While most travel to Las Vegas for the gambling, shows, and overall appeal of lounging by a pool in the balmy desert heat with drink in hand, there are those that seek to indulge in the plethora of dining choices during their stay. While you could stick with the basic buffet style breakfast, lunch, and dinner that seem to run rampant, it would be a great disservice to yourself and your travel buddies if you missed out on one of the best food and drink selections that Vegas has to offer. Located inside the MGM Grand and lead by James Beard award-winning chef Michael Mina, the Nobhill Tavern is unlike any place you’ve ever been before. Its classic tavern feel is paired with a sophistication that rivals any 5-star restaurant, and the fare is a perfect blend of American comfort and succulent seafood dishes that will transport your palate straight to the East Coast, where feasting on some butter poached Maine lobster is just another Friday night by the water. If you aren’t a seafood fan, fret not. Under main dishes you’ll find the American Kobe Burger which is served on their house-baked bun with onions sautéed in balsamic, cheddar cheese, and a “secret sauce” that will keep you guessing long after you’ve retired to your hotel room.
Read More ...Whether operating under the name pub, bar, or tavern, this classic style of eatery is universally synonymous with casual comfort food and lively socializing. With the newly revamped Nobhill Tavern, it now has the added association of the chic and sophisticated culinary vision of esteemed chef and restaurateur Michael Mina. Featuring a cozily elegant décor, a menu of approachably refined bar snack staples, and an energetic soundtrack, Nobhill Tavern brings a neighborly sense of belonging to Vegas and promises to be a favorite hangout for locals and visitors alike.
To accommodate Nobhill’s new tavern identity, the restaurant has been redesigned to better facilitate bar mingling and casual conversation. The lounge area has been expanded, greeting guests with a welcoming solid wood bar and an appealingly upbeat music selection of jukebox standbys. New informal dining niches have been introduced: leather booths separated by cobblestone-printed screens offer more seclusion while equally sumptuous leather chairs congregate around low tables for a more communal experience. The dining room offers a more traditional, though similarly unpretentious, dining experience with round, white-clothed tables and a relaxed ambiance.
The Nobhill Tavern menu also reflects a casual slant, with more down-to-earth prices and flavors than some of the Strip’s more fanciful culinary fare. It was designed with a mind for the satisfyingly simple pleasures of classic pub food and bar snacks transformed with haute cuisine twists: homey standards become extravagant like the Maine Lobster Pot Pie with truffled cream, and straightforward comfort foods like Pork Chops and Chicken and Dumplings are given Mina-style flair with tableside saucing.
We begin our Nobhill experience with a Cable Car, the restaurant’s signature cocktail and ode to its San Francisco namesake neighborhood. Served in a cinnamon sugar-crusted martini glass, this sweet, playful citrus cocktail conjures memories of orange creamsicles coupled with a decidedly grown up kick.
The Charcuterie board offers a tantalizing selection of meats including Jamón Serrano, Prosciutto Cotto, Dry-Cured Speck, and House-Made Paté. It showcases the high quality ingredients used by the Nobhill kitchen: the gamey earthiness of the Paté, the slightly spicy Serrano, the Prosciutto’s smoky butteriness and the mild lightness of the Speck all contrast beautifully with one another. A generous serving of the garlicky, herby Grilled Ciabatta with Rosemary provides a flavorful platform for sampling the meats, its slightly charred crispness accentuating their meaty smokiness. It proves an excellent starter, well-suited to snacking and chatting.
The New England Lobster Rolls offer a deliciously traditional bite to please even the staunchest of culinary purists. The creamy lobster mixture is piled high on soft halved mini rolls and crowned with micro cilantro for an abundantly appealing finger food. The buttery, rich flavors of the generous chunks of lobster meat are accentuated by the slight sweetness of the bread while the creamy herbed sauce and cilantro zest impart a light, summery flavor.
The golden Beer-Battered Shrimp bridge the divide between familiar bar snack and epicurean innovation. Four large crispy shrimps are paired with a delectable lime avocado sauce for dipping. The fried shrimps are given surprising nuance by the addition of cumin seeds into the batter, adding a spiced zest to the sweet shrimp meat. The sauce brightens the flavors of the shrimp with a citrusy tang and intensifies the shrimp’s irresistibility.
The BBQ Pulled-Pork Finger Sandwiches are a similar re-imagining of a classically homey dish. Served open-face on small toasted bread rounds, the saucy shredded pork is topped with a dollop of corn pudding and mini Serrano chili pepper slices. The flavors layer on top of one another and blend together for a full-bodied and complex dish: the sweet creamy corn pudding enhances the sweetness in the pork while the chili pepper heat creeps in and warms the palate.
The Bay Shrimp “Louie” highlights the talent of the Nobhill Tavern kitchen for delivering pure, unadulterated traditional dishes. Pink shrimp, cherry tomatoes, avocado slices, hardboiled egg segments and curlicued green onions are cradled in a halved baby romaine lettuce head and amply drizzled with a classic Louie sauce which adds a horseradish spice to the crisp salad. Overflowing with fresh and abundant ingredients, this salad is well-suited for sharing or as an individual meal.
The Cream of Broccoli Soup is served rustically in a miniature cast iron pot, accompanied by a dainty grilled cheese sandwich charmingly wrapped in a paper pocket. It is little details such as these that make the Nobhill Tavern cuisine so appealing and approachable, presenting the delightful dishes in unique and disarming ways. The flavors of the soup live up to the comforting promise of its presentation: the creamy freshness of the soup is punctuated by whole blanched broccoli florets and salty, smoky bacon chunks for a hearty and richly satisfying dish. Dipping the grilled cheese triangle into the soup adds an additional sharpness to the broth and prompts thoughts of cozy childhood memories.
Immediately upon being delivered to our table, the massive Berkshire Pork Chop is treated to a generous pouring of apricot and mustard jus, which coats the meat and its Brussels sprout and cipolline onion accompaniments with a rich, fruity aroma. The tender, gamey pork is well matched with the rich wintry spice of the mustard and the deep sweetness of the apricot. The slight bitterness of the Brussels sprouts balances the pork’s heft and makes for a dish that is simply and unabashedly satisfying.
The Atlantic Salmon infuses a classic dish with unexpected flavors. Served with a creamy Hollandaise sauce and green and white asparagus, the Salmon is an expertly executed version of a traditional fine dining flavor triad. However, like the Pork Chop, the Salmon is augmented by its own tableside sauce: this time an earthy brown morel sauce. The morels contribute robustness to the dish that cuts through the Hollandaise’s heaviness while simultaneously deepening and enriching the buttery flavors of the salmon.
The Chicken and Dumplings exemplify the warmth of Southern comfort food, featuring a generous half roast chicken and plump, doughy dumplings with a spooned over pea and garlic velouté. It carefully balances textures and flavors: the thyme-infused, pillowy dumplings juxtapose beautifully with the crisp skin and moist chicken, while the velouté blankets the dish with pungent garlic and the slight sweetness from fresh peas and carrots.
Nobhill Tavern’s extravagant desserts hold their own amidst the parade of savory dishes that preceded them. The Banana Sundae is a warm and gooey treat, filling the air with the sweet aromas of cinnamon, caramel and fruity bananas. Bits of toffee add crunchy accents that contrast deliciously with the cool vanilla ice cream.
The Chocolate Layer Cake is the epitome of decadence. It layers chocolate ganache with peanut butter crunch for a dessert that balances sweet with saltiness and creaminess with crunch for a pleasingly complex depth of flavor. The cocoa nib ice cream that accompanies it intensifies the richness nearly gratuitously for an experience that is pure, unadulterated indulgence.
The unanimous favorite, however, is the Strawberry and Rhubarb Crisp. The sweet, sugar dusted crumble crust is beautifully tempered by the tartness of the fresh strawberries and rhubarb for a summery and refreshing flavor. A rhubarb foam contributes additional tartness and a culinary sophistication that elevates this dessert from its humble home-baked pie associations. So too does the crème fraiche ice cream that melts delectably over the piping hot pastry. It is an excellent conclusion to our Nobhill Tavern meal, embodying the restaurant’s skillful blend of familiar comfort food with the delightful culinary sophistications expected from a Mina Group restaurant.
Nobhill Tavern doesn’t stand on ceremony. It’s the kind of restaurant where you don’t have to feel self-conscious about talking too loudly or about which fork you should use. With lively music and a cozily refined interior, the restaurant is designed to put people at ease and to encourage socializing. But don’t be fooled by the casual neighborhood vibe: Nobhill’s take on comfort food is anything but common place. This is a Michael Mina restaurant after all.
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Everything at Nobhill Tavern was wonderful, from the bread they brought to the table to dessert. We LOVED the French Onion soup...great twist!! The experience was fantastic and we will be back!!
The food was great, the service excellent and efficient, but the booth seating made for a quiet, private and very comfortable dining experience.
Far beyond expectations
Took large group to Nobhill to get out of the mainstream of the Casino but stay close to the action. It was great. Food was superb and Ed and his crew did a great job.Thanks
Great atmosphere (I forgot I was in the depths of a huge casino), Excellent service and Outstanding food; it was the complete package! We hosted a client dinner of 12 and our wait staff did not miss a beat. It was a very relaxing and accommodating meal; we were able to focus on our clients and they enjoyed themselves. Excellent wine selection. Braised Beef was awesome! Can't wait to go back.
Sophisticated atmosphere, delicious food.
We had made reservations for 7:15 pm and we also received an emailed confirmation for 7:15 pm. Unfortunately, when we arrived the hostess told us that "We were wrong and our reservation was for 7:30 pm." She then told us she would seat us as soon as possible". While we waited, the hostess sat several groups of diners before us, and at least 2 groups did not have reservations at all. Finally, I spoke to the manager at 7:35 pm at which point the hostess immediately seated us. Once we were seated (in a booth which we had requested), everything turned around. Our waitress was excellent. She was friendly and gave intelligent answers to all of our questions regarding the food and how it was prepared. The food was also wonderful! We highly recommend the Mac & Cheese with Truffles and the Cheese Fondue.
Great food and ambiance ,very speedy service would go back again and again
Nobhill Tavern was a definite island of peace and tranquility amidst the noise and chaos of a large,busy Las Vegas resort. From the greeting of the Maitre'D to the quiet confidence of our waiter, we were transported to a beautiful, zen-like dining experience. The drink selection was amazing, as were the food items on the menu. My wife and I both loved the meal and would love to attend any of Michael Mina's culinary establishments if Nobhill Tavern is an example of his style and elegance. Bravo to all concerned at Nobhill Tavern!!
I celebrated my 30th birthday at Nobhill Tavern and it was the best birthday dinner I have ever had!! The food was so good. The Tomato Fondue was excellent. It's their spin on tomato soup and grilled cheese. My husband and I both had the Braised Beef with the Truffled Mac n Cheese and Creamed Corn. It was definitely worth the money. Our server was very attentive and made our experience there special. Next time I am out in Vegas I am going back for sure.
We had a very nice dining experience from start to finish. The food was great and it was the perfect place to celebrate a birthday. Very classy would be my impression.
We look forward to going again
The ambiance, service, food, and wine were memorable. The overly simplified descriptions on the menu do not prepare you for the complexity, subtleties, and creativity of the dishes. We ordered the charcaturie plate. Fantastic! Quail that was perfectly caramelized. Pork Belly cooked sous-vide (extremely slow cooked in a plastic bag) what was like butter on the inside and, contrary to traditional sous-vide, wonderfully seared on the outside. And their, oh-my-god, chocolate tart. Wow!!! We were equally lucky with the wine, too. We had an amazingly priced 2003 Medoc the sommelier had found only a few bottles remaining of and added to the wine menu at a price to move. After offering the sommelier a taste of our bottle, I'm sure the price went up. Sorry.... For a memorable experience, all around, I highly recommend this restaurant.
Superb I had the Shrimp and Grits and loved them the wine we had was fantastic and the service was exceptional. The menu was varied and something for everyone. A great dining experience would recommend to anyone.
Wonderfully prepared meals, reasonably priced. Excellent presentation of meals with ample portions. The wine list was extensive with a wide range of prices. I highly recommend this restaurant located in the MGM Casino.
Dinner was delicious!! Had the cheese fondue and loved it so much stopped by before catching flight out and had it again!!!!!
Leave the kids with a sitter for this one! Great ambiance, good food!
The food and service at Nobhill are well worth the money. The staff was friendly and helpful, the food was better than what we had had at a top rated restaurant the previous night, and the price for the value is excellent. Some of the best foie groie I've had in a long while, and the chocolate suffle was superb. The only down side were the patrons who did not respect the dress code of business casual. There were several customers who wore jeans and t-shirts, which somewhat lessened the nice atmosphere.
good
We had a great experience at Nobhill, the food was very good and the service was outstanding. The chicken breast entree was just o.k., but everything else caused a "Rachael Ray Moan" to be emitted.
It was ok
Great food and service. Very nice restaurant. Would recommend highly.
What an excellent meal! I had the pork tenderloin while my companion had the salmon. For dessert we had the chocolate torte with Guinness sorbet. The food was prepared perfectly and the service was second to none. I come from a restaurant background and I am always looking for flaws when I dine out. Not a single one here!
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My husband and I enjoyed Nobhill Tavern immensely. Lovely menu, we made great choices, great service and lovely ambiance. Have already recommended this restaurant to friends going to Las Vegas.
I picked this restaurant by hunting websites for reviews. I'm not fussy in that regard. Nobhill Tavern was highly-rated but not the highest-rated restaurant I saw, but I liked the name and the description, so why not. My experience more than met my expectations. I was entertaining a client and some colleagues, and everyone thought the restaurant was terrific. We shared an appetizer sampler, and I had a main course, a salad, and some sides, so I had a chance to taste several different items. Everything I put in my mouth was delicious. The atmosphere was classy, the service was professional and friendly. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to my friends and to everyone!
Relaxing interior, comfy seating, enough space between tables to have private conversations, excellent wine list combined with their menu and specials made it a great evening. It is a long walk from the front of the hotel to the restaurant, but worth the hike. Most definately a do again.
We had a party of 10. Our waiter was FANTASTIC. Very attentive without hovering or smothering! The menu selection was broad, so everyone could find somehting that interested them. I've gotta recommend the sampler appetizer if you have a group. Incredible value and makes the decision easy for the table. You must try the grilled cheese with tomato soup fondue. Could be a meal by itself. Simply incredible. What's not to like about truffle oil Mac'n Cheese? From steak to fish....the entire table was delighted. Dessert....doughnuts with chocolate and carmel sauce and carmel ice cream...to classic creme brule. You can't make a poor choice!
Stepping into the lavishly mirrored main dining room at 10:00 PM we were surrounded by innumerable well-dressed diners, both with and without New Years party hats. My date and I were seated at a small table where she could people-watch the other diners directly and I could comment about them through mirror. The menu posted on the internet (which was the main draw for us) was different than the menu we received, but equally intriguing. After selecting sturgeon (what a perfect end-of-the-year meal)my waiter knowledgabley recommended an Oregonian Pinot Noir for about $17 a glass which we both ordered. The rich wine which had a complex bouqet which brought to mind the warm feelings of oven baked bread in a homestead kitchen. For an appetizer, we split a tender half quail between ourselves and then enjoyed the wine along with Auld Lang Syne conversation. Finally, the entrees arrived and I was treated to a generous portion of sturgeon steak sitting on top of thinly sliced potatoes in an almost (but not typically cloying) au gratin-like sauce. We enjoyed our meal at leisure, slowly savoring every bite, and managed to leave (sans desert) by 11:30. The meal, costing much less than our Blue Man group tickets and some of the dance clubs we considered attending, represented a well spent moment of entertainment and relaxation.
Good food
We had a wonderful experience at Nobhill. The service was outstanding. My only suggestion is that when I go to an upscale restaurant and pay the prices that we did, I kind of expect a white table. It seemed a little ordinary without it.
the service can improve. the foods were little too salty.
The food at the Nobhill Tavern is good but very pricey. $49.00 for a 10 oz filtet is a bit much. All the meat entrees were over priced, the seafood and other entrees were priced reasonably.
Restaurant was "OK". At the prices they charge and being in LV...there are much better restaurants that charge too much to go back to Nobhill Tavern.
Nobhill has an excellent staff and they provided for a pleasant experience but the menu items, while good, are not extraordinary and are overpriced for this type of restaurant.
the food was marginal and the waiter was rude - what else can I say
