This restaurant gem is located inside the community of Desert Shores here in Las Vegas. It’s located on the shores of Lake Jacqueline, and it’s about a 20-minute drive from the strip to get to it. But, that short drive transports you to another world that doesn’t feel like you are in Las Vegas anymore. Americana has multiple levels with patio seating and indoor seating with beautiful views of the lake to enjoy while you dine.
Chef Steven Blandino is a Staten Island native who grew up cooking with his mother and grandmother in the kitchen and developing a love for the art. That passion led him to go to culinary school. Once he finished his education, he landed a job at Charlie Palmer’s Aureole in New York City. He then transferred to Aureole here in Vegas and worked up the ranks to executive sous chef. From there, he became the head chef at Charlie Palmer’s namesake restaurant at The Four Seasons in Vegas. When he left his post at Charlie Palmer’s to open his space in Summerlin, it was a happy local treat for foodies.
I’ve had the opportunity to dine at Americana several times. On our last visit, we decided on a few new dishes. The first was their artichoke and truffle soup. They serve the dish tableside and pour the hot soup over mini crab cakes. It was a delicious velvety delight. Rich but not overpowering, and just spot on in execution. It’s worth visiting Americana just for this dish. Next, we tried their big eye garlic tuna tataki, served with a daikon radish salad, Masago, and yuzu. The tender fish melts in your mouth and is complemented perfectly with the citrusy vinaigrette. We then shared the marinated beet salad with hazelnuts, truffled goat cheese, and a sherry vinaigrette. It was a perfect tender delight to the palate. We finished our meal with the charcuterie and cheese board. It featured three kinds of cheese and fun accompaniments like tiny pepper, grapes, and delectable cheeses. I can tell you from previous visits that their take on octopus and grilled fish are just incredible. And though I haven’t sampled it yet, take a chance on their secret menu, which is called the harvest menu. For $50 a piece, you get a new weekly curated three-course menu featuring an appetizer, main, and a dessert coupled with unlimited wine pairings. If you haven’t made the pilgrimage to this local gem, I’d highly recommend you do and do so soon. I will be back soon, chef.