Julian Serrano Tapas is a

tapas Tapas () are appetisers or snacks in Spanish cuisine. They can be combined to make a full meal and are served cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or hot (such as , which are battered, fried baby squid; or , spicy potatoes). In some bars ...

restaurant in

Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...

in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. Owned by Julian Serrano, it's located inside the

Aria Resort and Casino Aria Resort and Casino is a luxury resort and casino, and the primary property at the CityCenter complex, located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. It is owned by The Blackstone Group and operated by MGM Resorts International. Constru ...

and is Serrano's second restaurant in Las Vegas after

Picasso Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso (25 October 1881 – 8 April 1973) was a Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, Ceramic art, ceramicist, and Scenic ...

. On 2 January 2025, Aria announced Julian Serrano Tapas will close in February 2025.

History

Julian Serrano wanted to open a Spanish-style restaurant for over a decade. In 2009,

MGM Resorts International MGM Resorts International is an American Multinational corporation, multinational hospitality, sports and entertainment company. It operates resorts in Las Vegas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Maryland, Ohio, New Jersey, Macau, Shanghai, ...

offered Serrano a contract to open a restaurant at the new

. Serrano agreed to the restaurant contract as long as he could have a

restaurant. Serrano traveled to Spain to find a designer for the restaurant. The design firm Gente de Valor was selected. Serrano traveled to DC to meet chef Jose Lopez Picazo, a fellow chef from Madrid. Lopez Picazo was hired as chef. The restaurant's first menu tasting took place before the kitchen was operational. Executives from MGM and Serrano tasted between 25 and 30 dishes in 40 minutes. The restaurant opened a few weeks later to 600 guests on the first day.

Design and ambiance

The restaurant is located in the lobby of the Aria Resort and Casino. Designed by Gente de Valor and Serrano, the restaurant represents "the vibrant culture of my country" and needed "a good sense of balance" according to Serrano.

Cuisine and beverages

The restaurant serves contemporary versions of Spanish-style

with occasional Asian fusion influences. Dishes include

paella Paella (, , , , ; ) is a rice dish originally from the Valencian Community. ''Paella'' is regarded as one of the community's identifying symbols. It is one of the best-known dishes in Spanish cuisine. The dish takes its name from the wide, sha ...

(including a vegan option); ahi tuna tempura with seaweed salad and avocado- rocoto-mayo and ponzu sauce; marinated olives; stuffed piquillo peppers; grilled calamari; ribs made from

Black Iberian pig The Iberian pig, also known in Portugal as the Alentejo Pig, is a traditional breed of the domestic pig (''Sus scrofa domesticus'') that is native to the Iberian Peninsula. The Iberian pig, whose origins can probably be traced back to the Neoli ...

s; salmon with truffle bechamel sauce and mushrooms; squid-ink rice with chicken and saffron, lobster with roasted red peppers; and empanadas. The dessert menu includes torrija with salted caramel and vanilla ice cream. The bar offers multiple types of

sangria Sangria ( , ; ) is an alcoholic beverage originating in Spain and Portugal. A punch, sangria traditionally consists of red wine and chopped fruit, often with other ingredients or spirits. Under EU regulations only Spain and Portugal can ...

. Cocktails include the Piña Smash, pineapple purée, simple syrup, mint and lime. The bar also serves carajillo, a Spanish after-dinner drink made with xtabentún. The wine list comprises mainly Spanish wines.

Reception

Zagat The ''Zagat Survey'', commonly referred to as Zagat (stylized in all caps; , ) and established by Tim and Nina Zagat in 1979, is an organization which collects and correlates the ratings of restaurants by diners. For their first guide, coverin ...

rates Julian Serrano Tapas as having a 4.5 out of 5 for food and 4.4 out of 5 for decor and service. ''Time Out'' gives the restaurant 4 out of 5 stars.

References

External links

*{{official website, https://www.aria.com/en/restaurants/julian-serrano.html Restaurants in Las Vegas, Nevada 2010 establishments in Nevada