Hawthorn Grill

Hawthorn Grill Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant: If you're fed up with the frenzy of the Las Vegas Strip, retreat to the tranquil setting of Hawthorn Grill, situated in the Spa Tower on the south side of JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of the expansive outdoor patio with waterfalls surrounded by lush foliage. The main dining room exudes a classy feel with a high pitched ceiling, chandeliers and plush banquettes and cozy semi-private booths furnished with pillows.

Likes: The tranquil waterfalls surrounding the restaurant, visible through floor-to-ceiling windows.
Dislikes: A bit of a hike from the casino or self-parking garage, but there is valet just outside the restaurant.

Food & Drinks: The kitchen presents steakhouse fare and American classics. (Stephen LaSala is now the executive chef.) Begin with the crab cake with whole-grain tartar sauce, or house-made meatballs with marinara. Entrées are highlighted by the generous 14-oz Prime NY striploin with béarnaise sauce; other options include the roasted chicken with mushroom risotto, and pan-seared diver scallops. A not-to-be-missed side is the cauliflower gratin enhanced with a Parmesan crust and Gruyère and Mornay sauce. For lunch, a healthy choice is the rainbow kale salad with red cabbage, apple, almonds, quinoa, Parmesan and citrus vinaigrette. An array of favorites is available for breakfast, as are non-traditional creations like the salmon egg white frittata with roasted vegetables, kale and guacamole. Among the sweet finishes is the Hawthorn soufflé with chocolate, crème anglaise and whipped cream. Complementing the fare are more than 200 wines, mostly from Napa and Sonoma.