westie's Profile
24 hours in Vegas: build my food itinerary!
Border Grill is in Mandalay Bay (MB) and its serves a brunch on Sat + Sun which is receiving rave reviews. Restaurant.com sells discounted gift certificates that you can use for the brunch as long as you meet the minimum purchase requirement.
Several other restaurants in MB participate in restaurant.com as well including RM Seafood (downstairs) and Aureole.
The Verandah at the Fours Seasons inside MB serves an excellent breakfast.
You could take the free tram from Mandalay Bay to Excalibur and then walk to the Monte Carlo. Then catch another tram Carlo to CityCenter for the $20.12 3-course lunch at Milos.
Best Restaurant Review Blog
Raider - here are a few sections of the blog of current interest:;
http://unicaworld.com/category/foodwinekitchen/out-and-about/local-las-vegas-dining/
http://unicaworld.com/category/events/local-las-vegas/
Coupons and Deals
Comme Ca
Burger and Bourbon Meal for One or Dinner for Two with a Bottle of Rosé (Half Off)
Groupon 5-day offer
Choose Between Two Options
$20 for a burger and bourbon meal for one (a $40 value)
$51 for a dinner for two (up to a $103 value)
• Two entrees (up to a $32 value each)
• Bottle of rosé (a $39 value)
Expires Sep 12, 2012
http://www.groupon.com/deals/comme-ca
Wine Bistro Near Airport?
Here is a link that will provide you with a photo of Table 34, the menu and wine list:
http://www.usmenuguide.com/table34.html
Coupons and Deals
Weera Thai is the other Issan restaurant in town. Yelp has a pay $10 for a $20 certificate available:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/weera-thai-restaurant-las-vegas
We dined there for the first time last month - here are some comments on our dining experience:
This small restaurant has received favorable press so I entered with high expectations. We started off with Thai egg rolls which were grease free and packed with fresh tasting ingredients. For entrees we shared orders of nom tuk moo - sliced pork with rice powder, spices, lime juice and chili plus shrimp glass noodle pot - shrimp, black pepper and ginger baked with glass noodles. We concluded the meal with a cup of coconut ice cream. All our dishes were top notch and our waitress was a delight.
diners and dives in vegas.
Catfish Alley is the one near the South Point, but now it has opened up at a 2nd location in the Hawaiian Marketplace on the Strip with plans to open as many as 300 restaurants in the next 5 years.
I would add places like Los Antojos, KoMex, Los Molcajetes, M&M Soul Food, David Wong's Pan Asian, La Mexicana, Beijing Noodle Cafe, Forte and Weera Thai.
For breakfast/lunch try Bread and Butter or Baguette Cafe.
Best Chinese also dim sum in Henderson NV
I believe Alan C. is referring to East Ocean Dim Sum & Seafood. The restaurant is located 9570 S. Eastern Avenue just north of Silverado Ranch Blvd. The reviews have been uniformly positive:
http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2011/oct/12/dim-sum/
http://www.eatinglv.com/2011/11/dat-sum-dim-sum/
http://www.lvrj.com/neon/east-ocean-packing-them-in-with-tasty-dim-sum-146399725.html
Highly rated Ethnic Asian dining establishments in Las vegas
Raku, China Mama, Weera Thai, Pan Asian and Monta come to mind.
Komex Fusion Express?
We dined there during our October trip and I am looking forward to returning ASAP. The restaurant is super busy and I have read that the owners are looking to expand into a 2nd location. Here are my notes and photos from our dining experience:
This small, but popular Korean/Mexican restaurant, is located on Decatur Blvd. The staff was very friendly and offered to take our order while we waited for a table. Our fried wontons, 4 per serving and costing a mere $1, were good, but totally unnecessary since they were preceded by complimentary house made chips, salsa and guacamole. Our order of 4 barbecue tacos (2 pork, 1 chicken and a beef) came with cilantro, cabbage, onions and kimchee, the latter being optional. Each was very good to excellent, though next time I would skip the beef in flavor (sic) of the pork or chicken. Along with our check we received an orange cut in segments. ($10, 4 Forks out of a possible 5)
Carve - Mixed Review
We have dined at Carve 3 times since the casino opened and, on each visit, at least one of us has ordered the 12-ounce prime rib. I agree Sonoma Cellar (Sunset Station) and Austin's (Texas Station) offer a finer dining experience, but prices are higher as well. For the price, particularly when using a discounted gift certificate, we found the food and service to be good.
I do not believe the au jus was a thick sauce as you describe so I wonder if there hasn't been a change in chefs?
Here are my TR notes for our past 2 visits:
12/10 This is one budget steakhouse that does not disappoint. We were started with a basket of warm bread and then shared a warm spinach salad with bacon dressing, mushrooms, hard boiled egg and red onions. Our 12 ounce prime rib entrees were served medium rare as requested with au jus and a horseradish sauce. Accompaniments included a grilled tomato and baked sweet potato with maple butter on the side. Our spinach salads and entrees were very good. ($28.46, Restaurant.com, 4 Forks)
03/11 Though it was Saturday night, the room was less than ½ full which is disappointing given its high quality/price ratio. We shared a delicious warm spinach salad which included mushrooms, red onions, hard boiled egg and a sweet bacon dressing. We each ordered junior (12 ounce) cut prime ribs which were perfectly cooked, tender and delicious. Each was accompanied by au jus, a tangy horseradish-based sauce, grilled tomato and choice of starch (A=mashed potato, W=sweet potato). The maître d comped us each a dessert as an apology for not comping Ann in December when we dined at the restaurant on her birthday. Mine was a slice of dense chocolate mousse while Ann’s was a very heavy, dense chocolate bomb. ($33.40, Restaurant.com, 3.5 Forks)
Las Vegas- Fremont street eats?
Newly opened Le Thai is receiving a lot of positive reviews and it is open daily for both lunch and dinner.
Hugo' Cellar and/or The Flame
My choice would be the Flame Steakhouse. Look for an El Cortez ad running in the R-J that includes a coupon for a free bottle of wine with the purchase of 2 entrees. Start the night off at the recently renovated and renamed Parlour bar where you can enjoy 2 for 1 martinis between 5PM and 7PM. The bullet martini was excellent and highly recommended by our bartender.
The restaurant flies in Florida stone crab on the weekends during season. $28 for a full pound of crab claws that comes with cottage fries and coleslaw. I also highly recommend a side order of creamed corn. My last suggestion is to make a reservation using the Open Table system.
Is Todd's Unique Cuisine really good?
I too find the response you describe as being inconsistent with his past behavior and wonder if, indeed, the server actually conveyed your request. Perhaps Todd was indeed very busy and the server only mentioned that someone was unhappy with the meal and his response was something along the lines of "than just take it off his bill"?
Is Todd's Unique Cuisine really good?
I am sorry to learn of your poor experience at Todd's and be assured yours was an exception and not the rule. Todd's has garnered an amazing number of awards and is included in the 2012 edition of Eating Las Vegas: The 50 Essential restaurants. I have eaten there almost a dozen times since the restaurant first opened and have never experienced anything remotely like what you describe. My food has been consistently excellent. Hopefully you will give the restaurant a 2nd chance.
Green Valley Ranch?
There are some decent options inside GVR.
Hank's Fine Steaks has a daily 5-7PM happy hour with martinis 1/2 priced.
Terrra Verde at GVR has Wined Up Fridays from 5pm – 7pm with $20 bottomless wine and appetizers. Afterwards you will be able to buy one entrée and get a 2nd one 1/2 off.
Tides Oyster Bar is pretty good for pan roasts and offers an AYCE crab leg dinner for $27.95.
Sushi and Sake has an AYCE Sunday through Thursday from 5pm – 7pm for $28.95. The regular menu offers 28 tastes for $8 or less.
Riviera/Sunrise Hospital
I ate at the Grimaldi's in Henderson a few times and thought the pizza was second to Settebello though that was before places such as Due Forni and Dom DeMarco's opened.
Riviera/Sunrise Hospital
The is an outlet of Grimaldi's Pizza in the Fashion Show Mall.
http://www.grimaldispizzeria.com/nevada/fashion-show-mall/
Riviera/Sunrise Hospital
R Steak and Seafood has recently opened in the Riviera with menu prices that are low by Strip standards. The reviews and comments I have read have been almost uniformly positive. http://www.rivierahotel.com/las-vegas-dining/r-steak-seafood/
Recs for: Near LVCC, Mexican, and one splurge meal
One note on Los Molcajetes - it is cash only.
Lotus of Siam too busy? Check out Weera Thai!
Yelp offers a $20 Weera gift certificate for $10.
Rec's in Vegas
#2 behind Milos is the 3-cours, $21 lunch at Payard in Caesars.
http://www.caesarspalace.com/images/non_image_assets/07_05_10_PrixFixeMenu.pdf
Payard lunch
Does anyone know if the $21 3-course prix fixe lunch is served on the weekends?
Marbella's
I haven't been there yet, but Curtas and Jacobson have both written very positive reviews. There is an online printable coupon for $20 off a $50 meal and drinks at the following website (you do not have to a be a local to use it)
http://vegas4locals.com/couponmarbella.html
Maple Tree Cafe- Great Sleeper for Breakfast and Lunch
Here are my comments from our visit last week:
For a Sunday morning, the restaurant was pretty much empty but for a table of 2 and two singles. Maple Tree used to be one of our favorite places for breakfast, but the original owners sent it on the skids before selling out earlier this year. Our waitress took our orders and returned with a miniscule sample of a coffee cake “that just come out of the oven” though it was served at room temperature. We each ordered French toast stuffed with strawberry cream cheese and topped with strawberries. The cream cheese filling was little more than a smear and the French toast itself was pretty ordinary. Based on our experience on this trip and last, I feel the new owners needs to immediately address pricing (too expensive) and quality (disappointing) issues. ($15, Groupon, 2 Forks)
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The Maple Tree
6000 Spring Mountain Rd Ste 1, Las Vegas, NV 89146
Bar Forte
We dined at Forte last week and here is my take with accompanying photos:
I was somewhat surprised to discover on entering that the interior was Spartan and more reminiscent of a biker bar than a fine dining establishment. Our waitress turned out to be very informative and helped guide us through the menu. We ordered Adjarski Khachapurri, Selska Ljutika, kiufte (sausage), Hungarian Ghoulash and a biscuit cake.
For those who have not been to Bulgaria or Russia recently, Adjarski Khachapurri is a boat shaped loaf of bread served directly from the oven with cheese and a cracked egg that are cooked and mixed together tableside. The Selska ljutika is a refreshing salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and peppers tossed in olive oil. The Hungarian goulash over mashed potatoes was excellent, but took second place to the biscuit cake which is described in the menu as a liqueur dipped honey tea biscuit layered with creamy mascarpone, decadent espresso and chocolate. Dinner for 2 without drinks $39 including tax and gratuity. I rated our meal 3.5 Forks out of a possible 5.
Barrymore - Las Vegas
Max Jacobson reviewed the Barrymore in this week's edition of Vegas Seven magazine:
http://www.weeklyseven.com/dining/2011/10/06/right-track-just-strip
