With
the beginning of the Summer Olympics in China, what better place to talk
about than Mainland, a contemporary Chinese restaurant? For those of you
watching those reports about the “delicacies” of mainland China including
fried star fish, grilled snake, or goat lungs with red peppers, Mainland
located in the Palazzo does NOT offer those items. However, Mainland
focuses on China’s influence on the cuisine of neighboring regions with
items such as crispy rice salad, wonton chicken crispy noodle soup, and
signature smoked tofu rice noodles. For drinks, there is durian milkshake, a
Soju, and Mainland Punchbowl. These dishes and drinks are not necessarily
from China but do reflect the cuisine of Asia.
Also, be prepared for
communal seating and bright colors which pairs the bold and complex flavors
of Asian cuisine with the vivid architecture and interior design by
Paris-based designer India Mahdavi, who has frequently collaborated with
Jonathan Morr on his other restaurants. In fact, Morr made communal seating
the place to sit in the late 1990’s with the opening of Republic in New York
City and has now brought it to Las Vegas.
The décor at Mainland are
circular tables and benches seating up to thirty-two people that coil. With
seating for 225 people in 7500 square feet, designer Mahdavi sets large
tables on black and white checkered floors, creating a striking contrast
with the colorful Chinese palette of the beige, red, olive, green, and
celadon tabletops. Curved columns throughout the space add a balance to a
very geometric room.
As
for the menu, to begin with starters, there is the Tangy Seafood Salad with
crisp watercress, scallops, shrimp, squid, cashews, and cilantro-chili
vinaigrette or Pork Fluff Wraps made with minced lime, peanut, ginger,
collard greens, and young ginger dressing. Other starters include Grilled
Chicken or Beef Skewers with a tamarind sauce and Duck Pot stickers with
plum relish.
If you are into noodle
soups, the Sour Coconut Fish Soup made with rice noodles, black bass,
pickled green beans, galangal flower,
fried
shallot, and Vietnamese mint is unbelievable. Duck Soup with wheat noodles,
roast duck, udon broth, scallions, cilantro, and enoki mushrooms is really
tasty and there is Spicy Seafood Soup made with egg noodles, grilled shrimp,
squid, and scallops, grilled corn, and watercress.
As for Noodles, the Pad
Thai is incredible with rice noodles, choice of shrimp, chicken, or
vegetables, smoked tofu, tamarind, egg, bean sprouts, and peanuts. Entrees
include a Peanut Chicken that is not what you are used to served with wheat
noodles, pickled mustard greens, soy-chili sauce, and scallions and
Wok-Seared Pork served with crispy egg noodles, mustard greens, and
soybean-black pepper sauce. For beef, the Braised Short Rib with
lemongrass-galangal sauce, and toasted coconut rice blends tastes and
textures in a way never blended before and tastes wonderful.
As for dessert, there is
Fried Chocolate Ice Cream with a green tea-white chocolate sauce and Banana
Fritters with vanilla ice cream, and chocolate sauce.
The drinks are refreshing
with Blackberry-Banana Che, Pineapple-Guava Che, Watermelon Quencher,
Strawberry Sour, Fresh Kiwi Soda and Homemade Ginger Ale.
The shakes are cool with
flavors like Cardamom, Banana, Sweet Rice, and Toasted Marshmallow (which is
so decadent). Alcoholic milkshakes to add a kick include Plymouth gin, yuzu;
Grey Goose vodka, lychee; Montecristo spiced rum, coconut; and a variety of
cocktails including Very Banana. Montecristo white rum, roasted coconut
water and Jack Daniel’s, pomelo puree, Kickapoo
To try some of these
unique dricks, check out Happy Hour Thursdays at Mainland from 3 – 8 p.m.
with: $4 Small Dishes, ½ price Draft Beer, $5 Well Martinis, $1 Small Carafe
Hot Sake
As for service, it is
friendly, personable and very professional. For a place featuring a very
non-traditional Asian (not American Chinese) menu, décor, service and
atmosphere, Mainland is the place to enjoy.
Hours of Operation
Sunday – Thursday 11:00a.m. - 11:00p.m.
Friday & Saturday 11:00a.m. – 12:00a.m.
Mainland
The
Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino
3325
Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las
Vegas, NV 89109
www.palazzolasvegas.com/mainland.aspx
(702) 739-6462
