ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:12891
 | | 09/21/2004 11:20 PM |
| another question??????????????
this is going to be my first time staying at the bellagio and i was wondering if there were any little secrets i needed to know. anything about the pool or best time for breakfast. anything that might be of help from anyone that has stayed there. i know all about the restaurants and the shopping, just little things you would only find out from staying there. thanks again. | | | |
|
David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15756
| | 09/21/2004 11:36 PM |
| Your "Queen for a day" will admire the Chihuly chandelier in the lobby. Be sure to visit the Chihuly shop at the back-side of the flower conservatory. You can pick up a nice glass bobble for ten or twenty thousand dollars.
Tell them I sent you. 
Also for the Queen... First shop on the right has a huge selection of Judith Lieber purses. One of these would be a lot less than a Chihuly. And while you can only look at the Chihuly these purses, if you get one large enough, will actually hold a lipstick. You should be able to get a fairly nice one for $7,500.00.
Tell them I sent you.
Find the side door just across from the staires going down to Picasso and Prime. Many times you will be able to pick up a cab without having to stand in the cattle line at the front door. You might have to wait a few minutes for one to show up though. Whenever we take a cab there I ask the driver to take us to the side entrance. There is always an "insider" there waiting for one. You gotta take care of your own kind you know. | | | |
|
ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:12891
| | 09/22/2004 12:25 AM |
| thanks david,
we've seen the glass sculpture and it is awesome.
i will be sure not to mention the store to her but it is right beside the watch store iirc and i am yearning for another rolex.
i know about the side door cab routine, it is a great place. the mirage has a nice side door as well.
do you know if the pool has cabanas and how hard are they to get? if they do have cabanas is it possible to get a massage there? | | | |
|
wineismylife
Arlington, TX
Master of Wine
Posts:12265
| | 09/22/2004 12:36 AM |
| Yes, they have cabanas and you can get a massage in the cabanas. I don't know how hard they are to obtain but I'm sure if you call the Concierge now it could easily be arranged.
BTW, they run specials on Suites all of the time. Just ask when you check in and you stand a decent chance of getting upgraded for not too much scratch. | |
Joe
-----
Wine is like potato chips around me...if it's open, it's gone. | |
|
ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:12891
| | 09/22/2004 12:59 AM |
| | i am not sure what kind of room we are in now. they were out of regular rooms and we are already in soom kind of deluxe room. i'm not sure if there will be any upgrades available. that week is almost sold out acroos the board on the strip because of a few big conventions there all at one time. | | | |
|
winebrat
Sacramento, Ca.
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2326
| | 09/26/2004 1:12 AM |
| hang out at the main bar between 10pm-4am to watch the ladies of the night pick up "clients" It is good for people watching. I saw two girls that were very Jessica Simpson in looks go to fists and get real "Ghetto" real quick when they were fighting over who saw the "John" first. Security litteraly dragged them both out down the marble floor.
Second tip is if you want to go to the club LIGHT at the Belaggio let me know and I have an in that will keep you from standing in the 3 hour line. It is THEE club in Vegas right now and is only open on Sunday night. It is where all the local industry people go that are off on Sundays (Restaurant employees, Hotel staff, Strippers, A-listers, you know the beautiful people). You get escorted by security right past the LONG line while everybodys jaw drops wondering who the hell you are. It is great. | |
"Everyday is worthy of a glass of sparkling wine" - Andrea Immer MS | |
|
ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:12891
| | 09/26/2004 2:19 AM |
| | i would take you up on that offer in a heartbeat but i will be flying in on a late flight and probably will be exhausted by the time i get into my room. | | | |
|
ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:12891
| | 09/28/2004 11:18 PM |
| | has anyone tried charlie palmer's steakhouse in the four seasons yet (the top of mandalay bay)? | | | |
|
David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15756
| | 09/29/2004 11:43 PM |
| Quote:
has anyone tried charlie palmer's steakhouse in the four seasons yet (the top of mandalay bay)?
Last time I was there it was just off the lobby of the Four Seasons (in the basement of the Mandalay Bay. Have they moved to the new tower. Top of the orig Mandalay Bay and above the Four Seasons is the Foundation Room. If you can wiggle your way past the bouncer this place has the absolute best view of Vegas... and it is a quite interesting lounge. It has several curtained-off couch/tables where two (or more) can check out the meaning of life without being disturbed.
Secret... Monday.... if you are going to be there on a monday night go see the concierge and you can probably get a pass. Six nights a week it is members only but on Monday nights they sometimes let us poo' folks in. | | | |
|
ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:12891
| | 09/30/2004 1:15 AM |
| dinners are all set up
october 4th lunch at the palm, you just can't beat their business lunch special.
october 5th dinner at delmonico. i will be flying solo for this one, should be interesting. i will bring a 00 bressler. as i will be dining by myself i imagine my meal will go quicker and i know this will be drinking wonderfully by the time my main course arrives.
october 6th dinner at prime. last time i was there, the food was awesome but the service was awful. i am going to try again. spoke to the manager and he is going to comp everything except main course. i probably could of got that as well if i would of asked. the view from this restaurant (and picasso i imagine) just can't be beat. i will bring a 97 dalla valle or the 96 monte bello. if this dinner is as most are here i will be there for about 2-3 hrs, which should be just about right.
october 8th dinner at charlie palmer steakhouse. 1st time here, i will report back. corkage is $35, but in vegas that is like $.35. i am up in the air with this wine still. this one is going to 96 etude, 96 monte bello or the 97 dalla valle. obviously depending on what i bring to prime.
i am also going to go to cafe giorgio for lunch and maybe dinner. cafe giorgio is the new Piero Selvaggio restaurant in mandalay place. they have great basic italian food with some nice updated twists. my wife loves their tomato cream sauce. they only charge $10 for corkage iirc.
i am also going to try and fit in a trip to fiamma, the new italian restaurant in the mgm. | | | |
|
Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13711
| | 09/30/2004 2:46 AM |
| | Vegas is still someplace that Mrs. TJ and I would love to try for the first time. We keep saying yeah we have to go there, but something else always gets in the way. | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
|
rjs3
NJ
Barrel Filler
Posts:1124
| | 09/30/2004 12:20 PM |
| | We're going the 22nd. We have Delmonico's booked, so Ant, I'm waiting to hear what you say. don't remember the other places, our friend has booked them. We're staying at the Venetian. | | | |
|
rickym13
los angeles
Wine Thief
Posts:2843
| | 09/30/2004 5:22 PM |
| Quote:
dinners are all set up
october 5th dinner at delmonico. i will be flying solo for this one, should be interesting. i will bring a 00 bressler. as i will be dining by myself i imagine my meal will go quicker and i know this will be drinking wonderfully by the time my main course arrives.
Ant - Dejavu....I took Bressler to Delmaonico in June and sommolier loved it!
Enjoy your trip and good luck. | | | |
|
DdB
Barrel Filler
Posts:1452
| | 09/30/2004 6:35 PM |
| rjs - Just ate at Delmonico last week and it's hititng on all cylinders.
Side note to Atlantans: Interesting conversation with the waiter - I remarked to the waiter that the Emeril's restuarant here was not nearly as impressive as Delmonico and he was shocked. Said the GM, bar manger and one other manager all came from Delmonico's to open the place. I'm even more confused now about why they can't get it together here.
Ant - We also ate at Giorgio. Decent food but I wasn't that impressed. Bad night?
Make sure you check out 55 degrees while you are there. Some interesting stuff but I'd have to have a very good day at the tables to even think about buying anything. They do have some '01 QC in case you did not order enough | | | |
|
ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:12891
| | 10/09/2004 9:49 PM |
| just got back and i am actually glad to be home. this trip actually turned out to be a long one. i got sick and missed an entire day. dinner at delmonico was awesome. rack of lamb was unreal and the service was of the charts good. kevin, the somm, commented that he has been seeing a lot of people bringing 2000 bressler in as of late. i said i know and that surprised him a bit . the bressler was just awesome, an easy 93pts this time. dinner at prime steakhouse was out of this world. my previous trip there i received less than stellar service. so when i called to make reservations i spoke with the manager and he promised a dinner i wouldn't forget. well he delivered and they have earned me back as a steady vegas visit again. i brought a 97 dalla valle estate and this wine was just absolutely singing, 95pts easy. as a side note they have the 97 dalla valle on their wine list for an eye popping $650. and before you say anything the 97 maya was $2200, so i didn't get confused. | | | |
|
Zeke Boston
Grape Sorter
Posts:341
| | 10/10/2004 1:47 PM |
| Anthony-I'm going in less than two weeks and will be there for a whopping 6 nights. The first three nights will be work related (yeah right ) and then our wives come out for the last 3. My first night will be a sponsored dinner at my favorite Delmonico's so hopefully I will have my run of the wine list.
I am also going to Prime and what I wanted to ask you is what is the corkage there and did you buy anything off the list? Is there anything good on the list that is decently priced there? Also do you need to bring the wine to the restaurant in advance?
Last year I did BYO at Delmonico's and also bought some off the list and that worked out well.
Other planned places are Aureole (again) and SeaBlue(do you know if they allow BYO?)with wives. I need to find a fifth restaurant....any suggestions. I'm planning on bringing a bunch of wine with me.
This is my longest trip to Vegas and I hope to make it home in one piece. I can't wait..... | | | |
|
ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:12891
| | 10/10/2004 2:02 PM |
| zeke,
6 day trips are long. my wife likes them but i am fine with 5 days. seems like the 5th day is when i lose the most 
when you go to prime, ask to see chad and mention my name in full, anthony iezzi (pronounced yet' ze). he is one class act. corkage there is $35. the list is way overpriced and the somm is a jerk imo. one of those who has a taste vin around his neck and bogarts a taste of everyone's wine. the only buys i seen on the list was 00 insignia for $117 iirc. bring your own and call ahead for a table by the water (or ask for chad when you call). here is their direct number so you don't have to go through bellagio's reservation line, 1-702-693-7223. the truffle mashed potatoes are a must. also bringing wine ahead of time to prime is a pain, just decant in your room or go early and have it decanted while you sit on the patio watching the dancing water.
can't tell you anything about seablue, but i hear aquaknox is the "new" place to go for seafood. right beside delmonico.
i was going to try charlie palmer's but ended up canceling because my wife didn't want another large meal. i hear it is great there and it is still on my list. talk to david and try to get into ogden's. i have heard great things, but have never been. their menu is a bit to gourmet for my wife. she likes basics. | | | |
|
David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15756
| | 10/10/2004 7:21 PM |
| Six days?
I can't take Vegas for more than three days in a row.
You're a better man than I Gungha Dihn. | | | |
|
David Walker
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2284
| | 10/10/2004 8:04 PM |
| One piece? You'll be lucky to make it home at all...
When I was out there last month, they had to FedEx my liver home to me. | | | |
|
David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15756
| | 10/10/2004 10:21 PM |
| Quote:
One piece? You'll be lucky to make it home at all...
When I was out there last month, they had to FedEx my liver home to me.
Well at least when you woke up in that bathtub full of ice with the note saying to call 911 because they had cut out your liver... they actually sent it back to you, huh? That ain't the way that urban legend ends. | | | |
|