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 entree 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.
I setup a pre-arranged HH with heavy Hors d'oeuvres before we went to the Pac 12 Championship game inside the MGM. We had already had a nice dinner the night before so we just wanted some snacks and some nice cocktails. Nob Hill Tavern was perfect for the occasion. Â Since I pre-arranged the menu ahead of time, within minutes of sitting down they brought out the freshly prepared food for us to start munching on.
Cheeseburger sliders - Juicy patty. Good flavor
Crispy Korean BBQ Wings - Proly my favorite thing. Great crunch on the wing (they brine the wings for a substantial amount of time ahead of frying) and great flavor.
Pulled Pork Sliders - I liked these but a buddy didnt. Had a jalapeno on top for a little spice and I liked that the sauce was non traditional.
Wood Grilled Sausages - Liked the sausages but presentation was different than expected.
Charcuterie plate - Good charcuterie plate. Loved the prosciutto and pate'.
Truffle Mac & Cheese - Not too rich and good truffle flavor
Duck Fat Fries - Okay fries, nothing special
Service was great and the cocktails were perfect. I am bummed this place is closing because I would definitely come back on my next visit.
The famous Lobster Pot Pie ... what can I say about it except that it's famous for a reason? Â Delicious bourbon cream sauce, meaty lobster, hefty price ($85, which was the current market price). Â If you're watching your wallet, this dish is definitely enough to split between two people as it contains an entire lobster. Â 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. Â The scallops/shrimp were undercooked in my opinion, but the clams and mussels were tasty. Â The Cioppino broth was pretty delicious, so I'll give points for that. Â
We also had a side of Brussel Sprouts and while the waitress told us that it was amazing, it was just average at best. Â The sprouts were way too oily and weren't caramelized as much as I liked. Â The pancetta they used were fantastic however.
Service was friendly, but a little bit slow. Â Our waitress had periods where she went missing for part of the night....15 minutes here and there really start to add up. Â
So to sum it up, break out your wallet for the famous Lobster Pot Pie, that dish deserves 4 stars on its own.
I had dinner at Nobhill tavern on my last night of a VERY long business trip to Vegas. My co-workers had been looking for the cheapest place to eat all week and I was Jonesin for some real food. I had s nice little table in the back and was surprised at how empty the place was. After perusing the menu and chatting with my waiter I decided on the antipasti meats and cheese to start and the lobster pot pie. The meats ad cheese were really nice and they were served with this fabulous grilled bread. I probably should've just made that my meal.
The lobster pot pie is very nicely presented. They bring out this huge copper pot with pastry draped over the too and sides,. I was a little worried when I saw the size of the pot, but once they cut the top off they show you that the pot pie doesn't come s lose to filling it, which was a relief. You do get a whole lobster , it's in a nicer light sauce, Netherlands heavy sauce that you usually think of with pot pie, and some nice  vegetables.
I must say that I was a little surprised when I got my bill. Of course it's my fault for not asking what the 'market price' Â was, but I was nit expecting it to be $85. It was good, but not worth $85 in my opinion.
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 33rd 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 Pate, 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 jalapeno on top. didn't like the taste of the meat as much.
someone said its closing. too bad. good spot.
A very beautiful restaraunt with amazing food and great service! Jidori chicken was to die for! The oysters were sooo good, we ordered two. And duck fat fries were very good as well. Love the interior here! Feels very welcoming and the staff makes sure you feel that way as well, and they go out of their way to explain things, our waiter brought out a ticket where they got some of our meal :)
Review Source:we were here last weekend so this review is a little behind.
i'll start by saying this- it wasnt cheap!
we had dinner with another couple and were all pretty happy by the end of the meal.
one of the girls in our party had the infamous lobster pot pie. im not the biggest seafood fan but this thing was pretty intense. as youve seen in other reviews, they bring it out tableside and then proceed to "build it" from there. they cut the top off, lay it on the plate then add everything else to it. i even took a bit. definitely not as good as the ribeye that i had.
im a carnivore, plain and simple. and this piece of meat had me in heaven. it had some sort of reduction sauce on it (very light) and it was delicious.
i dont really remember what everyone else had so i cant tell you more.
ive read that its closing so that kinda sucks cuz i wouldve definitely gone back to it the next time i was in vegas.
My husband and I hit this place on a Friday night... It wasn't crowded (probably because we were early by Vegas standards) and we got great service. Fantastic oysters, duck fat fries, and sliders with nice flavors and presentation. The charcuterie was also nice, although could have benefitted from contrasting flavors to accompany the various meats. Prices were reasonable for the food quality and portions.
Review Source: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.
Nobhill Tavern is an upscale take on tavern food (read: kicked-up comfort food with a few diversions). The restaurant was very busy but it was not difficult to get a Saturday night reservation. Keeping with the tavern theme, the restaurant is decorated modern furnishings in dark woods and dark earth tones, with low light, giving the whole place a masculine ambience.
The menu has lots of interesting choices, but is not overwhelming. The wine list, on the other hand, is very extensive. It was late (9 pm) and we weren't in the mood for a heavy dinner, so we settled on a shared main course and a variety of appetizers and side dishes instead. We really wanted to try the lobster pot pie that others had raved about, but they were out of it. Disappointing!! Instead, the server suggested the braised lamb shank, served with a cinnamon infused couscous with golden raisins. We also ordered steamed spinach, truffle mac and cheese, crab and lobster rolls, and bbq pulled pork finger sandwiches.
For the crab and lobster rolls, a dollop of crab and lobster salad was served atop a soft roll. Each of the rolls could be eaten in two bites (or one if you're really ambitious), and there were three rolls on the plate, for $17. A bit pricy, but they were delicious! The crab and lobster salad was bound with creme fraiche, delicately flavored with chives and tarragon.
Pulled pork in a rich bbq sauce was served on what looked like the bottom of a slider bun, and so weren't really "sandwiches". The sauce was a bit too sweet for my taste, but not too bad. I've definitely had better pulled pork bbq.
The truffled mac and cheese was very rich, consisting of elbow macaroni in a truffle oil infused cheese sauce, and mixed with shiitake mushrooms and broccoli. We were told there were black truffle shavings in it, but we didn't detect any. Though a bit of a splurge (in calories mainly), this was a great side dish.
The lamb shank had a nice coating of herbs and spices, and was served with a rich sauce infused with warm spices. The lamb was fork tender and melted in your mouth, but really needed some salt. Unfortunately, the lamb was the centerpiece of the meal, and so dragged our whole experience down a bit.
On the whole, the meal was good, but there were a few missteps. If we come back, we'll come earlier for the lobster pot pie!
There aren't many bang for buck eats at the MGM Grand but the weekday happy hour here is definitely one of them. Â I've been here a couple of times and have enjoyed everything I've sampled. Â They've billed their deal as the "all night happy hour" which runs Tuesday-Friday from 5:30pm to close. Â
They have lots of great snacks and finger foods to munch on. Â Each of them go for $6 with the duck fat fries being the only one that would fill you up. Â The fries are huge and it might be the perfect fry for me. Â But it's all about quality over quantity with these dishes. Â The beef shortrib sliders have some of the most tender mini slices of meat ever. Â I also like the crispy chicken wings a lot and also the beer battered shrimp. Â
Drink specials include $3 PBR's because they're trying to keep it real and make Dennis Hopper happy in heaven. Â They also offer several cocktails like the "Whiskey Smash" with Makers Mark, lime, mint and sugar. Â My wife likes the "Perfect Effen Drop" which consists of Effen Black Cherry Vodka, fresh sour and creme de cassis whatever the heck that is. Â The bartenders are very knowledgeable with the menu and very friendly. Â
Happy hour bled into dinner the last time I was here as we imbibed a little more than we probably should have. Â The bartender strongly urged I order the "Harissa Glazed Lamb Shank" and that was right on the money. Â No knife was necessary for this perfect piece of lamb. Â It was juicy, tender, almost fall off the bone awesome. It was accompanied with cous cous and raisins. Â I could've used some pita and yogurt sauce if they had it. Â
The clear star entree had to be the "Lobster Pot Pie" with truffle cream and vegetables. Â We didn't have it but couldn't miss a few of the customers getting it. Â The server rolls out this baby tableside while everything is still in the pot. Â 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. Â That was $85. Â I'll save that one for a different occasion.
I came here with some coworkers earlier this week for a team dinner, and I had a blast. Here's a recollection of my thoughts:
Pros:
+ Ambiance is very nice. Very romantic setting.
+Staff is very nice! Loved the host who walked us to the table, the waiter was very amicable and helpful, and the sommelier was also very helpful and friendly.
+The bread basket consisted of really yummy fresh breads. I particularly liked the cheesy bun.
+I ordered the lobster mac and cheese. Really good fresh lobster, great creamy sauce, nice presentation
+They had vegetarian options, including a non-menu item. They can cook something up for you if you are a non-meat eater.
+Bone marrow was deliciously juicy
+Skirt steak was really good too, although the coworker who ordered it thought that it was a little too salty
+Great wine selection, and if you aren't too familiar with wines, the sommelier is very friendly and will walk you through the menu and make suggestions.
Cons:
- Nothing
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 Pate $14
Horseradish Whipped Potatoes $8
Suggestion for Entree:
Filet Mignon 8z. $49
Finish off with Souffle 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.
In fairness, I would've given this restaurant 2.5, but since the biggest detractor to me was the food, rounded down accordingly.
I have to say, the service was spectacular; our waiter was incredibly attentive and accommodating, friendly yet professional. Â Definitely an asset to the restaurant. Â The ambiance was good, nice vibe, good volume level, cool decor. Â And, the booking was easy to do - booked reservation for 12 people via OpenTable - easy as pie. Â :)
Now for the critical feedback: 1) table setup; 2) food. Â The tables were arranged with 2 long, rectangular tables placed next to each other. Â It provided a sort of square for everyone to sit around. Â However, you couldn't talk to anyone aside from those on your immediate left or right without literally shouting. Â It would have been SO much better had they just sat the 12 of us around 1 of those tables, or decided to go longer instead of wider. Â Took away from the experience by not being able to talk to more than 1-2 people.
The food was not at all worth the price, and we tried many different things. Â The biggest disappointment was the truffle mac&cheese - it was a joke. Â It was like a soupy cream sauce poured over some elbow macaroni. Â In addition to the lackluster look and texture, it was flavorless. Â For what so many of us were excited about and ordered, it wasn't good at all. Â My husband got the breaded pork chop which was also mediocre. Â I asked if the chicken option was on the bone; the waiter explained it was, but that there was a delicious, special he could have made for me - chicken breast with leeks and butternut squash risotto. Â I literally had 2 bites of the chicken and left the rest on the plate - it was gross. Â I had a few bites of the risotto but that was it. Â The filet was good, but even my friend who got the $85 lobster pot pie - the presentation was amazing, I must say - said it was average tasting.
We ended up spending approx $1200 on food and drinks, and just expected more. Â Likely won't go back.
The first night we arrived in Las Vegas we stopped by Nobhill because they had a killer happy hour special with great food options. I wasn't sure I would be able to eat anything there but the manager ended up coming out and talking with me about the menu and giving me some suggestions on gluten free food items.
I decided to get a burger without the bun and french fries. I haven't had french fries in so long because most places cook them in the same fryer as other breaded items which then prevents me from having some.
The burger came out really fancy with some cole slaw on top and cheese. It was pretty fantastic.
The french fries were little skinny fries which were cooked really crispy (my favorite kind). I could only finish about half of the meal because the burger was really big and there were enough french fries for 2 or 3 people as an individual serving.
This is the only restaurant I felt funny after eating in the whole trip. I did get a bit of a stomach ache and had to run to the restroom at one of the night clubs we went to that night. It didn't ruin the night but put a little damper on the mood and really made me long for my pajama's and some tea while we were out partying. Thinking about it, it could have been the cole slaw depending on what they used to make the sauce.
I didn't get joint pain or a headache and I only had to use the restroom one time so I'm wondering if it was more a lactose issue or a gluten issue. Likely lactose since the problem resolved itself pretty quickly.
I'd say I'm indifferent to recommending this restaurant to you as a gluten free option. I think there were a few other places at MGM offering more knowledge and food options than the Nobhill Tavern. I give it a maybe ;)
OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND FOOD
We dined there with two longtime friends on their first trip to Vegas.
My wife had been here in February and said we needed to try this place it was excellent-she wasn't wrong.
We made a reservation on OpenTable and were seated promptly.
The service was impeccable-what you would expect from a 5 star restaurant. Like it use to be when I was young. Â At one point we had four servers at our table doing various things.
I had the filet mignon. It was a lot more than 8 ounces. Â It was cooked to perfection. Â
I had the bone marrow. Didn't like it too much. Â It was, I thought, a little undercooked or was lacking in flavor. Â I've had this many times and this didn't compare
The wine list was extensive-if not overpriced. Â But again, this was a restaurant in a casino so I guess you would expect to pay more.
Our friend had the pork chop. It was huge, it took up the whole plate.
I had several bites it was perfect. I wanted to order that too but I was full. Â Great flavors on the breading and the meat was tender and flavorful.
The desserts were excellent.
Overall, the price was a little high but the quality and service merit the extra money.
Securing reservations to dinner in Vegas on the day of is not a simple task. Â After getting denied by multiple restaurants, Nobill Tavern saved the day. Â 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. Â
What myself/group ordered:
Kumamoto Oysters: Â They were spot on perfect. Fresh and briny, and awesome way to start a meal.
Charcuterie Sampler: Â The selection of dried meats were good but the pate was the star of the night. Â I love pate so this was literally a no-brainer. Â I could eat their pate everyday for the rest of my life. Â
NY Strip: Â Cooked to a perfect medium rare. Â Juicy, bloody, tender, and full of flavor.
Duck Fat Fries: Â To be honest I really couldn't tell the difference between fries cooked in duck fat compared to fries cooked with regular oil. Â They were good though.
Truffle Mac and Cheese: Â Paired awesome with the broccoli and had a nice hint of truffle flavor to it.
Brussels Sprouts: Â I'm a brussels sprouts whore so this was another no-brainer dish for me. Â Delicious.
Everything about this restaurant flowed so well with what my friends and I were expecting. Â Service was awesome and so was the food. Â 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 entree. 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 entree 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 puree and roasted cauliflower that accompanied my entree.
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.
As a former waitress, I am always amazed at how apathetic the service in Las Vegas can be. The unemployment rate there is high - so I don't understand how they can have anything but the best waiters still at work.
Our waiter at Nob Hill was anything but apathetic. Knowledgable. Friendly. Quick with suggestions and recommendations. And the food service overall? Speedy. Pleasant. So antithetical to my usual Vegas experience, that I sat up and took notice.
We had a range of "snack-y" things, and most were delicious. Here's the run-down:
BBQ Pulled Pork Finger Sandwiches - delicious. Coming from one of the top BBQ states, I can firmly state that these are some yummy Q! Tender pork, just-sweet-enough sauce... Definitely a keeper!
Grilled Quail - also delicious. "Don't be delicate, pick it up with your fingers and eat it off of the bone" our server said. Yes. Do. slurp every little tender bit of meat off of that tiny yard bird. Then wish you had another one, it's that good.
Truffled Mac and Cheese - YES. Now THAT is what a mac and cheese should be. Perfectly al dente corkscrew pasta, light yet creamy cheese sauce, and the perfect amount of truffling. So good I wanted to smack everyone who makes half-assed mac-n-cheese.
Grilled Summer Vegetables - the only fail of the night. Mushy, nothing to really write home about - I wish the server had steered us away from these.
Overall, a home run!!
Sorry fellow Yelp Elites, but this Yelper was underwhelmed by Michael Mina's establishment. Â Perhaps it is just an extension of the MGM (see separate reviews)... didn't score a touchdown with Hubby and me. Â We noted that many of the restaurants in the casino appeared either empty or closed. Â When we came out of our concert at 10:45pm, all the restaurants were closed off and dark. Â Seems that restaurants over at Caesars or Wynn stay open much later.
Since we were going to see Neil Diamond and didn't want to fall asleep during the concert from a huge dinner, we chose to go with nothing but appetizers. Â One glass of wine for me and a Macallan 12 for Hubby. Â Wanted to try the lobster pot pie, but thought it might be too heavy. Â Anyway, what we chose were:
Caesar salad: Â Six skimpy hearts of romaine heavily drenched in dressing with one itty-bitty, teeny-weeny sliver of an anchovy on top! Â Oversized, dry, somewhat stale croutons, and two more dried out slices of cheese.
Roasted quail: Â Like a good duck, quail should not be over-cooked. Â However, we were not expecting quail sashimi! Â Our grilled quail was a single split bird served on an overly sweet lemon sauce. Â Very rare next to the bone. Â
Foie gras: Â Californians here having withdrawal, so had to order this. Â The quarter inch thick slice was tasteless and over-cooked. Â It came garnished with three clumps of red radish salad. Â Ho-hum.
Pate:  The only item that we seemed to get right.  A generous serving of rustic pork pate.  Excellent with the wine.  Could have used more bread...actually, we saw other tables getting baskets of bread, but perhaps because we didn't order an entrée, it was not to be.
Service was mediocre. Â We know it's Vegas, but for the prices charged, we expected much more. Â Have never given such a low mark to a Vegas celebrity chef establishment, but the Nobhill Tavern just didn't make the grade. Â We cannot recommend this place.
Warning: this review has very little to do with food, but you'll see why if you scroll down.
If I could give the service more than 5 stars, I would!
This was our second stop on our happy hour tour this weekend, and apparently the Tom Collins I had at the first place did not sit well with me, because partway through my Moscow Mule and our appetizers (beer-battered shrimp, fries, salad w/ drunken goat cheese, and a short rib slider) I felt like I was going to die. My head was spinning, my ears were ringing, and I was cold and somehow sweating? And before you all judge me, YES I can hold my liquor and I had literally had ONE drink that night.
I can't really speak for the food, since all I managed to eat was some salad and a few fries, but I will tell you that the bartender (Mike?) was possibly the nicest human being ever that night, and poured some bitters (which I did NOT want to drink) and ginger ale that calmed my stomach enough for me to rally for the rest of the night! You rule, bartender man!
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 (cliche 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!
Not a fan and everything I had was extremely bland. From the salad to the chicken entree I ordered. The ambiance was okay and service was so so but I definitely would never return plus it was pricey for the kind of food that I can get in a different restaurant inside MGM.
PROS: Decor
CONS: pricey, food is bland, service
I hemmed and hawed at booking a dinner at Nobhill Tavern after checking out previous reviews on Yelp and reading the anecdotes of previous diners and their inconsistent service experiences. Â We took a chance, however, enjoying all of our previous forays into the Michael Mina restaurant group. Â
After arriving for late dinner (10:00 Friday night), were seated and we peeked at the menu. Â 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. Â 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. Â (I say this knowing that I very rarely, if ever, order chicken when dining out.) Â However, I'm getting ahead of myself. Â We started with the Market Salad (him) and the Tomato Fondue (her). Â He was pleased with the Drunken Goat featured in the uber fresh salad. Â 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. Â Served on a cauliflower puree with roasted multicolor cauliflower florets and golden raisins. Â 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. Â So so juicy and flavorful. Â 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. Â Maybe next time? Â
Speaking to our service experience, it was excellent, Â the staff was attentive enough yet not overbearing. Â 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). Â We were the last to leave, and did not feel rushed at all.
This review is for the bar only.
We stumbled upon this place when searching for a quick drink before a show. We were pleasantly surprised! We walked in and sat at the bar around 5:30pm. First order of business was half a dozen oysters. Then my guest ordered a "Cable Car" and I had a lovely house creation called "Grey Matter".
The Cable Car was pure bliss. The sugar was heated to perfection on the rim and it was served cold and frothy. VERY easy to drink and it took me back to the days of orange cream-sicles.
The Grey Matter was amazing. The house infuses black tea with Nolet's Dry Gin... If you like black tea, the martini is heaven in a glass. It was a quite a contrast to the Cable Car.
The oysters were plump and fresh. The house mignonette was sweet and tangy. They were the perfect treat before the show. I would definitely order these again and highly recommend them.
The real highlight of the night was the service. The gentleman behind the bar, Michael, took the time to explain the specialty cocktails to us, made recommendations and was very personable. He is a true artist and you can taste that is every sip. I can't wait to go back. Maybe next time we will order more than just drinks and oysters.
DO: Order a specialty cocktail, not a rum and coke.
DO Â NOT: Come here in a rush, enjoy your drink.
Sadly, I missed out on the late night happy hour. Â Here is what I tried though:
Grilled Quail (Caraway and Black Pepper Rub, Lemon Puree, Arugula and Radish -$20): The quail itself was light, tender and perfectly accented with a hint of acidity from the lemon puree and minor spice notes from the caraway and black pepper rub. Â Initially, we were just going to drink, but this dish convinced us otherwise.
Wood Grilled Sausages ($13): There are quite a few different types of meat present in this dish (I believe both bison and rabbit were included), and each of the spicy sausage slices is drained in a delectably heavy white cream sauce. Â
Scottish Salmon Tartare (Beet, Horseradish, Pita - $18): Scotch egg covered tartare served with thin slices of slightly warm pita. Â Use the beets and horseradish to make yourself delicious tartare sandwiches. Â
Salmon Creek Pork Belly (Duck Fat Potatoes, Truffle Puree Frisee and Apple Salad -$35): The belly has nice tenderness and was not overdone (as it is at most restaurants that place it on the menu). Â Still, it wasn't as light and fatty as some places where I have tried this dish. Â The complementing flavors were fine but not extraordinarily memorable.
I finished it off with a couple of the house's version of the Sazerac cocktail (easily the best one I found in the MGM Grand). Â These cocktails were made appropriately with just a small hint of simple syrup and the correct notes of absinthe. Â
In closing, NobHill certainly has quite a bit to offer. Â As it is, I think I'd like to go again to try that lobster pot pie and a number of other appetizers. Â Strongly recommended if you are eating within the MGM Grand.
Lobster Pot Pie! This place was top notch - from the impeccable service to the quality of the food presentation, I'm having difficulty finding anything remotely negative to say (not that I'm looking).
Started off with a half bottle of Cakebread Chardonnay and a full order of oysters - had to go with the signature lobster pot pie (did I mention that already?) - be advised that this dish does sell-out on busy nights.  Well worth the "MP" :)  Moved onto red with a Duckhorn Cab  - and the beignet to top it off.  Something about the salted caramel ice cream topped with hot caramel was the end of it.  I had to order another scoop!
This place can get a bit pricey with the wine selection... but you definitely get what you pay for. Â An amazing dining experience.
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.
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 50th, 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: <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DyvCWP3mjZRk&s=285ed6a9de22a7dc5851eb129a0017b8ccf5652f238abc2d4d0bc094f685a746" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/w…</a>
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