There's a new burger joint but it will not be joining the "Burger Wars". It's a McDonalds that is unlike any other McDonalds you have seen. Maybe you remember that McDonalds across from the Riviera near the old Westward Ho. It is being replaced today with Viva McDonalds, a whole new building with a whole new look.

This McDonalds does not have that signature playground out front. It has big screen TVs. A few weeks ago, I saw it and the front had 3 big TV screens on the building and the still images were spinning like slot reels, aligning symbols such as McDonalds logo, drink glasses, and Big Macs.

This McDonalds will have many big screens on the inside playing the new McDonalds channel with feeds from Discovery, and other educational channels. It will have comfortable seating, lounge seats, and computer hook up stations.

Have you ever seen people walking down the street with those huge tall drinks of adult beverages shaped like footballs, Eiffel Towers, guitars, etc? Viva wants a piece of that prestige and will have it's own signature "yard glass", except it will be a family friendly drink. So if you collect those glasses, here's one more for ya.

Viva McDonalds opened one hour ago at 11:00am. I may drop by for a photo op some day. I did miss the grand opening party on purpose where the city big wigs were to attend and there are give aways to early customers.

JMT - that sounds very cool. We have a big McDonald's in downtown Chicago which is set up like a high-tech 50's diner. It's very unusual and very fun to visit. I'll look forward to checking this one in Vegas out and making comparisons!

WOW! I'm surprised they changed that location. I believe that was the original way the original McDonalds used to look. Another part of LV history gone, but this new place sounds interesting.

But do try In-n-Out burger too. I have never seen an In-n-Out place without a huge crowd waiting for a burger and fries and a choc'late milk shake. I would take a guess and say that it is the most popular fast food restaurant in the US.

I like it most because you get a little paper cup to put the katchup in and then you can sot at your table and do that sophisticated "dip the fries in it" thing that everyone seems to enjoy.

And give the Protein Burger without the bun. It just gets wrapped in lettuce and all the other trimmings. Good for dieter who aren't too serious about dieting.

Well, I stopped at Viva McDonalds on my way home from Hooters. It was either Dan Marinos or Viva. Dan's was kinda crowded after the show, so I chose Viva.

That big tall clear plastic cup was probably over $5, I didn't count. I'm pretty sure all of the menu prices were higher than their local stores. Like most restaurants, french fries taste better in new and clean equipment.

The inside and outside are notably different. Inside seemed a little short of the spectacle I expected. There are a few different types of seating that all seemed more comfortable than your local McDonalds. It also has a pretty high ceiling that gave a more open and airy feel. The center of the room has a big oval seating area. Above that is a bunch of TVs that wrap around so that everyone in the place can see some of them. They are all playing the same McDonalds TV network. Also of note, there was not a bit of neon that I could see on the property.

Mike, I suspect your high tech 50's McDonalds has much more WOW factor.

will, the location just moved north about 150 feet. It is now next door to Slots A Fun. The old location had the old Westward Ho inbetween the two. Viva sits on old Ho property. South of Viva is a fire entrance to Eschelon, and next to that is the old McDs. Also, the old McD had an older classic brown decor, which was probably a late 60s or early 70s design. The oldest McDs I remember had a slanted roof that "seemed" to be supported by big golden arches. The earlier ones did not have dining rooms. Later they extended the front and glassed it in for indoor dining.

I have tried In n Out many times. I think it's much better than McDonalds. I like their shakes, but I still haven't warmed up to their fries. I don't often eat burgers in that class. Even tonight I had a fish sandwich.

Hey thanks, JMT. I was thinking about a very different Mc Donald's location on Sahara across from the backside of the Sahara Hotel/Casino or roughly close to that location. Possibly on or near Joe E, Brown Road and NOT the one on the Strip where I've fine dined on many an occasion over the years.

I think it was the one on Sahara (?) is the original Mc Donald's in LV because throughout the years it has retained the original design and presently looks sort of "antuquish".

Do you know of the one I am referring to?

I also love the fish sandwiches at MC Donald's where one is located especially if the bun is nice and soft and the dressing is properly prepared. I think that the buns on Mondays at Mc Donald's are a bit on the stale side because there are apparently no bread deliveries on Sundays? Any truth to that maybe??

I worked for Mc many many years ago as a Manager Trainee for a very short time and it is amazing to see what goes on behind that operation. Very smart man, indeed, that Mr Krock.

But nowadays I strongly prefer In n Out much more than all the others and usually look for one at least once a month or so.

But you may have to excuse me because I am still somewhat amused and perplexed that anyone would go to a $12 burger house in some fancy Strip casino when there are so many better options available and at less than half the price.

We "fine dined" at that high class burger joint located in the mall between Mandalay Bay and the Luxor and had what they called a "Kobe Beef Burger" and how they get away with that description without a few lawsuits from real Kobe Beef diners is beyond me.

Yes will, that's at Paradise and Sahara. I don't recall the exact architecture but it may very well have the original design.

I had enjoyed a fish sandwich before, until I saw a program on a fishing boat and they said if you ever ate a McD fish filet, it probably came off of this boat. I think I'd rather live in denial and imagine a clown in a row boat on a small pond fishing for my dinner with a cane rod.<g> The truth isn't always pretty. Ever see a chilean sea bass...aka toothfish? I also worked in a building where McD meat comes from. Again, not pretty.

What is pretty about McD in this town, is design. There are a great variety of signs, floor plans, building designs, and decor in the McDs around town. There is one that Is just called Classic at the SW corner of Eastern and Flamingo. I think it is mainly drive thru with very limited outdoor seating. If you've never seen it, you may want to put it on your list. It is much smaller than the Paradise/Sahara store.

Mr Krock was very fascinating and if you had talked to him, he would have openly admitted that he was not in the hamburger industry, as there are many much better burgers. He was in the real estate business.

I think an ideal hamburger patty should be about a half inch thick, and stacking waffer thin patties doesn't make up for it. That, variety, search for the perfect burger, and sharing Las Vegas info are some of the reasons I try so many different burgers.

I've had that same Kobe burger you mentioned at the Burger Bar in Mandalay Place. I agree with you.

Will, I've tried your favorite, In n Out. Now I challenge you to try a Kilroy's burger.

JMT, I always accept a challenge except pistols at dawn cause I don't have a second but I definitely will try Kilroy's providing I know where it's at!

Give me some details and I'll buckle my belt and holster my pistolas and give it a rip roaring try and if it rates a "Yahoo!", I'll get back to ya.

Otherwise it's me and In n Out again

Kilroys has two locations. The original is on Buffalo, just north of Charleston behind a 7-11. Their kitchen opens at 11 am. The other location is on Grand Canyon, which is near Flamingo and 215, behind a Sears. Their kitchen opens for dinner around 4 or 5 pm.

If you look in this Forum, the Dining forum, there is a topic called Kilroys still #1 that is about 4 or 5 topics down from the top. It will have a more detailed review.

Thanks, JMT. I'll check it out.

The location of Viva was a winning situation for at least 3 major parties. Boyd sorta traded the Barbary Coast to Harrah's for the Westward Ho.

Harrah's wanted the Barbary Coast in part of their land grab of all the property they could get around and behind Harrah's, IP, Flamingo, etc.

McDonalds got several million in bribes from Boyd to move one property north.

Boyd got a solid piece of real estate for the Eschelon project without having to wrap around McDs.