Thursday, March 1, 2018

Sweets Raku - Las Vegas

Here's a Yelp recommendation...
Sweet Raku which lucky for us, opens at Noon on a Sunday for lunch.
Seating is limited, so we lined up a few minutes before they open.  As you can see, it's a bar setting.  Behind me are 3 more tables that seat 4.  So, they don't hold more than 28 guests, 4 or 5 staff and that's it.
On the weekends, they are open for lunch.  
This is my Cassis & Berry Tea, not too sweet but not too fruity either.  Love the sphere ice cube!
They start you out with a small salad with a side of potato salad.  The dressing is soy-based, but very light and easy-going.  The potato salad is delicious yet very filling, so be careful not to fill up on the carb.  The potato salad did kinda reminded me that the ones you get at BBQ places, except theirs is less mayo-ey.
A demitasse cup of lobster bisque.  Not that I can taste any lobster meat, but it was creamy and you can taste lobster in the mix.  Super hot, so sip gently.
My entree, is the Grilled Salmon and Salmon Roe sandwich.  We watched them first heat up the croissant in the oven, and they take it to the back, where they lay down a giant leave of lettuce, a hearty size of grilled salmon, some asparagus, and roe on top.  When you bite into the sandwich, it's nice and buttery from the croissant and definitely crunchy.  The roe provided the salt and the salmon is a decent size piece.  This will definitely fill you up!
Wait, but there's more!  We got a scoop of the mango sorbet.  I'm not a fan of whipped cream on top of ice cream or sorbet.  So, after the picture, I gentle removed it.  Every bite of that sorbet, made you feel like you're eating fresh cold mango or mango ice.  So fresh!
Seating at the bar you get a front row seat of what the dessert chefs are doing.  It is like a dance that they do.  Talk about an art form.  Even for them to plate a souffle is an art.
I think this is mine.... it fresh hot out of the oven!
Wow... talk about an apple pie deconstructed.  This is Ringo!
Take a closer look: the side they have caramel smeared, with a halved blueberry and a raspberry on both sides.  The apple pie and open crust, nice and crispy.  A scoop of honey ice cream with cinnamon on top and crunchy oats at the bottom.  Take it from me, a scoop of ice cream with the oats and the pie together is divine.
Oh wait!  But there's more!!!  What's inside the cute little apple?  Well, when I cracked it open, the caramel spill out of it.  But at the base of the apple, and which is what holds it down instead of rolling around, is a small layer of whipped cream.  So, when you mix a bit of this and a bit of that, every bite is awesome and divine.  Talk about having your pie and eat it too.
The other dessert we got was Mt. Fuji.  That's a fun way of doing a Mont Blanc.  It is chestnut cream layered on top of a small sponge cake, no bigger than a twinkie size.  A scoop of vanilla Hennessy ice cream on top of some crumble.  A taste of the ice cream I was drunk.  It's a popular scoop here.  I just enjoyed the chestnut so much that totally wasn't paying attention. 

Something for you to enjoy.  If you order Mars, this is what you get.  They lit up a small cute container of brandy, and pour it over a red dome.  It melts over a yuzu mousse and chocolate cream.   So when they pour the alcohol, it melts the dome into the cake.  It's quite a show.

It is great a great deal: $23 for a small salad, soup, sandwich, sorbet and a dessert is well worth the price.  They also have a 2-course dessert for $15.  You get a main dessert and a small dessert.  But for $8 you get salad, soup, and a sandwich, totally worth the deal.  Between the 2 of us, it didn't cost more than $50 (exclude tax and tip).  

They do not take reservation, unless is a large party.  So, go there early.  They have 16 seating around the bar and 12 at the table, the seats goes quick, and next thing you know, people are lining up out to the door.  Place is small and cozy, but that's what allow them to do the beautiful desserts that they do. Not only can you get a seat when you go early, they are less likely to run out of your favorite.

Parking might be a challenge too.  Since there are 4 popular eateries and 1 bubble tea place all in a small shopping center.  You may end up parking on the street.  Just read the signs, they are friendly enjoy to let people park.  But then the drivers there are pretty aggressive, so pay attention.

Sweets Raku
5040 W. Spring Mountain Rd
Ste 3
Las Vegas, NV 89146
702-290-7181
http://raku-sweets.com/sweets/ 

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