I needed a nice steakhouse last night and decided on Boa (or is it Boa) in the Forum Shops at Caesars. It's on the top floor street side and the windows look out to the south strip. Honestly, I picked this place over Joe's because Boa was having a fifth anniversary special of 50 percent off the total meal price...everything except alcohol.

The place was not busy at 6pm on a Wednesday night. In fact, the whole mall was kinda dead. I was immediately seated and had a nice window view looking at the Flamingo and Caesars sign and the Eiffel Tower. Their view would be nice but it is obstructed by the exterior decorations of statues of Roman soldiers.

The interior of the place is dark but very clean. Service is very, very good. It was attentive without being snobbish. All of the servers seemed genuinely friendly and appreciative of my business.

Their menu is pretty simple as a steakhouse should be. There's a few little options for rubs and sauces, but mostly just apps, salads, steaks, sides, and combos. Most steaks are $39-44. The half off special included their Prix Fixe menu, their surf and turf specials, and all of the market price items such as Kobe beef and the few seafood items.

I talked with the waiter alot and he seemed to get excited about some of my favorites such as the shrimp cocktail, porterhouse steak, and hand cut fries, so that's what I ordered. He was also big on the bone in rib eye steak which is what looked good on other tables as I was walking in.

The shrimp cocktail was 3 large shrimp and the cocktail sauce had a hint of lime in it. It was very overpriced at $18 but it tasted good. I'd rather have 3 like that than 6 that were rubbery or frozen. Still, I wouldn't order it again. I forgot to mention that they brought out a single warm roll and put it on my bread plate, so bread service was very minimal but adequate for me.

The steak was just excellent. It was a fine porterhouse with a lot of meat on both sides of the T bone. It came with a head of roasted garlic.

All of the side dishes here are huge and can be done family style in a group. Even the baked potatoes looked big enough to share. My fries were very good and came with a garlic aioli in addition to ketchup.

Overall, it was an excellent meal. At $38, it was a bargain. It would have been better at $29, without the shrimp cocktail. In reality, without the 50% discount, there are certainly better choices in town. In trying to decide on the best steak at Caesars, it's been a while since I ate at Nero's, so I can't make a fair comparison. I think Palm probalby has a better steak. I really do dislike the busy and noisy atmosphere of Palm. Boa has a peaceful atmosphere which means a lot to me.

I would like to be able to justify going back again and again and trying the entire menu. Maybe the bone in rib eye with a baked potato and the kobe with their mac and cheese and the new york with garlic mashed potatoes, etc.

JMT, how did you get that 50% coupon and when will it end.

BTW - I was born and raised in San Francisco and had a lot of meals throughout the years at Fisherman's Wharf and have yet to taste any seafood better than those crabs served at the Wharf.

So one day I tried some Stone Crab Claws at Joes(?) in Caesars Mall and found them to be somewhat tasteless, tough, and of a rubbery texrture.

Is this normal or did I catch a bad batch?

No coupon required. Tonight is the last night. It is no relation to Joes Stone Crab.

It's a good steak at a good price. 50% off all menu items. Alcohol not discounted.

Boa is affiliated with a high end sushi joint next door. Would that be a good sign or bad sign a to how their seafood might be?

I think, but I'm not positive that the sushi place is also celebrating the same exact 50% special.

Well, I missed that one! Just had a chicken dinner here at home. Let us know if other bargains such as this one come up.

Boa is also located in Santa Monica in what used to be an old neighborhood bar, but that area has gone upscale now and home to many fine dining joints.

I never did dine there though. Just a cocktail or too ... (too too many).

Thanks, JMT