Places to eat in Las Vegas...

[TheCotMan]

Quality of food, service, and variety of food, can change year to year.

I found this site (http://www.ratelasvegas.com/buffets/buffetrank.html) useful the past few years I have gone to defcon, when looking for buffet locations. People review the buffet, and vote. Over time, trends emerge, and I sift through the top 10 looking for well rated and good value. My last few trips to Las Vegas, I found Port 'O Call at Gold Coast a really good value, and I felt it was a better choice than the Rio, which has gone down hill over the years.

One hint I found useful in saving money and getting more variety:
Arrive just before the Breakfast charge ends, and pay breakfast for breakfast food which then change to lunch. This can save a few bucks and give you more varieties of food to eat.

(You may remember this thread from last year. Last year's thread is closed, so this new one is started.)

Where do you go?

[erehwon]

Cheapo Vegas (http://www.cheapovegas.com/)has a great page on what else? Cheapo Eats (http://www.cheapovegas.com/vegas_cheapo_eats.php)! :biggrin:

Cheapo Vegas lists the following information on the Riviera's food choices...

Kady's: Their coffee shop is pretty standard, with the notable letdown of closing in the wee hours of the morning. For late night dining, you have to go to the buffet.

Kristofer's: A typical Las Vegas steakhouse but with better prices. Not wonderful prices, mind you, but better than the local competitors. And this place is pretty cool in an old-school sense. Some of the seats are on an outdoor patio overlooking the pool, which can be nice in Spring and Fall.

Ristorante Italiano: Want generic Italian food in a mediocre room? Try Ristorante Italiano, whose name translated into English means "Italian Restaurant." In general, the Riviera has okay restaurants that try not to be too spicy or exotic, so as not to upset the retirees' stomaches. Closes Sundays and Mondays.

World's Fare Buffet: Fair (fare) is the operative word for this buffet. Actually, it has improved and maybe is as good as the North Strip offers. If you have free passes, or a good coupon, you might try it. Still, it doesn't match up to the best the city offers, like Paris or Aladdin. One big plus is that late night "steak" buffet from 10 p.m. until breakfast.

There is a Mardi Gras food court with ten different dining options, including ice cream, Quizno's, Burger King, KFC, A&W, Jade Dragon and hot dogs. The emphasis of the Riviera is on familiar foods, so if you don't want something too fancy, you'll be fine at any of their restaurants. Also, cheapos should stop by Hound Doggies in the nickel slots area for cheap dogs, beers and other greasy food.

But I will more than likely be found at the Peppermill Fireside Lounge and Restaurant (http://www.peppermilllasvegas.com/) at least for breakfast and a maybe a round of exotic drinks... :biggrin:

[TheCotMan]

Cheapo Vegas (http://www.cheapovegas.com/)has a great page on what else?

Good site! Allows for sorting by quality (http://www.cheapovegas.com/vegas_food_chart.php?sort=quality&limitlocation=all&limitcuisine=all&limitprice=all), and then I can tag off low $$ with good quality like Market City Caffe (http://www.cheapovegas.com/vegas_casino_full.php?hotel_id=1039#food) rated as very good quality with 3 dollar signs, or Courtyard Cafe (http://www.cheapovegas.com/vegas_casino_full.php?hotel_id=1069#food) also rated as very good with 2 dollar signs.

Thanks!

[alklloyd]

Is it just me, or does the Cheapo Vegas site look like it hasn't been updated for a while?
As for me, I hit a In-N-Out as soon as I touch down at LAS.

Al

[bascule]

The Aladdin's Spice Market buffet rocks... I've been there for the past 3 years, and gorged myself on king crab and sushi.

[IrishMASMS]

I will pimp the site http://www.yelp.com/ for finding reviews of everything - food, places to go, etc. If you find my profile on the site, I have a list of the out of the ordinary/cool stuff to do in Vegas.

Walking distance to the Riv, I would suggest the steakhouse in Circus Circus and the Peppermill. There are a handful of delivery places that will come to the Riv, but I had a BAD experience with one pizza joint - hell if I can recall which one though; sorry.

Are you looking at driving/ride or just within walking distance?

[icetre]

I can't stress this enough.. EAT AT THE PEPPERMILL.

Good food, and damnit you might see Penn Jillette there.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/text/2000/may/11/510242389.html

[big chopper]

But I will more than likely be found at the Peppermill Fireside Lounge and Restaurant (http://www.peppermilllasvegas.com/) at least for breakfast and a maybe a round of exotic drinks... :biggrin:

Agree with you on the Peppermill. Even big macho guys can enjoy an over-sized drink (complete with mini paper umbrella) there.
--BC,

[AggonA]

Props to any drink that comes in a fish bowl
Fishbowl fits on head
I have a big head.

I think its called the Scorpion, or something else 'scary' sounding

[cereal76]

The Peppermill is awesome, but pricey. For those on a tight budget (which I always seem to be come con-time) check out the eatery inside pennytown at the Riv. You can load up a tray full of pizza, hotdogs, beers and other junk food on the cheap.

[Ne0nRa1n]

This year I am mostly just planning on taking a kettle in my suitcase and eating as many 'just add water - instant meals' in my room as I can. I really hate the organization and time it takes to get a huge group ready to choose a place to go for a meal at the conference. It is like herding kittens!

That being said, I do have a soft spot for Quarks in the Hilton and always go there when a group of friends invite me - not because the food is necessarily good but because of the atmosphere.

[hackajar]

My recent trips to San Francisco have yeilded http://www.opentable.com/ as a very reliable source for reviews. They seem to have a good selection of reviews in Las Vegas as well. Though, they try and cater to more 'up scale' places. BUT, they still have standard reviews as well.

[IrishMASMS]

Props to any drink that comes in a fish bowl
Fishbowl fits on head
I have a big head.



HEAD?
Who said head?
I'll take some of that!
And it was good!
And there was much rejoicing!

:tongue:

[mfreeck]

This year I am mostly just planning on taking a kettle in my suitcase and eating as many 'just add water - instant meals' in my room as I can.


I always do this too, though I supplement with eating out. Last year I got a rice cooker from target for cheap. I've never actually cooked rice in it. I dehydrate and assemble all my own meals. Not only does the rice cooker nicely heat water, but some leftover restaurant foods, (such as teriyaki chicken) heat up quite nicely in it - like a stirfry. It's nicely unassuming and less likely to attract complaints like a hotplate could. Oh, it also came with a little attachment so you can steam vegetables in it.

Maybe we should have a hotel-cooking dinner party. ;)

[mfreeck]

I forgot to add that I second the buffet at Aladdin's. I hope to do a group thing again there this year (and this time I won't be late!).

I believe I also went for a lunch thing at the Sahara's buffet. It was ok - nothing to write home about, but the price:food was good and as a bonus we got champagne because it was brunch on a particular day. I note that they had quite a number of desserts that were sugar free and a couple choices for sugar free soda. IIRC, Aladdin also has a small selection of sugar free desserts, but you have to ask for them and they'll make you a plate.

[Abby_Normal]

I also swear by the Peppermill! Great food, and lots of it. I always have enough leftovers for another meal. It's one of the few good things about being at the Riv, imho.

I like to go to the store before con starts and get some cold cuts, bread and chips. We do eat out a lot, but it's very convenient to always have a sammich on hand when you don't have time to go out. Veggie burgers are good too, as they are easy to heat in a microwave, although in a pinch just let them thaw and you are good to go.

For the really broke Nickletown at the Riv has dirt cheap eats. It's not great, but you won't starve.

I am hoping to try the steak house over at Circus Circus this year, the reviews have been very positive.

[AcidicA]

For the foodies such as myself.

James beard and multible best chef in America Thomas Keller has a sister restraunt to The French Laundry in Vegas called Bouchon. Its much much cheaper then the French Laundry and doesnt require you make a reservation 6 months in advance. Its located in the Vanetian.
http://www.frenchlaundry.com/bouchonLV/booverview.htm
Firefly wins best Tapas bar every year but we found it obnoxiously small and I almost went into the kitchen to tell the chef how to properly clean clams.
Bobby Fleys Mesa Grill has a restraunt there. Its good if you like spicey Tex-mex fusion
http://www.vegas.com/searchagent/restaurant/ViewRestaurant.do?restaurantId=2924
Tom Colicchio of Top Chef has a sandwitch bar called Wichcraft. I have been dying to try it but never got the chance.
http://www.mgmgrand.com/dining/wichcraft-sandwiches.aspx
The Aladdin Buffet was fabulous, one of the better buffets I have been to. I would defanitly suggest going there if you want the vegas buffet experience. Also Mortons steakhouse was good but be carefull not to sit next to trustfund babies trying to talk up gold diggers all night...

[Exist]

If you're looking for an alright late place to eat (around 2-3am) then check out the dinner at the Riviera, the food prices are cut from 25%-50% from reg day time prices and they have all you can eat specials (just ask about them). It's open 24/7 so it's pretty convenient. I need to check the Las Vegas frommer's guide to see for more good cheap food places aside from the ones mentioned here.

[[Syntax]]

I dont know what the restaurant at Circus Circus is now, but it used to be the Pink Pony, as of a few months ago it is now something new.

Westward Ho & Stardust are totally gone, 1 block of nothing across from Riviera now.

I tried the Spice Market Buffet at Planet Hollywood / Aladdin the variety was one of the best Ive had, short from the Rio buffet which is about $30. Spice Market had Greek/Mediterranean, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, American. I had lamb and taziki with pita bread and falafels, dolmas & greek rice. I think that buffet is $24 for dinner.

Aside from Sushi buffets Vegas is also known for its Thai food. They have a huge collection of local restaurant's scattered less than a half block off the strip.

[barkode]

A thread about food. Temporary unlurking in effect.

For those looking for higher-end options...

Alex at Wynn gets my vote for best place in town. French Riviera style. Very formal coat and tie environment, but the food and service are French Laundry quality. You can get by at about $400 per person which includes very excellent wine pairing. Their wine list is the most extensive and well assembled I've seen in Vegas. The food quality is simply unparalleled. It'll take a few hours to get through everything as the whole experience is very carefully managed by your dedicated wait staff, and your wine steward is ridiculously overqualified. When we went, our steward knew the owner of this little vineyard in Northern California that consists of just a couple of acres next to an obscure highway east of Marin county. I've driven past the place a couple times and I couldn't believe this guy knew so much about it. The guy that runs the vineyard only releases about 2,000-3,000 bottles of wine a year and only to certain buyers, and they actually had one there at the restaurant, hand-numbered. Was quite impressive.

More moderately priced, The Mix at THEhotel is amazing. Can skate by at ~$120-$150 per person if you're easy on the wine, and the food is spectacular. It's an Alain Ducasse shop if that tells you anything. Notably has the best potato side dishes you'll ever have in any preparation. Of course attached to the restaurant is the Mix nightclub which until recently was my favorite club in town by a mile. The view from the restaurant and the club is probably the best in vegas, up there with the stratosphere (although the environment is about 50x better in general quality than the stratosphere). If you're going to go, get bottle service (about $300/bottle includes mixers and a very attractive dedicated waitress), which gives you a nice private table with an amazing view and plenty of booze for 5-6 people to stay nice and toasty for a while.

Also moderately priced is Okada at Wynn. Think of it like a high-end benihana, with an extremely impressive Sake list. Try the Dragon Slayer - it sounds completely stupid, but it's fantastic. Including a little sake you're looking at $100-$130 per person. I'm in Vegas about 7-8 times a year and I make at trip to Okada almost every trip. The best way to do it is to bring 7 or 8 people and just start at the top of the menu and order one of every item, so everyone gets a 10 course meal of steak, scallops, lobster, chicken, salmon, etc. It's great.

Of course there's always the Top of the World at the Stratosphere, which isn't quite as good as it used to be, the quality has been suffering in the last few years. Still, the food is quite good and they have a respectable wine list, and of course it's an experience you should do at least once. Can get by on $75-$100 per person with a glass or two of wine, and up from there. There's only one thing you order when you go there - the surf and turf with lobster bisque as a starter. I still hit this once or twice a year as there's always someone who hasn't been, and it's certainly worth doing.

Delmonico is a great steakhouse at the Venetian and reasonably priced - it's definitely a good middle ground option as far as cost, running about $50-$100 per person, but the food quality is excellent. I think it rates pretty high on the bang-for-your-buck ratio if you want a nice steak without breaking into $100+ range. Was last there a couple months ago with a party of about 8, I think I had the filet, which was well prepared and served a la carte. The side dishes were excellent and there were a few somewhat unique dishes that upstaged the main course, but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing.

Those are probably my favorite places in town. There's a few others, Tao and Aquaknox at Venetian that I'm on the fence about (Tao is super over the top trendy, and Aquaknox while very impressive on the surface is more about show and style than the fish and is undeservingly expensive). SW Steakhouse at Wynn I haven't tried yet, and I still hear a lot of things about the Steakhouse at Circus Circus, which is supposed to be amazing.

Oh, and for goodness sake, find a reason to make these things a business expense, either for yourself or someone else at the table. :)

-barkode

[mfreeck]

Good to hear from you, barkode. Alex does sound like a very classy and well put together restaraunt indeed and I appreciate the lower priced reviews as well. However, I was in sticker shock the whole post from your first paragraph.

about $400 per person
You could get a wonderful bite to eat for approximately 4-6 hours, or buy:

a wii and 3 additional wiimotes
See 4-5 vegas shows, lasting several hours each
gamble for an unhealthy period of time, if you are a cheapskate or good at it
Stay drunk for a week or two
Put a downpayment on a nice laptop
buy a piece of furniture
buy a whole wardrobe
a regular xbox
100 meals at taco bell
a firearm
a decent camera
hookers & blow
everything on quark's overpriced menu, plus several warp core breaches to feel better about the menu

[nous]

Good to hear from you, barkode. Alex does sound like a very classy and well put together restaraunt indeed and I appreciate the lower priced reviews as well. However, I was in sticker shock the whole post from your first paragraph.

I have to say that I would much rather spend a nice night at a fine dining sort of restaurant than do or have most of the things on your list (excepting the wardrobe, but I can't buy a whole bra and panty wardrobe for the amount mentioned). Food is about more than fueling the body and dining is about more than getting it in. When the details are all thought of and attended to, when the best quality ingredients are used, and when everything is combined in interesting ways, a meal becomes an experience that you take with you. Every time I go to a fine dining restaurant, I pick up some new bit of information that changes the way I cook at home. (With the exception of Top of the World - barkode is right, they've slipped.)

I understand that some people may not have the interest to visit fine dining restaurants, but I always shudder when people express disdain for them on the basis of their cost. It's like hating fast food because it's cheap. (Hate it because it's low quality and of questionable nutritional value.) Every time you purchase a good or service, you have to make a judgement balancing quality, quantity, and price.

To get this post back near the topic, the Ninja Networks crew have enjoyed several meals at the Paris buffet. It was, I believe, $45 dollars or so for dinner the last time I was there, but the selection was really amazing. It's more French home cooking than fussy Haute Cuisine. Lots of braised dishes. The baked goods, pastries, and cheeses are the stars. I've heard excellent things about their breakfast selections, but I usually get drawn to the little cafes or the Creperie.

In other breakfast news, I'm going to be trying Tableau at the Wynn and Hash House a Go Go on W Sahara. I'll post a review when I can.

[Thorn]

... Food is about more than fueling the body and dining is about more than getting it in. ...Maybe to some, but not everyone understands the gourmand outlook.

To me, cooking and eating is a huge waste of time and effort out of my day. If I could swallow a pill for nutrition and continue on with whatever I'm doing, I'd love it. But we're well into the 21th Century, and we don't have the flying cars or the food pills the SF writers promised us. Dammit. :frown:.

[Voltage Spike]

Food is about more than fueling the body and dining is about more than getting it in.

While I can understand that, it bugs me when I spend over $50 (let alone $400) only to leave still feeling hungry (and I'm a small guy). Too many dining establishments equate expensive with petite, and I don't want to go through a five course meal only to have eaten less food than one Chipotle burrito. Not that I'm suggesting any of the above locations are like that, but it's far too easy to feel like a sucker at some establishments and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

[Deviant Ollam]

If I could swallow a pill for nutrition and continue on with whatever I'm doing, I'd love it.it's interesting, because i have a similar love/hate relationship with food and dining. to those who are prepared to make jokes about my size coupled with inquiries about what foods i could possibly hate i will elaborate on two points...

1. i'm too large because i drink too much and move too little. my food intake is actually pretty healthy.

2. i actually love almost all foods i've ever had, in the right setting.

i think that thorn and nous are both right but for very different reasons. there are two wholly distinct body needs that dining can satisfy... feeding the organs and feeding the soul. and a particularly "good" dining experience doesn't have to satisfy both. indeed, some of the best dining could be just as thorn describes... strictly utilitarian, nothing more than 30 seconds with the fuel spout plugged into our human fill cap as it were. while there is little romance or atmosphere in that, it's simplicity and purity are coupled with no illusions or mixed messages... it's a simple satisfying of the body's organic needs.

then again... if that is exclusively the way one experiences food, day in and day out, it can become something you find to be an even greater inconvenience, making you wish for ever-smaller and ever-faster methods of eating. i would say driving is very similar. if the only driving you do is to and from work during stop and go conditions, you can get to hate vehicles and hate the road. and the more you cut down on driving (say, by moving somewhere closer to markets and where you drive less distance to work) the more you'll hate what little of it remains until you're living in soho, own only a bike and a pair of sandals, and throw eggs at SUVs parked on the street where you play hacky-sack.

the specific reason i invested in a rattle-trap of a Jeep that's older than me was just for the joy of getting it running again, leaving the roof and doors stacked in a far corner of my garage where i never go near them, and driving with the windshield down and the night air in my face through the wooded roads and the horse & cow back country of this area.

in short... i'd love a pantry full of cheap, instantly-edible, perfectly nutritious pills that would save me time and money for 75% to 80% of my meals while at the same time i'd look forward to one or two nights out at fine dining establishments (defined as i see them, which doesn't always -- indeed rarely does -- involve high tone joints) and a couple home cooked affairs with good friends joining me at a warm table.

wow. that's a lot of words there. the cold medicine is making me dizzy. i've got a whole oracle at delphi thing going on or something.

[mfreeck]

I understand that some people may not have the interest to visit fine dining restaurants, but I always shudder when people express disdain for them on the basis of their cost. It's like hating fast food because it's cheap. (Hate it because it's low quality and of questionable nutritional value.) Every time you purchase a good or service, you have to make a judgement balancing quality, quantity, and price.

Having just come back from a chocolate factory tour, I can say that I DO care about quality and can appreciate a fine meal. However, it is inescapable that money IS an object and at this point I would be unable to justify $400 on a meal when I have more pressing needs (bills, dental work, etc). If I had a million bucks, I'd be all about going there at least once.

I'm also not sure this meal NEEDS to be $400. I'm certain it costs lots of money to hire excellent staff, procure the best ingredients, etc, but unless my chicken is shellacked with gold it seems to me that the price may be more inflated than it truly needs to be. Of course they are there to make a profit, no problem there. But i'd like to see a comparison of profit margins - I think it'd be very interesting. Who knows, maybe the cheap chinese restaraunt makes more than the expensive place.

It makes me wonder if some of the mystique and reputation of the restaurant isn't just in "GREAT food, GREAT service," but also being seen there makes you look like a "somebody" because you can afford to eat there and this culture assigns status to the wealthy.

I also second VS's concerns about portions. I will never eat twice at a restaurant that leaves me hungry, even if the food gave me an orgasm (or foodgasm as my friend used to call it). Of course, I can't really comment on the expensive restaurant's portions, as i don't think i've dined at a place where the price was >=$100 per person.

My vegas favourite is the Aladdin. For some reason, I just didn't click with the Paris.

[Contrarian]

Fine dining is not only about the food, it's about the experience. It's a chance to share a good meal with people in a quiet location that is conducive to discussion and bonding. Starting with a glass of one or some cocktails, flowing through to the appetizers, meal, desert, and after dinner drinks. It's an hour or two that you're able to sit back and relax and bond with the persons you're with. You can get to know each other if you've never met before, talk business and deals, or just enjoy the company or new and old friends.

I get the same nutritional experience from a classy steak joint as I do from the local McDonalds, but the same can't be said for the human experience.

As for cost versus portion sizes, I think that also depends on where in the country you are. LA is notorious for high cost restaurants with tiny portions. A whole meal in LA would be considered a barely sizeable appetizer here in Chicago. There are several fairly well regarded restaurants around here known for very large portions.

[nous]

Having just come back from a chocolate factory tour, I can say that I DO care about quality and can appreciate a fine meal. However, it is inescapable that money IS an object and at this point I would be unable to justify $400 on a meal when I have more pressing needs (bills, dental work, etc). If I had a million bucks, I'd be all about going there at least once.

I thought it was obvious I wasn't speaking to the need to pay for the rest of the month's groceries vs. one night out. Of course, being able to afford a thing makes it easier to enjoy a thing. I dine at restaurants where the bill runs a couple/few hundred dollars for two a handful of times a year. I'm not trying to suggest I'm doing that nightly. I have never dined at Alex (the restaurant whose $400/plate estimate by barkode started this conversasion) or any restaurant quite that expensive.

Btw, was that the Scharffen Berger factory tour? I was s'posed to go to SF a couple of weeks ago for a birthday day trip, but decided to skip it so my man and I could work on our contests (<pimp>Clued, a mystery, and the Phreaking Challenge </pimp>). I've been wanting to visit for ages. Did you eat in the cafe?

I'm also not sure this meal NEEDS to be $400. I'm certain it costs lots of money to hire excellent staff, procure the best ingredients, etc, but unless my chicken is shellacked with gold it seems to me that the price may be more inflated than it truly needs to be. Of course they are there to make a profit, no problem there. But i'd like to see a comparison of profit margins - I think it'd be very interesting. Who knows, maybe the cheap chinese restaraunt makes more than the expensive place.

Actually, it's interesting... High end restaurants are the shortest-lived businesses. A ton of money goes into building out the space. These days, one must have a recognized restaurant designer. Then there is the equipment and gear. Then you get into procuring the right ingredients - everything must be free-range and organic and locally grown (if you can get it) or artisinal. It's a very competitive field with a very limited audience. Compare the number of fast food restaurants in an average town versus small, family restaurants vs chain, sit-down restaurants vs white tablecloth establishments.

For the record, I am not a chef, but I am an aspiring pastry chef. I have been studying the culinary world for a couple of years in anticipation of going to culinary school and opening my own businesses.

It makes me wonder if some of the mystique and reputation of the restaurant isn't just in "GREAT food, GREAT service," but also being seen there makes you look like a "somebody" because you can afford to eat there and this culture assigns status to the wealthy.

I think you get out of a thing what you want. If you go to a restaurant to be seen or for the sake of being able to say that you did it, that's all you take away. When I try a new restaurant, I am there to enjoy the food and service. When I go to Defcon, I meet interesting people and learn stuff. Defcon has a reputation for being both a very shallow experience and being important for serious security folk, depending on to whom you speak. Restaurants are known for being the place to see and be seen or for having amazing food. It's usually easy to tell which is which. The Ivy in Los Angeles is known to have terrible food and poor service, but that doesn't stop celebrities (and star-struck tourons) from paying $100 (at least) for dinner for two.

I also second VS's concerns about portions. I will never eat twice at a restaurant that leaves me hungry, even if the food gave me an orgasm (or foodgasm as my friend used to call it). Of course, I can't really comment on the expensive restaurant's portions, as i don't think i've dined at a place where the price was >=$100 per person.

I tend to order at least 3 courses (usually splitting the first and last with my man), so I usually don't leave a restaurant hungry. I have, a couple of times, left diners and cafes hungry because I found the food to be really subpar. (The Peppermill in Reno's cafe comes to mind as the most recent experience.)

To each his own, eh?

[nous]

i think that thorn and nous are both right but for very different reasons. there are two wholly distinct body needs that dining can satisfy... feeding the organs and feeding the soul. and a particularly "good" dining experience doesn't have to satisfy both.

I've found it much more enjoyable on a daily basis to make each meal "good". I think every meal should be enjoyable. Whether it's never using paper plates and plastic utensils or making each meal from naturally-occurring ingredients, I resolved to have a more personal connection to each meal. I sort of had to. I grew up in a family of obese people (with my grandfather yelling that waste was a sin and everyone had to clean their plates and other family members constantly yo-yo dieting). I was always heavy and then gained a lot more because of some medicines I had to take.

I'm halfway to my goal after a few years of changing my attitudes towards food. Yes, food sustains the body, but the body is the machine that houses the being. What we eat should feel good. How we eat should feel good. Don't skip breakfast! If I eat crappy food, I feel crappy. I am busy and stressed out, like anyone, but I feel better about my time and my tasks if I've taken the time to feed myself well.

And, uh, the steakhouse at the Riv, Kristophe's?, was surprisingly good. We ran out of time to go anywhere for supper one night last year and decided to try it. The service was super and the food was high average for casino steakhouses.

[mfreeck]

I thought it was obvious I wasn't speaking to the need to pay for the rest of the month's groceries vs. one night out. Of course, being able to afford a thing makes it easier to enjoy a thing.

My apologies, I missed that.


I dine at restaurants where the bill runs a couple/few hundred dollars for two a handful of times a year. I'm not trying to suggest I'm doing that nightly. I have never dined at Alex (the restaurant whose $400/plate estimate by barkode started this conversasion) or any restaurant quite that expensive.


About once/twice a year, I would (before I moved) go to Wild Abandon. It is rated as "moderate" in price, but I probably get out of it what others do of a higher dining experience. The ability to dress up and great food and service. Additionally, it is not SO expensive that I feel uncomfortable either with the prices or with the other clients who can probably spot that my dress is from the sale rack of an off-brand store.


Btw, was that the Scharffen Berger factory tour? I was s'posed to go to SF a couple of weeks ago for a birthday day trip, but decided to skip it so my man and I could work on our contests (<pimp>Clued, a mystery, and the Phreaking Challenge </pimp>). I've been wanting to visit for ages. Did you eat in the cafe?


Actually it was Theo Chocolate. They are very much the new kid on the block but won an award at a fancy foods convention for their chocolate. They go from bean to bar in their factory. They don't have a cafe, but for $5 for the tour, you get lots of sampling done. They are in Seattle.


Actually, it's interesting... High end restaurants are the shortest-lived businesses. A ton of money goes into building out the space. These days, one must have a recognized restaurant designer. Then there is the equipment and


Lame. It's too bad they have to put so much emphasis on appearances and amazing cuisine isn't enough.


I tend to order at least 3 courses (usually splitting the first and last with my man), so I usually don't leave a restaurant hungry. I have, a couple of times, left diners and cafes hungry because I found the food to be really subpar. (The Peppermill in Reno's cafe comes to mind as the most recent experience.)


I usually eat the food, even if it's not-so-good, so I can get something for my money (and so i don't have to eat again in an hour). It is more likely with the odd diet that I am on that I can't find enough compatible food at the place to fill me up. Sometimes with the more spendy places, you'll get a great piece of salmon, but it'll be really small, with a whole lot of well prepared other dishes that I can't eat (potatoes, pasta, other bready stuff, etc). Of course my diet is not their fault, but I truly appreciate the places where I have more than 1 or 2 options and the ability to be full.

[nous]

I usually eat the food, even if it's not-so-good, so I can get something for my money (and so i don't have to eat again in an hour). It is more likely with the odd diet that I am on that I can't find enough compatible food at the place to fill me up. Sometimes with the more spendy places, you'll get a great piece of salmon, but it'll be really small, with a whole lot of well prepared other dishes that I can't eat (potatoes, pasta, other bready stuff, etc). Of course my diet is not their fault, but I truly appreciate the places where I have more than 1 or 2 options and the ability to be full.

If you're at a good restaurant and you explain to the waiter that you have special dietary requirements, they will usually bend over backwards to modify or substitute a dish in order to satisfy your needs. Your waiter should be more than someone who takes your order and leaves the food. Ask questions, ask for options, ask for suggestions. If the waiter can't answer right away, they'll either get the answer or have the chef come out to talk to you. (Of course, you should reward this sort of behavior with an appropriate gratuity.)

There's no reason not to get your money's worth or to leave hungry. Restaurants are way aware of various dietary restrictions and food allergies. Telling customers that you can't accommodate them is a good way to go out of business. If the restaurant is put out by your requests, it's not a place you want to frequent anyway. People get into cooking for other people because they want to share a bit of joy, because they want to make people feel good. A plate of uneaten food is a failure. They'd rather adjust for your needs than wonder why you didn't like their food.

[alt229]

My buds and I always go to Wild Wild West after boozin it up all night. After 11pm until sometime in the late morning they have a special on their breakfast menu. It's either $.99 or $1.99 for a decent yet skunky breakfast of bacon + eggs toast and freezer hash browns. Mediocre quality but the price can't be beat and it'll fill ya up

Erin

[Mcgruff]

Anyone know if the golden gate still does the 4.99 steak and eggs after 11 ? I seem to recall that being fairly decent, but then again I was pretty drunk.

[DaKahuna]

If at all possible I will avoid the buffet's while in Vegas. I have a tendacy to eat everythign in sight and a buffet just encourages me to over eat. There are a number of reason for that but among the chief ones are: (1) I love food. I have a very hard time making a selection when faced with multiple options (2) I was raised to clean my plate (3) I love the taste of good food, (4) I have simple taste and can just as satisfied with a good Chipolte burrito as with a steak from Mortons and last but not least (5) after paying that much money for a meal, I simply feel obligated to eat more to make sure I get my money's worth.

Look for me at the fast food counters !!