A distant orange glow drew us inside the land of the rising sun, or Japonais, the next best thing to it. After three days in the desert, this trendy Las Vegas restaurant in the Mirage Hotel and Casino was a welcome respite from the whirring slot machines and techno music.
With its dim lighting and relaxed atmosphere, Japonais was the perfect place for my husband to try sushi for the first time.
Our hostess eased us into a quiet booth and delivered an extensive cocktail menu that spoke of edible orchids and sake infused cocktails. I chose a Startini and Rich ordered a premium Japanese beer as the stunning red dining room came into focus.
Think post-modern industrial Japan and European elegance -- Japonais is the French word for Japanese. We were surrounded by walls of red brick and blue glass, exotic woods, and shimmery drapery. The adjoining lounge is layered w
ith cascading palm trees and water walls, but the most striking element is the glowing “fire” wall made of glass, which provides an artistic backdrop for the 110-foot-long curving onyx bar. Still, for all its glamour, the Japonais has a comfortable, not ostentatious, feel.
We had great fun sampling the inventive menu, which happily is designed for sharing. The restaurant has a hot and cold kitchen, each with its own chef. Our perky Asian server recommended we begin with The Rock, a stone slab placed in the center of our table. At 900 degrees, it took only 10 seconds for us to sizzle our our own appetizer, a few thin slices of marinated New York strip steak. With a sip of Startini and a gulp of Sopporo, our taste buds were charged for a culinary experience that would last nearly two hours.
How we could leave this restaurant without eating too much is the result of a steady s
uccessi
on of hot and cold Asian specialties served in small portions. Executive chefs Gene Kato and Jun Ichikawa have outdone themselves with creative combinations and exquisite presentations. Among our favorites were the crispy shrimp and salmon sushi rolls, panko shrimp rolls topped with marinated salmon sashimi and wasabi tobiko sauce; smoked wagyu with ginger wasabi ponzu; thinly sliced kobe beef with ginger wasabi sauce served with asparagus pieces; and our shared entrée, ahi tuna steak grilled over roasted scallion potato puree, tempura maitake mushrooms and wasabi glaze.
Japonais is the brainchild of noted restaurateurs Miae Lim and Rick Wahlstedt, along with design guru Jeffrey Beers, a former pr
oject architect for the distinguished firm of I.M. Pei. The Las Vegas restaurant, which opened in October 2006, joins popular Japonais locations in Chicago and New York City.
Signature drink: The Floating Orchid combines Stolichnaya vodka, Cointreau, fresh pear and lemon juices with an edible orchid garnish.
Average check for one, with drinks: A pricey $60, but we preferred to plunk down our money here, not at the black jack tables.
Reservations: 866-339-4566
Lisa Genshei
mer, Travel Correspondent:
The Culinary Tourist appears every other Thursday and by chance in Gather Essentials: Travel. Explore all 50 states with award-winning documentary producer Lisa Gensheimer as she discovers the fun, food and people she meets along the way. Whether you're visiting the home of a faraway friend, stopping for directions at a roadside market, or on holiday in an exotic location, richly layered experiences await. A published author, Lisa has several new projects in the works, including a cultural cookbook and companion travel DVD. Read more about Lisa’s work at MainStreetMedia.tv and TheForestPress.com.
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Comments: 32
Sadly, I don't really care for Japanese food! I tried red snapper ceviche (?), sushi, sashimi, sea urchin, etc. Yuk!
But I sure do like Japanese beer.
Shannon--How interesting it must have been to work for a Japanese company and what a great way to immerse yourself in a new culture, if not the food!
Spartan--You lived in Japan as a child--What is your most vivid memory? I'm still on information overload from NAB (National Association of Broadcasters Expo for those who are not in the biz), but I will write a recap soon. Sony and Panasonic rolled out new HD cameras; we watched an amazing demo from Apple on color correction using Final Cut Server, Final Cut Studio 2, and Color; and Tiffen presented some surprising new software that does all the work of filters and then some. And that doesn't even begin to cover what we learned. More later.
Sonia--I hereby christen you the queen of sushi. Be sure to fill us in on the little place in Hilo.
Mr Bill--You are always hungry and have such a great appetite for world travel.
Norah--You are so right about that! Always hold out for good, fresh fish.
Thanks to all for your comments. Keep them coming.
Great article, Lisa.
Ron--You may have noticed a few years ago Las Vegas marketed itself as a family friendly place, with lots to do for kids. Apparently that approach didn't have the desired effect; now it's back to "sin city."
Debi--I'll bet you would feel comfortable at Japonais, alone or with friends. I noticed a few singles sitting in the lounge area, sipping colorful drinks and enjoying a view of the casino floor.
Hope you had a good time here in Sin City. We had a friend visit last week who'd never been here so we took him on a tour of The Venetian, caught The Sirens at Treasure Island, saw Folies Bergere at The Flamingo, the fountains and the Ansel Adams exhibit at Bellagio, comedian Gordie Brown at Fitzgeralds (downtown) and of course the over the top extravagance of The Strip at night.
> > >
> > > We enjoyed panko crusted scallops and lemon-garlic shrimp linguini at the Bellagio and discovered Rosemary's Restaurant which is run by a former student of Emeril who until recently was head chef at one of the major strip casinos--I don't recall which one right now--but any meal he prepares is heaven.
> > >
> > > Next time you're headed this way you HAVE to go to Rosemary's.
> > >
> > > Till then, good eating.
> > >
> > > Ray