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Chef Michael Mina’s menu at Nobhill Tavern is decidedly all-American: Oh-so fresh San Francisco cuisine is on display with favorites like lobster pot pie and day boat scallops. The décor of this contemporary locale follows suit: earth-toned furnishings and dark wood accents give the sophisticated room a natural, comfortable feel. The large, open dining room is spacious and bright with polished wood floors and soft, nude-colored seating; semi-private, glass enclosed booths fill the bar area and are ideal for a romantic dinner spot or a private fete. Contemporary music fills the space, which becomes more of a hotspot scene as the evening progresses and the gamblers fuel up with food and drink.

If you’re looking for a romantic spot for a dinner date at the MGM Grand, Nobhill Tavern, chef Michael Mina’s homage to San Francisco and contemporary American food, is a good choice. But don’t expect the (often pretentious) atmosphere of a haute cuisine temple; this upscale tavern exudes casual grace with a décor of earth toned-furnishing and wood accents, as well as a friendly staff and accessible menu. The glass encased bar area offers an ideal spot for an intimate meal. For a little more seclusion, request one of the cozy semi-private booths. We suggest you end a romantic meal on a sweet note with pastry chef Christine Webb’s Grand Mariner soufflé.

The menu at Nobhill Tavern offers a variety of kid-friendly options — from an American Kobe burger to BBQ pulled pork sandwiches — so it’s likely even the pickiest can find something on this menu. To start, choose the Perfect Beginning, a family-style appetizer assortment. Of note: The upscale tavern doesn’t have a designated kids menu, and familiar dishes like macaroni and cheese and pot pie are often given the grown-up treatment with additions of truffle sauce or lobster. And while you may find an option for the younger diners on the menu — Kobe sliders, fried shrimp and pork sandwiches all come to mind — the restaurant is really meant for a more refined palate.

Nobhill Tavern is the place to get modern tavern food inside the MGM Grand, but you can also visit its bar for a handcrafted cocktail. The glass-enclosed area offers an intimate, lounge-like setting, perfect for a romantic pre-dinner cocktail or private fete. The décor follows suite with the upscale tavern’s comfortable, yet stylish trappings. The seasonal cocktail menu includes classics like the rum-based cablecar and the Moscow mule, as well as a variety of regularly changing drinks. An impressive beer menu includes options like Harviestoun Old Engine Oil Ale and Strada San Felice, a chestnut ale. Hit this locale for its unique late-night happy hour.

We imagine after a meal at chef Michael Mina’s American-style Nobhill Tavern you’ll be stuffed — dishes like wood-grilled 12-ounce ribeye or Maine lobster pot pie aren’t for the faint of appetite. But we suggest making room for dessert, as you won’t want to skip the artfully plated sweets menu at this Las Vegas restaurant. Enjoy inventive options like a chocolate tart with peanut brittle and Guinness sorbet, or more understated desserts such as a Grand Marnier soufflé with vanilla bean ice cream. And you can always end your meal with the simple trio of seasonal ice creams and sorbets and a cocktail from the bar.

You won’t find frog’s legs and super fancy French wines at Nobhill Tavern; instead this is chef Michael Mina’s homage to his San Francisco base camp, and a culinary representation of all things American. From grilled steaks to seafood delights, Mina’s menu runs the gamut from creative dishes to tried-and-true staples. Although the menu often features seasonal specials and changes, we chose a few of our favorite Mina bites:

1. The apricot wood-grilled steak. The 8-ounce New York strip is a treat, but to really go all out, order the Australian &dquo;platinum” strip, at $28 per ounce. For extra culinary luxury, add a side of butter-poached lobster.

2. The Maine lobster pot pie. This is what comfort food is all about. The Mina specialty features a crispy crust, carrots and other baby vegetables, along with tender pieces of lobster in a truffle cream sauce.

3. The tomato fondue and grilled cheese. With a bisque like consistency, the tomato fondue is as good as it gets, as is the warm garlic bread grilled cheese.

4. The truffle mac and cheese. Mina makes it just the way Mom used to only better — with truffles.

5. The BBQ pulled pork. These favorite little sandwiches are a homey dish re-imagined with sweet barbecue sauce and shredded pork topped with sliced hot peppers.

Chef Michael Mina may be known for his luxuriously rich cuisine, but at Nobhill Tavern, he cooks up a variety of approachable American-style classics. The sophisticated, yet casual restaurant is his culinary homage to San Francisco, and the menu runs the gamut from creative seafood dishes to apricot wood-fired steaks. The dishes include Mina signature items like the Maine lobster pot pie, American Kobe burger and truffle mac & cheese, but the chef also creates seasonal specials and dishes like Scottish salmon with white asparagus or grilled pork tenderloin with spaetzle. And if you want a sweet finish at this sophisticated locale, creative desserts include options like a Mandarin panna cotta with coco-lime sorbet or a chocolate tart with Guinness sorbet.

After a long day of slot machines, shopping and sunning, a meal at Nobhill Tavern is just the ticket. Chef Michael Mina creates a decidedly American menu at his upscale tavern of a restaurant, a homage to the city of San Francisco, and you can find everything from creative seafood dishes to good old-fashioned burgers on the menu. While the entire dining room is inviting, and has calming earth tone furnishings and wood accents (we particularly like the glass-encased bar area). For an extra-intimate fete, request one of the bar’s semi-private enclosed leather booths.

Chef Michael Mina’s menu at Nobhill Tavern is decidedly all-American: Oh-so fresh San Francisco cuisine is on display with favorites like lobster pot pie and day boat scallops. The décor of this contemporary locale follows suit: earth-toned furnishings and dark wood accents give the sophisticated room a natural, comfortable feel. The large, open dining room is spacious and bright with polished wood floors and soft, nude-colored seating; semi-private, glass enclosed booths fill the bar area and are ideal for a romantic dinner spot or a private fete. Contemporary music fills the space, which becomes more of a hotspot scene as the evening progresses and the gamblers fuel up with food and drink.

Vegas is home to everything from Japanese-style sushi to Italian pasta, but at Nobhill Tavern, chef Michael Mina’s tribute to San Francisco tucked inside the MGM Grand, you’ll find contemporary American flavors and the classic upscale tavern cuisine of the good ol’ U.S.A. Mina’s approachable menu runs the gamut from American Kobe burgers to lobster pot pie; more adventurous diners can try options like seared day boat scallops with butternut squash purée and pecans. But while the food might be all-American, you won’t find the laid-back style of T-shirts and baseball caps here. Instead, this upscale tavern suggests business casual attire and we suggest dressing to impress.