Wine lovers: Look no further! Wine Enthusiast ’s annual August Restaurant Issue, dedicated to announcing America’s 100 Best Wine Restaurants of the year, officially hits newsstands this week. The magazine’s editors have mapped out 100 wine-obsessed restaurants in every corner of the country, solving the age-old question, “Where should I drink (and eat) right now?” The issue also includes everything from interviews with star sommeliers and chefs, to essential pairing picks and top trends straight from the mouths of the wine-industry experts.
This year’s 100 Best Wine Restaurants list features 34 must-visit eateries that make their debut, plus 44 restaurants that have been inducted into the Hall of Fame for landing on the coveted list at least three times. Other special sections include a look at the best BYOB restaurants in the country; eateries that specialize in laser-focused wine lists; restaurants that serve the best biodynamic pours on the planet; and America’s five new foodie cities you must visit.
“We’re very excited to announce America’s 100 Best Wine Restaurants in our fourth annual August Restaurant Issue,” says Editor & Publisher of Wine Enthusiast, Adam Strum. “ Wine Enthusiast is a voice of authority on wine and beverage, but this issue emphasizes our commitment to the importance of the wine-dining experience. These incredible institutions offer innovative menus, inventive beverage programs and a dedication to what’s in your glass. It is with great pride and pleasure that we present these one hundred deserved restaurants with this esteemed honor.”
To commemorate the release of the official America’s 100 Best Wine Restaurants list, the entire Wine Enthusiast team will gather in Manhattan on Thursday, July 10, to host a party on the rooftop of one of the most buzzed-about winners this year, Narcissa. The magazine team will toast the exploding culture of wine and food with restaurant industry stars and honor recipients of this year’s prestigious awards. An expanded digital version, featuring wine-and-food pairings, kitchen secrets and more, plus a searchable database of the list can be found at winemag.com/100best2014 . Be sure to join the conversation and follow @WineEnthusiast on Twitter with the hashtag #100BestRestos .
About Wine Enthusiast Magazine
Wine Enthusiast Magazine educates and entertains readers about wine and the wine lifestyle in an accessible and user-friendly way. Published 13 times per year, the magazine’s readership is more than 800,000. The magazine and its Buying Guide with more than 100,000 ratings and reviews are available online. The magazine hosts signature Wine Enthusiast events for both consumer and trade. www.WineMag.com
About Sage
www.aria.com/dining/restaurants/sage
877.230.2742
Sage is a favorite Las Vegas restaurant amongst an international crowd of foodies due to its focuses on contemporary American cuisine spiced with global influences in a sophisticated, yet comfortable atmosphere. Critically acclaimed Chef Shawn McClain combines farm-to-table produce, artisanal meats and sustainable seafood that make each dish mouth-watering.
Looking to move away from the overcomplicated dishes found in many Las Vegas restaurants, McClain and his team place the ultimate emphasis on simple, clean flavors and seasonal ingredients. Enjoy the familiarity of a New York strip steak married with decadent beef marrow, or fall back on comfort classics like ravioli topped with heirloom carrots and roasted garlic. Such creative use of ingredients makes this one of the best Las Vegas restaurants that’s impossible to skip. Mirroring the chef’s commitment to seasonality, veteran mixologists infuse fresh fruit purées, boutique liquors and homemade bitters into daily cocktail offerings. Or, treat yourself to one of our 10 absinthe offerings, which can be served in a number of ways that make it an experience you’ll tell stories about. If you were on the hunt for the best restaurant in Las Vegas, rest assured you just hit the jackpot.
Featured Wine
Sadie Family 2012 Pofadder (Swartland)
The Wine Program
The program caters to a variety of diners, offering 600 selections and 30 by-the-glass pours, spotlighting legendary producers and dynamic young vintners from around the world. Two tasting menus offer diners options in four- and eight-course formats.
Favorite Dish
Slow-poached organic farm egg made with smoked potato, shaved black truffles and toasted country bread is amazing when matched with a Bouchard 2011 Meursault Genevrières.
About Yellowtail
702.693.8300
Featured Wine
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 1995 Romanée-Conti
The Wine Program
In addition to 220 wines and 45 sakés, namesake chef Akira Back launched his own private-label saké that’s available at the restaurant. Harmonizing with the fish-focused dishes, the list skews New World, since “I care about more fruitiness, and look for light and crisp wines to match with our fresh and delicate cuisine,” says Yukiko Kawasaki, the sommelier.
Favorite Dish
Shared plates join an extensive sushi menu at this luxurious Japanese restaurant.
Chef Akira Back offers a fine dining experience in an unparalleled setting. He uses the highest quality seasonal fish and ingredients to create his delicious culinary masterpieces. The extensive menu of modern Japanese creations features innovative and delicately prepared dishes that are truly unique, poised to tantalize the taste buds of locals and tourists, alike.
Born in Korea and raised in Colorado, Chef Akira Back has been named “Rising Star” byRestaurant Hospitality and “Best Chef in Las Vegas” by Las Vegas Weekly. Before opening Yellowtail Japanese Restaurant & Lounge in 2008, the professional snowboarder turned chef studied under top celebrity chefs and industry leaders throughout the world, including Masaharu Morimoto and Brian Nagao. Chef Akira Back also led the kitchen as Executive Chef of Nobu Matsuhisa’s namesake restaurant in Aspen in 2003.Yellowtail Japanese Restaurant & Lounge, Chef Akira Back’s menu features enticing flavors that are inspired by Chef Akira Back’s global travels. Chef Akira Back is known for his innovative dishes and using the freshest ingredients from the world’s top purveyors.
Working alongside Chef Akira Back is Yellowtail’s sommelier Yukiko Kawasaki. Under Kawasaki’s direction, Yellowtail features an expansive wine menu and sake list offering cocktails that perfectly pair with each creation on the restaurant’s bill of fare. Yellowtail’s exotic sake list includes the lavish Frozen Beauty Sake, Las Vegas’ most expensive sake priced at $2,400. Aged for 10 years in a customized cooler, Frozen Beauty Sake offers the most demanding of palates a chance to taste perfection while enjoying their Yellowtail meal.
Yellowtail’s sumptuous cuisine is complimented by the elegant wood and stone décor in the dining room and lounge fostering a vibrant and sensual atmosphere, conceptualized by The Light Group and created by the world renowned Rockwell Group of New York City. One of Yellowtail’s design highlights is an outdoor veranda that features panoramic views of the Las Vegas Strip, as well as breathtaking views of Bellagio’s iconic fountain show. The combination of the restaurant’s distinctive atmosphere, decadent cuisine, and incomparable views places Yellowtail atop the list of Las Vegas dining options.
