Yellowtail Japanese Restaurant & Lounge — Restaurant in Paradise

Yellowtail Japanese Restaurant & Lounge – A Culinary Gem in Las Vegas

Nestled in the heart of Las Vegas, Yellowtail Japanese Restaurant & Lounge offers a sophisticated dining experience that beautifully combines traditional Japanese cuisine with modern flair. My recent visit to this stunning establishment was nothing short of extraordinary, showcasing the artistry and precision that Japanese dining is renowned for.

Upon entering Yellowtail, I was immediately struck by its elegant decor, featuring sleek lines, warm lighting, and breathtaking views of the iconic Bellagio fountains. The ambiance is both inviting and upscale, making it the perfect setting for a special occasion or a memorable night out.

The menu is a delightful exploration of Japanese flavors, and I started my culinary journey with the Yellowtail Sashimi. The fish was incredibly fresh, sliced to perfection, and served with a zesty yuzu dressing that elevated the dish to new heights. Each bite was a harmonious blend of flavors, showcasing the quality of the ingredients and the skill of the chefs.

Next, I indulged in the signature Yellowtail Jalapeño. This dish features thinly sliced yellowtail topped with fresh jalapeño and a drizzle of ponzu sauce, creating a delightful contrast of spicy and citrusy notes. It was a refreshing and vibrant dish that had me craving more.

For my main course, I opted for the Miso Black Cod, and it did not disappoint. The fish was incredibly tender, marinated to perfection, and beautifully caramelized. Served alongside sautéed seasonal vegetables, the dish was a perfect balance of sweet and savory, highlighting the chef’s expertise in flavor pairing.

To complement my meal, I chose a selection from their impressive sake menu. The knowledgeable staff was more than happy to recommend pairings that enhanced the dining experience, showcasing their commitment to exceptional service.

As a finale, I couldn’t resist trying the dessert—a matcha green tea panna cotta that was as visually stunning as it was delicious. The creamy texture combined with the subtle earthiness of the matcha made for a delightful ending to an incredible meal.

In summary, Yellowtail Japanese Restaurant & Lounge is a culinary masterpiece that deserves a spot on every food lover's list when visiting Las Vegas. With its exquisite dishes, elegant ambiance, and attentive service, it’s a dining experience that transcends the ordinary. Whether you're a sushi aficionado or new to Japanese cuisine, Yellowtail is sure to leave a lasting impression that will have you dreaming of...

I don’t write many reviews, but when I do, it’s because something stood out unfortunately, not in a good way.

A friend suggested we try Yellowtail, and I booked a reservation for their prix fixe menu. When we arrived, we waited about 15 minutes to be seated—even though the restaurant wasn’t at full capacity and the host stand wasn’t crowded. Odd start, but we stayed patient.

Once we were seated, the server approached with a noticeably unfriendly and exhausted demeanor. He gave us the wrong menus, then corrected it by adding the prix fixe menu on top of the others without any explanation or introduction. When asked if we had dined there before, I said no, and my friend said yes. He never acknowledged my answer or offered any kind of welcome, overview of the restaurant, or breakdown of the prix fixe selections just walked off so we ordered Ala carte.

He returned to ask if we wanted tap or bottled water (we went with tap), then asked for our drink orders. I requested tequila with water and asked what tequila options they had—he told me to look in the menu instead of offering any suggestions. Not exactly warm or helpful service.

When he returned, he asked my friend if she wanted a second drink, didn’t even acknowledge me, and walked off again. By this point, it was clear the energy was off.

We ordered the rock shrimp, tuna pizza, jidori chicken, and miso cod. The tuna pizza came out first and was fantastic—flavorful, crispy, and well-balanced. For a moment, I had hope.

Then came the rock shrimp—bland, lacking crunch, and inconsistently coated in sauce. Definitely not worth the price. The cod followed: while flavorful, the texture was overly slimy and off-putting, and I cook cod often I know what it’s supposed to feel like. Lastly, the chicken. The first few bites were fine, but as we got to the center, it felt cold and possibly undercooked—like it had just been thawed. We even used our phone light to double-check. Sure enough, a portion of it seemed raw. That was the dealbreaker.

At that point, I didn’t even bother flagging the server down. He had already made it clear he didn’t want to be there, and we had other plans to get to. I’m a business owner here in Vegas and dine out regularly, often hosting clients and colleagues. This is one place I won’t be returning to—not because of one bad dish, but because of the overall experience: the attitude, the inconsistency, and the lack of care. Not worth the time, and definitely not...

While most of the food was amazing, this reviews goes to our server who we found was really rude. Not only was she rushing us and didn’t explain the dishes, she never asked us if our food was good and kept on forgetting when we asked for water refills and utensils since we were lacking. Another server actually gave us utensils and apologized which he didn’t have to (wished he was our server instead). After our meal was done, our bill was almost $600. Which was totally fine since we were prepared for it. We split the bill and the others left a tip through their cards but I usually tip in cash. So after we paid, our server walked away before I could even give her my 20% tip and I didn’t want to leave it on the table because it was windy. I was about to hand it to her on my way out. She then comes back and looks at us and said “why didn’t you leave me a tip?” and since I was in shock when she asked me that out loud, she then said again “so no tip for me?” Which we found really rude and embarrassing. I literally even had the cash on my hand ready to hand it to her but she decided to say it out loud which was embarrassing. I work in the hotel industry and I check in a lot of tourists and while the food was really good, I will warn my guests not to have her as a server because I don’t want them to get disrespected like that. First, we didn’t get the chance to ask about the different type of food, all she said was “it’s good” and asked if we wanted to order it. Most servers will explain the dish especially if we’re paying $50++ for an entree. I remember my grandpa also asking if they have a chicken dish and she said yes and he asked if she could explain what’s in it but all she said it’s very good and proceeded to say “so you’ll order it? Yes?” And he felt like he was bothering her so he just said yes. Which at the end, he barely touched the plate because he found the chicken breast too dry. I just think that if you’re a server working in a nice restaurant, at least be polite to your guests and make their time there unforgettable. The food may be really amazing and I know I’ll be coming back there for the tuna pizza but the service? I just hope she’s not our server again because I really felt embarrassed. For a $600 meal, the service we received...