Nobhill Tavern by Michael Mina

During a recent trip to Vegas, boyfriend and I decided to not gamble all of our money away (for once), and instead treat ourselves to a nice meal. Nobhill Tavern in MGM ended up being a delightful choice.
We made reservations and were seated immediately upon arrival. It took our server a little while to actually get over to us (close to 10 minutes), which is a bummer when you’re thirsty after walking pregnantly down the Strip… but not a huge deal. We eventually got water and all was well again.
For food I went what I guess is the signature house dish — the lobster pot pie. This entrée is sort of an event in itself. A server brings it out on a cart, cuts off the pot pie top and puts it on a plate, and then ladles out the lobster-​ness on top of it. Creamy, fresh, and yummy, for sure. However, this dish is INCREDIBLY pricey, even for lobster — as in $ 85 pricey. There was enough lobster to share this dish between two people, so if you’re interested in trying it, I would recommend going that route.
Boyfriend had pork chops, which, in all honesty, we both liked better than the lobster pot pie — and I’m not even a huge pork chop fan. We also both shared the truffle mac and cheese, which was good.
I was a little bummed overall by our server. There are some servers in the world who will immediately judge a table as soon as they order water to drink. I get it. I used to wait tables and I get that sometimes there are certain customer stereotypes that usually start with ordering water. But I’m pregnant, guys. Your wine list looks amazing, but I’m pregnant. Plus I’m ordering an $ 85 lobster thingy. And I’m going to leave you a big tip. And I’m a nice human being who deserves great service, even when trying to hydrate in the simplest of ways. You don’t need to pay me less attention than your other customers just because I’m ordering water.
Anyway.
Good food. Romantic atmosphere. Service good have been stronger.

The famous Lobster Pot Pie … what can I say about it except that it’s famous for a reason? Delicious bourbon cream sauce, meaty lobster, hefty price ($ 85, which was the current market price). If you’re watching your wallet, this dish is definitely enough to split between two people as it contains an entire lobster. Ask for another helping of their tasty bread (and dam was their bread good) and dip to your satisfaction.
We also ordered the Cioppino which couldn’t really compare to the main event. The scallops/​shrimp were undercooked in my opinion, but the clams and mussels were tasty. The Cioppino broth was pretty delicious, so I’ll give points for that.
We also had a side of Brussel Sprouts and while the waitress told us that it was amazing, it was just average at best. The sprouts were way too oily and weren’t caramelized as much as I liked. The pancetta they used were fantastic however.
Service was friendly, but a little bit slow. Our waitress had periods where she went missing for part of the night…15 minutes here and there really start to add up.
So to sum it up, break out your wallet for the famous Lobster Pot Pie, that dish deserves 4 stars on its own.

03÷07÷13 DINNER
WOW!
That’s the word for this evening.
WOW!
We had been here before, for happy hour, every Tuesday-​Friday, all night long! And we had enjoyed it immensely, altho the HH cocktails were rather short on substance. (I’d order one or two HH cocktails, then one off the menu for the fun of it.)
This time, tho, spouse and I came here to celebrate the 33^rd anniversary of our official «commitment». (You see, we can’t legally marry in this country, or at least in this state.) We had spent anniversary 32 and 31 in very pathetic circumstances (new to Vegas, too poor to splurge, etc). BUT THIS EVENING MADE UP FOR THOSE BAD ANNIVERSARIES!
What we had.
Cocktails: I had the La Louisanne, spouse had the Not Your Old Fashioned. Both outstanding.
Opener: We shared two dishes. The Housemade Pâté, which was excellent. (Not too gamey, perfect balance.) Also the Shaved Octopus & Calamari, which turned out to be a ceviche. Incredibly light & refreshing.
Mains: I went with 2 appetizers. First, the Seared Foie Gras w/​«seasonal accompaniment», this time I believe gooseberries, which as the best Foie I’ve had since I moved here 2.25 years ago. Then came the Grilled Quail Valley Quail w/​pickled pumpkin, brown butter & spiced pumpkin seeds. Every bite was perfection for me. I was paired by the somm with a Tokaji 5 Puttonyos for the Foie, an Albrecht Rose for the quail. Both great choices. Spouse went with the Phyllo-​Crusted «Fish & Chips» w/​malt vinegar butter, brandade, russet crisps and an egg on top! This dish was a revelation. It was 2 sole fillets (yes, this was a BIG portion of food), they were SO beautifully cooked, I was severely jealous! And that brandade, OMG. They don’t offer that as a «side», but they should, it’s incredible, tons of chunks of cod strewn throughout the mashed potatoes. The best fish & chips (albeit unorthodox) spouse had ever had, and he’s been to many great chip shops in England. The somm suggested 2 half-​glasses of Chardonnay (can you believe that, they charged for only 1 glass of wine, even tho he got 2 tastings!), as that’s what spouse thought would pair nicely. Well, the Talbott Sleepy Hollow didn’t really work, a bit too oaky, but the William Fevre Chablis was GENIUS with this dish.
Sides: We got a side of Duck Fat Fries, because we wanted to try them, and I didn’t have a starch. WOW! (There’s that word again!) But a HUGE portion, you need at least 3 people to finish them. We also got the Brussel Sprouts w/​Hobb’s Bacon. Delicious.
Dessert: We ordered the pain perdue w/​apples, pear, applesauce & hibiscus leaves. Perfect ending. Not too heavy, not too light, just right.
This was one of the best meals we’ve had in Las Vegas since moving here 2.25 years ago.
AND YET THEY’RE CLOSING, MARCH 30 2013!
FOREVER!
NO MORE FINE DINING FROM MICHAEL MINA IN THE MGM GRAND!
Our advice: GO! NOW!
PS We actually came to share their legendary Maine Lobster Pot Pie w/​Baby Vegetables & Truffle Cream, but at $ 84 we were hesitant at the beginning of the evening. But NOW, since we ate so many fantastic dishes in one evening, we want to return with 2 more people and share one of those puppies. But we have yet to find any takers. :(

lucky enough to try out a ton of dishes during an arrange group happy hour thing.
— chicken wings– good sesame. favorite thing i had.
— sausage, potato, cream skillet — very rich. solid dish.
— slider — juicy, good size.
— fries — standard frozen but good.
— macaroni — kind of liked. a bit too much truffle oil for me.
— pulled pork slider — liked the fresh sliced jalapeño on top. didn’t like the taste of the meat as much.
someone said its closing. too bad. good spot.

Oh my goodness, I feel like I am writing this review too late. Nobhill Tavern is closing soon, but I am hoping that with this review it will go out with a bang.
Nobhill Tavern, like all Michael Mina restaurants, is fantastic. Truly. The staff at all MM restaurants excel at their jobs. They understand that people go out to dine for the experience of it all, and they do a perfect job.
You must, you must order a Cable car. And even if you think you can make it at home (I’m talking to you Tony Abou-​Ganim), order here. It’s like going to Harry’s bar and ordering a martini. You know it will be the best martini you’ve ever had.
Onto the food! The food is delicious! I’ve tried the short rib, the pork chop and the lamb shank. They were all wonderful. Try the horseradish whipped potatoes, they sound interesting, and they are very good.

There aren’t many bang for buck eats at the MGM Grand but the weekday happy hour here is definitely one of them. I’ve been here a couple of times and have enjoyed everything I’ve sampled. They’ve billed their deal as the «all night happy hour» which runs Tuesday-​Friday from 5:30pm to close.
They have lots of great snacks and finger foods to munch on. Each of them go for $ 6 with the duck fat fries being the only one that would fill you up. The fries are huge and it might be the perfect fry for me. But it’s all about quality over quantity with these dishes. The beef shortrib sliders have some of the most tender mini slices of meat ever. I also like the crispy chicken wings a lot and also the beer battered shrimp.
Drink specials include $ 3 PBR’s because they’re trying to keep it real and make Dennis Hopper happy in heaven. They also offer several cocktails like the «Whiskey Smash» with Makers Mark, lime, mint and sugar. My wife likes the «Perfect Effen Drop» which consists of Effen Black Cherry Vodka, fresh sour and crème de cassis whatever the heck that is. The bartenders are very knowledgeable with the menu and very friendly.
Happy hour bled into dinner the last time I was here as we imbibed a little more than we probably should have. The bartender strongly urged I order the «Harissa Glazed Lamb Shank» and that was right on the money. No knife was necessary for this perfect piece of lamb. It was juicy, tender, almost fall off the bone awesome. It was accompanied with cous cous and raisins. I could’ve used some pita and yogurt sauce if they had it.
The clear star entrée had to be the «Lobster Pot Pie» with truffle cream and vegetables. We didn’t have it but couldn’t miss a few of the customers getting it. The server rolls out this baby tableside while everything is still in the pot. Then they cut the crust from the top and carefully separate the pie from the pot on to a large plate for a unique presentation. That was $ 85. I’ll save that one for a different occasion.

This is one of my usual spots when I touch down in Vegas. Classy bar with ambient lighting makes this place a great get together spot. The service is very good since this is an upscale restaurant.
Suggestions for appetizers:
Seared Foie Gras $ 25
Scottish Salmon Tartare $ 18
Seared Day Scallops $ 35
Braised Beef Short Rib $ 31
Maine Lobster Pot Pie
Housemade Pâté $ 14
Horseradish Whipped Potatoes $ 8
Suggestion for Entrée:
Filet Mignon 8z. $ 49
Finish off with Soufflé Grand Marnier $ 12
I usually do not drink alcohol except for wine and they have a a killer selection. Vegas is the only place I know that can get the most exclusive wines.

Love the romantic ambiance here. We dropped in after a show for some drinks and snacks and even though all the tables were taken, we had a great time at the bar. Great late night snack menu.

Securing reservations to dinner in Vegas on the day of is not a simple task. After getting denied by multiple restaurants, Nobill Tavern saved the day. They were able to squeeze us in at 8:15 before we got our unce on at XS.
We arrived to a packed and noisy house (which I enjoy) and was seated after a old fashioned at the bar.
What myself/​group ordered:
Kumamoto Oysters: They were spot on perfect. Fresh and briny, and awesome way to start a meal.
Charcuterie Sampler: The selection of dried meats were good but the pâté was the star of the night. I love pâté so this was literally a no-​brainer. I could eat their pâté everyday for the rest of my life.
NY Strip: Cooked to a perfect medium rare. Juicy, bloody, tender, and full of flavor.
Duck Fat Fries: To be honest I really couldn’t tell the difference between fries cooked in duck fat compared to fries cooked with regular oil. They were good though.
Truffle Mac and Cheese: Paired awesome with the broccoli and had a nice hint of truffle flavor to it.
Brussels Sprouts: I’m a brussels sprouts whore so this was another no-​brainer dish for me. Delicious.
Everything about this restaurant flowed so well with what my friends and I were expecting. Service was awesome and so was the food. I’ve always walked past this restaurant and never gave it a second thought, but after our meal last night, it’s definitely a restaurant I will recommend to others.

I finally got my foie gras fix since the foie gras ban happened here in Cali. We made reservations for Nobhill Tavern since it was one of the restaurants that wasn’t too too pricey and within walking distance inside our hotel.
The ambiance is quite romantic with the restaurant’s dim lighting and huge comfy chairs and couch-​like benches up against the walls.
Our waitress was very nice and efficient. She shared the specials with us and made some quick recommendations.
I ordered the seared foie gras of course as the appetizer and the Shelton Farms Chicken Breast as my entrée. Yes, I wanted to be sorta «clean» that night. I’d have to the say, the foie gras didn’t really WOW me too much. I thought I would take a small bite of it and seriously have an orgasmic foodie attack, but unfortunately that didn’t happen. Now I know if I don’t have foie gras again for a long while, I won’t feel deprived at all. My chicken entrée was A-OK…the chicken was slightly too salty for me. Maybe cuz I’m bias, since the SBBF bakes the best and most moist chicken for us at home on a weekly basis. I did like the cauliflower purée and roasted cauliflower that accompanied my entrée.
One minor issue I had during our dining experience was when they seated a table of 4 – 5 LOUD and not very «dressy» lookin’ senior citizens right behind us, and there were plenty of other tables to seat them at. When we dine out at a restaurant that’s 3 dollar signs or more, I honestly expect to have it somewhat quiet for me to enjoy the conversation that I’m trying to have.
I honestly would have given Nobhill Tavern 2 stars if it weren’t for the delicious basket of bread they brought out with this flavorful olive oil. The little rolls they had were like pockets of carb heaven! Yummers.
I’d probably only come back here if I really wanted some good snack-​sized bread. Yeah, obviously that’s not gonna happen cuz I’m sure I can get just as good of bread elsewhere.

With suitcases in hand we checked this place out to satisfy my curiosity about Michael Mina. I’ve heard his name thrown around here and there when the conversation is about restaurants. Why is he famous? Why does have so many restaurants?
NEW ENGLAND CRAB & LOBSTER ROLLS ($ 17) — 3 pieces of warm bread with crab & lobster goodness on top. Scrumptious!
SEARED FOIE GRAS ($ 25) — It was perfectly seared and buttery. It also had an apple compote that made it super sweet, super yummy!
FRENCH FRIES ($ 7) — Perfectly salted and perfectly crunchy.
BEIGNETS ($ 9) — So warm, so soft, and so sugary! Then I dipped it in the chocolate caramel sauce… ohmanohmanohman, I was in pure ecstasy! The salty caramel ice cream was a delightful bonus to this dish!
CHRIS-​TINI ($ 14) — There was something beyond sweetness, something odd and sour that made me a bit dizzy. I liked it!
SUMMER FLING ($ 14?) — So good yet so bad… The first sip wormed its way into my brain and made me giddy!
SERVICE — There was 1 to 2 people standing in each corner watching the dining room. At least they were on it when we needed something. But as the restaurant got busier, we saw less and less of our waiter. We had to flag him down when I wanted to order dessert, when we wanted more drinks, and when we were ready to pay. But my tummy was happy so I wasn’t upset with the wait. And props to the manager for hiding our suitcases in his office.
After a few appetizers and drinks I kind of understood why Michael Mina is known by a lot of foodies. AHHHH… dining here was a great way to end this Vegas trip! Now I’m curious about the other Michael Mina restaurants!

I think I just found my favorite new Vegas bar!
The world needs more bartenders like these guys. You know what I’m talking about… the kind of guys who actually seem to enjoy chatting you up, making special concoctions and even letting you sample little tastes of things they’ve created.
We enjoyed our appetizers and drinks so much, we ended up returning the next day for pre l’Atelier drinks.
First night: we had the truffle mac n’ cheese (cliché but awesome), the beer battered shrimp (more of a perfect tempura than a beer batter) and the crispy Korean chicken wings (great sauce!).
On the second night we stuck with cocktails… BTW, these guys make the most perfect martini (icy, slightly citrusy and just enough vermouth).
The ambiance of the restaurant and bar is perfect. It’s dark and you’ll quickly forget you’re just steps from the hustle and bustle of the casino.
I hope my favorite new bartenders will be here in a month’s time. I’m definitely going to do a full dinner when I come back!

I hemmed and hawed at booking a dinner at Nobhill Tavern after checking out previous reviews on Unilocal and reading the anecdotes of previous diners and their inconsistent service experiences. We took a chance, however, enjoying all of our previous forays into the Michael Mina restaurant group.
After arriving for late dinner (10:00 Friday night), were seated and we peeked at the menu. For a few minutes, none of the offered mains stood out to either of us, to which I thought might be a sign that I was going to regret booking this reservation. My boyfriend said, «I’m not going to come to a place like this and get a burger!»
However, we took a second look and decided that the Shelton Farms chicken breast sounded simple, yet yummy, paired with cauliflower two ways. (I say this knowing that I very rarely, if ever, order chicken when dining out.) However, I’m getting ahead of myself. We started with the Market Salad (him) and the Tomato Fondue (her). He was pleased with the Drunken Goat featured in the über fresh salad. The Tomato Fondue was a new way of enjoyed a grilled cheese and tomato bisque, with whimsical presentation and a great twist on a classic pairing.
When both of our Mains arrived, we were pleasantly surprised at how delectable the chicken looked, crisped skin and all. Served on a cauliflower purée with roasted multicolor cauliflower florets and golden raisins. We later found out after discussing with our waiter that the chicken was primarily prepared via sous vide, with brief searing prior and a quick roast in the oven to crisp up the skin. So so juicy and flavorful. This kitchen made me believe in chicken when dining out again.
We topped it all off with some house-​made ice creams and the chocolate whiskey cake, although I feel as if (while writing this), I’d have rather have enjoyed the beignets myself. Maybe next time?
Speaking to our service experience, it was excellent, the staff was attentive enough yet not overbearing. We lingered a bit past Midnight and the wait staff did not seem to mind at all (or if they did we didn’t notice). We were the last to leave, and did not feel rushed at all.

Lobster Pot Pie… That’s all I need to say. It’s the most expensive entrée I have ever paid for. It was worth it!
In addition, we ordered the filet mignon, truffled mac & cheese, and crab & lobster rolls. All were excellent.

Lovely restaurant with good food. Service was lacking. I want to give Nobhill Tavern 4 stars, but the service was bad enough that I needed to take a star off.
Drinks were great. I think everyone was happy with their drinks.
The complimentary bread was delicious, but we did have a hair in ours.
I ordered oysters as an appetizer. They were fresh. No complaints. I ordered the Salmon Tartare as a main. That was good too.
My boyfriend ordered the Crispy Pork Belly, which was very good. I think he enjoyed his dish very much.
We ordered a side dish but never got it. That was disappointing. They did offer a free drink to compensate for it.
I do think that Nobhill Tavern is worth going to. I think the service just happened to be lacking with our table at that time. I wouldn’t mind returning and giving them a second chance.

Overall, had a really good experience here – good food, good service, nice atmosphere, no wait time (we went at about 6pm on a Friday night)
We ordered drinks because they are known for their signature cocktails. They were pretty tasty and were definitely not lacking on the alcohol! I’m not a big cocktail fan so I probably wouldn’t order them again.
We got the crab and lobster rolls for our appetizer which were tasty. I got the lobster pot pie which was amazing. I enjoyed the presentation and the portion size was really big. My husband got the pork belly with duck fat potatoes which was also really delicious. Lastly we got a berry panna cotta with lemon shortbread cookies for dessert which was so amazing.
Overall, we enjoyed ourselves at Nobhill Tavern… definitely one of the more expensive tabs we’ve had in a while but overall worth it!

UPDATE: We want to thank Nobhill Tavern’s bartender extraordinaire, Michael, for making our wedding’s cocktail hour so spectacular. You see, Michael, maker of my favorite cocktail in the world, the Cable Car, aka spiked Orange Bang, aka spiked Orange Julius, gave us a crash course last fall on how to make these frothy wonder drinks. From our first sip, two years ago, to our 50^th, all made by him, we knew that this was what we wanted for our signature drink. Michael graciously made that happen for us.
He took a good chunk of time out of his day to show us step-​by-​step directions, tricks and tips. It probably helped that since we see him EVERY TIME we’re in Vegas and knows us by name, we’re almost family. The reason he was so vital is because Nobhill Tavern’s Cable Car can’t be duplicated. Trust me, I’ve searched, tried and sipped. We even had one at Caesar’s Palace, just to compare, and it was absolute swill.
Everyone we’ve ever taken to Nobhill Tavern has gotten absolutely hooked on their Cable Cars. I’m not talking, «yeah, that was pretty good,» I’m talking, «do we have time to go back to Nobhill Tavern?» and «since we’re in Vegas, can we stop by MGM and get some Cable Cars?» Nobhill Tavern really crafts a work of art and we can’t thank Michael enough for making our signature drink, the toast of our big day!
PS Their food is pretty damn good too, unfortunately, since those super tasty Cable Cars sneak up on you, I can’t recall specifics from any of my meals other than I recall it being yum. I def do recall that the service was spectacular because those Cable Cars were coming out to our table lighting fast as if on a conveyor belt.
If you want to see Michael in action, minus some extra special instruction, see here:

Made reservations here… And got here and was seated…
FOOD
I got the pork chop… It was extremely tender… I was impressed with the fat and meat taste… The texture was excellent. :) it was bigger than the other dishes offered too.
My fiancé got the halibut and he said it was ok and the sauce was weak… I tried it and didn’t have much flavor.
Truffle Mac and cheese — Sooooo disappointed. I expected more… There wasn’t even enough cheese!
Bussel sprouts — that was good!
Crab cakes — you get 3 small pieces and the bread helps with the crab texture… Very good.
Unlimited bread — yummy
SERVICE
Great service. Because it’s a Michael Mina restaurant, it needs to have good service.
AMBIANCE
Nice in the front, but the back is eh. There is only one bathroom… Really?
Overall… Good. I can cross thisoff my list.

This is a review of their late night happy hour.
The Skinny: albeit the majority are Lilliputian sized servings, the American comfort food classics are flavourful… don’t miss the fries with truffle aioli! (3.5), the service is a little slow, FYI — the service is a little better at the bar (3), value: considering the caliber of the cuisine, $ 64 to try all 8 dishes was a steal (5).
It’s a rare thing for something to convince me to stay out past 10 pm (girls need their beauty sleep!). The happy hour at Nob Hill was just added to that list.
We were lucky enough to have two other people joining us on our late night culinary excursion so it made a perfect group to try the entire happy hour menu.
The menu consists of 8 items for $ 8 each. On the menu: fries with truffle aioli, beer battered shrimp with avocado lime dipping sauce, rhubard mixed green salad, red pepper and spinach flatbread with mixed greens, asian styled chicken wings, pulled pork sandwiches, lobster roll, and a charcuterie plate.
Best deal of the bunch? The fries with truffle aioli… hands down. The fries are golden, mildly nutty, and perfectly crispy even after they had gotten a little cold. Paired with the truffle aioli, this heaping mound of magic (and yes! it is a large heaping mound!) is a must order when you come here.
I would say that the remaining items are much smaller portion sizes.
The pulled pork sandwiches were a highlight of the meal. The saucy little morsels are remarkably tender, slightly smoky and sweet with a mild kick of heat from the jalapeño. It was comfort food in a bite.
The rhubarb mixed green salad was delightful because of the combination of sweet and sour on the plate. The firm texture of the rhubarb was a wonderful touch and added an different take than your usual stewed versions.
The beer batter shrimp were light, crunchy with just enough batter. However, I would like to mention that the accompanying avocado-​lime dipping sauce was a little too heavy for me and needed more acidity to brighten the flavours.
The charcuterie plate was your standard lovely plate of various pates and cold cuts. Nothing extraordinary and could have definitely used more accompanying bread.
The lobster roll was okay — perhaps a little too much on the mayo and too little of the lobster, it seemed a little overpriced. Juxtaposed with the wonderful pulled porkies, it seemed a little underwhelming.
The red pepper and spinach flatbread was a little bland, and the crust was a little too dense and thin for our tastes. The mixed greens it came with were nothing special either.
The Asian-​styled chicken wings had a poor texture despite being fried up. The P.F. Chang-​esque sweet/​sour/​spicy sauce didn’t really help either. Thumbs down.
Overall, there were some great items (ie, fries with truffle aioli) and some «what were they thinking when they put this on the menu» (ie, Asian-​style chicken wings) which is why the cuisine rates a 3.5. However, factoring the cost for some of the outstanding items, it evens this joint to a four starred review.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Las Vegas! There are two standout dishes that I’ve ordered on separate occasions.
1) The fork tender Braised Short Ribs. They frequently change up the accompaniments… on one occasion, they sat on a bed of whipped potatoes w/​a medley of green beans, corn, peas, and carrots. On another occasion, it was topped with Foie Gras… it was like a picnic in my mouth. It floats atop a savory broth of pasta pearls. The Foie Gras was perfectly pan seared, Short Ribs brilliantly braised, and the pearls are textured to the tasting.
2) The Maine Lobster Pot Pie is the other notable dish. At «market price» (usually around $ 85+), this dish comes wheeled out by a waiter. It’s set in a medium copper pot shrooming with a golden brown crust topping. The server breaks the pastry, and then serves the creamy goodness onto your plate. In addition to the whole 2 lb lobster meat, there’s also fingerling potatoes, carrots, green beans and truffle cream. To die for! It’s a very hearty meal. Big enough for two to share.
In addition, don’t forget to order a side of the truffles mac n’ cheese. They use corkscrew shaped pasta as opposed to an elbow pasta. The truffle flavor was evident but not overwhelmingly so. The porcini mushrooms added a subtle earthy flavor to this dish.