Las Vegas Restaurants

[Brian Gilp]

Is Picasso off the table as an option? It’s doesn’t have the buzz it once did but I haven’t had a bad meal there yet. Note I haven’t been there the past two years so if it’s turned downhill since then I am unaware.

[Barry L i p t o n]

I thought Picasso would’ve a couple steps up in price. This is a work dinner ( and we are not for profit)

[Brian Gilp]

Figured as much but it is less than Guy Savoy. I can’t help with that part of the strip then.

[Phil Smith]

I have not been there for dinner, but really like Michael Mina’s bistro in Aria.

[John Davis]

Been a couple of years, but Picasso was really good the last couple of times. I would consider it if it is convenient and in your price range. And as to the previous post, Mina’s Brasserie Bardot is very good, too.

JD

[Barry L i p t o n]

Yes, I love Michael Mina's, more than his place in SF (although it's been a while). Too pricey for this occassion.

[Andrew Kotowski]

FWIW - friends on Facebook are raving about Herbs and Rye. Cocktails off the chain.

[alan weinberg]

was going to take son to Guy Savoy later this month but since no corkage, switched to Robuchon.

[Robert M yers]

Do you still need a jacket and tie at Robuchon? I’m going next month but don’t want to pack for that.

[John Davis]

Do you still need a jacket and tie at Robuchon? I’m going next month but don’t want to pack for that.

Depends on who you are. Last time we were there we were told jackets were required but there was a table wearing jeans and t-shirts. That and a service issue has kept us from returning. To bad, the food was very well done. Prefer Guy Savoy or Twist.

JD

[alan weinberg]

Picasso requires jackets. Was there w wife years ago when two guys came in wearing jeans and dirty T-shirts. As the maître d’ and chef walked toward them, I was sure they’d be thrown out. Hugs ensued and the owner of Cirque de Soleil (Laliberté) was seated and ceremoniously served (as he ordered crazy wines off list). The 4 gorgeous women with them thought the Lafon Montrachet and DRC were too sour but they loved the Yquem. I’d have been thrown out wearing that shirt—by my wife.

[Darin Kendrick]

Bump. Any new must hit places? I have never been to LOS so plan to go there. I have 1 other night?

[James Cross]

A new place that has garnered a lot of attention is Sparrow and Wolf. It is a couple miles west of the Strip on Spring Mtn. next to Macy's home store. They do a lot of innovative meat dishes, so much so that they were picketed by PETA. Wine selection is poor; $25 corkage is the way to go. Easy Uber/Lyft trip. Moderate prices.

Another is Partage in the old Chada Street location on Spring Mtn further west than Sparrow. Prices are high; basically French food. They hawk the fixed price with wine pairings and you can spend a lot of $ if you are not careful.

Bank's new place is supposed to open in December. It is in the same general area; no info on the concept other than it won't be another Chada.

[Darin Kendrick]

Thanks James. I’m there Dec 12-14. Which would you choose for best meal? I’m pretty easy going and deciding factors for me are great experience, food, and winelist in that order.

Any other ideas from others? TIA

Darin

[Andrew Kotowski]

A new place that has garnered a lot of attention is Sparrow and Wolf. It is a couple miles west of the Strip on Spring Mtn. next to Macy's home store. They do a lot of innovative meat dishes, so much so that they were picketed by PETA. Wine selection is poor; $25 corkage is the way to go. Easy Uber/Lyft trip. Moderate prices.

That was my experience in July. If I would have known about the PETA picket, I would have gone back a second time ->

"Sparrow + Wolf (Chinatown) - probably the highlight of the trip, ahead of Kitchen at Atomic. Bone marrow and beef cheek dumplings were fantastic, as was the hamachi carpaccio. Duck and foie combo was good, as were the several veggie items (barbecued salsify, maitake mushrooms, etc). Wine list could use some help, but for a strip mall store next a Macy’s furniture depot, I’m a fan"

[James Cross]

Darin: Andrew pretty much nails it on Sparrow and I'd also recommend it. I usually take one red and pay the $25 corkage and buy a glass or bottle of white off the list; they have a few things that are ok, like Spanish albarinos. Either Burg or Bordeaux would work with the food; you can check the menu online.

Another new place worth a mention is Mordero Wine Bar. It is really a small plates and mostly Spanish wines establishment. Location is also on Spring Mtn Road about a mile west of Sparrow, so it's an easy trip. You could check them out online as well. I think this is a chain operation from Australia or ??

[fred o.]

Thanks James. I’m there Dec 12-14. Which would you choose for best meal? I’m pretty easy going and deciding factors for me are great experience, food, and winelist in that order.

Any other ideas from others? TIA

Darin

lazy/unimaginative when in Vegas and only go to places on the strip, but two places I've really enjoyed lately are Momofuku (the wine list is a bit spendy and corkage is $50 per with max of 2, I believe, but the food is great, especially the large format dishes like the duck, pork bossam, etc., which are also available at lunch), and Carbone (very friendly sommelier service; have to get the spicy rigatoni).

[Chris.Martin]

Bumping this thread as I'm heading to Vegas in a couple of weeks for our anniversary. Has anyone had any spectacular meals in Vegas recently. Or is there anything new and exciting in Vegas?

[James Cross]

A few additions. Bank's new place is open. Some friends went there last night and I'm awaiting their report.

A couple others worth a mention; both in Summerlin, but doable with Lyft. Andiron and Honey Salt, both run by a husband/wife team that get a lot of good PR. She has been on Food Network and CBS Saturday Morning. Check out the menus; brunch is especially good at Honey Salt. Honey Salt has half price wine on one weeknight (Tue or Wed?) and there are some ok deals. They allow corkage ($25) on other nights.

[Barry L i p t o n]

I've been to Michael Mina and Joel Robuchon each the last two times I've been there.

The second time Joel Robuchon wasn't quite as brilliant as the time before but still very good. First time was absolutely awesome.
Michael Mina was amazing both times.

[Joe W i n o g r a d]

Bank's new place is open. Some friends went there last night and I'm awaiting their report.

What’s its name?

[M.Kaplan]

^Lamaii. Excellent.

[MBerto]

Anyone got a recommendation for a place not on the strip that is not LoS? Preferably something I can do as a party of 1.

[Robert M yers]

Sit at the small bar at Raku?

[MBerto]

I'm intrigued. You know if the bar takes reservations?

[Robert M yers]

You know we’ve been there 3 or 4 times over the years and have always had a reservation, but Im not sure if it was specifically for the bar? If not, It’s been open every time though because that’s the only place we have dined. I can’t imagine I wouldn’t have requested it after the first time though. We’ve always enjoyed watching the guy behind the bar do his thing prepping food and bantering ect even with our limited ability due to language barrier.

[saul_cooperstein]

Bazaar Meat
Bardot

[Joe W i n o g r a d]

Made it to Lamaii tonight!

Iffy strip mall location with several abandoned storefronts but a beautiful room once you go in. Really terrific service too.

They are serving from a modest sized menu with a mix of common and unusual Thai selections. One dish was outstanding (salmon) and two were average. The flavors were interesting and different from typical US Thai fare but (surprisingly) had no heat despite our request for some.

The wine list is top notch and incredibly well priced; we had the 2013 Hirtzberger Honivogl GV Smaragd and it was about 1x retail (!).

It was a good crowd for a Weds night so it looks like they could make a go of it. I would definitely return.

[James Cross]

I finally made it to Lamaii last week and pretty much agree with Joe's comments. The strip mall is part of a Macy's Home Store complex; it's fine, way better than the original Lotus location. Sparrow and Wolf is also in that strip mall with plenty of free parking. The server asked us about heat and we got some. For vino, it was a Domaine Weinbach pinot blanc at about retail. Very nice wine and a good pairing.

Some so called "millenials" were at the next table and had 2 Caymus cabs with their food; what a pairing; ugh!

[Andrew Kotowski]

Looks like Kitchen at Atomic is slowing down a bit; they're closed Mon/Tues now.

Any chance somebody has a great idea for a place in a similar price range? Footing the bill for a six top of international people, which means I'm a baller on a budget Lamaii looks good, but might be a little adventurous for the crowd.

[James Cross]

I'll chime in again. For non adventurous types, how about meat? Bazaar Meat in SLS (Sahara) was mentioned, but you might exceed your unlimited budget. I'd suggest Echo and Rig in Tivoli Village.....FREE CORKAGE.....use that to pay for Lyft. It's about 10 miles from the Strip. Decent steak house if too noisy.

[Andrew Kotowski]

Echo and Rig looks awesome, but drive looks brutal (~25-30 mins from the strip). Also considering Carson Kitchen, which looks great and is downtown.

[John Davis]

Last visit to Bardot (late May) was disappointing. The food was fine but nothing more. The staff were arguing with each other (or so we thought due to body language and open animated “conversations”) and the service was lacking. I’ve recommended it before but won’t again. We go to Vegas about once a year and it is “off the list”; too many other options.

JD

[Steve Crawford]

was in vegas 2 weeks back, was in Vetri for just drinks and 2 pastas (outstanding) and then walked over to tatsujin x. same owner as raku. great food and value.

[Andrew Kotowski]

CarneVino is permanently closed

[G. Keeler]

CarneVino is permanently closed

I thought it closed in 2018? It was when I walked by it last year.

[Andrew Kotowski]

Lamaii was solid tonight. We hit both Hirtzberger bottles and closed with a 2013 Schafer-Frolich Bockenhauer Riesling.

Carson Kitchen was underwhelming, which was disappointing, given the hype from some foodie friends. On the bright side, I finally got to meet up with Jim Brennan. The wine list was non-existent, so we destroyed the cocktail menu. Crispy chicken skins and a pork belly dish were the only two medium-lights on the menu, imho.