Taking wife to Vegas for her 40th...looking for help on planning the trip

[Ns1]

Oh ok, which ones are those? The rio is $25 and the wynn is $35.

bellagio / CP / wicked spoon / sterling (which clocks in at $80-90pp)

I think 2nd tier is something like

planet hollywood / rio / a few others

 

[Craig234]

my buddies who bought the all day pass (which i think was $45) only got a breakfast out of it, and they hardly had anything. i remember one of him saying "i had a $45 omelette" lol.

the wait was well over an hour when we were there. i'm in vegas on limited time as it is, and no way in hell i'm going to waste at least an hour of that time waiting in line for a crowded ass buffet.

That's pretty crazy. It's $49.99, and not a bad deal for 24 hours, if you use it. That hour wait does not seem to be at all normal - Planet Hollywood had short lines when I looked.

 

[Craig234]

@Craig234 This is the Bacchanal buffet @ CP?

Yes.

 

[Craig234]

Hope to be booking something tonight when I get some alone time...I haven't gotten a chance to visit the thread in about a week...I will update when I hopefully find a package.

vegas.com had good deals, as did a last minute travel site (lastminutetravel.com or close).

 

[Craig234]

Saturday night, I ate at Paris Gordon Ramsey 'Steak'. I had planned on the specialty Beef Wellington, but found it has too many things I don't care for from mustard to mushrooms.

So, I got what they recommended as the best steak ($61). The good news, in a way, it was one of the best steaks ever - initial texture, a good flavor - the bad news, it just didn't 'chew and swallow', I had to remove each piece after some chewing unfortunately as a tough core of meat. So mixed feelings on it, I wouldn't likely get it next time.

Someone else got the short rib ($42) and loved it, I tried it and was disappointed - good, but not that good.

Potato Puree ($12), not a very strong flavor but very nice and a good complement to the steak, as was the recommended glass of Siraz (sp? An Autralian spelling)

(I wanted the Mac and Cheese, but they put *blue cheese* in it, so no way. Ruining a good dish.)

The Gordon Ramsey signature dessert, sticky toffee, was quite disappointing for what was hoped for - it was an 'ok' dessert but one I'd pass up at Denny's, much less here. It had the basics, a moist good texture and a fine toffee taste, but was just underwhelming. It was served with a nice square-shaped about one inch cut of ice cream the waiter said 'Ramsey always recommended eating them together' that did improve it. A 'good' dessert, but not 'top restaurant specialty' at all.

One funny thing, hanging over the dining area was a several foot diameter neon mess of wire in all directions. The waiter said it's modeled on Ramsey's hand motions as he makes the specialty Beef Wellington. First, what an ego-maniac, and second, that's exactly the sort of ugly indulgence he always yells at restaurant owners on "Nightmare Kitchen" for as he rips them down and destroys them. Guess he's excepted.

I always like to see how the house bread is - they serve a plate with four types, the best of which was an outstanding mini bun looking like a cinnamon roll that was 'fig and panchetta'. And wow, was it good. I told the waiter to bring me all they had (half-jokingly). In a hit on their service, he said he can't bring just that one, only full plates of all of them, but he was able to box 4 to go. It was served with 'volcano salt topped Devonshire butter'. I joked that they had sacrificed a virgin at the volcano. Pretentious.

So, a mixed experience, the good and the bad. Overall, very enjoyable, but after his show, it's hard not to want to note the flaws, especially the glaring ones.

The loud 'bar music' blaring into the dining area making it hard to hear speech was one.

 

[Craig234]

Wow, that must be some super awesome buffet to be $40+. I've been to most of them and generally love them. The rio is my favorite. I hadn't noticed the lines so I'll pay more attention next time.

Next when I eventually go back - Rio (because of you), Planet Hollywood Spice, or Mirage ($11.95 with coupon and said to be competitive with the rest).

A return to the Bellagio would be nice.

These buffets with Crème Brulee are a heck of a temptation, but a gelato bar is over the top (still wish I'd saved room - but I did have gelato at the Cosmopolitan, lemon was the best).

 

[purbeast0]

Wow, that must be some super awesome buffet to be $40+. I've been to most of them and generally love them. The rio is my favorite. I hadn't noticed the lines so I'll pay more attention next time.

this was actually at the rio. that is where we stayed. it was normally $50 for 24 hour access, but there was some deal to get $5 off.

 

[rsbennett00]

this was actually at the rio. that is where we stayed. it was normally $50 for 24 hour access, but there was some deal to get $5 off.

It's been a few months and the 24 hour access thing is unknown to me, maybe that's new? The website says 25-40.

 

[NutBucket]

Saturday night, I ate at Paris Gordon Ramsey 'Steak'. *snip*

$61 is their best steak? I guess I haven't missed anything. Based on your description I can buy a better steak at the market for $10. There shouldn't be any tough bits at $61. It seems like Ramsey's restaurants are more hit or miss. We have tried BurGR in Planet Hollywood...it was OK but of course that's hardly high-end. Similar feeling with Burger Bar...not as good as one would expect given the "head" chef.

As I stated before, definitely recommend Wolfgang's restaurants. Cut in Palazzo was excellent as was Lupo in Mandalay (ate there on a whim).

 

[Craig234]

$61 is their best steak? I guess I haven't missed anything. Based on your description I can buy a better steak at the market for $10. There shouldn't be any tough bits at $61. It seems like Ramsey's restaurants are more hit or miss. We have tried BurGR in Planet Hollywood...it was OK but of course that's hardly high-end. Similar feeling with Burger Bar...not as good as one would expect given the "head" chef.

As I stated before, definitely recommend Wolfgang's restaurants. Cut in Palazzo was excellent as was Lupo in Mandalay (ate there on a whim).

Not the most expensive, but the one recommended by the waiter as the best pick.

There was something exceptional about the steak when first bit, but it was problematic when chewed. It was a good experience as far as the initial flavor each bite.

I was at Burgr (again, the pointless, pretentious sort of thing like that spelling Ramsey yells at other restaurants for doing) but didn't eat given the line and I was headed to a buffet.

Most of the burgers didn't appeal to me except the basic, but I give credit for variety.

Thanks for the warning on Burger Bar. I'd like to find a burger worth the hype and cost, but haven't really found it at the high-end burger places (the burger bar in San Francisco at Macy's wasn't all that impressive either) - so far I'm happy with local picks like one of the top rated west coast burgers at a nothing diner called Val's but which has really good burgers, or the 'Adobo' burger a local 'Philipino fusion' place makes with some marinated hamburger and pineapple (don't knock it till you try it, pineapple and meat works).

As I said before, Venetian and Pallazo are out because they're owned by Sheldon Addleston, but nice tip on Lupo.

I've only eaten at Puck's chain (mostly airports) and it's not bad but not that exciting either.

 

[Craig234]

this was actually at the rio. that is where we stayed. it was normally $50 for 24 hour access, but there was some deal to get $5 off.

Given that lunch alone at the Casear Palace buffet is $38, $50 or $45 for 24 hours at that and four other buffets is a great deal, if you can take advantage of it (just pancakes...)