David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15711
 | | 03/12/2003 1:12 AM |
| One of my stories from Delmonico's:
There were ten of us around this big table and, swear to God, we had ten servers working the table. They had just brought out or first course and as we all began to eat they all lined up along the wall ready for our beckon. About two minutes into the meal I have one of them come up to me, lean over and say, "Pardon me sir. Let me get the front of your shirt". Here I had dropped a big blotch of mushroom soup on my shirt and didn't even notice. He had a wet napkin to help clean it off. Then he says, "Thank you sir. And by the way thank you for winning the pool for me". Turns out they're all standing there waiting for the first one to spill. He had his money on me. We all had a big laugh!
  
I do not know how BYO friendly they are but I'm sure if you called the somellier ahead of time you could bring a bottle or two. You probably should order something off the list too. Tell him that when you phone. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:12891
| | 03/12/2003 1:51 AM |
| | where in vegas can i get screaming eagle? that big offline has me wanting some. | | | |
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wineismylife
Arlington, TX
Master of Wine
Posts:12003
| | 03/18/2003 12:16 AM |
| A couple of miscellaneous updates to this thread.
I just got back from Las Vegas and stayed at the Bellagio. Very nice hotel with very good restaurants. We had dinner at Le Cirque in the Bellagio. We had an army of service personnel taking care of us. The food was excellent. The wine list was beyond comprehension. Highly recommended if you have the dough. Major money.
Next time I intend to stay at the Venetian because of all of the positive feedback I've received lately.
I spoke to somebody that works at the Venetian while there for a show. The Venetian has the highest average room rate in Las Vegas at around 190.00 a night. The Bellagio is second at 168.00. Those are averages. For all it is worth... | |
Joe
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Wine is like potato chips around me...if it's open, it's gone. | |
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Zeke Boston
Grape Sorter
Posts:341
| | 03/18/2003 2:22 AM |
| Just got back myself....I thought the Mandalay Bay was outstanding. You can't go wrong with there, Venetian or Bellagio. It just depends on the best price you can get at the time you choose to go.
Dinner at Aureole was top notch. You have to see the oversize Palm Pilot that serves as the wine list. It is amazing. I ordered the D'Arenberg Coppermine 1998 for ~$115. It is a 95+ point wine. The food was also great.
As, described, dinner at Delmonico's in the Venetian, offered service second to none. Perfect steaks. Wine that night was 2001 JJ Prum Spatlese-$55 (it is all the 01 Germans are cracked up to be) and 1998 Quiceda-$115, again excellent wine. This place is a favorite of mine.
I did not make it to Prime but will try to go there when I return in April.
Next was the House of Blues Foundation Room at the top of Mandalay. The bar area was worth the experience. Kinda neat. The food was also extremely tasty. The wine list was weak. Did not run into Dan Akroyd who all the employees there BTW say is a prick when he goes there.
Smith and Wollensky, did not hold a torch to the other places, and like the one in NYC, I shall not return.
I checked out Lee's Discount Liquors on my way back from golf at Royal Links (Scotland in the desert) but did not see any deals worth purchasing.
Great trip. Besides the restaurants, the highlights were my endless $1000+ crap roll and performing CPR and successfully defibrillating (aka-shocking) a passenger on the tarmac at LV airport on my trip home  | | | |
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stemor
Collierville, TN
Wine Thief
Posts:2813
| | 03/18/2003 2:28 AM |
| zzzZeke,
That sounds like a great trip ... and proof positive that one always wants to have a Doctor in the house. That person sure was lucky that you were there! | |
Cheers, y'all | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:12891
| | 03/18/2003 2:43 AM |
| Zeke,
i am going 5-28 through 6-3. you totally sold me on delmonico's. i might have to do prime and delmonico's back to back to get a good feel for which one is better. i do have to say that it will be hard to beat prime. 21 day dry aged steaks, what else is there to say, besides what time to make reservations. | | | |
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kimber
Grape Fermenter
Posts:670
| | 03/18/2003 2:50 AM |
| | Good stuff, Zeke. I'm staying at Mandalay Bay tomorrow night and having dinner at the HoB -- I'll look for Dan as well and report back if I see him. | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15711
| | 03/18/2003 5:43 AM |
| | Maybe Dan was outside hanging over the balcony | | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13660
| | 03/22/2003 9:19 PM |
| | One of these days I will make use of the info on this thread. Mrs. TJ and I have always meant to go to Vegas, but we've just never gotten up and done it. Will have to soon tho. | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Sorter
Posts:281
| | 05/13/2004 4:16 PM |
| Thought I'd bump this thread up to the top. I haven't been to Vegas in around 10 years, but will be going for a mid week respite in late June. I've read everyones suggestions and I'm planning on making Delmonicos, Lotus of Siam, etal.
But I'm undecided about the hotel. Has anyone stayed at either the Monte Carlo or Paris? To make this wine related, are there any restaurants that have decent half bottle or by the glass lists?
As Ant so eloquently puts it.........."Vegas, Baby!" | | | |
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ChangeMe
Barrel Filler
Posts:1475
| | 05/13/2004 4:27 PM |
| WS's most current online feature destination is Las Vegas.
http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Main/Feature_Basic_Template/0,1197,2164,00.html
There's links for dining, hotels, and attractions on the right of the page.
It doesn't look the link above will work, but you can cut and paste or access it from the WS homepage.
raybanz | | | |
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wineismylife
Arlington, TX
Master of Wine
Posts:12003
| | 05/13/2004 4:56 PM |
| | Over the last 6 trips I've stayed at Bellagio, Paris and Treasure Island. Bellagio won, hands down. Paris? Overpriced for the goods delivered IMO. If I could stay at Bellagio or the Venetian for the next decade I'd be a happy camper. | |
Joe
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Wine is like potato chips around me...if it's open, it's gone. | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Sorter
Posts:210
| | 05/13/2004 5:07 PM |
| | I would pass on Monte Carlo, just doesn't have much to offer IMO! The Venetian is hands down the best for a resort atmosphere combined with casino nuance. | | | |
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Al HooKoo
Las Vegas, NV
Barrel Filler
Posts:1336
| | 05/13/2004 5:17 PM |
| I would suggest the Paris hotel over the Monte Carlo.
I have had friends stay at both places, so I have seen the rooms.
While there's nothing wrong with the Monte Carlo, the Paris is just nicer. | | | |
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DdB
Barrel Filler
Posts:1452
| | 05/13/2004 5:23 PM |
| | Anyone been to the new "THEhotel" at Mandalay Bay? | | | |
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Al HooKoo
Las Vegas, NV
Barrel Filler
Posts:1336
| | 05/13/2004 5:32 PM |
| I have not seen any of the rooms at the Mandalay Bay,
but the rest of the resort is great. I've been to some good restaraunts there and some cool concerts. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Puncher
Posts:886
| | 05/13/2004 5:40 PM |
| I'd like to put in a plug for the Rio. I'ts not the place for someone without transportation. I'ts situated on the opposite side of I-15 from the strip. It's not what you want if the Vegas experience consists entirely of hopping from casino to casino.
My trips to Las Vegas encompass a broader scope. I like to visit Red Rock Canyon, Mt Charleston, Lake Mead, the roller coaster at Primm, sometimes even Zion or the Colorado River. I enjoy off-strip restaurants like Marche Bacchus, Viaggio, Lotus of Siam and Metro Pizza. Staying at the Rio allows you to avoid the congestion of the strip when you want to make a side trip. You're a minute from I-15.
Standard rooms are 600sq ft with floor to ceiling glass. Rooms on the east side of the Masquerade Tower afford the best view of the strip in town. Unique among Vegas Resorts is the proximity of the self-parking. You're just a few steps from the casino entrance and a few more from the Masquerade Tower elevators. The valet parking is all the way at the other end. I little map study will show you how to use nearby Industrial Rd to access the back entrances of the hotels on the west side of the strip when you want to casino hop. You'll see nothing but cabs and limos on Industrial. They know that's the way to get around.
Unfortunately with the passing of Mssr. Palladin, Napa Restaurant has been replaced by Rosemary's. The food there can be great, but just as often, a little off the mark. The Wine Cellar has over 200 wines by the glass and the pricey wine shop is fun to browse. (D' Yquem vertical going back to the 1800's) There is a pub that at last visit was working on moving from second spot to the top for Vegas beer selection. Equalling the view outside is the view inside. The cocktail waitress uniforms usually win the annual newspaper "best of award" (read skimpiest) and their dance club is extremely popular with the youger set.
Even for someone not staying at the Rio, this is fun: The Voodoo Lounge on the 51st floor is busy and noisy later on, but before the crowds arrive, head up to the open air deck just before sunset and watch the Stirip Hotels light up against the background of the rose hued mountains to the east. This is the first thing I do when I get town and gets me in the mood for the Las Vegas magic.
Enjoy! | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:12891
| | 05/13/2004 5:41 PM |
| | i'm staying at the venetian this time. i will report back | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Puncher
Posts:886
| | 05/13/2004 5:48 PM |
| | Enjoy the Venetian it has the best rooms on the strip 700sq ft. For a good meal in a casual atmosphere, I love the patio at Postrio. It's on the big square that feels like outdoors. A great people watching spot. As close to a European feel as the town offers. | | | |
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DdB
Barrel Filler
Posts:1452
| | 05/13/2004 5:52 PM |
| | Ant - I'm sure your report will be positive. Are you staying in the new section? | | | |
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