RICH, LIGHT & PERFECT
Rosemary Restuarant marries French country with California cuisine
BY LINDSEY WHIPPLE

It is amazing how the best Las Vegas restaurants are located in strip malls with ample parking. Rosemary Restaurant, owned by Chef Michael Jordan, is located in the West Sahara Promenade Strip Mall at 8125 West Sahara Avenue, where he brings his brilliant fusion of French country and California cuisine to life in the Las Vegas Valley.

Rosemary's is a restaurant where sharp dress is suggested because walking into this elegantly designed and decorated restaurant in shorts and a T-shirt will result in a turnaround of embarrassment and shame.

The restaurant is painted in a faint moss green with brown and gold murals, and the walls are also adorned with original artwork by artist Wendy Shetler, establishing the French Country theme of Rosemary's. The main dining room is small, only seating 78. The tables have extra starched white table cloths and napkins with meticulously placed heavy silverware and crystal glassware to craft the perfect table setting. There is also an open kitchen to showcase the creations of Jordan's genius cuisine.

Rosemary's bar is also a place of elegance in in this dining destination. The bar is a beautifully carved out of dark wood with a marble bar top. Nick Hetzel, Rosemary's Sommelier, has assembled a wonderfully stocked bar with the finest eclectic beers, spirits, and exceptional wine list for Rosemary's thirst and adventurous guests. in fact, Rosemary's earned the 2005 Sante Magazine's Grand Award for Spirits Hospitality and Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence for the past four years.

The cuisine at Rosemary's matches the quality of the wines and spirits, as well. Appetizers include refreshing lemon shrimp with a fennel emulsion, Wisconsin White Cheddar quesadillas and grilled cheese sandwiches. The quesadillas and grilled cheese sandwiches are accompanied with a delicious relish, full of chunks of avocado and tomatoes. The thick bread slices and prosciutto ham in the grilled cheese were a great salty accent to the sharp cheese in the sandwich. They came with a tall stack of slightly soggy, but tasty onion rings.

Main courses included a savory juicy pork chop with sides of mashed potatoes and sautéed spinach, and a grilled Mahi Mahi fish, specially served on a bed of vegetables, which had a firm finish and flavorful flesh.

The meal was finished with a medley of sorbets, and a lemon sponge pudding cake. The desserts were a rich, light and perfect way to finish the meal. The Goat Cheese Hazelnut Cheesecake is also recommended.

Overall, the service was attentive and polite. The service staff was well-informed on the cuisine and wine list; therefore, Hetzel and Jordan do their job well in training their staff.

Rosemary's is open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner Monday through Saturday, 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Reservations can be made by calling 702.869.2251. LW