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Message: [QUOTE="NKR1978, post: 5121804, member: 186"] Continuing up the Strip [B][U]Bellagio[/U][/B] I've never actually stayed at Bellagio, but I've always revered it. I remembered an article when it opened as the most expensive hotel in history and it just seemed so beyond me. I'm very happy I got to eat at Picasso and saw the original Picasso's that adorned the walls. I think it has the two best restaurants on the Strip in their category. Michael Mina - I got the tasting menu there years ago and really enjoyed it. It's a little out of the way in the hotel and not in the main area along the lake where most of the other restaurants are, so you kind of miss something not getting the fountain views. But, the food was great. The tasting portions were ridiculous though. It was like getting 6 entrees. Some might appreciate that though since its a good bang for your buck. Mayfair Supper Club - this was surprisingly great. It was never on my radar and friends had a reservation they invited to dinner with them. It's very loud because there's live singing and just a lot of fun. I have heard Delilah's at Wynn is better for this same scene, but that's a much harder reservation. Spago - Ate at the old Caesars location 20 years ago and at the original in Beverly Hills in 2020. I have a friend who recently ate here and loved it, but I feel like you can do better. Le Cirque - This is best restaurant I've been to in Las Vegas. I went for the first time in 2015 and then again in 2022. Honestly it got better. They have this classic famous dish from the original NYC location with fish, potato and onions and it's incredible. That dish was modernized and it had the same flavors but just felt more exciting. The dining room is really beautiful. There's something about eating a meal in a beautiful room that always gets me how lucky I am to be able to have these experiences. It is a little stuffy. Definitely dress up a bit if you go. It's also one of the more romantic restaurants I've been to. I'll skip it on this trip, but next summer I want to go back. [B]PRIME[/B] - I bolded it because it's my favorite restaurant. Not just in Las Vegas, but the world. I wouldn't say its the best steak in Vegas (that goes to Bavette's at Park), but everything about it just feels special. The dining room is beautiful, but if you can, see if the patio is available. It's often reserved and I've only sat out there once, but it hooked me in. It's not on the menu, but they will make you a horseradish sauce if you ask. Petrossian - This is more a bar than a restaurant, though they have small bites and focus on caviar. It's located at the lobby. They often have a live piano player. They have an off menu cocktail called the Bellagio cocktail that was developed by the casino's first food and beverage director in 1998. It's passion fruit based and not too sweet. I typically start with a dirty Belvedere martini and then get their old fashioned that they make with a Japanese whiskey and it's so smooth. This is among my favorite bars in the world and I've gotten to chat with and remember the bartending crew over the years. They do a great job. Since 2019 every trip I've taken to Las Vegas has ended with drinks at Petrossian and dinner at Prime of Le Cirque. And in June I finished up with a couple more cocktails at the Bank. It's a new "speakeasy" that focuses on rare and old liquors. [B][U]Caesar's[/U][/B] Nobu - I've had a drink at this location and had an incredible meal at Nobu at Caesar's Atlantic City last year. I thought Nobu was hot 20 years ago so it never really appealed to me, but it's so good. The spicy tuna crispy rice is one of my favorite dishes. My friends and I ordered 3 rounds of them. The menu is daunting but your server will point out the highlights, just listen to them. Guy Savoy - Excellent meal. Great service. The dining reminds me of an office park. It's very bright. This is very classic French fine dining. I was so tired I tapped out before dessert. Le Cirque is better and cheaper ($500-600pp vs $750). As much as I enjoyed it, I don't feel I'll need to go back again. [B][U]Cromwell[/U][/B] Back in 2004 I got kicked out by a drill instructor looking pit for saying duck at a blackjack table back when it was Barbary Coast. There were "ladies at the table." Giada - I haven't been here since 2016, but it's a lot of Italian crowd pleasers with a stunning view of the Strip. Cromwell is a 21+ hotel but I believe children are allowed in if you have a reservation at Giada. [B][U]Venetian/Palazzo[/U][/B] Yardbird - Southern cuisine with a focus on fried chicken. Their signature cocktails are on the sweet side. Very fun and can't go wrong with families. Chica - I've been here twice but almost forget it exists. It's Mexican but think it may be more broadly Latin American. It's excellent. Last time in 2022 or 21 they had this amazing lamb dish. Cut - It's one of their steakhouses. I've been to the Singapore location at Marina Bay Sands and it was very good. I have a friend who thinks it's best steak he's ever had though, so opinions vary. estiatorio Milos - Greek fine dining where they have the fish all displayed. It recently moved from Cosmo to Venetian. I'd been to Cosmo and it was good, but I've never felt the need or desire to go back. Bouchon - Classic French brasserie by Thomas Keller. I honestly need to go back because it's so good. Canaletto - It's garbage, skip it. Had this couple from Oklahoma complaining about the al dente pasta because apparently they prefer eating mushy pasta. And the server called it al "dante," like the Inferno and said that's how they insist on serving the pasta but he agrees with them. Troglodytes. Aside from that, the food isn't good, and I've been here twice. Villa Azur - Kind of like Mayfair in that they have the singers. I had a great lobster fra diavlo that I accidentally left at the blackjack table at Mandalay that I sat at until 6AM. Ironically I won enough to buy these Louis Vuitton loafers I saw in the window at Venetian walking to this restaurant. Win win. [B][U]Resorts World[/U][/B] Brezza - The waiter asked how I wanted my porkchop prepared. I'd never been asked that before or since. Ray Garcia - I wanted to really like this. It was fine. Resorts World and its developers just missed the mark completely. They have this bar that should be a destination. Alle 66: 66th floor with these sweeping views and they have video poker. The really upscale hotels don't put VP machines in their signature fancy bars. [B][U]Wynn[/U][/B] I'm a little unique in that I don't love Wynn. I've stayed at Encore once and Wynn once. Beautiful property, but their food program is lacking. I am in the minority because a couple of these restaurants that I find meh are amongst the most popular in Vegas and get glowing reviews. Wing Lei - Upscale Chinese that won a Michelin Star when Michelin was still reviewing Vegas. It was fine. I have better authentic Chinese food that I order from regularly with bolder flavor and more interesting dishes. But again, people love it. Sinatra - the dining room is beautiful and the service is great. Again, at one point it was the highest rated restaurant on TripAdvisor. I thought everything I ate was bland. SW Steakhouse - I actually like SW. They have this amazing peanut butter old fashioned. The steaks are great. The view of the Lake of Dreams is cool. I'd absolutely go back and would strongly recommend it. [B][U]Fontainebleau[/U][/B] The newest resort in Las Vegas. It's beautiful inside but felt dead. My visit was in March and with pool season and Liv getting going they might be doing better. I've heard good things about there restaurants and hope to check out more. Mother Wolf - Roman food. The hotel was empty but this place was packed and really good. I just had linguini with clams but it was the best of that I've ever had. [B][U]Circa[/U][/B] Downtown's luxury casino. Also 21+ but they'll let children in if you have a dinner reservation. Barry's Downtown Prime - the steak was a little tough, but otherwise everything was great and I absolutely would go back. It's a classic steakhouse with everything that entails and despite the slightly tough steak, I really enjoyed it. One of my favorite things about Las Vegas is that everyone who goes regularly and loves it seems to have their own traditions and places that are theirs. For me it's a very happy place. Casinos in general are a happy place filled with childhood memories (my parents were big gamblers in the 80s) and I've always loved the lights and sounds. I've come to love Nevada because it's what Texas and Florida claim to be, except Nevada, and Vegas specifically, is the kind of place where you can have a drag show at a gun range and no one will bat an eye, because it really is a live and let live city. I think that's pretty awesome and that respect for others to let them live their lives with little judgment is why I go back as much as I do. [/QUOTE]

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