Wynn vs Encore

They're putting a Ferrari dealership space? That sounds a little over the top.

 

They are taking it out... putting the poker room there.

 

The dealership was there from the opening and the poker room was also always there on your right as you headed down the hall to the dealership. They're remodeling now to make that whole area shopping and the poker room was moved over to where the society café was at in Encore.

 

RIP Society Cafe. I really liked Society. We tried Jardin and didn't care for it much. Fortunately we still have Terrace Pointe and Tableau. Sadly, neither are open for dinner.

I think I'm getting more cranky in my old age-I seem to usually prefer things "the way they used to be."

 

JJ - I really liked Society Café too and I also loved the Caribe Café at the Mirage (and all the other tropical decor MGM ripped out). Seems like the norm for Vegas is to spend money and make changes so things always feel new and different. I get that but sometimes like the Caribe, they struggle for years to get something in that space that's worth a ****. We haven't been to Jardin yet but will in a few weeks so I'm hoping we like it.

 

I'm staying at Encore this time, looking forward to my stay there.

 

I had a good breakfast at Jardin this past spring. Though I don't care for how they pack you in (suppose that's to be expected from a high-volume place).

That said, I'll definitely miss Society.

 

To be fair to Jardin, we were there right after it opened and they were having a few minor startup pains. Nothing wrong with it, just faint praise. Completely different vibe than Society. The holdover, beautiful, tiled floor makes it noisy. The dining options otherwise at Wynn/Encore (occasionally at V/P or Fashion Show) are so very good otherwise we've not been motivated to go back.

Our fine dining plans for our upcoming trip are SW and Sinatra visits. Otherwise we'll do our usual rotations of Wazuzu, Tableau (breakfast pastry basket is a vacation treat), Terrace Pointe, the Buffet, Allegro and Zoozacrackers, sometimes the Country Club and La Cave. We think Wynn/Encore has the best on premises dining options, both fine dining and casual, of any resort in Las Vegas. It's just that we don't like the changes to dining or the casino on the Encore side (except that covering the club lines from the Wynn/Encore connecting hallway was typical Wynn classy).

Obviously, we prefer the Wynn side vibe, the Salon Suite decor and the overall convenience of trotting down to Tableau for breakfast and having the pool right by the elevator, but we always recommend to our friends that they try the Encore side. The Encore rooms and spa are completely terrific, but maybe the casino and dining changes, not so much.

As an aside, I always liked the red chandeliers-a LOT of red-but my beautiful and talented spouse did not. I should hit the casino on the Encore side more often-I seem to have good luck there.

Whatever Wynn/Encore choices a VMB member makes, they'll probably be getting more luxury and better food and service than anywhere else in Las Vegas (albeit at a price). When we compare the cost of Wynn to any top hotel or resort in any major city or resort destination, Wynn is always a bargain.

 

How is Wazuzu compared to other Japanese resturants where you're from? I've been curious about it but looking at the menu + the prices it just looks "overpriced" to me.

I'm from the Bay Area and the most I've ever paid was $120 for a Mitchelin 9course omakase meal, or $25 for a plate of super fresh sashami, or $15 for 2 pieces of fatty toro (all different places but literally driving distance from where I live). Note: I'm not saying I'm a sushi aficionado, but when I think Vegas I think of steak houses, brunch, and American/European dining. Granted to each their own and that a lot of VMBs like, not just Japanese, but all types of Asian dining in Vegas and on the strip.

PS: If you're in the Bay Area and want to try the Mitchelin resturant it's called "Wakuyria" in San Mateo (20minute south of San Francisco). https://www.yelp.com/biz/wakuriya-san-mateo. You would need to create a reservation a month in advance.

 

We live in North Texas, so there are no Japanese restaurants of note near enough to us to compare. My mother lived in the Bay Area until a decade ago-I think Wazuzu compares favorably with any restaurants there then-can't remember prices. We stuck mostly to the city or North Bay during those days, never South or Oakland side. We think Wazuzu is excellent and we eat there every trip-they have excellent sushi but we don't go there to eat sushi. Wazuzu is priced as a good restaurant in a luxury resort in a major city. Compared to someplace downtown or at a small locals' place off-Strip, definitely higher. Pricing is always relative-I always ask , "compared to what?" A friend of mine often observes 'how expensive" Wynn is. I always invite him to compare the rates of the best hotels in any major U.S. (Or worse, foreign) city, or luxury resort destination like Hawaii. He gets very quiet very quickly-Wynn is always less. Where we live we'd spend more if we went out to dinner at a restaurant inside the Ritz Carlton or Four Seasons. Generally the best resort in town is the most expensive. I always tell him if he wants to eat at Harrah's he should go there. Fortunately, you can eat pretty well at almost any price level you want in Las Vegas, so there's always a choice for everyone.

We love Wazuzu. One of the Encore side venues they haven't messed with-a really consistent treat for us. (same for Sinatra)

 

Nice! Thank you for the review. I'll give it a go when I stay at Encore maybe... if I'm up . I already have a steak dinner in mind for "fancy dining" but I've heard good things about Wazuzu. Like you said, it's always about the pricing "compare to what" because Wynn in itself could be considered "overpriced" to many but compared to other resorts - you're pretty much paying similar price to quality.