RM Seafood

“At RM Seafood, we are committed to use organically grown, sustainable produce and sustainably caught seafood. We have made a public commitment to solely purchase sustainable wines by June 2008 and 95 percent of the menu proteins come from sustainably raised or caught seafood. It is our goal at RM Seafood to help our guest connect their individual buying decisions to the health of the oceans and the soil.”

That’s Rick Moonen’s mission statement for RM Seafood. The executive chef, author of "Fish Without a Doubt," a comprehensive guide to all things fish, and sustainable seafood guru, makes his mark with RM Seafood in Mandalay Bay. The two-story establishment includes a large first floor main dining room, separate raised seating area and sushi bar for quick lunches. There are several private or semi-private dining areas on the second floor, perfect for small intimate dinners or larger private parties.

Food at RM Seafood is, well, mainly about the seafood; fresh, sustainable, and prepared with skill and finesse. But RM Seafood isn’t a one-trick pony. The restaurant also serves beef, chicken and pasta, and an extensive tea menu.

Did I mention dessert? Cran-apple crisp, a lusciously silky key lime pie, and Moonen’s ice cream tasting game, served with 16 different flavors, is a fun tasting with creative ice cream flavors.

There is also a sushi bar, where the restaurant serves up signature rolls like the fireball roll, cinco de mayo roll, and the Mandalay Place roll. The signature RM roll is made with soft shell crab, spicy hamachi, avocado and topped with eel sauce.

The lunch menu features exciting seafood bites like a whole Dungeness crab, chilled or steamed and made to order. If you’re not feeling quite that adventurous, try a sandwich, like the Cuban, chicken and prosciutto, braised beef stacker with short ribs and taleggio cheese, or Rick’s catfish sloppy joe made with homemade barbecue sauce.

The more extensive dinner menu features whole Maine lobsters, oyster shooters and shellfish sampler platters from the raw bar. Dinners like seafood gumbo, a mouthwatering jumbo lump crabcake, and steaks all serve as filling and satisfying options. Try your favorite entrée “RM style” by adding jumbo lump crab meat, mashed potatoes, spinach, and hollandaise sauce for a more decadent meal.

RM Seafood was named Best Seafood restaurant in Las Vegas Life magazine's 2007 Epicurean Awards.

-- Review by Nikki Neu