Michael Mina at Bellagio

03/22/2008 Posted by damian_esq

Michael Mina was a pleasant surprise in that it actually lived up to the hype and though we spent $300 for two people with NO wine, we actually left feeling that we got value for our money. The tasting menu included generous portions of dish after dish of things we actually wanted to eat (lobster, kobe beef, fish, tasty desserts). Service was a bit spotty and my cocktail was just ok, but otherwise our meal was perfect. What dresscode? The room was a bit loud and the tables are a somewhat tightly packed, but the quality and flavors of the food more than makes up for any other small shortcomings. Creative, yet familiar, delicious dishes presented in a beautiful manner in a lovely setting.

Pros: GREAT Food, Friendly Service, Awesome Desserts

Cons: Room feels a little frantic, Quite Expensive

01/08/2007 Posted by chownage

Honestly, for the money, this was one large disappointment for me. My small salad was $14, my 4oz steak was $68, they charge you $8/bottle for water and $4 a cup for coffee....of which was never refilled by the server. To sum it up, when you eat a meal that costs well over $100 a person, you expect to get a lot more than reputation and ambiance. I wanted to leave full and satisfied and I couldn't help be disappointed by a lot of unmet expectations. I will admit that this is the most expensive meal I've eaten in my 31 years of life, but I don't know that someone who's used to fine dining, wouldn't have said the same. What I can say is that the service was quality. We were well served and left without complaint.

Pros: Service, tasty food, ambiance was enjoyable

Cons: prices, prices, prices

11/02/2006 Posted by casey_reed84

I was very excited to come to Michael Mina because I love seafood and where better to have a great meal then the Bellagio. When we first walked in we were very underwhelmed. The restaraunt was very small and compact. We ordered a shrimp and scallop appetizer. The scallops were above average and the shrimp was like something you would get at Olive Garden. :( We both had the Surf and Turf for $85 a piece. The lobster was mushy and flavorless not to mention the size of a large shrimp. And the filet mignon was dry and blande. We were both very sad by dinner since we were looking forward to it for so long. Not to mention the server was very nice but we only saw her three times the whole two hours we were there. And she made no attempt to correct our dislikes. Overall, I've had better meals at Denny's. If you're looking for a place to see and be seen then this is your place but if your looking to spend quality deniro on a five star meal then go elsewhere. We expected much more from one of the best hotels in the world. We'll just keep going to Nobu.

Pros: Seated quickly with reservations.

Cons: Food, Ambience, Service

10/09/2006 Posted by holidayjunkie

I am shocked to see how many people think Mina's is overrated or not delicious! My husband and I ate there last week and absolutely loved it from start to finish: the food, the atmosphere, the service. We consider ourselves somewhat-foodies, live in NYC, and we thought Mina's was a good deal for what you get. We both had the traditional tasting menu and were incredibly full and satisfied for the $105 per person charge. We did not do the additional $85 wine pairing because we don't like to be so drunk as to not taste our food by the fifth course. We opted for just a bottle but the wine list is amazing and includes all price ranges. The tuna tartar appetizer with garlic and quail egg yoke was prepared at the table and delicious. The lobster pie is so rich and out of this world I can still taste it. The miso fish was a little salty, but it too was delicious. The tuna steak over potato was like eating a filet. I was so full my husband had to finish. The dessert included mini rootbeer floats, coconut flan, cookies, and warm chocolate cake--a ridiculous amount of food but worth every bite (and every calorie). The service was swift but never so much that we felt rushed. The atmosphere is very casual, not stuffy, and that's a nice change from some fine dining establishments in Vegas. If you like seafood, and you want to be super satisfied with your meal for the price, try Mina's, and end the night with a stroll through the Bellagio conservatory.

Pros: Delicious food, excellent service, casual atmosphere

Cons: A little pricey

07/15/2006 Posted by myka888

We were staying at Bellagio and decided to have something different from the buffet. Picasso, Shintaro, and the other steak house at Bellagio was full but we were able to get reservation at Michael Mina's. We had the tasting menu with the wine pairing. The wine was great, the appetizer was great, but after that, every course was unspectacular. The chilean sea bass with miso was too salty and my tuna was supposed to be rare, but it came out medium well. We tried to talk to the staff but they were only available when they were taking away our plates or serving our next course. The plate decoration was good, but the food taste was not. The dessert was good. I will not recommend this restaurant due to the fact that the quality of food was not that great, especially for the price, even if you win money at Vegas.

Cons: food, service

10/04/2005 Posted by mjyum1

This place is overrated to say the least. We had the tasting menu which is suppose to be the best the chef has to offer. Other than the complimentary corn chowder and the dessert, all the other dishes were mediocre & unimaginative. One of the dishes was actually salmon & cream cheese! On top of that, with our drinks and tip, the meal cost us $300.00. My husband & I both felt it was the most disappointing (not to mention most expensive) meals we've ever had. We have no idea what the fuss is about.

Pros: service, ambience

Cons: overrated, mediocre, overpriced

09/27/2005 Posted by kandyroxy

As a someone who views food as a religion, I feel I was totally objective through my experience here. We dined based on reputation and on a night in Sept 2005 when Michael Mina himself was on the line. We had the tasting menu with wine selections- the waiter would not let us order an appetizer without our entire meal order, which is fine but when we did get our $500 for 2 meal, it was unimaginative, lackluster, and at times plain yuck! The execution and technique of cooking was suberb. If only the flavor could have been there... The wines were wonderful and perfect for each course. If you eat here you risk losing, as I have, the excitement of visiting a highly regarded place and maybe even your meal. The lights are too bright and nothing is worth your time or the cost here.

Pros: cooking execution, great wines

Cons: taste!, too bright

02/16/2005 Posted by pinkflower

My husband and I went here for our 1st wedding anniversary. Everything was great. Service was attentive without being too formal. Food was delicious and presented beautifully. We had an early dinner, and the noise level wasn't a problem at all, even though the restaurant was almost full. I recommend getting a table that overlooks the pool.

Pros: Food, Service

10/26/2004 Posted by foody4u

The service at Michael Mina's was superb. The staff provided great attention to detail without being suffocating. Although the fois gras was the best part of the meal and was prepared to perfection, the entrées lacked distinction for the prices demanded. The sound level prevented intimate conversations which made it difficult for our party of four to communicate. The layout of the restaurant was not conducive to intimate dining.

Pros: Excellent servide, great fois gras

Cons: , ambiance

07/13/2004 Posted by foodman25

I don't know who would have a negative review of this place but maybe they went on an off night. We went to Aqua and although we had to wait a little while for our table, we sat and had a cocktail and enjoyed the beauty of the gardens and the restaurant. The meal was absolutely incredible and the tuna tartare was the best ever. The entrees were also excellent as was the wine. Service was top notch and the dessert stole the show. You have to try the root beer float. That may not sound like something you would get at a fine dining restaurant, but just trust me.

Pros: Food, Service, Ambience/Decor