2011 Matsuhisa opens in Vail in August

We were really excited about Matsuhisa opening in Vail. We loved going to Matsuhisa on La Cienega in Los Angeles in the late 80's. We would eat the tasting menus and swoon over the tastes and the innovativeness. On a trip back to LA in 2000, we went to Nobu Malibu and loved it too. 


We were able to sample the delectable hors d'oeuvres at Nobu Matsuhisa’s new restaurant in Vail on August 6th at an invitation only pre-opening event in conjunction with the Vail International Dance Festival. The pre-opening event was showcasing Erin Baiano’s photographs from the dance festival to raise money. To read our review when we ate dinner there in May 2012, click here.

Matsuhisa is located at Solaris Residences, 141 E. Meadow Drive, Vail, CO 81657, tel. 970-476-6628 , web: http://www.matsuhisavail.com/, e-mail: info@matsuhisavail.com (and http://www.opentable.com/matsuhisa-vail). 


The restaurant space is dramatic; it soars with a triple-height ceiling and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out to Vail Mountain. The lobby of the Solaris Residences has a bird’s eye view of the restaurant, looking down at the bar from above. There are tables inside and outside on the deck above the Solaris ice rink/event rink. There is a sushi bar in a separate room, as well as small room with two tables off of the main space.


Matsuhisa is designed with the drama of his food in mind. We sampled six different hors d'oeuvres served by the friendly and professional wait staff. The bar created a special martini for the event that was intriguing (and too strong for us). All of the appetizers were very good—and some excellent. The one we liked the best was a morsel of Alaska black cod in a yummy sauce with crunchy rice noodles, wrapped in lettuce (and easy to eat). There was a morsel of Atlantic snapper in a conveniently-sized endive leaf. The taste of the snapper was enhanced with an Asian-Peruvian taste. 


There was a tuna with a miso sauce that was bite-sized and perfect. The grilled chicken and beef filet both were a little too big for one bite but the deliciousness made you want to have more than one bite anyway! Finally there was a perfectly cooked morsel of salmon that was sauced perfectly as well. 


We didn’t sit at any table but are a little concerned that the seats will need pads to be comfortable. The wine and beer was free-flowing and very good. The staff couldn’t have been more gracious. We felt special to have been included. However, we are not enthusiastic about General Manager, Anthony Viera. He blew us off when we asked for further descriptions of the appetizers—he made us feel anything but special.


To read the April 2011 article from the Vail Daily announcing the arrival of Matsuhisu, go to: http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20110429/NEWS/110429814. The announcement of the August 18th

Vail

opening was in the August 16, 2011 edition of the Vail Daily.