Ron W.
Yelp
Vegas...the City that time doesn't bother with. It's as if Bourbon St., Beele St., and Times Square had a menage-a-trois and somehow hatched a Love Child.
The place is opulence reimagined and on full Jumbo Tron display.
Pisces is the portrait of gorgeous. Anything subtle here? Not so much, but that's why you've come. Luxury surrounds you and for 3 hours you have the view from the top, even if you have to piss away the rent money to do it.
Glitz, glam, a four story waterfall with a laser light show just outside on the patio and still 300 to 500 covers per night are served well.
There is a distant loop just under the diner's din offering just enough thump and bump so you're compelled to eat to the beat but not so loud that you want to eat it and then beat it.
The Bar: The Bar is a Bar Exam. Never heard of it? They have it. So, dream it and then drink it.
"I'll be a player" I said to Justin, the Captain of his team assigned to my table. "A Spirit of the Sea for me. Can I have it with Gin?" "No, Sir, you may not," he replied.
"Okay then, I'll have it as is." And...it was absolutely stellar. Greek Kastra Elion Vodka served ice cold and spicy hot in a deep well along with a little cup of chipped ice on which lay a skewered Caperberry, a tart Kalamata Olive, and a huge Manzanita Olive with a Pequin Chili Pepper, it's vicious crooked red point protruding like Death's index finger beckoning the drinker to drink. I drank. Few things in life and especially in Vegas live up to their hype. This did.
The Staff: An army on the march double time. Runners, bussers, Servers, all in motion like a Pachinko Machine.
Justin, was effervescent, engaging, Grub Guru, Faith Healer, Psychologist, Best Friend Forever, Father Confessor, Older Brother, Doting Parent, Dutch Uncle, Spiritual Guide, Couples Counselor, all at the same time as needed, and that was just to present the menu and the Specials on offer.
Who's in the house? Everyone. The beautiful people, the not so beautiful people who dressed in the dark, full sleeves, sweaty bellies, a riff on bare midriff, true trophies and who knows, a pro's on the stroll and the troll. There was the good, the bad, and the ugly waving a fist full of dollars and those on a trip and those totally drip and all suspended in a soap bubble of culinary and service perfection.
The Food: Magnificent from gullet to gizzard beginning with the complimentary Bread Service which was a regal crown of Sourdough/Croissant anointed with Red Pepper Sauce and Smoked Baba Ghanoush. Dip in and on.
The East Coast/ West Coast Oyster Smack Down opened as a great start. They came with Passionfruit Mignonette, Shredded Horseradish, and House made Hot Sauce all in supporting rolls.
The Hamachi Serrano was a row of flayed Yellowtail strips dotted with just enough heat to spark your B/P and worthy of any high end Omakase.
The Spicy Tuna Tartare was an elegant artist display. A cylinder of mashed Avocado interwoven with micro diced Ahi Tuna, spiked with jagged edged chards of Sourdough Kalamata Crisps all around in order to scoop up every morsel of Avo/Tuna. A layer of razor thin Baby Persian Cucumber Coins helped polish off anything left behind and I sent the plate back cleaner than the day it was purchased.
The Pisces Caesar was cold and fresh. Could it have been a bit more Caesar forward? Yes. Caesar is bold by definition and by list of required ingredients. Garlic and Anchovies...on me. To the front.
My take? Oh Anchovies, oh Garlic, where is they sting? Nonetheless it was still good and remained so (make that Romained so) until it was all gone down to the last toasted Bread Crumb.
The Olive Oil Poached Sea Bass was a Shaq fist of excellent fish. Marinated Baby Artichoke Hearts, Red Bell Pepper Sauce, and Olive Tapenade were all along for the ride. No Olive Oil drippage. This was simply my wish for a dish of terrific fish. My Sea Bass was first in it's class in the school of fish it came from.
The Halibut Milanese, did not have to fish for a compliment either. Lightly breaded on one side and ready for a dip in the potent Finger Lime Butter Sauce then a rub down with Heirloom Tomato Jam and a few crunches of Roasted Fennel slivers.
The Truffle Potato Kibbeh (Potato Croquettes) with Sea Salt and fresh grated Parmesan Cheese were crispy creamy addictive. "Hello, My name is Ron and I want an entire bucket of these, right now. My sensible eating sponsor can bite me."
Finally, the Checkered Flag was just up ahead. Dessert loomed large and larger as it drew closer on the Server's tray.
It was a mile high swirl of Frozen Greek Yogurt made exclusively for Pisces at a dairy farm in Vermont and arrived settled into a wading pool of fruit laden Sour Cherry Compote next to a pyramid of syrupy Donut Holes. Delicious.
This was fitting end to a magical majestic meal.
Pisces, let's call a Wynn, Wynn.