Estiatorio Milos (Las Vegas, NV)

Estiatorio Milos
The Cosmopolitan
3708 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Dining date: 5/10/13

Estiatorio Milos, with five locations around the world, specializes in Mediterranean (particularly Greek) seafood. Located in the same foyer as Jaleo, STK, Comme Ca, Blue Ribbon, and the secret pizza joint, it’s one of the fine dining options within The Cosmopolitan’s restaurants. Before this meal, my limited experience with the restaurant has been its stellar dishes at each Vegas Uncork’d Grand Tasting (and the last American Wine & Food Festival). In each of the past few years, they’ve served a salt-encrusted fish that was one of the highlights of each event. That dish’s simple approach to high-quality seafood is something I expected to be echoed throughout Milos’ menu.

I hadn’t read a lot of reviews before dining at the restaurant, but what I did know is that it’s expensive. As expensive as dinner can be, Estiatorio Milos offers what I think is one of the best lunch deals on the Strip – a 3-course, $22.13 menu. Six appetizers are available to choose from (two with supplemental pricing), six entrees (two with supplemental pricing), and three dessert options. The tempting pricing supplements, which range from $10-15 extra, can quickly drive the prix-fixe up, but there are attractive options when sticking to the $22 menu as well.

I wonder how quickly this fish display turns over, and if they actually serve this fish to diners. Impressive nonetheless.

Bread is served warm, crusty on the outside and very soft on the inside. Fruity olive oil is served instead of butter, something I actually prefer almost every time.

Fried Calamari fresh calamari, lightly fried with lemon

This starter isn’t part of the fixed menus, but was one of the house specialties so we gave it a try. The batter was light and crispy, delicate with tender squid. With a light squeeze of lemon, these were simple but delicious bites. However at $24 a plate, there isn’t a ton of value here since you could get another 3-course for less.

Fresh Diver Scallop Skewer with green bell pepper, sweet onion & couscous

My mother had these skewered scallops; cooked well, these were tender and moist. Some sweetness from bell peppers and onion were a welcome accompaniment.

Grilled Octopus sashimi quality Mediterranean octopus, charcoal-broiled

A $10 supplement, this was one of the better dishes of the lunch. Extremely tender, the octopus was contrasted with a bright onion flavor and fresh parsley. Loved the texture.

Fresh Maryland Lump Crab Cake with marinated gigantes beans & mustard emulsion

Another $10 supplement from the appetizer options, I liked the delicate crust of the crab cake but overall flavors were fairly muted. Not bad, but not the most interesting.

We tried four of the entree options.

Lavraki grilled Mediterranean bass

This was a hit; the dense flesh of the bass was very moist and the skin was oh-so-crispy. A touch of fruity olive oil and salty capers were a nice addition to the fish, which didn’t need much more.

Organic Chicken Breast Skewer grilled mushrooms & onions, served over pita

My cousin got this dish; the lone piece of chicken that I tried was pretty dry.

Colorado USDA Prime Lamb Chops french fries & broccoli

My grandmother opted for the lamb chops ($10 supplement), cooked a nice medium rare. Tender and juicy, this was a good option for someone wanting to avoid the seafood route.

Nova Scotia Deep Sea Lobster Pasta light tomato sauce

I went for this dish. Although the $15 pricing supplement was relatively steep, there seemed to be a lot of value in this dish. A whole small lobster was carefully broken apart, leaving the meat bathed within linguini and a light tomato cream sauce. The lobster was just a touch more cooked than what I would’ve liked, but was sweet and tasty nonetheless. The pasta had a nice richness without being too heavy.

For dessert, we tried two of the three options.

Fresh Fruits of the Season

Pretty much as advertised.

Walnut Cake with Kaimaki ice cream

The cake was sweet, slightly earthy, and pretty moist. The ice cream was refreshing; interestingly, it’s made from the resin of mastic trees, native to Greece.

We enjoyed our meal here and I wouldn’t mind returning for lunch. I wouldn’t say it was good enough to inspire a visit for a $100+ dinner, though. The scallops and Lavraki fish would make an excellent $22 lunch meal; in terms of the supplements, I’d splurge on the octopus and lobster pasta again. Heck, many Vegas buffets are more than $22 for lunch; you don’t get the same variety but the quality at Milos is clearly several notches above. Definitely recommended for a lunch visit, but I’ll have to read more positive reviews to visit for dinner.