Thank you for the reviews, QuietLion. I think the next time we go back, I'll have to try a few of your suggestions. In the meantime, we did book a private dining room at the Top of the World restaurant in the Stratosphere.

While the food was pretty medicore (think typical banquet food), the portions were huge and the service was impeccable. Desserts were very good as well. Of course, the view was breathtaking. All in all, I would say it suited our purposes perfectly.

Next time when it's just my husband and me, I'll make sure he takes me to Picasso. Thanks again!

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Argue with a fool and
you have two fools
arguing~

I'm glad you had a good time.

QL

I'm in LAS next week, what's the current wisdom on the best overall restaurant in Las Vegas for a splurge?

Best ambience: Picasso (Bellagio)
Best food: Craftsteak (MGM Grand)

QL

Ignore all the mega-strip properties get some directions and visit either Rosemary's or Wild Sage. Ambience may not be as great as the Bellagio places but you probably will have a better prepared, more inventive and more delicious meal (without feeling like you are being rushed)at BOTH for the cost of one visit to the "mega-hyped places.
Add what you save on the cost of a decent bottle of wine and youll feel like you hit the jackpot.
mike

Bringing this back to the top:

Any other new reviews from late 2003 or early 2004? I'll be heading to LAS for a conference and I'm curious about any recent trips to Osteria del Circo, Craftsteak, Aqua and other popular spots.

I may be solo one night, so a wine bar or restaurant with a nice bar where I can eat alone while reading would be nice. Another night may be a client dinner, so I may try one of the more upscale restaurants mentioned in this thread save for the Emeril's places.

Just got back from Lost Wages today.
Here are my thoughts on the restaurants I ate at in case anyone is interested:

1. Craftsteak - Great food, great atmosphere, nice waiter who was professional yet not snooty, kind of expensive but I think it was worth it.

2. Nobu - Excellent food, but that's about the only nice thing I can say about the place. Our waitress was snobby, the place is too loud to hear people at your own table, they give you a funny look if you ask for silverware (chopsticks are great but not fun when it comes to cutting a piece of steak), and you have to make a 5 minute jog through the casino to use a restroom since they don't have one in the restaurant.

3. Rosemary's (not the one in the Rio) - desipte the $20 cab ride there, this place ROCKS. Incredible food, reasonably priced ($40 prix fixe with 1/2 price wine on Sunday), excellent service, and incredible food. They never rushed us, they gave us time to look at the menu and time between courses to digest and sigh at how good the thing we ate just was. When I go back to Vegas I am definitely going back to Rosemary's.

Not a mention of those fabulous buffets.
For the less discerning FT member who is not on a business expense account, and cannot afford a $200 bill, try the buffets.
The one at RIO Carnival World Buffet may be the best, followed by the Aladdin Spice Market Buffet.
For those of us on a budget or wishing to spend the green stuff on the slots, there are many excellent buffets for just a few bucks. None, however are 5 star

I was just at Prime two weeks ago - the service was quite good. The food was expensive but not stupidly so.

The wine (& liquor), on the other hand, was generally quite outrageously priced. There were very few bottles on the wine list for <$300 (and several for >$10,000). They had just added the QE coronantion cognac (for $1050.00 per glass), which should give you some indication as to the priciness.

Unless you happen to get a table directly in front of the windows looking out on the fountain, you're nearly certain to have a much better view of things from Paris.

I thought Nobu was great! Must try the spicy crab dip - I am salivating just thinking about it. Yes, a little snobby, but food and sake were phenomenal.

I can second the recommendation for CraftSteak. Not cheap... but tremendous steak!

Does anyone remember the wonderful Rhapsody restaurant at the Tropicana? De luxe without being stupid. Have the staff, especially kitchen staff, moved to another hotel/restaurant? We would love to be able to recreate the same experience of delicious and pricy but not-outrageously-overpriced food and attentive waiters.


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For an inexpensive, excellent evening buffet, try the Golden Nugget downtown. Then see the Fremont Street light show right outside every hour on the hour (free of charge, of course).

Hugo's at the Four Queens, Downtown LAS. One of the best I have ever eaten at.
It is not a glamorous hotel, but the food, presentation, etc was excellent.
(This was a few years ago...)
Best club: Light at Bellagio.

I do, my wife and I had dinner there the evening after we got married in 1989, had almost forgotten about that place.
But then we stayed at the Hacienda which was blown up to build Manadalay Bay.
mike