Whether dinner is the end of a fabulous day on vacation or an opener to a great night out, it’s worthwhile to ensure your meal is nothing short of exceptional. And if exceptional is what you seek, look no further than Michael Mina’s Orla at Mandalay Bay.
Photo by:
Anthony Mair
This beautifully appointed dining room, filled with peaceful dark blue hues, textured, cream-colored accent walls and artistically displayed vessels, sets the scene for a delicious and inspired meal. Paying homage to the chef’s Egyptian heritage and celebrating all kinds of Middle Eastern flavors, this menu features elevated takes on many Mediterranean favorites as well as some delicious dishes you may not have heard of but are sure to love.
It would be almost sacrilegious to not start with the whipped chickpea hummus that comes with pillowy, warm pita, but if you’d like to add a little pizzazz to your mezze, order the Breads, Spreads, Pickles. You’ll be delighted to receive an assortment of warm breads with irresistible tzatziki, roasted eggplant dip and turmeric butter, complemented by a variety of sweet pickled veggies, including cauliflower, carrots and celery. Start with a bit of seafood when you order the marinated big eye tuna, which is served on a crispy falafel with whipped tahini and urfa spicy cucumber. Or for something a little lighter, try the hamachi crudo with persimmon, cara cara orange and chili crunch.
When it comes to mains, there’s no bad choice. From the sea, the tomato-ginger glazed salmon with saffron couscous, dill yogurt and blistered cherry tomatoes packs so much to savor, while the Alexandria-style beer-battered fish and chips offers something flavorful and familiar. If you prefer proteins from the land, have the absolutely delectable roasted lemon chicken. Served with lemon potatoes, Fresno chilies, feta and mint, this dish, with its creamy lemon sauce, is easily one of the yummiest poultry dishes this writer has ever tasted. Meat lovers will appreciate the black harissa-grilled lamb chops and the spice-rubbed New York strip, each satisfying and complemented by its own lovely accoutrements.
Photo by:
Anthony Mair
Sharing is caring at this fine establishment, so consider a family-style kebab platter with filet mignon, kofta, chicken dolmas, tangerine labneh and smoked eggplant dip. For a tableside experience, order the salt-baked sea bream, served with summer squash and oregano vinaigrette.
Don’t skip the drink menu here, either. Orla has an award-winning wine list curated by lead sommelier Jeff Chow, who will gladly help you select the perfect sip. Also, the house cocktail menu features inventive libations like the Rio Spritz (pictured alone, left), a mixture of Aperol, elderflower, passion fruit, prosecco and soda, served in a porron.
What’s dinner without dessert? Order coffee service and dig your spoon into the scrumptious rice pudding. Topped with a Ceylon cinnamon crisp, this cool, creamy dessert is plenty to share between two. If you’d prefer a baked sweet, try the lemon olive oil semolina cake. This moist, slightly dense dessert is made bright by citrus flavors and seasonal fruit, while the olive oil balances the sweetness.
Mandalay Bay. mandalaybay.mgmresorts.com
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