We made reservations for Julian Serrano’s around 5:30 prior to seeing Zarkana. But, the reservations were unnecessary because there were only 2 other parties there in a large dining room.
We’ve been to several other tapas restaurants in Vegas, so we were looking forward to comparing this experience.
If you are seated at the round tables with the heavy leather chairs, as we were, be prepared to have a difficult time getting in and out of the chairs because they are very heavy and don’t slide on the carpet.
- Location: Aria Hotel (map)
- Sun-Thurs: 5 pm – 10 pm
Fri-Sat: 5 pm – 11 pm
- Price per Person: $50-$100
- Cuisine: Spanish
- Reservations: 702-590-8520 or Online
The dining room is filled with oranges, reds, and dark browns, which gives it a luxurious Spanish feel. I also loved seeing the chefs work in the kitchen, which you can see in the photo above behind the bar area.
We started off dinner with a couple of martinis, which neither one of us finished. They just weren’t as good as some others in Vegas.
Chef Julian Serrano
Chef Julian Serrano is a two-time winner of the James Beard Award, and has two restaurants in Las Vegas – Picasso at Bellagio and Julian Serrano Tapas in Aria. As a native of Madrid, Spain, chef Julian Serrano brings his interpretations of native Spanish fare to Las Vegas, NV in small plates.
Tapas at Julian Serrano’s
If you love small plates so everyone can try a bit of everything like we do, then you’ll want to try Julian Serrano’s. We decided to forego the pricey Zarkana dinner menu, and ordered a few tapas. The Spanish chicken croquettes were just ok, but the arugula aioli dipping sauce was ‘no bueno’.
The service was fine, but I wasn’t overly impressed. We had to wave our server down a few times to ask for water he forgot to bring.
My husband wanted the grilled ribeye steak with a mushroom demi-glaze and mashed potato. Again, it was fine, but nothing special, and he didn’t care for the sauce. We splurged with the Lobster Fideua, which is a half lobster tail with red pepper over angel hair pasta. This was our favorite dish, but unfortunately, we were already $100 in and we were still hungry.
We were so disappointed, that we decided to skip the dessert at Julian Serrano’s. Later that evening after the show, we both felt sick and were up half the night. Needless to say, we won’t be returning.
Awards
Despite our experience, Julian Serrano Tapas has won several awards:
- 2010 Las Vegas Weekly: Best New Restaurants & Best Tapas
- 2010 Esquire Magazine: Best New Restaurant
- 2015, 2016, 2017 Forbes: Four-Star Award
Julian Serrano Tapas Menu
Known for its Seafood Paella, Lobster Fideua, and refreshing sangrias, Julian Serrano Tapas can transport you to Spain. Check out the latest menu available.
Hours
Monday – Tuesday: 5:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Wednesday – Thursday: Closed
Friday & Saturday: 11:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Sunday: 11:30 am – 10:30 pm
Reservations at Julian Serrano Tapas
(877) 230-2742
For Small Plates We Recommend…
Firefly Restaurants
We love the Firefly Restaurants for small plates and tapas. It might not be as authentic Spanish recipes as Julian Serrano’s Tapas, but we love the taste and the price is right. If you want a casual place to hang out with friends, grab a drink, and some great small plates, Firefly restaurants are the place to go.
FAQs
What is the dress code at Julian Serrano Tapas?
Smart business casual – men don’t need suit coats.
Do you need a reservation?
On weekdays you may not need a reservation, but you might as well use the available OpenTable reservations.
What are the specialty dishes?
Julian Serrano Tapas is known for Mixed Paella, Imported Spanish “Pata Negra”(Black Pig) Ham, Traditional Spanish Chicken Croquetas, and Stuffed Piquillo Peppers, and of course the Sangrias.
Does Julian Serrano Tapas have a happy hour?
Not anymore. They used to have a happy hour, b.