Michael Mina channels France with sexy Bardot Brasserie at Aria

Chef Michael Mina didn’t land a title celebrity until he met tennis legend Andre Agassi, who teamed up with him to start the Mina Group which opened the now-defunct Nobhill Tavern and Seablue at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino.

Fast forward 13 years, and Mina is at it again in Las Vegas. He converted his former American Fish at Aria Resort & Casino into the handsome and mysterious Bardot Brasserie, named for actress Brigitte Bardot.

The French restaurant, which opened last Friday, has the feel of a 1920s cafe along Paris’ Champs-Élysées. Bishop Pass Interior Architectural Design Studio in Los Angeles created the dark look to the space that features black lacquer walls and burgundy leather booths.

The centerpiece, a brass bar, features a zinc counter top and brass pipes that serve as shelves. Guests can get the Paris experience even more by sitting on a faux sidewalk cafe outside the restaurant.

Executive chef Joshua Smith compared his travel notes with Mina, who has one Michelin star at his eponymous restaurant in San Francisco, to come up with a classic Parisian menu.

Guests can add Perigold truffles, braised oxtail or a soft-poached egg to the onion soup gratinée. French staples such as Croque Madame, steak frites and duck à l’orange sit alongside a seafood tower of lobster, king crab, oysters, clams and shrimp on the menu. A massive macaron and lemon meringue tart finishes off the dinner menu.

Brunch comes every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. that can be paaired with “bottomless” rose wine for $18.

For drinks, Aria’s mixologist found cognacs dating back to 1811, and Las Vegas’ largest selection of Chartreuse.

Info: Bardot Brasserie