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Break the Chain: Las Vegas Eats

Discussion in 'Restaurants & Buffets' started by ken2v, Apr 18, 2017.

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  1. VegasSchemer

    VegasSchemer VIP Whale

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    Pizza Rock is a chain? Damn it.
     
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  2. justmare

    justmare High-Roller

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    Bacio at Tropicana. Yep. Beats the crap out of Rao's at Caesars Palace and Spiedini at Rampart.

    I also had an awesome short rib dinner at Biscayne at Tropicana a couple months ago.

    The Henry at Cosmopolitan. Pretty darned good for a cafe -- also a bit pricey for a cafe.

    Hugo's at Four Queens for that wonderful table side salad bar and table side prepared Bananas Foster. Entrees leave a bit to be desired, in my opinion, but they're good enough.
     
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  3. iamsomedude

    iamsomedude High-Roller

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    I come to Vegas for the extravagance of the dining scene, not necessarily for a type of food that I normally wouldn't find at home. All this good stuff is compressed into a few miles, and I love it.

    I can eat teppanyaki back at home, but I wouldn't have the great view of the waterfalls like I do at Mizumi (or teppanyaki as tasty). Nor could I eat an excellent steak with a view of dancing fountains or a giant singing frog on top of a large man-made waterfall.
     
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  4. DRich2

    DRich2 Tourist

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    Nora's
     
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  5. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    I'm most impressed by individually operated local places, both old and new.

    I avoid chain places when in Las Vegas unless people such as clients and cow-orkers insist on it.

    I don't really think of Blueberry Hill as a chain. Yeah, I know there are at least three of them, but they do not reek of formulaic idiocy as do the usual suspect chain breakfast places.

    Now I do admit to enjoying a couple of hours recently at the Denny's downtown, but that was at the bar. :) They were reasonably priced and much quieter than the Long Bar. :)

    A recent "find" is Off The Strip at the Linq.

    I know they have rabid fans, but I have not been impressed with HHAGG! I'm sorry, but oversized portions and overseasoning just don't do it!

    I've also never been impressed with the higher-end absentee celebrity chef places, in Las Vegas or elsewhere. For things like steak and such I prefer the under-the-radar local places like Bob Taylor and Golden Steer.

    There are soooooo many great independent Italian places in Las Vegas! Bootlegger, Trevi, Chicago Joe come to mind immediately and I know I'm missing a few. (LOL, Battista's) :) :) :)

    Buffets are a Las Vegas staple, but it seems they are consistently inconsistent and can vary from trip to trip from day to day and by the phase of the moon. I've seen places like Palace Station and Gold Coast vary from great to sub-Alpo at times. Most recent one I was impressed with is Golden Nugget. Rio slipped badly the last time we were there! Flamingo buffet was great last summer, but only "OK" (without the Charles Atlas Seal Of Approval) this last trip. They still have the champagne, one redeeming factor. Westgate has been great (a year ago) and so-so on the last trip. Sams Town buffet is, well, there, and used to be great for the price but over the holidays it was nothing to rave about.

    Oh well, so it goes. (And so do I ...) :)
     
  6. Nevyn

    Nevyn VIP Whale

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    According to his website, there are 3 of them, and he has about 10 other pizza restaurants under other names.
     
  7. Royal Flusher

    Royal Flusher Savvy Gambler

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    Peppermill is really special IMHO. Same location, same decor since the 70s.

    I would imaging Golden Steer qualifies, but I've never been.
     
  8. alanleroy

    alanleroy Click my avatar

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    Little known fact. Peppermill was actually a chain with 10+ restaurants in California and Nevada. There was one here in Fresno for many years. It closed maybe 10 years ago. It was virtually identical to the one in Vegas with lighted fake trees, the fireside lounge (a pickup place in the Disco 70's), big menus and huge portions. I remember when they were building the Peppermill Hotel and Casino in Reno there was a big mock up in a display in the entrance of the Fresno Restaurant. Sadly I don't think there are any left in California.
     
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  9. Royal Flusher

    Royal Flusher Savvy Gambler

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    You're killin' me. :(
     
  10. Royal Flusher

    Royal Flusher Savvy Gambler

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    Next you'll be telling my my favorite Scottish food place isn't unique.
     
  11. Nevyn

    Nevyn VIP Whale

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    Sorry, dude, you can get the McHaggis anywhere.
     
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  12. calcuttaman

    calcuttaman Low-Roller

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    I'm in total agreement. I plan on trying Bob Taylor's when I'm there next month.
    Have been twice to the Golden Steer and loved it.

    I ate at Guy Fieri's last year and had the Bacon - Macaroni & Cheese Burger. Very good
    but the fries were sub-par. Heart Attack Grill has great fries.
     
  13. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    I consider the whole premise of the Heart Attack Grill to be incredibly tacky and in very poor taste.

    I mean, would you name a bar which allowed smoking The Cancer Ward? :(

    Yeah I know, b*tch b*tch b*tch! :)
     
  14. hammie

    hammie VIP Whale

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    For those of us on East Coast time, about two years ago around 10:30 am there was no line on a Sunday morning. I arrived the night before so it was lunchtime for me. But like the knucklehead, I was breakfast buffet bound.... I could kick myself.

    Thanks Westie for a thoughtful reply.

    As for celebrity chef chains, Guy Fieri seems to be going deep into CET casinos. Harrah's Philadelphia just rebadged a pub with Guy's name, increased the prices and laced the menu with his nomenclature. But I visited Wolfgang Pucks place at Borgata last year and had the best plate of gnocchi's outside of a little joint in South Philly. But whenever possible, I try to avoid chains, so this is a great thread.
     
  15. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    And there is a fundamental distance between what Puck and his clones do and Fieri and his replicants.
     
  16. Blacklegs22

    Blacklegs22 Low-Roller

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    Is Ping,Pang, Pong a chain? Love their stuff. A really good reason to visit the Gold Coast.
     
  17. The Ost

    The Ost Low-Roller

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    Really good idea for a thread.
     
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  18. GrPa

    GrPa Low-Roller

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    Enjoyed Andre's at MC immensely before it closed.

    Andre's Bistro & Bar is on our to-do list.
     
  19. 93 Octane

    93 Octane Chief Bottle Washer

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    Noodles Express at the Gold Coast is a nice noodle/hotpot place with reasonable pricing... I've had noodle bowls,, pho, shrimp/lobster hotpots and found them all to be very good. Not sure if they are a chain tho
     
  20. westie

    westie VIP Whale

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    No, but it does have the same same owners as Ping Pang Pong that is also located in the Gold Coast.
     
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2017
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