Question of the Day - 08 January 2007

Chefs' tasting menus tend to be offered in fairly high-end restaurants and serve the purpose both of allowing the chef to show off his talents and the diner to sample a range of different dishes, presented in small manageable portions. Often the menu is offered with the option of a wine pairing, which, for an additional cost, allows you to sample a different recommended wine with each course.

Our research also revealed some interesting variations on this traditional presentation, including several restaurants offering specialized menus for vegetarians, plus specialty black truffle, foie gras, and Kobe beef menus, and one restaurant that offers a beer-pairing substitute for the wine and another that offers a cocktail pairing (wooooooo-–we strongly recommend taking a cab the day you try that one!)

• André's (downtown) Courses: 7 Cost Per Person: $95 With Wine Pairing: $140 Availability: Nightly 6 pm–10 pm Website: www.andrelv.com/original/menu
• Michael Mina (Bellagio) Courses: 5 Cost Per Person: $175 With Wine Pairing: $250 Availability: Nightly 5:30 pm–10 pm Comments: In addition to their traditional tasting menu, they also have a seasonal tasting menu for $145 per person ($220 with wine pairing) and a vegetarian tasting menu for $85 per person ($160 with wine pairing). Website: www.michaelmina.net/mm_lasvegas/

• Picasso (Bellagio) Courses: 5 Cost Per Person: $105 With Wine Pairing: $158 Availability: Nightly 6 pm–9:30 pm Comments: Menu changes daily according to the reflect the freshest produce on the market. Website: www.bellagio.com/restaurants/picasso.aspx

• 808 (Caesars Palace) Courses: 5 Cost Per Person: $82 With Wine Pairing: Not available Availability: Nightly 5 pm–11 pm Comments: They have two tasting menus, one is seafood and one is shellfish, featuring the same number of courses and for the same price. Website: www.harrahs.com/casinos/caesars-palace/restaurants-dining/808-detail.html

• Bradley Ogden (Caesars Palace) Courses: 5 Cost Per Person: $115 With Wine Pairing: $210 Availability: Nightly 5 pm–11 pm Comments: They also have a seven-course menu for $135 ($230 with wine pairing) and a nine-course option for $150 per person ($245 with wine pairing). Website: www.harrahs.com/casinos/caesars-palace/restaurants-dining/bradley-ogden-detail.html

• Restaurant Guy Savoy (Caesars Palace) Courses: 10 Cost Per Person: $290 With Wine Pairing: Not available Availability: Wed–Sun, 5 pm–10:30 pm Comments: They also have a four-course tasting menu available for $190 per person Website: www.harrahs.com/casinos/caesars-palace/restaurants-dining/restaurant-guy-savoy-detail.html

• Commander's Palace (Desert Passage)* Courses: 7 Cost Per Person: $89 With Wine Pairing: $132 Availability: Nightly 5:30–9 pm Comments: A cocktail pairing alternative to the wine version is also available for the same price, with a different libation served with each course, including an espresso martini with dessert.

• Nobu (Hard Rock) Courses: 6 Cost Per Person: $100 With Wine Pairing: Not Available Availability: Nightly 6 pm–11 pm Comments: They also offer a seven-course menu

Café Martorano at the Rio has introduced a tasting menu. At $125 per person, "Steve Martorano's Tasting Menu must be ordered by the entire table and is required for tables of 10 or more guests. It includes but is not limited to appetizers, entrées, desserts, and the special of the day. 05/04/2007 The Medici Cafe and Terrace at the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas also offers a chef's tasting menu. The five-course dinner is $110 per person with wine pairing or $80 without. To reserve, call 702/567-4700. 04/30/2007 -- Sushi Roku, located on the third floor of the Forum Shops at Caesars, is now offering a "Final Fling" tasting menu for bachelorette parties. It's a four-course menu for $50 per person and includes yellowtail sashimi with diced chilies, lobster cakes with karashi mustard, and the Very Sexy Nemo Roll. 01/05/2007 We haven't even run this answer yet, and we're already updating it! Since we originally researched this answer, only a matter of a couple weeks back, we've learned that Commander's Palace will be closing Jan. 16 for redevelopment, so strike soon if you want to sample this one!