Some high profile Las Vegas restaurants showcasing high profile chefs don't see much of the chef himself, nor do their patrons. But Rick Moonen, a New York transplant, is here with a solid crew. On top of that, the room is simply magnificent. In fact, there are two restaurants in one: R Bar Café on one level and the gourmet restaurant rm upstairs. Nestled in the gallery of Mandalay Place shops at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, this location may prove tricky in time. However, we would encourage you to sample the cuisine. Would butter-poached lobster bisque with lobster foam and Maine lobster with fava beans, creamy polenta and lobster bordelaise tempt you? How about pan-seared Alaskan halibut with caramelized mushrooms and lobster ravioli, or a bone-in rib-eye with Cabernet reduction, creamed spinach and sweet onion rings? We like all of it. Rick’s white clam chowder filled with bacon, potatoes and dill is a Café specialty, as are oysters Rockefeller and the sushi. Desserts such as Key lime pie with graham cracker crust and rhubarb tart with strawberry sherbet are equally well created and executed. The six-course chef’s tasting menu runs $135. An expert sommelier will help guide your beverage selections. After dinner (or before) head down to the hip bar for some of the action.
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