Michael Mina Restaurant at Bellagio

Just The Facts, Please.

Location

Bellagio

Dining Hours

Sunday - Thursday
5:00 p.m. - 9:45 p.m.
Friday and Saturday
5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Closed Wednesday

Chef

Marc St. Jacques

Cuisine

Contemporary cuisine featuring innovative seafood preparations.

Price Range

Michael Mina Tasting Menu $98 + $78 for wine pairings.

Michael Mina Vegetarian Tasting Menu $85 + $58 for wine pairings.

Suggested Attire

Business Casual

Notes

Michelin rated single star.

Sample Menu Items

Tartare of Ahi Tuna: Sesame Oil, Toasted Pine Nuts, Garlic, Chiffonade of Mint $22

Maine Lobster Pot Pie: Seasonal Vegetables, Black Truffles, Brandied Lobster Cream $78

Michael's Root Beer Float: Warm Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies, Sassafras Ice Cream, Root Beer Sorbet

 

 

 

Mavens Overview: Michael Mina

Michael Mina's eponymous named restaurant at Bellagio features seafood and a Michelin single star rating. However, Michael Mina is more than just a chef, he is the CEO of Michael Mina Group a San Francisco based restaurant Group, or to use the current vernacular, Michael Mina is a brand.

As of the beginning of 2010, Mina has five restaurants in Las Vegas, plus another dozen scattered around the rest of the country. While the internet buzz is generally favorable for his Bellagio restaurant, there is some buzz that suggests he may be spreading his efforts a little thin these days. The following is an excerpt from the LA Times:

"Service is a bit too rushed, with bread and water delivered in the heedless manner of a coffee shop...The miso-glazed sea bass in mushroom consommé tasted like nothing more than seafood sukiyaki."

As one would expect the Bellagio web site as a different take, and describes Michael Mina's restaurant as follows:

"The sleek atmosphere complements the contemporary cuisine featuring innovative seafood preparations, vegetarian and seasonal dishes from Mina's cookbook."

The internet buzz is mostly favorable, as evident from the representative sampling below, however it is easy to feel that one should expect a little more from a Michelin Star restaurant.

Bellagio Dining Website

Internet Buzz: Michael Mina

  • Excellent food and service! Not much more to add to that!
  • I love this unpretentious dining experience. Michael Mina serves up fine dining and excellent service, while making you feel welcome and comfortable.
  • Tuna Tartare (Appetizer) - nice balance of sesame seed oil and salt/pepper along with a quail egg on top.
  • Maine Lobster Pot Pie: Mr. Mina's arguably most famous dish - with vegetables, cream, and black truffles . Beautifully made with a delicate pastry covering a generous portion of lobster mixed in with a flavorful, but not too heavy brandied cream sauce - yum!
  • My favorite item on their menu is the Lobster Pot Pie. But please arrive hungry as the pot of lobster will challenge even the most voracious appetite.
  • We were placed at the small tables that seat a couple each. I hate this type of seating because the couple to the right and left of you are about a foot away and can hear everything you are saying.
  • I don't think I've ever encountered such a generously portioned tasting menu and everything from the amuse bouche to dessert was excellent. The two dishes that stuck out were of course the lobster pot pie as well as the foie gras that was close to the size of a sirloin steak.
  • I've been to Michael Mina twice, and the food and service have been remarkably outstanding both times. This is a special occasion restaurant, with special food, service, and, yes, prices, to match.
  • Service is a bit too rushed, with bread and water delivered in the heedless manner of a coffee shop.
  • The miso-glazed sea bass in mushroom consommé tasted like nothing more than seafood sukiyaki. Really good sukiyaki, but even so.

 

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