At A Glance
In this review of Michael Mina, a Vegas local goes to Bellagio to eat at this acclaimed one-star Michelin-rated fish restaurant. Did the famed chef live up to expectations?
- Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
Our overall rating factors in what you get for the price relative to similar restaurants on the Strip. Our rating would have been higher had this not been one of the most expensive restaurants in Vegas. We also put more weight on certain dishes, which we deemed more critical to the meal as a whole.
- Highlights: Duck, Dessert, Service and The ‘Extras’
- Room for Improvement: Nothing in particular
- Would Recommend: Yes
It had been about a decade since we last ate at Michael Mina, so it was time to eat at this fine-dining restaurant from one of the world’s most acclaimed chefs again.
About Michael Mina
Location: The Bellagio (The restaurant entrance is in the rear of The Conservatory)
Phone: 702.693.7223
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 5:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Pricing: Our meal for two people, which included two entrees, one appetizer, two drinks, and one dessert, and tip/tax, was $440. In other words, it was not cheap!
Michael Mina prides itself on flying in fresh fish every day. The menu includes:
- A raw bar
- Numerous shellfish options
- Oysters
- One of the largest caviar selections on the Strip
The right side of the menu is smaller than you might think, with six appetizers, seven entrees, and several steak options.
Michael Mina at Bellagio is one of 30 restaurants in Mr. Mina’s restaurant group.
Relaxed and Peaceful Ambiance
Michael Mina is tucked away in the rear of the world-famous Conservatory at Bellagio.
Upon entering the restaurant, there is a medium-sized bar and a fairly open kitchen to the left. The restaurant is elegant and bright, with a relaxed garden feel.
Food: It’s Very Good
For this meal, the two of us shared everything.
What we liked:
- Hamachi Tiradito (4/5)
- Branzino half-portion (Market Fish) (3.75/5)
- Duck Breast & Foie Gras (4.25/5)
- Fleur De Cacao (5/5)
Before the meal arrived, the staff brought two items to the table. The first was a bread resembling naan with three kinds of butter and sauces—all delicious.
Second, they brought a signature item (called a ‘gift’) that tasted like lox and cream cheese topped with caviar. The “gift” came with a small glass of Belvedere vodka that you are supposed to sip before and after tasting the item.
Appetizers
For a starter, we bypassed the many shellfish options and ordered the Hamachi Tradito. The hamachi itself was very high quality. It came in a delightful mixture of orange-flavored sauce and a ceviche-style sauce. We didn’t love the crunchy item on top of the hamachi, as it tasted a little burnt.
Entrees
To maximize the number of items we could taste, we shared two entrees.
Our first entree was the market fish, which changes by the day. The options for the evening were swordfish or branzino. We ordered half a portion of the branzino. The market fish always comes with the same applewood smoked preparation with tomato, butter beans, artichokes, lemon, and olives.
The fish itself was perfect, and the sauce was delectable. We would rate the dish as very good but not spectacular (maybe because there are limits as to how good branzino can be!)
Our second entree was the Duck Breast and foie Gras, prepared medium-rare per the chef’s suggestion. There were two nice-sized pieces of duck. The quality of the duck was great, but the star of the show was the duck jus poured on the duck itself at the table.
The flavors of the rest of the dish complemented everything nicely. Maybe the one thing lacking was a little duck skin, but then again, this was the breast.
Dessert
We were in the mood for chocolate, so our waiter recommended two options: the chocolate souffle and the fleur de cacao.
Since we were on a time crunch, we ordered the latter and were not disappointed. This dessert was simple: a very high-quality, rich, but not overly sweet, darker chocolate mousse accompanied perfectly by salted caramel gelato and crunchy cocoa nibs.
Again, this dish was simple, but all of the flavors and textures went well together. It was absolutely perfect, and we really felt great that we ordered mousse for the first time in a long time!
Premier Tip: Order dessert here. We are guessing if the mousse is this good, they know what they are doing as far as desserts go!
Drinks
Instead of cocktails, we stuck to bubbly beverages. We each had a glass of champagne that Mr. Mina hand-picked himself. We thought he made a phenomenal choice.
Our waiter poured us each a sip before pouring an entire glass to ensure that it was to our liking.
Staff and Service
Overall, the service was top-notch.
While the restaurant’s host stand is actually outside the restaurant, the hosts were still friendly and attentive upon arrival.
Our waiter had the perfect mix of knowledge, personality, and attention to detail. He asked us many clarification questions, made a few recommendations without being obnoxious, and explained the restaurant’s history.
Because we had to finish our meal by 6:50 to make it to the 7:00 pm showing of O, the waiter acknowledged the time we needed to leave a few times and managed it masterfully.
One final point about the service is our waiter was also serving the table of a mega VIP (who we recognized). However, the waiter gave no hint of being flustered. He was professional the whole time.
Reservations
We made a 5:00 reservation for a Saturday night about a week out. Many time slots were still open, but we ate early. The restaurant requires a credit card with a 24-hour cancellation policy to hold the reservation.
The restaurant texts a reminder two days out. They do not send a text or reminder on the day of.
Premier Tip: Michael Mina offers high-quality service and is a good suggestion for a high-level business dinner.
Michael Mina Review: Final Thoughts
Will Michael Mina be the best restaurant that you have ever eaten at? Probably not, but it is very good for a fish restaurant in the desert. And Mr. Mina still ensures significant attention to detail and an excellent product. And with Picasso’s closure, we believe Michael Mina may be the best restaurant at Bellagio.
Interested in other reviews of award-winning restaurants on the Strip? Check out our review of Wing Lei.
DISCLAIMER: This review was written by a real Las Vegas local. If you are interested in writing reviews for Premier Vegas, please contact us here.
