Chowhound: Union at Aria Las Vegas

Aria and CityCenter have plenty of big name chefs and high priced restaurants  in its roster, but when Union changed their menu they may have vaulted themselves to the top of the pile.

Union considers itself a spirited, edgy, contemporary-American restaurant & lounge featuring fresh, seasonal fare paired with an eclectic selection of American and International wines, as well as an extensive cocktail list conceptualized and prepared by expert in-house mixologists.

I'm an old school guy and prefer bartender to a mixologist.  However, there are occasions where calling a bartender a mixologist is appropriate and at Union the drinks my friends and I had were more than the typical bartender would ever make. Among the drinks we tried were a vodka based drink made with fresh berries (and dry ice to give a smoky effect) and a tequila based drink made with hot jalapenos. Both were awesome and got the table in the mood for a great night.

On one occasion I dined with a rather large party and we shared a variety of dishes and no main courses. The meal was a la tapas style and it was awesome.  While the  Beef Carpaccio “Flat Bread” may have been slightly over-salted, the Mini Kobe Beef Burgers were a perfect medium and would have been enough for a good meal alone (note there's a happy hour special for sliders). The table also sampled Pan Seared Dumplings, Wood Grilled Lamb Kebobs, Teriyaki Drumsticks and a couple of seafood dishes including the Yellowtail Crunch and Tuna Tartare that were all really good.  However if you are in the mood for a steak, I’d recommend the Bone-in Rib Eye which I had on another occasion and was delicious.  As for sides, the “All Year” Corn and Marc & Cheese are delectable.

While Union will tell you reservations are recommended, I've never seen more than a handful of people here. It's a great option if you're at Aria and even worth the trip if you're not staying at the hotel.  I will not hesitate to return, but I will probably go for happy hour or the $49 early evening dinner menu to save a few bucks.