Upscale Dinner recommendations
 

I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I tried a quick search and it didn't bring up anything relevant, so my apologies...

I'm looking for recommendations for a great meal when I'm in Las Vegas at the end of the month. Bonus points to places that will accomidate a single diner without any hassle. To give you an idea of what I'm looking for, I'd like to keep it under $75 (including tax & tip, not alcohol), but I'm not opposed to spending more if it's a great place. I eat everything (well, I'll try it once!), but I prefer seafood, Asian, etc. over steak (unless it's a top-notch filet!). A place with an excellent chef's tasting menu would be great, as I can try a few things. A much lower priority is "name appeal," (e.g. somewhere like one of Wolfgang Puck's places, or a really trendy/hot place) that I can brag about and people will know what I am talking about. ;) Proximity to the strip (or a close cab ride) is another niceity, since I won't have a car.

I had dinner at Emeril's Fish House last time I was in Vegas, and really enjoyed the food there. I wouldn't be opposed to going back there, but I'd like to try someplace else.

Thanks for your suggestions!

what about Bradley Ogden's? we've eaten there once and thought it was terrific. If you are wanting to go off the strip, two possibilities are Table 34 and Rosemary's. table 34 is relatively close in, while Rosemary's is a bit more of a drive to the west. Both very good, though.

If you like Thai food, you can't miss Lotus of Siam. It is a short drive east of The Strip on Sahara (inside the Commercial Center strip mall). They don't offer a tasting menu, but you can do really well by picking a few dishes and asking them to pair wines for you. They have a great wine list heavy with German Rieslings that go incredibly with the meal.

Lotus of Siam
http://www.saipinchutima.com/
953 E. Sahara Ave. #A-5 (in the Commercial Center Mall)
Las Vegas, NV 89104
(702) 735-3033

http://www.offbeattravel.com/siam.html
http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/2004/05/06/cover.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3752271/

I also like two of lvnvflyer's suggestions (I haven't been to Table 34).

Bradley Ogden is incredible. It isn't cheap, though.

Bradley Ogden

Rosemary's is really a fun place. And it is very reasonably priced.

http://www.rosemarysrestaurant.com/

Nob Hill is Michael Mina's place in MGM Grand. I really like it.

http://www.mgmgrand.com/pages/dining.asp

Commander's Palace in the Aladdin shops is always good.

http://www.commanderspalace.com/las_...neral_info.php

And I could suggest some other great places without a tasting menu.

I haven't been to Alain Ducasse's Mix (yet), but it may be worth checking out (though you'd probably need to double your price target).

Mix info

Craft Steak at MGM has great steak, innovative side dishes, attentive service, and takes excellent care of single diners.

Lotus of Siam has been called the best Thai restaurant in the US. I've only eaten there once, but was quite impressed. I don't think it would be considered an upscale place, but the food is excellent. The biggest problem is its location. It's in a very old shopping center with, shall we say, an eclectic mix of tenants (swingers clubs, gay bathouses, restaurants, bars, etc.). It's not really walking distance from the Strip.

I'll second the suggestion of Commander's Palace. The other/original Commander's Palace is in New Orleans and often makes those "Ten Best Restaurants in the World" list. It's excellent New Orleans food without having to go to New Orleans.

clark

Rosemary's

Nobu

Craftsteak

All places that I think you would thoroughly enjoy. :)

Nobu is outstanding, but my bill is usually $300-$400 for two.

With or without drinks?

I understood Mark to be looking for $75 not including tax/tip/alcohol.

I've gotten out of Nobu for that easily.

Aqua at Bellagio is outstanding.

That is a tasting menu & mid-priced small bottle of sake, for two, and includes tip & tax. No other drinks.

It's not Aqua anymore - it's Michael Mina, but still outstanding - same menu - love that Lobster potpie! And the bar's comfortable to sit at. As much as I love Lotus of Siam, really going by yourself would be a downer - can't order all those fabulous dishes to share. But if you love Thai, don't miss it.

Bang for buck and attentive service: Rosemary's....well off the beaten path, however, 8125 W. Sahara; #110. Tel: 702.869.2251

For a seafood meal, the correct answer is, as others have said, Michael Mina's at Bellagio. The tasting menu there is nonpareil. However, you should call ahead and see if they will do it for one.

QL

I eternally and once again stand by Michael's at the Barbary Coast...Definitely not a fancy casino, but does host Las Vegas's best restaurant, hands down. I've eaten at Aqua and Nobu, and neither compare.

LV Review-Journal's Best Restaurant in Las Vegas award a few years ago, AAA 4-diamond, Zagat's best in LV a few years ago, DiRona rates it high. Food is fabulous, service is even better (I have NEVER had better service anywhere)...Huge portions of perfectly prepared food. I see celebrities in there quite frequently, and it is Las Vegas' best-kept secret. Unfortunately, it's going to run a little more than the budget of the post, more like $80-$100 a person (before alcohol and tip).

Menu here:

http://www.barbarycoastcasino.com/re...aels-menu.html

Not mentioned is a fabulous exotic relish tray that one could make a meal of alone...Repleneshed upon request. Fine hand-dipped chocolates at the end--huge strawberries, kiwi, apricots, figs--several of each plus hand-made petit fours, also replenished upon request. That being said, something to begin--soup, salad, OR appetizer; main course and shared side dish is MORE than plenty (and not appeared to be going cheap, as regulars know that the baked potato is the size of a football and the generous asparagus portion, despite being tree-trunk sized is tender and delicious). So, for example, for two:

Cream of Tomato Soup: (honestly best soup I ever had and I don't really even like tomato soup) $18.00

Shrimp Cocktail: (well-presented in a lighted sculpted ice bowl): $24.00

Filet of Salmon: $54.00

Lamb Chops (to die for) or Filet (HUGE): $68.00

Shared order of asparagus: $10.00 (heck, throw in a baked football) $10.00

$174.00 before taxes/tip/drinks.

Splurge and get the flown-in Carnegie Deli Cheesecake, the Black Forrest Cake, or the Tiramisu, and you're still under $200.

In-season, they also fly in Joe's Stone Crab daily from Miami...No need to even tell you how fabulous that is. Downside is that there's not a ton of variety or creativity--menu is somewhat limited, but everything they do prepare is fabulous.

Some reviews here:

http://www.reviewjournal.com/db/dini...l?pid=3130&s=1

To add to the other suggestions, I'm a fan of Delmonico's at the Venetian. Nice steak place (part of Emeril's empire). I'd say you could get out of there for $75 or less - and I've been able to get a table for one for lunch (haven't dined solo at dinner time).

I second Craftsteak.

It's a bit out of your price range, but Picasso at Bellagio is really, really good.

My favorites (and QuietLion's):

Michael Mina (Bellagio) - best tasting menu (get the 7 course!) and excellent a la carte

Bradley Ogden (Caesar's) - a la carte

Nob Hill (MGM) - tasting menu & a la carte

Craftsteak (MGM) - fantastic steak but the sides (veggies!) are amazing, they also have a daily chef's tasting menu

The side dishes I've had at Craft Steak may be the best I've eaten anywhere, any time. Especially the squash.

Michael's at Barbary coast A+
 

I think Michaels is the best, but you cannot eat there for $75. If shellfish is your thing.....why not go to Rosewood grill. You can have a 3 LB lobster with side and salad for $75. Their shellfish is top notch. Another place I never miss while in Vegas is The cortez room at Gold coast. Their prime rib is the best I have ever eaten and the price is so low, but they also serve awsome crab legs and lobster tails. Their dinners come with salad, potatoe, homeade sour dough bread and a super fresh relish tray. You could feast like a king for $75 there!

Eiffel Tower in Paris, expensive good food the best view you could ask for!

Picasso at Bellagio.

Como's at Lakes of Las Vegas. Worth the drive, casual yet elegant. Just good food!

Valentino's at Venetian.

Bouchon at Venetian by Thomas Keller (French Laundry) ^

This must be a case of YMMV. After reading a few positive comments like the one above, I was looking forward to dinner there. I, solo on business a few nights ago, ate there and found the food to be just average at best. My Mache salad was literally swimming in bland, oily salad dressing; my filet had been butter flied (without my being asked), the flavor good but nothing great; my vegetable side, obviously grilled, had a bitter charred taste and it too was covered in oil. After that, I didn't bother ordering dessert figuring it would be another disspointment.

Irony is that I've rarely had a bad meal in Vegas. So, this was a major disappointment and one for which I paid a very premium price. Price does not always equal quality in Vegas as I also found out recently at Fluer de Lys (in Mandalay), another dissapointing meal.

I'm tempted to jot a brief note to the owner. I don't usually bother but if it were my place, I'd certainly want to know why someone is not coming back.

One bright spot, service was good even if a little slow. Again YMMV.

Thanks for all of the suggestions!

I ended up having dinner at Nobhill last night. The staff was very accomidating to a single diner, and was excellent overall. I did the tasting menu, which was 5 courses + dessert, and it was EXCELLENT. Total came to about $165 w/ tax and tip.

I am stunned at your bad experience at Craftsteak. We have eaten there maybe 20 times and never had anything close to what you described.

They have three styles of beef, fit for any taste: corn-fed, grass-fed, and Kobe. Which did you have? The vegetable dishes all specify how they are cooked. If you ordered something grilled it would have been listed under the word "grilled." They will also cook to order if you have a preferred preparation. I've never had my beef butterflied.

By the way, as a rule I don't eat dessert but they are fabulous.

QL

My top 3: I live here and have tried pretty much everything once.

Picasso at Bellagio. Elegant, excellent food. Get a table with a view of the fountains if you can - ie tip the maitre 'd very well - and it will make it that much better.

Piero's (Paradise Rd/ Convention Ctr) is old school vegas restaurant with very good food as well. Most guys in suits there and the ladies done up too, classy in a 1970s kind of way.

Del Frisco's (Paradise Rd just north of Flamingo) again kinda old school Vegas, not to the extent of Piero's but you won't find any pastel colors there or anything super trendy. Best steak in town, excellent wine selection.

These will set you back more than $75 but what the hell man you're on vacation, live a little.

Da_Guy is right on the money....

Del Frisco's is the place to go. The best steaks, seafood, service, reasonably priced for the quality of food, and KILLER pineapple martinis. :D

We go to LV about six times a year and eat there at least once, if not more. ;)

Gallagher's in NYNY is another favorite - Especially if you like crab legs. By far the best you'll ever have.

Ok, I'm getting myself hungry, I gotta go!!!

One thing about Bradley Ogden's is that it has, I believe, an all-domestic wine list, which is fine for some... not for others.

You can ask for the hotel master list at any of Caesars restaurants.

QL

Gosh I wish I had known this. I expressed my great displeasure at Bradley Ogden's wine list to the Steward, who went into this long lecture about how BO is trying to support American wineries or some such nonsense. If he had told me I could order off of the master, the lecture could have been spared. Otherwise, an outstanding restaurant.

I had an excellent meal there last year, as well. Unfortunately, they gave three of my dinner companions really bad food poisoning. When we went back the next day to complain they really didn't care at all. Eventually they offered to give us some free appetizers, which of course those who were made violently ill by the restaurant the night before didn't want.

They filed a complaint with security and got a form letter from risk management a few weeks later saying they determined that Nobhill wasn't responsible for their "loss." :rolleyes:

Won't be dining there or at any Michael Mina establishment again after that.

I have eaten at Michael Mina restaurants (including Nob Hill) dozens of times, never had food poisining, and always had wonderful food and service. I understand your wanting to stick up for your friends and warn people off but I think your experience was an anomaly.

QL

Thee food poisoning was probably an anomaly, sure, but I think the service one gets when things go wrong is more revealing and instructive than the service when everything runs smoothly.

Mina put his name on it, so the captain goes down with the ship. I'm assuming he knows this goes on in his restaurants, and if he doesn't, he should think about "100% accountability."

There are plenty of other restaurants.

Thank you for this reccomendation. I visited this restaurant in July and have to say it is the best Thai I have ever eaten. Again, not an elegant place, but a wonderful culinary treat. Warning though - it closed early when we were there - 9 pm.

On our 3 night trip to Las Vegas last week, we dined at:

1. The Mix in THEhotel at Mandalay Bay
2. Picasso at the Bellagio
3. Rosemary's

All three dinners were fantastic.

The Mix has a beautiful dining room, in the style that resembles Phillipe Stark, with thousands of Murano glass globes hanging from the ceiling, though we sat outside on the terrace overlooking the Strip. The menu by Alain Ducasse was fantastic - I would recommend the lobster salad and the foie gras.

Picasso had a great prix fixe menu and very knowlegable sommeliers to help guide your wine selections. Part of the treat of eating at Picasso is to sit on or near the terrace overlooking the Bellagio fountains. Truly a gorgeous sight.

Rosemary's was not disappointing. We had a few friends fly in the last night and Rosemary's was where we dined. Probably the furthest we have ever driven off the Strip to a Vegas destination, but very much worth it. Service was fantastic. We had a party of 6, and 3 waiters would arrive simultaneously with our courses to place in front of us. I would recommend the chef's menu which was delicious. Instead of a wine pairing, we opted for the beer pairing and it did not disappoint. A particular highlight was the very sweet beer served with the foie gras. Very fruity and going perfectly with the dish.

I would highly recommend any of these 3 restaurants.

Mix--Absolutely amazing. Attentive wait staff. Great wine selection. Amazing Food.

Amazing bill too...
:p

Mix's staff sure wasn't attentive the two times I dined there. One of our guests, a woman in shorts, was told she had to change clothes to dine there, almost unheard of in Las Vegas where the summer days can be 115 degrees. In addition to that, I had to fight with them to get anything other than cheap glass stemware to drink a $150 bottle of Cabernet. The sommelier lied to me and said they didn't have anything other than the cheap glasses they brought, then when I mentioned it to the manager he told me they did have Riedel stemware on request. Then the sommelier denied lying to me. The manager took care of us the rest of the meal but that was the only bright spot in the service.

The food was good.

QL

Venetian Steak House is awesome. Can't recall the name just now.

Micheals at the Barbary coast has priced itself out of the picture for me.I just cannot justify paying prices like that when anytime someone enters the restaurant you can hear the slots and the roar of the crowd.
Envy Steakhouse is very good,very quiet and welcoming to solo diners.It is a tad expensive,but $75 should cover it.It is located in the Renaissance Las Vegas.

Delmonico.

QL