. Neither of which were cheap either.
We celebrated my husband's 40th birthday at Alex and they gave him a beautiful chocolate masterpiece, which I devoured instead of the dessert that I had ordered. Upon leaving, you get a little bag of madeline cookies for your late night snack after a night of gambling.
Definitely an extraordinary experience.
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I took a group of clients to Alex for dinner while we were in Vegas for a conference. There were eleven of us and it was a very memorable meal.
I reserved the private room in advance, and was able to select a more limited tasting menu from which my guests could choose.
I am a vegetarian, so they also prepared a special menu for me, from Amuse Bouche to dessert. It was absolutely magnificent.
Menu choices included Seared Sea Scallops with Mango; Shellfish and Lobster Fricassee with herb linguine to start... roasted breast of squab with pancetta wrapped figs and alaskan butterfish with miso glaze for mains; and a cheese course and chocolate dessert. The cheese course was not only a lovely presentation but beautifully selected.
If you've got the bucks, the time and the inclination, Alex at the Wynn will definitely serve you well for a memorable meal. Plan on $300/person if you do the full shebang with champagne toasts, wine with each course, and dessert...
Alex offers a lovely French wine list, stuffy but attentive service, lovely decor and overall an absolutely fantastic meal.
We just went to Alex last week after we got married at the Wynn...sort of as our newlywed celebration dinner. Alex blew us away. It is not a restaurant, it is not just the food, one must enjoy Alex in its entirety. The service, the wine, the food (of course), the decor, the ambience and its location are just a few note worthy items. The minute you walks up to the restaurant, even before you enter, you get butterflies but you just KNOW this is going to be an evening to remember. It is just GORGEOUS. We had the 7 course tasting menu. The menu is only 2 pages and you are either going to have the 3 or 7 course tasting menu. I had scallop, lobster wagyu beef, foi gras, sea bass for main entrees. I don't really remember dessert cuz I'm not a dessert person but they were delicious. Each dish was beautifully presented and had a unique and refreshing flavor to each. Like other yelpers have said, it is not hte usual preparation and that is so important. It is an expensive meal and you want to be wowed and not be bored. The service was superb. My water glass was never more than half empty and they even had a chair for my purse!!!! What more could you ask for! For such a fancy restaurant that have so many guests come through every day, it was very touching and nice to have them make up a congrats mini cake since we just got married. Just perfect! And oh, the portion size is very generous. Not the teeny tiny portions you're all probably used to at oter fine dining venues.
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It's a well known fact that many of the "celebrity" restaurants in Vegas are weak carbon copies of their named restaurants elsewhere. In the case of Alex, it truly is a masterpiece of a restaurant that can stand on it's own. Now, while you may need a second on your home, you will be treated to truly top notch service and well prepared French food to die for.
Steve Wynn is truly a perfectionist and it shows in the restauranteurs that he has brought to the Wynn Hotel.
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My wife and I went on my wife's birthday. We combined the Las Vegas trip into a birthday, belated honeymoon and our first wedding anniversary. The one thing we had to do is go to a great restaurant. Alex is one of the top 100 restaurants in the world. Alex was fantastic. The food, the ambiance and the service was second to none. It was taste bud overload. We had the tasting menu without the wine. We also had a picture with chef Alessandro Stratta. Chef Alex gladly obliged. My wife was given a delectable little birthday cake that I am sure was one of her favorite cakes ever.
All the food was cooked perfectly and the staff was so enthralled in assuring my wife and I were happy. The place we first sat at we didn't care for so we were able to move without a question. The staff explained the courses to us and we even took pictures of the food and the restaurant without problem.
I would recommend this restaurant wholeheartedly, if you can afford it even once in your life. We went to see Cirque De Soleil O' after the meal and it was the perfect pairing. This was a once in a lifetime meal and it is something my wife and I will never forget.
Again attention to detail- serving diners simultaneously, a dedicated sous attendant and the impeccable decor... it reminded me of this grand hall restaurant in Paris- billowing tafetta curtains, roccoco ceilings, candelabra crystal lamps- and the quiet demeanor inside (free of slot machine noises)!
My best wine experience ever- Chateau Palmer '97 , The Sommelier decanted the bottle , chatted with us, his experiences- and upon patiently waiting- my first sip...
" this is what wine should taste like..."
If dreams were in bottles...
Fantastique experience :-)
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Alex is Wynn Las Vegas' signature restaurant. When Steve Wynn built The Bellagio, he talked to two chefs about running his signature restaurant - Julian Serrano and Alex Stratta. The story is, Serrano responded first, and became the chef at Picasso. As a sort of consolation prize, Wynn set Stratta up at Renoir, at the Mirage. When Wynn Las Vegas was built, Stratta rejoined Wynn's team at the restaurant bearing his name.
The decor a bit ornate: crystal chandeliers; dark woods; plush furniture in the entry area. Colors tend toward red, orange, brown and cream. Soft music, mostly vocals, plays in the background. Very large glass doors admit a lot of light early in the evening.
Service was excellent throughout both of my meals. It was attentive and friendly without being overbearing. I was always referred to by name. Perhaps they get a lot of requests for souvenir menus, as they offered me such a souvenir early in the evening - a nice touch.
**MEAL #1 - THE TASTING MENU**
To get things going, they provided an amuse bouche - or is that amuses bouche? In any case, there were four: mushroom soup, tempura scallop, raw tuna on a shrimp chip, and mushroom in puff pastry. The mushroom soup and scallop were especially good. Then another round arrived. I didn't manage to write down the offerings, but they also were good.
For the meal itself, I chose the tasting menu:
* Another amuse bouche: red prawn with sea urchin. Good, but not great.
* Sea scallops with cauliflower puree and truffle. The scallop was crisp on the outside, barely cooked on the inside. The cauliflower puree served as a sauce, and was strongly flavored. Very good to excellent.
* Foie gras with plum mustard. Served as a steak, somewhat crisp on the outside, very soft on the inside; it perhaps should have been a little crisper. The plum mustard sauce was an excellent foil. Very good.
* Roasted wild turbot. Perfectly cooked, it was crisp on the outside, meltingly soft on the inside. A sweet sauce on the plate was just right. Excellent.
* Wagyu beef with red wine. Alex, thank you for not caving in to the hype and calling this Kobe beef. In any case, the beef was tender, with good flavor. The accompanying sauce was strongly flavored. Very good.
* Coconut tapioca with tropical fruit. Served in a shot glass, I assumed this was a palate cleanser. Perhaps, but it was a delicious course by itself: creamy coconut; pearls of tapioca; sweet and very tart passion fruit pulp. An inspired combination; excellent.
* Warm citrus pound cake wafers with mascarpone, vanilla ice cream and huckleberry juice. You just had to be there. This sounded off the wall, but was another inspired combination. Very good to excellent.
* That was the end of the official meal, but of course there was more. First, a few mini madelaines, fresh out of the oven. Then, mignardises: a few sweets. Very good!
**MEAL #2 - THE REGULAR PRIX FIXE MENU**
Even before a menu was offered, I was presented with a series of amuses bouche, served in two rounds: scallop soup; lobster tempura; a bit of caviar; corn ravioli; a shot glass of cherry soda; mushroom vol-au-vent; gruyere in a pastry crust; cantaloupe jelly with crme frache. Much more than the typical amuse bouche, these treats were an appetizer in themselves, and were very good.
Once I ordered, another amuse bouche arrived. Sweet corn custard with Osetra caviar was an interesting combination. The custard was silky smooth, with a strong corn flavor; it was a good foil to the generous small spoonful of salty caviar.
My appetizer was Roasted Veal Sweetbreads 'Piccata'. It consisted of a good sized hunk of sweetbreads, with a tangy sauce. The consistency of the sweetbreads was creamy but very firm. Very good to excellent.
As a main course, I chose Atlantic Halibut with Borlotti Beans, Tomato Confit and Razor Clams. This dish was a study in contrasting colors: white fish; deep red tomato, in a pool of very deep green parsley puree. The fish was seared, and barely cooked through - just right. On top was a piece of crisped skin. It was a simple dish, but very good.
Dessert was a white bitter chocolate cream Napoleon with milk chocolate ice cream. It consisted of dark, milk, and white chocolate cream layered between super thin crispy wafers. A small scoop of strongly flavored milk chocolate (yes, such a thing is possible) ice cream was on top. Excellent!
Lastly appeared a half dozen mini madelaines, hot out of the oven. OK, almost lastly. Next came 4 chocolates in a small dish, plus an even dozen petits fours of all varieties. I didn't manage to finish all of them, but I did my best!
Both meals were excellent - not quite as good as my dinner at Jol Robuchon at the Mansion, but it was only half the price. If you have the time and the appetite, the tasting menu is the way to go. If not, the three course prix fixe menu is nearly as good.
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First and foremost I apologize for not remembering the details of this dining experience as I should have. By no means should that be interpreted as being unimpressed by the dining experience, but more a result of the loss of memory that is often associated with a vacation in Las Vegas.
I spent the better half of an evening at Alex last Tuesday night and to no surprise I was delighted with the experience. As I explored the restaurant I couldn't help but notice all the detail throughout the dining room. Upon entering the restaurant you are greeted with a survey view of most of the dining room. A modest staircase leads down to the dining room floor that is outlined with deep burgundy colored, floor-to-ceiling curtains with decorative flowers attached. These surround the large glass windows that look out into a "secret garden." Forgive me for not going up to the windows to get a better view of what's outside. 3-foot high clear glass vases are filled with orchids and other exotic flowers in the candlelit room. My only complaint would be the dim lighting at this point. As we were seated the servers promptly brought small pedestals to sit besides the ladies' chairs for their handbags, a nice touch.
As special guests we were treated to two courses of four amuse-bouches. Forgive me again for not remembering the exact details of all the courses, but I do remember very clearly the Matsutake mushroom consomee and the gruyere cheese puff as being fantastic. Not so impressive was the tuna tartare and caviar on a scallop chip. The scallop chip was too overpowering to taste the tartare and caviar. There was also a seared foie gras and a watermelon gelee with goat cheese meringue that were tasty.
On to the meal...I chose the tasting menu for the evening which consisted of 7 courses. We started with a cantaloupe gelee with kona kanpachi, weird? The cantaloupe gelee was fine, but I found that it overpowered the tiny portion of kanpachi that was wrapped in a crispy skin of either potato or egg roll wrapper (it was about the size of a stack of 15 dimes), take out the gelee and you probably would have had another winning amuse bouche. The next course was a butter-poached lobster with corn custard. This is very much one of my top 10 all-time favorite dishes, although becoming quite common in upscale restaurants (I'm pretty sure that Thomas Keller at the French Laundry was the first to embark on this dish, but correct me if I'm wrong). Next was a bit of orange roughy that was served with a sauce of chanterelles, very tasty but I had forgotten it after the next two courses. Then came the seared foie gras, a monstrous portion by most standards served with a complex reduction sauce that I had a hard time deconstructing, tart, sweet, a little bitter and burnt, this was atop...hmm...can't remember, but who cares, it was foie gras damnit. Next was a perfectly cooked wagyu beef, rich, buttery, tender goodness in another complex wine sauce. This was served with a deconstructed butter lettuce salad (didn't quite get why they did that, maybe to balance the richness?) For dessert we were assaulted by several plates of the pastry chef's creations. The "Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate" was an array of chocolate mousses, ice creams, solid chocolate, and chocolate sauces. The dark chocolate ice cream was the most intense chocolate ice cream I've ever had, beating out the 71% cocoa that I'm used to eating, so pretty darn intense. There were also some hazelnut desserts, petit-fours, hazelnut ice cream, coffee desserts, and more.
Our waiter for the evening was Mike Shigemoto, quite the professional but made us feel extremely comfortable at the same time. A+ to him for his professional yet friendly service, which really made the evening quite memorable/enjoyable.
At the end of our meal we were greeted by chef Devin Hashimoto, the chef for the evening (apparently Alex is working on another restaurant, a business-casual italian restaurant but I can't remember the name). Quite tall for a Japanese guy and a killer Hawai'ian accent to boot, very cool guy. I'd like to work for him for a week just to see what it's like.
Anyhow, to sum it all up: Eat there if you can afford to and enjoy yourself. Not a cheap meal by any standards ($195 for the tasting menu, $145 for the 3 course, neither including wine) but a great place for a special occasion. Jackets required.
Oh, and check out the bathrooms.
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Never a big fan of the Wynn Resort and Casino and I have always paid homage towards the Venetian Resort and Casino because I am a winner at the Venetian establishment. However this all changed when I was invited to eat at the Alex restaurant located inside the Wynn Resorts and Casino. I think now, French Laundry and Michael Mina have a new contender in the prix fixe dining tier. The ambiance was heavily luxurious, and very dramatic. This off course was a total treat from a friend who insisted I should take a 1 hour flight to Vegas on a Lear and sin my life for the weekend (I was saying bullshit until this happened a few weeks back). Everything in the vicinity of the restaurant alone says high end, and I totally agree with the first reviewer of this restaurant that the place is very keen, and rich on details from fine china, stemware and to the linen on the tables. Wynn does not miss a beat on the high life, and epicurean delight. The only bug that I received from this establishment is the strict dress code, and the other foe around me seemed to be looking down at me with a noveau riche mentality. I have class and proper etiquette on how to handle this kind of establishment so I think that bitch needs to think twice, or maybe I'm on speed balls and I am just plain tripping.
Ok anyways, The Alex Stratta is very talented. The menu was picked out by my friend whom we had the sommelier selection, and by far I think the selection we chose is moderately priced on the price bracket of high end eating. I am never the one who turns down a "free" meal, and the meal was to die for. Just a peak for you readers, an example from the sommelier menu was my favorite, the Wagyu beef with potato gnocci and porcinni mushrooms and the Italian wine that we paired with this was one of the most impressive meals I had in Vegas, and it was TDF. I am not a fan of Vegas dining, but since this was one of my few luxurious experiences in Vegas away from the buffet line of Rio, the Alex is next to my first enjoyment of the Delmonico Steakhouse. So if you have the cash this place will make you happy, and will treat you with one of the finest dining experience in the 702. BTW Please wear something appropriate and wear leather shoes. This place is notorious for criticizing your gear before you enter. So be prepared to be checked by a Vegas dick.
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I love the Wynn. I think its subtle extravagance is exactly why I love it, and so many others don't get it. At Alex, there is nothing subtle about the extravagance. We went for the full tasting menu with wine pairings. Every course was amazing, and each wine was perfectly paired. The wyagu steak course overshadow the others, and we normally don't eat red meat! The fish course as well as the yellowtail appetizer was superby. All in all, it doesn't get any better than this, in the best hotel, in the greatest city in the world!
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