 With its bright, colorful décor, Julian Serrano's eponymous restaurant is sure to catch your eye. The space, which opens wide onto the lobby of the Aria Resort & Casino, is inspired by the vibrancy of the chef's native Spain. Enter the restaurant under the large white arches and select which ambience you prefer---the casual, open seating in the front or the more elegant and romantic dining room further back. Serrano, also the chef of the beautiful Picasso restaurant at the Bellagio, has composed a menu around Spanish cuisine, with a modern and delicious twist. Executive chef Jose Picazo leads the team in the kitchen. The menu, printed on goldenrod paper evocative of the Iberian sun, offers selections like stuffed dates, gazpacho revised with lobster, and octopus spiced with Spanish paprika. From the "new tapas" section, skip the tuna-raspberry skewers and instead order the ahi tempura served with avocado and mango ensaladilla and wasabi foam. The Spanish staple paella---available in four different variations---takes 35 minutes to prepare but is unfortunately not worth the wait. More pleasing to the palate is the Bacalao Serrano, a vivid presentation of Atlantic cod with potato confit, roasted red pepper and Iberico ham. Finish with the buñuelos (Spanish doughnuts) with butterscotch caramel or the crème Catalana, which is as good as it gets. The Spanish-oriented 500-bottle wine list features 30 offerings by the glass. If the colorful space and cuisine haven't already improved your mood, perhaps this tongue-in-cheek touch will: Spanish lessons are played on repeat in the restroom, offering an unexpected opportunity to brush up on your language skills.
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Julian Serrano Restaurant is one of our 2012
Hot 10 Las Vegas Restaurants|
Go behind the scenes of Julian Serrano restaurant! Watch our exclusive interview with chef Julian Serrano.
