We have spoken about our favorite restaurants, but where have you had the absolute best meal while in Las Vegas. It may not have been your favorite restaurant for one reason or another, but the food itself was the absoulute best.
I'm partial to seafood. One of the places that has decent service and a decent atmosphere is the Great Moments Room at the Las Vegas Club. This is where I had the absolute best meal I have had in Las Vegas. It was a special the night I was there that was called Seafood Stir Fry. I know it sounds average but it had a large amount of shrimp, lobster, scallops, fish and crab and was cooked in an absolutely wonderful sauce and then served over linguini. Along with the escargot as an appetiser, it was the best meal I've had in Las Vegas and the price was under $25 for the Seafood Stir Fry.
How about some other great meals?

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John
Moderator-Dining Forum

Great Idea John.....but I need a little time to think this one over. When we first started traveling to LV, it was a bit of a dinning waste land, but boy how things have changed over the years.
Lee-PA

Lee, one rule on this topic. NO BUFFETS<G>

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John
Moderator-Dining Forum

Best meal I've ever had in Las Vegas was at Mayflower Cuisinier, just after it opened. At that time, the restaurant always offered a whole catfish, lightly fried in a scallions, ginger, and soy sauce. Yum.

Unfortunately, it's no longer a regular dish there, but the seafood is usually reliably terrific. Not one of the big-deal meals (e.g., Emeril's, Michael's, Coyote, Chinois) have been consistently great.

John: This is a tough one because I've had a number of memorable meals in Las Vegas, but I would have to say the very best was at The Brown Derby in the MGM Grand last July. There was 5 of us, and we all ordered something different...Teri and I had some sort of pasta and chicken dish, Walt had steak and seafood, and our friends
had rack of lamb, which I sampled, and everything was wonderful. I could never figure out if it was so outstanding because of the company or the atmosphere or that our friends were on a comp <g>. I've only eaten there once; I'm afraid to go back and have that memorable night wrecked in case a second meal there cannot live up to the standards of that first time dining there.

Honorable mention goes to the Second Street Grill at the Fremont and Redwood Grill in the California.

Dave, where is the Mayflower at? The name is familiar but I can't place it.

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John
Moderator-Dining Forum

John,

John,

Mayflower Cuisinier is on 4750 West Sahara (in the Sahara Pavilion). It's just across from the big Borders bookstore and next to Habib's, the best Persian restaurant in Las Vegas.

This is not the place to go to for lo mein or big platters of fried rice (not that there's anything wrong with that!) -- this is lightish, refined food.

Dave, I know exactly where it's at. Thanks. The idea of light food is great. Veronica called me fat in Jan and I've been on a diet ever since<G>

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John
Moderator-Dining Forum

Well, *everybody* is fat compared to Veronica. I think rather than try to get thin like her, it's our job to change the norms of our society, so she'll hope she's big like us.

I just asked Big Joe where he got his best meal in LV. His response was, "The place downstairs where we paid about $100 for the two of us."

The place was Hugo's Cellar. We had the shrimp scampi appetizer that's named after my maiden name. It was good but I can make it better <g>. Joe had the Veal Oscar and it was delicious. And I can't remember what I had!

I don't like these fancy places where you must be dressed up to feel un/comfortable. But the service was very good and the food quality was excellent.

One different thing I liked was that the waiter made your salad right at your table. He had a salad cart with whatever extras you wanted in your salad.

And the chocolate covered strawberries for dessert were good too.

John, I have 2 meals for diffent reasons and I can't choose a better one, because it's like comparing apples to oranges.
Dinner at the Landmark hotel/casino. The top revolving resturant. The meal was wonderful, the view great, the service unblemished. Within a few weeks of our return home, we learned about the demise planned for the Landmark. Then it sat empty for a long time till they finally brought it down, to star is a very cheesy movie. We where very young to LV and this was our big splurge nite out.
It was a night never to be repeted.
The other (John your gonna love this) the Second Street Grill (with a coupon of course) LOL. Those Crab legs I've never tasted better, I don't even know what Sue ate, I didn't care! <VBG> Your the one that kept telling me to try it, and WoW. We've been back several times now, but nothing will beat those legs (BTW it was our second visit to the place when I had that great meal) The first vist was much less then great!
Lee-PA

Well, even though he does not seem to be the most popular guy on this BB, my all time best meal in Vegas was last October 6 (my BD!) at Emeril's at the MGM. We opted for the Chef's Tasting Menu, which offered smaller versions of five of the items from the regular menu, plus dessert. The dishes were Louisiana softshell crab with Crele tartar sauce and Creole mustard slaw; baby arugula with roasted duck; pan-roasted gulf Escolar with country ham and sweet pea couscous; cornmeal crusted Texas redfish on spicy red bean sauce with hush puppies; and cedar plank Louisiana campfire steak with warm remoulade sauce. Dessert was strawberry velvet cake with cream cheese frosting, chocolate ice cream and fudge sauce. I also opted for the wine tasting package, which was five of the best glasses of wine I have ever had, all picked to complement the dishes. I do not like seafood, yet the only thing on the menu I had a problem finishing was the redfish, which was a little fishy. Everything else was absolutely wonderful. The service was perfect, and the atmosohere great!

Cathy in Boston

[This message has been edited by Cathy (edited August 09, 1999).]

Cathy, I have nothing against Emerils. In fact they probably showed a bit of class by not letting JMT and I in<G>
You must have enjoyed the meal since almost a year later you still remember the details of each item you sampled. They sounded delicious.
Everyone has their own opinion and experiences and I encourage everyone to post theirs under this topic. Some people like beef, some people like seafood, etc., etc.
So, thanks for posting what was an interesting meal. Could you give us an idea on how much the cost was?


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John
Moderator-Dining Forum

Hi John! I remember reading in Prodigy about you and JMT not being allowed in - I have always wondered what reason they could possibly have given, because i have seen people in shorts and t shirts and jeans in there.

My memory is not as good as it sounds - the chef, Sean Roe, signed a copy of the tasting menu for me as a souvenir! So I cheated!

The cost including tip was $230. The tasting menu is (or was last year) $65 per person, and the wine package was $45 per person. I believe if one person at the table orders the tasting menu, then all have to, but I ordered the wine and my husband did not, so apparently that is okay.

Cathy in Boston

My best meal is Las Vegas would have to be the Filet Mignon dinner at the Pullman Grill at MSS. I have "challenged" a couple of other places to meet the quality; the Steak House at Luxor has great ambience and service, but the taste and tenderness just wasn't there. I can't remember the name of the alleged gourmet restaurant at the Lady Luck, but I've had better meals at various coffee shops<g>....but the company was pretty good. [img]http://www.talkvegas.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img]
Has anyone eaten at Bob Taylor's Steak House or the steak house at Binions? These two are on my "comparison list" for a future visit.

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Daisy-Beyond Vegas Moderator

Daisy, I don't qualify as a gourmet, but several years ago three of us went into Binion's Steak House at about 10pm after
a show. Our host ordered "The biggest prime rib dinner you've got". What we got was a prime rib roast that was about 4 inches high
and covered the plate...must have weighed
5 pounds each. Cost (at that hour) was something like $5.95...but that was a long
time ago...it's probably $6.95 now. I still
remember how amazed I was when they served those platters!

Dick 8/10/99

I agree with Cathy. The Chef's Tasting Menu at Emerill's was the best meal I've ever had in LV. The most I've ever spent for a meal anywhere, also, as BOTH of us opted for the wine!<g>

So, Dick, did you finish that prime rib roast?

John, in the Great Moments room what other items did they have on the menue? Pretty standard fare? I will be at the Las Vegas Club in Oct. and will try the GM.

I remember about 6 or 8 years ago we ate at the, I believe the behind the stage restaurant in the Plaza. I had the filet and it was great. The food the service the drinks were all great. And Gail, the waiter made the salads right at the table also. Good and fresh.
DaisyDueces, I think you are refering to the Burgundy Room at Lady Luck, yes have tried that with the LVA coupon and yes, better meals have been had, maybe even at McDonalds in Fitzgerlds.
I also have had the filet at the steakhouse in Binions and it was also great. I would rate the two on equal par. However, given the condition of the Plaza now a days I don't think I would care to eat there anymore. We used to enjoy staying there 8 to 10 years ago, but it is pretty run down now.
How about Tony Romas in the Freemont? Anyone tried that?

We ate at Tony Roma's at the Fremont a couple of years ago. My husband is a ribs fanatic and he said they were the best he had ever had. I have heard the Tony Roma's at the Stardust is not as good.

Cathy in Boston

Mike, the menu was pretty standard at the Great Moments Room. The filets are good. They had lamb and seafood. I had the escargot and it was excellent. The salads that come with the meals are very nice. You'll find something on the menu that you'll like. The menu is not super extensive, but it is not limited either. Also, the maitre d is named Sal and he is very efficient.


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John
Moderator Dining Forum
john@talkvegas.com




[This message has been edited by John (edited August 19, 1999).]

Season's at Bally's. Chilean Sea Bass, lobster bisque and a grand coffee service that requires no dessert. Paula Mike says the greatest steak and crab claws for an appetizer. Prime at Bellagio

Mike, you're right...it was the Burgandy Room at the Lady Luck, and I think the service would be better at McDonald's too<g>.

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Daisy-Beyond Vegas Moderator
daisy@talkvegas.com

I've eaten at many fine restaurants in Las Vegas but I still like Lawrey's House of Prime Rib on West Flamingo (or is it West Tropicana?) the best!

Many people in Las Vegas say that Michael's in the Barbary Coast is the best dining experience in Nevada and caters to the high rollers in the casino. I don't know if this is correct or not!

The finest looking restaurant I have ever seen is the Palace Court in Caesars Palace. A perfect setting for a special occasion! Sad to say, I have not dined here yet.

We were going to have an early dinner in Picasso in the Bellagio but it is my understanding that if you ask for water they bring you a $10 bottle of a foreign brand adn the portions are quite small.

This is only a fine dining rumor but a friend told me that he asked for a "bit more truffel sauce" on one of his entrees and it came to $34 extra.

I like to eat well, bu t I don't like my jaw dropping on the table when the check arrives.

Anyone have any dining experiences at any of the following establishments - Palace Court, Michael's, Picasso, Pimplemousse ?

Now, if I may kindly be excused?!

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will800

Will, when I dined at Prime, which is in the same limited access area as Picasso, water was a premium. When I asked about water, the waiter said that he had a list of sparkling and non-sparkling waters that I could choose from. I felt lucky that I got of there with a $3.25 can of Bud.

My vote will go to Claudine's. Like every thing good they came to an end when Harrahs remodeled.

Will, Michaels is a great place but be prepared for "sticker shock". You can easily spend $100 per person including tax and tip. So if cost is no object it is a great place, but I don't think it is worth the cost compared to all the other great places that cost a lot less.

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John
Moderator Dining Forum
john@talkvegas.com