Photo by Susannah Moore for Alexandria Living Magazine
Fall is officially here! If you’re looking for a way to welcome the cozy, colorful season, consider a short trip across the river. MGM National Harbor is fully embracing the change in season with new menu items and cocktails at their restaurants and a stunning new display in the conservatory.
A step inside the resort’s conservatory will transport you to a dazzling world of leaves, flowers, fairies, pumpkins, fireflies and acorns.
The display features an 18-foot-tall cornucopia, a 24-foot crescent-moon, a birch bridge and multiple water features. Two oversized fairies grace the display with skirts made of 50 glass leaves. Over 18,800 fall florals, plants, pumpkins and gourds fill the exhibit. Giant leaves, butterflies and dragonflies are suspended above your head against the conservatories glass ceiling.
The display took the work of 60 staff members to complete. It will be available for guests to view and enjoy through Nov. 18.
After taking in the enchanting site in the conservatory, venture to one of MGM’s world class restaurants for seasonal dishes and cocktails featuring fall inspired ingredients like apples, cinnamon, sweet potatoes, ginger and pumpkin.
Photos by Susannah Moore for Alexandria Living Magazine
Photos by Susannah Moore for Alexandria Living Magazine
Photos by Susannah Moore for Alexandria Living Magazine
Photos by Susannah Moore for Alexandria Living Magazine
Photos by Susannah Moore for Alexandria Living Magazine
Photos by Susannah Moore for Alexandria Living Magazine
Photos by Susannah Moore for Alexandria Living Magazine
Photos by Susannah Moore for Alexandria Living Magazine
Photos by Susannah Moore for Alexandria Living Magazine
Photos by Susannah Moore for Alexandria Living Magazine
At Osteria Costa, the resort’s Italian restaurant, you can start off with roasted Roasted Fall Salad before enjoying Ricotta Malloreddus which features butternut squash, sage, brown butter and parmesan or a grilled pork chip served with roasted brussel sprouts, pancetta, creamy polenta and mostarda. Sip on a Coastal Storm cocktail made with bourbon, elderflower, orange marmalade and lemon.
TAP Sports Bar is serving up Fall Skillet Chicken with sweet potato mash and seasonal root vegetables. Compliment the flavors with a Cinnamon Mule featuring apple vodka, lime, cinnamon and ginger beer. For your sweet tooth, scoop into a warm Spiced Sweet Potato & Apple Pecan Skillet Cobbler served a la mode.
Suadero (thin-sliced meat) Tacos with Tatemada sauce, onion and cilantro are on the menu at Diablo’s Cantina, or enjoy the refreshing flavors of Crudo de Hamachi with pink grapefruit, jalapeño, avocado puree, mint and lemon. Diablo Harvest will put you into the fall spirit with its mix of apple whiskey, cinnamon whiskey, lime and cinnamon. The Ofrenda is made with Mezcal, lime and cranberry.
At Voltaggio Brothers Steakhouse order an Artichoke Flatbread with Grayson cheese Fonduta, roasted maitake mushrooms, Castelvetrano olives, capers and vin cotto or a port pear salad with poached pears, Kurri squash, oak leaf lettuce and maple bacon dressing. Savor a Sweater Weather cocktail made with bourbon, spiced apple, amaro, vanilla and lemon or slowly sip the unique flavors of a Dirty Laundry cocktail featuring Wagyu washed Catocin Creek rye whiskey, amaro, cardamom and coffee.
If you’re in the mood for Asian cuisine, Ginger is offering Taiwanese style chicken with corn, five spice powder and Asian basil and Fried Shrimp Wonton with wonton skin swap and shrimp paste. Dream of the recently past summer days and vacations with a Blue Hawaiian cocktail made with silver rum, coconut rum, blue curacao, pineapple, lemon and coconut cream.
Be sure to ask each restaurant for a full list of their seasonal menu offerings.
At the end of your visit, stop by and marvel over the Fall Chocolate display at Bellagio Patisserie inspired by a traditional farmer made with 234 pounds of chocolate. Learn more about MGM National Harbor by visiting mgmnationalharbor.mgmresorts.com.
