Julian Serrano at Aria: Las Vegas

My foodie instincts told me that Vegas was an up and coming culinary hot spot. Many of the world's top chefs have restaurants on the strip.

Julian Serrano, one of Aria's signature restaurants, brings an updated twist to classic Spanish cuisine- tapas style. I love the concept of sharing lots of little plates, that way I can try a little bit of everything.

Dinner at Julian Serrano was one of the best dining experiences I've ever had- it's a upbeat environment that is a little noisy with a great mix of people. Perfect for a group dinner, or in our case, a girlfriend getaway.

The dinner started off with my favorite plate of the evening- Tuna-raspberry skewer (ahi tuna, “molecular” raspberry, wasabi & sesame seed).

And from there, it was a world-wind of tasty little bites...

Traditional Spanish chicken croquetas (chicken & béchamel)

Brava potatoes (spicy tomato & alioli sauce)

Lobster-pineapple skewer (lobster tail, “molecular” pineapple & Sesame oil)

Seared scallop (romesco sauce)

Beef and cheese (prime tenderloin, cheese, honey & pecans)

Valenciana Paella (chicken, rabbit, spanish pork chorizo, vegetables & saffron rice)

Churros with spicy chocolate dipping sauce

Crema Catalan (Spanish Creme Brulee )

Santiago's Cake (almond cake, turron ice cream, caramelized nuts)

By the end of the meal, we were stuffed...in a good way! Everything was truly superb. While we had a grand tasting of many items on the menu, an affordable pre-theater dinner is available for $45 when purchased with show tickets. When you're in Vegas, I can't recommend Julian Serrano enough.

After dinner, it was time for a show. Can you guess where we headed next?

Cirque du Soleil's VIVA Elvis

Because a trip to Vegas isn't complete without seeing the "King of Rock and Roll".

Previous posts in the series: Zappos Headquarters Tour

Special thanks to Julian Serrano at Aria for providing our meal