I don't know why, but I'd always been reluctant to try this place.  \n\nMaybe it's because it's so close to the casino floor?  \nMaybe it's the bright colors?  \nMaybe because I kept thinking it was a Mexican restaurant, realize it wasn't when I actually *was* looking for a Mexican restaurant, and it just wasn't on my radar for steaks/meat?  \nMaybe because it's sort of in no man's land where it's too expensive for a casual meal and not really in the upper tier of fine dining restaurants on the strip?  \n\nRegardless, I finally got around to trying Mesa when it was a friend's choice for dinner.  \n\nTook a little hunting to find something that really stuck out on the menu to me.  No doubt it's just personal preference, but quite a few items on the menu seemed to have polarizing experiments, meaning they'd start off sounding great before having a deal breaker ingredient I don't care for.  I'm not usually a fan of substitutions or trying to alter a chef's creation.  \n\nWhen I did finally decide on my meal, it was very good.  Much better than I was expecting.  Portions are on the smaller side though, and I wouldn't put Mesa in the top tier of restaurants on the strip.  \n\n3.5 stars rounded up from me.