Countless restaurants on the Las Vegas Strip offer variations of a tasting menu, highlighting signature creative cuisine while leading your palate on an adventure. But Libertine Social, opened last year at Mandalay Bay, does things a little differently than its neighbors, and its tasting menu follows suit.
Libertine’s Fireside Chats—served during one Saturday-night seating at the open kitchen counter (but also conveniently available throughout the restaurant)—offer five courses of unique cuisine. They’re served in a relatively quick and casual way, paired with special beers from a spotlighted brewery and accompanied by conversation and explanation from executive chef Jamaal Taherzadeh.
On a recent visit, the experience featured the flavorful creations from Quebec’s Unibroue brewery served with memorable plates like hamachi ceviche with pickled apple and chicharrón and a ridiculously rich and delicious crispy-skin porchetta with roasted apple, shaved fennel and citrus. The interaction in a comfortable, upbeat environment is loose and fun, far from the stuffy, formal tasting sessions found at many fine-dining rooms. The food finds the perfect line between edgy and familiar, exactly what you want when you faithfully put yourself in the hands of a great chef. Libertine Social at Mandalay Bay, 702-632-7200; daily 5-10:30 p.m.