I’m a fan of Italian. I love pasta and all the carbs that follow. But after a disappointing meal at Fiamma and now a mediocre meal at Portofino I’m willing to forsake the cuisine all together. Portofino, the restaurant formerly known as Onda, at the Mirage is a beautiful and intimate space ornately decorated with faux gold accents. Comfortable and spacious booths line the walls. White linen covered tables fill the rest of the room.
Everything looked great, alluding to a great meal to follow. The food looked impressive too. It’s all beautifully plated. The crab cake arancini to start the meal was a well balanced dish of savoriness with hints of acidity and sweetness. The rest of the meal was a huge letdown. The spinach gnocchi, while nicely plated, was unusually soft and doughy, lacking any sort of textural contrast. Even prettier was burrata filled agnolotti surrounded by lobster. Unfortunately, the sauce was too rich and flavors were muddled with none of the elements standing out.
It’s a shame the food didn’t have much substance because Portofino would be a good date spot. But average food and service make this a restaurant I wouldn’t recommend unless you want to break up with someone.
2 Stars
The Mirage Hotel & Casino
3400 Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(866) 339-4566