GREAT EATS HAWAII: ONDA RISTORANTE

MAIN DINING ROOM AT ONDO

ONDA RISTORANTE
MIRAGE HOTEL
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

While at the Aria Hotel, we checked in with the concierge to pick up tickets to the Terry Fator show at the Mirage. I asked the concierge if there was a good Italian restaurant at the Mirage. She recommended we try Onda. I knew nothing of the restaurant and thought the name was a bit weird for an Italian place. Turns out this is an award winning Italian restaurant that is also a great wine bar and one of the best deals in Las Vegas. The waiter (Caesar) presented us with the regular menu and then a Prix Fixe Menu that offered a three course meal with get this - ALL THE WINE YOU CAN DRINK. I asked Caesar if this was for real and he said "yes". Wow my friend said. "Lets do this!" Caesar brought a few glasses of merlot and we were off. We ordered a pasta dish to split in addition to the Prix Fixe menu. The pasta was fresh and the flavors were perfect. Can't remember the first course of the Prix Fixe but we both loved it. The main course was the most perfectly cooked Lamb Loin I have ever tasted in my life. This thing was out of this world. We were served two desserts that were excellent. Can't remember those either. Seems like that unlimited wine was flowing rather freely. This was a really good meal. I mean really good. As the dining room tables cleared one by one, we found ourselves alone with our waiter Caesar. Caesar told us his life story and that he has worked in this same restaurant for 20 years. 20 years in the same place. We were fascinated with his story of hanging in there through good and really bad economic times. All the while loving his job and the visitors and locals that dine here. Caesar kept the wine flowing until every table was set and cleaned for the next day. The lights were dim and we were the only three people left in the dining room. Caesar politely asked if we would mind moving into the bar area to finish our wine. Sure we said, just fill us up. Caesar joined us in the bar area and we continued to talk. The bartender waited for a while and then threw in his towel and clocked out. I think this was the end to our evening of "unlimited wine". We might have had one for the road and then said our goodbyes to Caesar. Wow.....what an incredible evening of good food, wine and friends. I highly recommend Ondo and cannot wait to return.
http://www.mirage.com/restaurants/onda-ristorante.aspx