LATEST LAS VEGAS

Hey Keith, I'll be out there next week celebrating my 40th. I go a couple times a year as well and always enjoy the dining aspect. Personally, I think Olive's is a solid choice. Both of Robuchon's places are fantastic as well, though a little pricey. I'm not a big buffet guy but I have to admit the buffet at the Wynn is pretty good. Anything with pork belly will get my vote. Many many others to choose from...

Have fun!

 

I saw this on TV and this place looks good. Anyone been?

http://www.tvfoodmaps.com/place1866.html

 

I've been to Green Valley Ranch many times but not to this place. It does look fantastic though. I would go but my Dr would have a heart attack!

 

The Aureole at the Mandalay Bay is excellent. Twist at the Mandarin Oriental is good, and depending on where you sit you can get a nice view of the strip.

 

You might want to try Ferraro's on Paradise Road across the street from the Hard Rock. I have benn going there for over 10 years and haven't had a bad meal. Homemade pasta and their specialty is osso buco. Good wine list too.

 

Jaleo in The Cosmopolitan, the food is tapas style so not a full meal, but every bite was absolutely delicious.

 

There is a French restaurant on one of the top floors on the The Palms casino (forgot the name.) I had a real nice meal there the last time I was in town. Frankly the view of the Strip at night is worth the price of admission. Also I was pleasantly surprised when the check came, wasn't too pricey. (I had paid more at BLT Steakhouse in White Plains the week before for a meal that wasn't nearly as good.)

Adam

 

For Italian, try Batista's Hole in the Wall.

 

went to Shanghai Lilly @ Mandalay (next door to Aureole) and it was terrible, dont bother. food tasted reheated and old.

for a latenight snack, there is a new Irish pub in the corridor between the Luxor and Mandalay. They serve food till 4am and it is the best bar food I have ever had.

I forget which hotel, but last year (or maybe two years ago) my dad and I had dinner at RED. I think it may be in Caeser's Palace. Great steaks

 

Had a conference in Vegas last week so in between working our booth, walking the convention floor and a playing in small time poker tournys at Harrah's I went out in search of some old and new places for good, cheap eats.

#1: Noodle Asia on the floor of the Venetian casino.
$12.95 bowl of roast duck and pork ramen noodle soup will make your eyes roll back in pleasure. Didn't take pictures of the $8 pork/shrimp/veggie dim sum or $7 wontons in spicy oil I scarfed late another night but those were winners too.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Joint #2: Taco el Gordo, on the north side of the strip just before Convention Center Dr.

I wimped out on the brain and stomach, just went for old standbys cabeza (Barbacoa) and lengua. Super friendly staff, really nicely done food, just an unbeatable meal for $4.25.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Next 2 places weren't exactly "cheap", but for what you got the price was VERY reasonable.

Oyster Bar, Palace Station Casino floor.
Took a cab from the convention center to here, wasn't hungry enough after the breakfast buffet at the Wynn (see next post) so played a bit of $10 blackjack and walked across Sahara Blvd for a $30 foot pedicure/spa/20minute massage. Ahhhhhhh!!!!

Here's the OB's description from fellow Milwaukeen Mark (Joker), that convinced me to go:
"A dining secret in Vegas, the Oyster Bar in Palace Station just off the strip (west) on Sahara. The hotel/casino is a dump compared to the new strip properties, but the Oyster Bar is exceptional. The pan roast (any combo of seafood) is really excellent. I will be making a stop by when I'm there.

http://www.bestofvegas.com/Restauran...Bar-Las-Vegas/"

It is indeed exceptional. Cooked right in front of me in a industrial style steam kettle, my seafood combo (big scoop of crab, about 6 big shrimp, and a big chunk of lobster) was a steal at $20. At the waitress' suggestion ordered a spiciness level '7' on scale of 1-10. Perfect! Rich, deep seafood flavors blended with the the tomato-brandy-butter-creme sauce plus a nice shot of Pernod to add a sort of luxury to the whole thing.
If you're with a friend just one of these plus a dozen oysters would be a very nice sized lunch for 2.
Funny thing, got to chatting with a lady sitting next to me at the bar (ordered a yummy looking NE clam chowder and dozen NY oysters) and come to learn she grew up in Milwaukee! Ended up swapping her a few bites of my pan roast for 3 of her oysters; they were awesome!
PS: She said the OB in PS was good, but the one in Orleans is even better.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Finally, the $19+tax&tip breakfast buffet at the Winn was so nice it deserves mention IMO.
Includes coffee and fresh juice (which will cost about that alone if you get room service, no coffee maker in Wynn's rooms!), and in addition to the typical omelet/meats/pancakes etc there is (as shown on my plate below):
- Rosemary honey biscuit with 2 kinds of country gravy
- Asian steam fish cake dim sum. Yum!
- ginger pineapple steamed rice with bok choy
- cheese blinz with strawberry compote
- smoked salmon, white anchovies, creamed herring
- carved fresh ham with stone ground mustard. So good...
- middle is a hash brown ball. Forget bagels, this with smoked salmon and a bit of creme fresh is my new favorite!

The only thing missing that I wanted was some soba or udon soup that is so common in Japan. Maybe they had it I just missed it? Anyway, a great way to splurge on breakfast (usually I'm more than happy with an egg mcmuffin) at least on one morning.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I'm glad you liked it. Looks exactly how I remember it. I always get nervous giving dining tips; I would feel bad if I sent you, or anyone else, to a place that didn't live up to the recommendation.



Mark

 

I like Robochon and Bouchon ... eat at Bouchon 3 nites out of 5 last time there.

 

i went to a lobster place [old vegas decor] on the east side of the strip ,looked like its in an alley [took a cab from stratosphere] by mcdonalds,across from ceasars [i thought],,great food but $200+ was a little more then i expected for 1 person,theres always ''ruth chris'' steakhouse downtown

 

Hell yeah! What's not to like?
I'd rather go to a place like that than Bartalotta's fancy shmancy, $15/100g of fish, place.
My colleagues weren't overly impressed the night they went, except for one guy who ordered, as his main course, the $18 grilled octopus appetizer. The picture he took on his phone looked very similar to the best octopus I ever ate, caught that same morning in the Aegean Sea then simply prepared with lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper, on a sailboat. I sadly didn't have time to stop by Bartalotta's myself to try a plate.
Eff a $55 filet or $75 mahi mahi with snooty sauce or whatever, that's just obscene IMO.
Thanks again for the tip Mark, just showed my wife all the food pics and she's jealous as hell.... LOL

 

ooooh I forgot about Bouchon!!!
Right after arriving on Sunday I made a beeline to Bouchon (hidden up on the 10th fl of the Venetian) for their croque Madame (thick grilled cheese and ham with a sunny-side up egg and white sauce with a mountain of thin fries on the side) and a belgium beer at the bar. Sad to say it wasn't as good as the last time, fries weren't totally fresh and neither was the egg
Should have tried the chicken and waffles, guy next to me did and they looked incredible.
What do you usually get there, and what do you recommend at Robochon?

 

Fried chicken and waffles I had at Bellagio a couple of months ago was excellent (I think it was at the Cafe). I saw the tacos you posted above. That place has a direct competitor called "Tacos Mexico" that is REALLY good as well. There are several locations thoughout the city and everyone is exactly the same. They don't speak English, its dirty, but the food is awesome. I could talk food all day, I'm looking forward to my trip in a few days when I'll be there long enough to show a lot of the great local food (versus the tourist places) to the wife and why I want to move back.

Mark

Mark