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Never been to a fancy restaurant

Discussion in 'Restaurants & Buffets' started by C0usineddie, Oct 10, 2015.

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  1. C0usineddie

    C0usineddie VIP Whale

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    I have never eaten at a fancy restaurant, not that I can recall anyway.

    I think restaurants seem to fall into a couple of categories.

    There is fast food of course.

    Out side of that there are places like olive garden and red lobster. i have eaten at those of course and ones that I would call upscale olive gardens. not chains but more mom and pops but price wise just a bit higher with a bit better food but still would not call it fancy.

    So for a novice like myself, what would be a good choice for the step into an actual nice restaurant with good food that i would remember. Not a $500 a plate place, will work up to that but something that would be the next rung up from the mom and pop decent place if that makes sense?
     
  2. dfalk

    dfalk VIP Whale

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    I am exactly like you, never have eaten at a fancy resturant until last year. I went to Gordon Ramsay Steak and it was pretty damn good, and was a neat experience. I probably won't go out of my way to eat at anymore fancy places though, to me it's just a waste a money. I'd much rather grab a quick slice of pizza or a sandwich from Earl's and be done with eating.
     
  3. Aces and Eights

    Aces and Eights VIP Whale

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    I remember one time I mentioned Olive Garden as an Italian restaurant to a Bostonian with Italian ancestors. Not going to do that again.

    Although there are some restaurants in Vegas which fit the high-end category (Picasso, Joel Robuchon, Guy Savoy), most of the nicer places cater to people who want a nice restaurant without the dress code. There are so many. Look at each casino/hotel dining guides under "fine dining." Don't really know what you want, but each casino/hotel usually has a steakhouse, Italian, sushi, American (catch-all for anything that isn't specific to an ethnicity or food-type). Mandalay Bay and Venetian probably has the most restaurants to choose from. Places like Fix or Olives at Bellagio seem reasonable for the atmosphere. I don't know if Sensi is back open at Bellagio. Mastro's at Crystals next to Aria and Cosmo seems nice. Martorano's at Paris and Sinatra at Encore are good Italian restaurants. Every restaurant is going to have dishes you like and some that you may find as OK or not so pleasing. I suggest trying a different restaurant each time, and go back to the one's you like. But if you change your dish from what you liked before, you will probably label the restaurant not as good as last time, not that the particular food wasn't as appealing.
     
  4. bsnm

    bsnm Tourist

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    Andiamos at The D downtown or Zefferino at the Grand Canal shops on the strip would be good choices. Both have menus with prices online so you won't have any surprises. :beer:
     
  5. leo21

    leo21 VIP Whale

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    Everything that came to mind initially is now gone and replaced with chains and out of town stuff. The Range at Harrah's or Bally's Steakhouse would have been great for you. Maybe a place like The Cortez Room at Gold Coast?
     
  6. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    What kind of food do you like best?
     
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  7. Gmoney10

    Gmoney10 Low-Roller

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    If you want a good filet mignonette, give Vic and Anthony's a try. Try their tasting menu for a 3 course meal for only $49.99. You have 3 choices each for appetizer, entree with side, and dessert. Tried it last week and it was well worth it. Says business casual dress, but we went in shorts and collared shirt. Very nice restaurant.
     
  8. NickPapageorgio

    NickPapageorgio OG of the Sal Sagev Hotel

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    Ah yes, the I know everything because I'm 4th generation Ethnicity X. Seriously Guido, Olive Garden isn't real Italian? Enlighten me. Next, you're going to tell me that Taco Bell doesn't really represent Mexican cuisine at its finest. Sorry for the rant. Pet peeve of mine.

    Nick:beer:
     
  9. iamsomedude

    iamsomedude High-Roller

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    I would start off with Charlie Palmer Steak over at the Four Seasons (in the Mandalay Bay). Their Cut of the Week menu won't break the bank, since it's $48 for an appetizer, entree, dessert, and 2 wine pairings, and you should leave full (I did, and I consider myself to have a big appetite).
     
  10. 44inarow

    44inarow VIP Whale

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    I think the big question is what kind of food you enjoy. I'm adamantly against restaurants that are fancy for the sake of being fancy, but you should instead be trying to get the best possible food you can in a cuisine you enjoy. I might consider Julian Serrano; it's tapas and the food is generally accessible, but very well-prepared off a menu from a Michelin-starred chef. I'd also second Charlie Palmer at Four Seasons if you enjoy steak, and perhaps Portofino at Mirage for Italian.
     
  11. Bommen

    Bommen High-Roller

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    If your eating on a budget maybe go during happy hour or lunch. Milos have an excellent lunch if you like seafood. Julian Serrano bar menu is another where you can eat pretty cheap and taste a wide range of dishes. Both are excellent but there is many others depending on what type of cuisine you are looking for.
     
  12. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    Nick, you might want to read page 159 of this report.

    Starboard Value, a hedge fund that owns about 8.8% of the Olive Garden owner Darden Restaurants, just published a massive 294-slide presentation outlining ways the company can make more money.

    http://www.businessinsider.com/starboard-transforming-darden-restaurants-2014-9?op=1
     
  13. miniwhale

    miniwhale High-Roller

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    Like others have said, what type of food are you interested in? Happy hour for dinner is a great way to experience the nicer restaurants with out the not so nice prices. You may have to sit in the lounge, though, to be able to take advantage of those specials. One place I can think of is Brand. It is a dark atmosphere, and they have food and drink specials. We are not big eaters, and I like to have a little bit of different things, so we enjoy the happy hour option.
     
  14. willslotforcash

    willslotforcash MIA

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    I've been to a lot of fancy restaurants, but just because it's an expensive place, doesn't mean you'll get great service. There's a particular server my wife and I always request when we go to Red Lobster, he's exceptional. My best dining experience has been at Martorano's Italian/American Kitchen at the HardRock in Hollywood, FL. I'd assume they train their staff the same way at the Vegas location.
     
  15. monkeyshed

    monkeyshed Highest Vegas Slot Jackpot in 45 Trips = $650

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    I have been to a few fancy restaurants but usually deem them a waste of money. My wife and I are just not fancy food people. We went to Gordon Ramsey Steak and spent about $240 for the two of us. That was my highest price ever paid for a dinner for two and I didn't enjoy it. If you told me I could have the same meal (Wellington, Kobe Sliders, sides) for $50 tomorrow, I'd turn you down. Some of the fancy food pictures that people post have food that just looks disgusting to me, if not completely tiny in portions. I do like a good steak and had a great one at The Steakhouse at Circus Circus once. That one was over $100 for two of us but I felt good about it.

    What I'm trying to say is, give it a shot, but you may realize that you aren't missing anything. You never know till you try!
     
  16. C0usineddie

    C0usineddie VIP Whale

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    Guess I dont really know what type of food I am looking for. My first thought would be italian. Then steakhouse after that.

    some great suggestions here by the way, thanks.
     
  17. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    Based on that, I would suggest Sinatra at Encore. Excellent Italian food, upscale and fancy, but not so much so that you feel out of place (I have worn jeans there with a polo shirt). Is also not crazy expensive (but a tad more than Olive Garden :thumbsup:)
     
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  18. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

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    Fiamma at MGM would qualify.
     
  19. PopMegaphone

    PopMegaphone VIP Whale

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    If I remember correctly, you tend to stay DT, right? If so, I'd do Andiamo's at the D. They have Italian and steak.
     
  20. reedy

    reedy Low-Roller

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    The worst service I've gotten over the years has been at more expensive places. Food is pretty subjective. Do your research, find somewhere consistent {I feel like this is the most important thing} and somewhere that is within you price range comfort wise. For Vegas, at least, my best experience has always been at I'Atelier at the MGM.

    Just because food is more expensive doesn't mean it is necessarily better. Some of my best dining experiences have been at hole in the wall places in the biggest shithole countries.
     
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