August 28, 2007
There's no place like home
We took a week long trip to visit friends and family in Chicago. We attended a wedding, baptism and White Sox game. We ate all our old favorites: White Castles, Nicky's Gyros and Hot Dogs, Calzone's, Ricobene's, Beggars and Giordano's Pizza, Golden Palace Chinese, Italian beef sandwich, nachos, brats, and polish sausage. Even all the good eats couldn't keep us from missing Las Vegas. We had a good time, but it was apparent that Chicago is no longer home, Vegas is.
Review: Grotto
Two weeks ago we thought we’d try Binion’s Steakhouse for dinner, we had reservations for 8pm.
The restaurant was packed to the gills. There was a line four parties deep to check in with the maître d, but no one was arming the desk. There was party that was waiting to be seated that were completely blitzed, they were falling all over other patrons and were incredibly obnoxious. When they were seated the rest of the diners waiting let out a sigh of relief in unison. Then all kinds of comments were muttered... I hope we won't be seated near them...
Finally, the maître d returned and checked in a few people. Things were less chaotic once the three ring circus was seated. 15 minutes had passed by the time we gave him our name and then we were informed there'd be a wait, and we'd be called when a table was ready. Okay? I thought the point of a reservation was to avoid this... we waited a minute and then decided if the experience had been this much of a fiasco already, we couldn't imagine how the actual meal would go. We told the maître d to remove us from the list. We left and headed over Golden Nugget to try our luck at Vic & Anthony's.
Vic & Anthony’s was far more professional and organized. Unfortunately, it would be a 30 minute wait for a table. We were starved and decided we’d try Golden Nugget’s Italian Restaurant, Grotto, instead.
They were able to sit us right away at a table with a view of the pool. Service was slow to start and unfortunately continued throughout the entire meal. Bread was served with olive oil and spices, it was delicious. Frank enjoyed an Italian house salad for an appetizer, while I snacked on the fresh bread. He ordered the veal parmesan which happened to be the largest portion of veal he’s been served. I chose the bucatini amatriciana. I was pleasantly surprised, it was likely the best pasta I’ve had in restaurant. We shared tiramisu for dessert, there was plenty to share and it was a delightful end to a good meal. Had service been better, it certainly would’ve been a great experience. Total for dinner was $64 before tip.
The restaurant was packed to the gills. There was a line four parties deep to check in with the maître d, but no one was arming the desk. There was party that was waiting to be seated that were completely blitzed, they were falling all over other patrons and were incredibly obnoxious. When they were seated the rest of the diners waiting let out a sigh of relief in unison. Then all kinds of comments were muttered... I hope we won't be seated near them...
Finally, the maître d returned and checked in a few people. Things were less chaotic once the three ring circus was seated. 15 minutes had passed by the time we gave him our name and then we were informed there'd be a wait, and we'd be called when a table was ready. Okay? I thought the point of a reservation was to avoid this... we waited a minute and then decided if the experience had been this much of a fiasco already, we couldn't imagine how the actual meal would go. We told the maître d to remove us from the list. We left and headed over Golden Nugget to try our luck at Vic & Anthony's.
Vic & Anthony’s was far more professional and organized. Unfortunately, it would be a 30 minute wait for a table. We were starved and decided we’d try Golden Nugget’s Italian Restaurant, Grotto, instead.
They were able to sit us right away at a table with a view of the pool. Service was slow to start and unfortunately continued throughout the entire meal. Bread was served with olive oil and spices, it was delicious. Frank enjoyed an Italian house salad for an appetizer, while I snacked on the fresh bread. He ordered the veal parmesan which happened to be the largest portion of veal he’s been served. I chose the bucatini amatriciana. I was pleasantly surprised, it was likely the best pasta I’ve had in restaurant. We shared tiramisu for dessert, there was plenty to share and it was a delightful end to a good meal. Had service been better, it certainly would’ve been a great experience. Total for dinner was $64 before tip.
August 8, 2007
Sweet Escape at the Signature
Our stay at the Signature had been a long time coming, but in the end it was well worth the wait. After a few failed attempts, we made last minute reservation under the Summer Splash promo and booked a junior suite for $169.
Sunday afternoon, we decided we’d try to check in early, we arrived at the entrance on Harmon Ave., where we were politely greeted by security at the gate. He verified our information, returned with a parking pass and directed us to Tower 2. Valet was efficient, as was the bellman who promptly assisted us with our bags. The level of service we received immediately impressed us and we hadn’t even formally registered as guests. Check-in was a breeze, our request for a junior suite with a balcony on a high floor overlooking the strip was honored, we were given keys to room 35-705.
When we arrived at our room, housekeeping was still tidying up. So, we called to the desk to see if we could get another room assigned. A quick second later, we were headed up two floors to 37-705. We met the bellman in the elevator and he followed right behind us. He was courteous, as well. We were pleased by the accommodations and view.
As you enter, the bathroom was to the left
Then there’s a dry bar in the entry and large closet to the right. Across from the closet is a heavenly bed covered in plush linens, the alarm clock beside the bed has an iPod docking station.
Opposite is the kitchen/entertainment area. TV swivels and it’s equipped with a DVD player. Kitchenette has everything you’d need except a dishwasher and oven.
Next is the living (with sleeper sofa) and dining areas, followed by the sliding glass door that leads to the balcony.
That offers these views
After we got situated we set off to find food since we were starved. Lunch offerings at MGM didn’t appeal to us so we headed to Mandalay Bay via Trop to Excalibur to catch the tram. We thought we'd give Burger Bar another try and see about making reservations at Stripsteak for dinner. After an easy jaunt we were told it would be a forty minute wait when we arrived at Burger Bar. No thanks. We opted to dine at Giorgio, next door, instead.
I had the Italian sandwich, Frank chose chicken parmigiana sandwich and we each had a side Caesar salad instead of fries. Service was a bit bizarre as our food arrived before our drinks, but the meal itself was fine. Bill before tip was $36.
Afterwards, we decided to play some ponies at the race book. We won two exacta bets, but neither paid enough to offset other bets made. Next, we toured the casino floor and made our way to restaurant row. No one was manning the host podium at Stripsteak, so Frank used the phone there to make a reservation. The operator transferred him to the desk where we were standing, so Frank answered his own call. We got a good laugh, but no ressie. We figured we'd call later if we decided we wanted to return for dinner.
We were ready to relax so we made our way back to the Signature. Along the way we glanced over Seablue’s menu and decided on dinner there, so we made a reservation for 8:30 on the spot. We returned to the room and drew a bath. After a delightful soak, we lounged around in bed and flipped through the channels on TV.
Frank wanted to play poker so he called the room and added his name to the list. We also called housekeeping to request turndown service. About twenty minutes later, we headed down to MGM’s casino. I wandered the casino floor playing misc. slots and had no luck. Meanwhile Frank couldn’t catch any good cards playing poker. So, he moved on to blackjack. I met up with him there, since I considered playing, as well. But the Asian dealer of death cleaned him out in no time, so I didn’t want to lend myself to the same beating.
We sauntered through the casino eventually making our way to Seablue. The restaurant was far less crowded than we expected, midway thru our meal we had our entire section to ourselves, which we appreciated. After reviewing the menu we settled on chilled prawns to start, and Frank also selected a Caesar salad. The prawns were so fresh and delicious we ordered more. Frank enjoyed his salad, as well. Flatbread with a trio of tapenades was also served. We were careful not to spoil our appetite before our entrees arrived. I selected the kurabota pork chop and Frank went with the bone-in NY strip steak. Both were prepared to perfection and served alongside a medley of veggies. The meal was outstanding, Frank insisted that he would order more prawns, if nothing on the dessert menu grabbed him. However, tiramisu was an option too hard to resist. It, too, was excellent. Our total before tip was $170. Superb food and service escalates Seablue to one of our top three restaurant experiences in Las Vegas.
After dinner we stopped at the arcade. We played a game of air hockey. Frank won as usual. Then we moved on to racing video games which I'm much better at. Frank beat me in the first race, but I took him in the rematch. Always fun to bring out the inner-child every now and then.
We were entitled to two drinks at the Signature lobby, so we planned to stop on our way back to the room. However, we got wrapped up in our conversation and forgot about the detour. Upon our arrival to the room, we saw that we had not received turn down service as requested. Frank placed a call to housekeeping, they offered their apologies and said they’d be right up. We took the opportunity to have drinks at the lounge. Frank ordered a double shot of Patron Silver, wanting to use up our full credit I ordered the same. Little did we know, our bar tab came to $48. Craziness. There was a blitzed group at the bar that were quite obnoxious so we hurriedly finished our drinks and returned to the room. Housekeeping was still there, so we waited on the balcony while they finished up.
After they left we got comfortable and lounged on the balcony enjoying the beautiful evening.
Later, we retired to bed and slept like babies. I awoke refreshed and decided to soak in the tub one last time. After showering, I brewed a pot of coffee for Frank and prepared a cup of hot tea for myself. Frank showered, while I read a magazine on the balcony. He ordered breakfast from the in-suite dining menu. Banana nut French toast for me and an swiss, cheddar, provolone omelet for him. About thirty minutes later, the door bell rang, our breakfast had arrived it looked and smelled fabulous. Too bad my picture doesn’t do it justice. We dug in, the meal was well-prepared and everything was excellent. Breakfast was just shy of $40 before tip, worth every penny, too.
Sadly our time at the Signature was winding down. It was time to pack and check-out. Frank called the belldesk and had valet bring the car around. Wonderful not having to wait. We settled up our bill at the front desk and we were on our way. Back to the real world…
The only problems we encountered were with housekeeping, every other aspect of our stay exceeded our expectations. We will gladly return to the Signature in the future
Sunday afternoon, we decided we’d try to check in early, we arrived at the entrance on Harmon Ave., where we were politely greeted by security at the gate. He verified our information, returned with a parking pass and directed us to Tower 2. Valet was efficient, as was the bellman who promptly assisted us with our bags. The level of service we received immediately impressed us and we hadn’t even formally registered as guests. Check-in was a breeze, our request for a junior suite with a balcony on a high floor overlooking the strip was honored, we were given keys to room 35-705.
When we arrived at our room, housekeeping was still tidying up. So, we called to the desk to see if we could get another room assigned. A quick second later, we were headed up two floors to 37-705. We met the bellman in the elevator and he followed right behind us. He was courteous, as well. We were pleased by the accommodations and view.
As you enter, the bathroom was to the left
Then there’s a dry bar in the entry and large closet to the right. Across from the closet is a heavenly bed covered in plush linens, the alarm clock beside the bed has an iPod docking station.
Opposite is the kitchen/entertainment area. TV swivels and it’s equipped with a DVD player. Kitchenette has everything you’d need except a dishwasher and oven.
Next is the living (with sleeper sofa) and dining areas, followed by the sliding glass door that leads to the balcony.
That offers these views
After we got situated we set off to find food since we were starved. Lunch offerings at MGM didn’t appeal to us so we headed to Mandalay Bay via Trop to Excalibur to catch the tram. We thought we'd give Burger Bar another try and see about making reservations at Stripsteak for dinner. After an easy jaunt we were told it would be a forty minute wait when we arrived at Burger Bar. No thanks. We opted to dine at Giorgio, next door, instead.
I had the Italian sandwich, Frank chose chicken parmigiana sandwich and we each had a side Caesar salad instead of fries. Service was a bit bizarre as our food arrived before our drinks, but the meal itself was fine. Bill before tip was $36.
Afterwards, we decided to play some ponies at the race book. We won two exacta bets, but neither paid enough to offset other bets made. Next, we toured the casino floor and made our way to restaurant row. No one was manning the host podium at Stripsteak, so Frank used the phone there to make a reservation. The operator transferred him to the desk where we were standing, so Frank answered his own call. We got a good laugh, but no ressie. We figured we'd call later if we decided we wanted to return for dinner.
We were ready to relax so we made our way back to the Signature. Along the way we glanced over Seablue’s menu and decided on dinner there, so we made a reservation for 8:30 on the spot. We returned to the room and drew a bath. After a delightful soak, we lounged around in bed and flipped through the channels on TV.
Frank wanted to play poker so he called the room and added his name to the list. We also called housekeeping to request turndown service. About twenty minutes later, we headed down to MGM’s casino. I wandered the casino floor playing misc. slots and had no luck. Meanwhile Frank couldn’t catch any good cards playing poker. So, he moved on to blackjack. I met up with him there, since I considered playing, as well. But the Asian dealer of death cleaned him out in no time, so I didn’t want to lend myself to the same beating.
We sauntered through the casino eventually making our way to Seablue. The restaurant was far less crowded than we expected, midway thru our meal we had our entire section to ourselves, which we appreciated. After reviewing the menu we settled on chilled prawns to start, and Frank also selected a Caesar salad. The prawns were so fresh and delicious we ordered more. Frank enjoyed his salad, as well. Flatbread with a trio of tapenades was also served. We were careful not to spoil our appetite before our entrees arrived. I selected the kurabota pork chop and Frank went with the bone-in NY strip steak. Both were prepared to perfection and served alongside a medley of veggies. The meal was outstanding, Frank insisted that he would order more prawns, if nothing on the dessert menu grabbed him. However, tiramisu was an option too hard to resist. It, too, was excellent. Our total before tip was $170. Superb food and service escalates Seablue to one of our top three restaurant experiences in Las Vegas.
After dinner we stopped at the arcade. We played a game of air hockey. Frank won as usual. Then we moved on to racing video games which I'm much better at. Frank beat me in the first race, but I took him in the rematch. Always fun to bring out the inner-child every now and then.
We were entitled to two drinks at the Signature lobby, so we planned to stop on our way back to the room. However, we got wrapped up in our conversation and forgot about the detour. Upon our arrival to the room, we saw that we had not received turn down service as requested. Frank placed a call to housekeeping, they offered their apologies and said they’d be right up. We took the opportunity to have drinks at the lounge. Frank ordered a double shot of Patron Silver, wanting to use up our full credit I ordered the same. Little did we know, our bar tab came to $48. Craziness. There was a blitzed group at the bar that were quite obnoxious so we hurriedly finished our drinks and returned to the room. Housekeeping was still there, so we waited on the balcony while they finished up.
After they left we got comfortable and lounged on the balcony enjoying the beautiful evening.
Later, we retired to bed and slept like babies. I awoke refreshed and decided to soak in the tub one last time. After showering, I brewed a pot of coffee for Frank and prepared a cup of hot tea for myself. Frank showered, while I read a magazine on the balcony. He ordered breakfast from the in-suite dining menu. Banana nut French toast for me and an swiss, cheddar, provolone omelet for him. About thirty minutes later, the door bell rang, our breakfast had arrived it looked and smelled fabulous. Too bad my picture doesn’t do it justice. We dug in, the meal was well-prepared and everything was excellent. Breakfast was just shy of $40 before tip, worth every penny, too.
Sadly our time at the Signature was winding down. It was time to pack and check-out. Frank called the belldesk and had valet bring the car around. Wonderful not having to wait. We settled up our bill at the front desk and we were on our way. Back to the real world…
The only problems we encountered were with housekeeping, every other aspect of our stay exceeded our expectations. We will gladly return to the Signature in the future
Review: Canter's Deli
Last week, I met Frank for lunch at Canter's Deli inside Treasure Island. Frank ordered for me, so our sandwiches we served by the time I arrived. I had turkey & swiss on wheat. Frank had corned beef Rueben. The meats were very good, juicy and tender. The corned beef was really lean, too. Frank still likes the Rueben better at Carnegie Deli, but Canter's is a good alternative.
Megabeat hit!
Yesterday morning at 9:49am the Megabeat Jackpot hit at Bally's for a record high payout of $186,336. The winning hand received $37,267 and the losing hand received $55,900. Active players in participating Poker Rooms were awarded $4,658. Nice, huh?
August 7, 2007
A taste of the highrise lifestyle
Shortly after three o'clock, on July 27, we arrived at Platinum's valet. The bellman unloaded the car while we checked in. Got everything squared away and we were told that the property is smoke-free, if we were to smoke in the room we'd be charged a $250 cleaning fee. We were issued keys to suite 1514, we met up with the bellman and made our way to our room.
We were in love at first sight. In short, the Platinum surpassed our expectations at every level from accomodations to staff. After we tipped the bellman we ran around the room checking out all the bells and whistles. We've stayed in a ton of hotels over the years and our Platinum experience takes top rank. I even enjoyed it more than the Salon Suite at Wynn and the Cariocas Suite at the Rio.
Kitchen with full-size appliances
Living area w/sleeper sofa
Balcony
Views
Bathroom
Bedroom
We had dinner reservations at Lawry's for 5:30, but we were starved so we head over a bit early. Luckily they were able to sit us right away. Dinner was great as always. I really wanted a hot fudge sundae, but decided against it because I failed to save room. Frank ordered it anyway, we shared about half of it. We were too stuffed to finish, but it was mighty tasty. CC Brown's Hot Fudge is possibly the best I've ever tasted.
During dinner, Frank's friends from Phoenix, Matt and Shane, called saying that they were at the Platinum. There was some sort of miscommunication, Frank didn't think they were coming until Saturday. We reserved Friday for us, but I didn't mind and Frank didn't want to put them out. So, we told them we'd meet them when we finished dinner. But we first made a stop at Gold Coast to stock up on beer and Patron. When we got back to the hotel they were there waiting for us. This was the first time they've met face to face. They've been playing Counterstrike together for a couple years now and Shane has known Frank even longer, because they used to play another game together 6 or 7 years ago. Anyhow, they brought along all their pc gear and got set up in the room. While I enjoyed the views from the balcony. A storm rolled and I was psyched. Not often do I catch lightning show, especially with an unobstructed view.
Eventually the guys came out and joined me on the balcony. We shot the shit, did a couple shots, and then decided we wanted to pack up some beers and head to the pool to take advantage of the strip views. No dice, pool was closed. They closed it early because of the high winds and lightning. Oh well, back to the room. More drinking and bullshitting transpired. Another round of shots caused Matt to derail; he ended up falling asleep while hugging the toilet. Frank and Shane moved him to the sofa and I gave him a water and the garbage.
Shortly after, I decided to switch to water to keep from derailment myself. I chilled for a bit, then decided I would take a bath. Shane and Frank went to Ellis Island to grab a bite and do some gambling. After a heavenly soak, I hopped into bed.
I wanted to get up to catch the sunrise, but I slept through it. Had a lazy morning watching TV, enjoyed the view from the bedroom since it was quite toasty on the patio. Later, we headed to the condo and grabbed some Jersey Mike's for lunch. Matt and Shane met up with us at our place. Frank went back to the Platinum with the them for their guys night.
While I waited for Amy and Nicky to arrive. We hit Old Navy, Babies R Us, DSW, and Kohl's. And then had dinner at Carrabba's. Never tried it before, but we thought it was good. I had Chicken stuffed with fontina and prosciutto in a lemon butter sauce and Amy had chicken marinated in olive oil and herbs. We went back to my place, talked for a couple hours and then Nicky was beat so they headed home. It was nice to have a girls night.
Meanwhile, the guys went to American Shooters gun range. Afterwards, another guy from the server came into town from CA. They met for ribs at Ellis Island for dinner, gambled a bit, played Counterstrike and hit the strip club. They ordered room service $70 for 4 hamburgers, ouch. Later, went to bed when the sun came up.
I returned to the Platinum around 9am. Made coffee for the guys and lounged in bed with Frank. Then read the paper and enjoyed the view while they packed their stuff up. We arranged for late check out so we could leave leisurely. They headed off to lunch and then back to the gun range and onto Sahara to play poker. Meanwhile, I headed home.
There is no doubt I'd like to stay at the Platinum again. Rates were $189/night for Friday and Saturday. Can't beat that, it's really the way to go on the weekend. A regular room on the strip on the weekend can easily run that much or more.
We were in love at first sight. In short, the Platinum surpassed our expectations at every level from accomodations to staff. After we tipped the bellman we ran around the room checking out all the bells and whistles. We've stayed in a ton of hotels over the years and our Platinum experience takes top rank. I even enjoyed it more than the Salon Suite at Wynn and the Cariocas Suite at the Rio.
Kitchen with full-size appliances
Living area w/sleeper sofa
Balcony
Views
Bathroom
Bedroom
We had dinner reservations at Lawry's for 5:30, but we were starved so we head over a bit early. Luckily they were able to sit us right away. Dinner was great as always. I really wanted a hot fudge sundae, but decided against it because I failed to save room. Frank ordered it anyway, we shared about half of it. We were too stuffed to finish, but it was mighty tasty. CC Brown's Hot Fudge is possibly the best I've ever tasted.
During dinner, Frank's friends from Phoenix, Matt and Shane, called saying that they were at the Platinum. There was some sort of miscommunication, Frank didn't think they were coming until Saturday. We reserved Friday for us, but I didn't mind and Frank didn't want to put them out. So, we told them we'd meet them when we finished dinner. But we first made a stop at Gold Coast to stock up on beer and Patron. When we got back to the hotel they were there waiting for us. This was the first time they've met face to face. They've been playing Counterstrike together for a couple years now and Shane has known Frank even longer, because they used to play another game together 6 or 7 years ago. Anyhow, they brought along all their pc gear and got set up in the room. While I enjoyed the views from the balcony. A storm rolled and I was psyched. Not often do I catch lightning show, especially with an unobstructed view.
Eventually the guys came out and joined me on the balcony. We shot the shit, did a couple shots, and then decided we wanted to pack up some beers and head to the pool to take advantage of the strip views. No dice, pool was closed. They closed it early because of the high winds and lightning. Oh well, back to the room. More drinking and bullshitting transpired. Another round of shots caused Matt to derail; he ended up falling asleep while hugging the toilet. Frank and Shane moved him to the sofa and I gave him a water and the garbage.
Shortly after, I decided to switch to water to keep from derailment myself. I chilled for a bit, then decided I would take a bath. Shane and Frank went to Ellis Island to grab a bite and do some gambling. After a heavenly soak, I hopped into bed.
I wanted to get up to catch the sunrise, but I slept through it. Had a lazy morning watching TV, enjoyed the view from the bedroom since it was quite toasty on the patio. Later, we headed to the condo and grabbed some Jersey Mike's for lunch. Matt and Shane met up with us at our place. Frank went back to the Platinum with the them for their guys night.
While I waited for Amy and Nicky to arrive. We hit Old Navy, Babies R Us, DSW, and Kohl's. And then had dinner at Carrabba's. Never tried it before, but we thought it was good. I had Chicken stuffed with fontina and prosciutto in a lemon butter sauce and Amy had chicken marinated in olive oil and herbs. We went back to my place, talked for a couple hours and then Nicky was beat so they headed home. It was nice to have a girls night.
Meanwhile, the guys went to American Shooters gun range. Afterwards, another guy from the server came into town from CA. They met for ribs at Ellis Island for dinner, gambled a bit, played Counterstrike and hit the strip club. They ordered room service $70 for 4 hamburgers, ouch. Later, went to bed when the sun came up.
I returned to the Platinum around 9am. Made coffee for the guys and lounged in bed with Frank. Then read the paper and enjoyed the view while they packed their stuff up. We arranged for late check out so we could leave leisurely. They headed off to lunch and then back to the gun range and onto Sahara to play poker. Meanwhile, I headed home.
There is no doubt I'd like to stay at the Platinum again. Rates were $189/night for Friday and Saturday. Can't beat that, it's really the way to go on the weekend. A regular room on the strip on the weekend can easily run that much or more.
Walking away winners at TI
Two weeks ago, Frank decided to play in the poker tourney at Treasure Island. He made it to the final table so I met him over there when I got off work. When I arrived the game ended and he was collecting his winnings for placing 4th.
He decided to stop and check our comp balance at the player's club. To our surprise we had enough to earn two comps at the buffet ($43 value). Score, that makes for an easy decision on dinner. We walked around the casino to build up our hunger. I checked out menus at all the restaurants. I definitely want to check out Canter's Deli and Isla in the near future. We killed some time in the race book betting on horses. Frank kept picking the winner to place. He was so close on every race. Lost $20, there. Then, we headed to the buffet. Great as always, doesn't have a huge selection, but we enjoy the cheese, italian sandwiches, made to order salads and pastas. Plus, the desserts are always a highlight.
He decided to stop and check our comp balance at the player's club. To our surprise we had enough to earn two comps at the buffet ($43 value). Score, that makes for an easy decision on dinner. We walked around the casino to build up our hunger. I checked out menus at all the restaurants. I definitely want to check out Canter's Deli and Isla in the near future. We killed some time in the race book betting on horses. Frank kept picking the winner to place. He was so close on every race. Lost $20, there. Then, we headed to the buffet. Great as always, doesn't have a huge selection, but we enjoy the cheese, italian sandwiches, made to order salads and pastas. Plus, the desserts are always a highlight.
July 31, 2007
Four Seasons to the Frontier
As worn and dreary as the Frontier was, it'll always hold a special place in my heart. It was the first hotel Frank and I stayed when we first visited Vegas in 1997. It's bittersweet to see the doors close. We went by the Frontier the Friday before it closed to say good-bye. It was pretty busy, the lines for Gilley's were quite long. The crowd around the Sigma Derby was 20 people deep. The high limit room, a few banks of slots, and tables were already shut down. We dropped a couple quarters in slots here and there, it ended up being a profitable endeavor. We hit two small quarter jackpots totalling $70.
After our farewell tour we sat on a bench outside the main entrance, and watched folks come and go. Let me tell you, it was an incredibly entertaining way to spend 30 minutes. Here's my Farewell Frontier Album. The first set, taken in daylight, are from the first week of April. The rest are from Friday night.
On our way to the Frontier we noticed that there's a new restaurant at Fashion Show Mall, called Stripburger. Menu looks good and prices are pretty reasonable. We'll give it a try sometime soon.
Review: Charlie Palmer Steak
Friday the 13th, we dined at Charlie Palmer Steak inside the Four Seasons. We had no trouble making eight o'clock reservations, only two hours beforehand. When we arrived we were offered the choice of dining at traditional table or a couch table. We opted for the latter. Ambiance was relaxed and cozy due in part to the subdued lighting. There were only two other tables of diners when we had arrived. We found it somewhat odd for it to be so quiet on a Friday evening. However, additional patrons arrived toward the end of our meal.
Despite the lack of guests, service was remarkably slow to start. A visit from the Sommelier helped to pass the time while we waited on our menus. We chose not to have any wine, but his presence sparked several etiquette questions. A variety of breads were delivered to our table and our drink order was finally taken, but we still had not seen a menu. We grew impatient so I dug into the bread, sure enough that’s when our waiter appeared with menus in hand.
We opted to start with citrus prawn cocktail and Caesar bib salad. We selected Filet Mignon and Veal Delmonico as our entrees and chose to share a side of Parmesan potato gratin. We devoured the basket of delicious breads while we waited. The corn bread was particularly notable.
Our appetizers were excellent. My filet was prepared with roasted shallot jus. Frank’s Delmonico was served with peppercorn sauce. Both were flavorful and tender. Although, as a matter of personal preference, we rather have sauces served on the side. The potatoes were outstanding; a crisp crust formed across the top and the inside was rich and creamy.
Our bill came to $146. I will note that I was a bit surprised to see that my two diet cokes cost $10; seemed excessive to me. In the end, service was sufficient, but I’d expect a higher caliber from Charlie Palmer and the Four Seasons. Nonetheless, it was a fine meal.
Despite the lack of guests, service was remarkably slow to start. A visit from the Sommelier helped to pass the time while we waited on our menus. We chose not to have any wine, but his presence sparked several etiquette questions. A variety of breads were delivered to our table and our drink order was finally taken, but we still had not seen a menu. We grew impatient so I dug into the bread, sure enough that’s when our waiter appeared with menus in hand.
We opted to start with citrus prawn cocktail and Caesar bib salad. We selected Filet Mignon and Veal Delmonico as our entrees and chose to share a side of Parmesan potato gratin. We devoured the basket of delicious breads while we waited. The corn bread was particularly notable.
Our appetizers were excellent. My filet was prepared with roasted shallot jus. Frank’s Delmonico was served with peppercorn sauce. Both were flavorful and tender. Although, as a matter of personal preference, we rather have sauces served on the side. The potatoes were outstanding; a crisp crust formed across the top and the inside was rich and creamy.
Our bill came to $146. I will note that I was a bit surprised to see that my two diet cokes cost $10; seemed excessive to me. In the end, service was sufficient, but I’d expect a higher caliber from Charlie Palmer and the Four Seasons. Nonetheless, it was a fine meal.
Review: Nora's Italian Cuisine
Nora's is only a few blocks away, despite all the rave reviews, I've had trouble swaying Frank to try it. However, after two great meals in Lake Las Vegas, I earned some credibility and he agreed to go. We had garlic bread and caesar salad to start. Followed up with Veal Parm and Chicken Erbe Fini. Total bill was $40. Food was good and it's a decent value compared to other Italian joints in town. Although, I didn't feel it was special enough to earn a return visit.
July 30, 2007
Where does time go?
Life has been full throttle lately and I have lots to share. Frank is finally feeling great, which is a huge relief. He returned to work June 17, it took him a week to get into the swing of things, but he's pleased to be back.
Over the past few weeks, Frank's been negotiating with HET for a job transfer to a strip property. As of last Tuesday, the deal is official. Frank will be the Specialty Games Manager, he will oversee Poker, Race and Sports, and Keno. The catch is that he will continue to run Laughlin until a suitable replacement is found and trained. So, he'll likely be managing both properties until October. We intend to sell the Laughlin condo and we anticipate sharing the same address full-time, once again. Hopefully, next year, we will sell our Vegas condo, as well, and move up to a house.
We've been busy gallivanting around town, I guess you could say we've made up for our down time in April-June, this month. We've said farewell to the Frontier. We've tried a few restaurants like Charlie Palmer Steak, Nora's Italian Cuisine, Canter's Deli and hit a couple old favorites such as the Buffet at TI and Lawry's. We also stayed at the Platinum Hotel this past weekend and we have the Signature reserved for this upcoming Sunday. Pictures and details to come.
Over the past few weeks, Frank's been negotiating with HET for a job transfer to a strip property. As of last Tuesday, the deal is official. Frank will be the Specialty Games Manager, he will oversee Poker, Race and Sports, and Keno. The catch is that he will continue to run Laughlin until a suitable replacement is found and trained. So, he'll likely be managing both properties until October. We intend to sell the Laughlin condo and we anticipate sharing the same address full-time, once again. Hopefully, next year, we will sell our Vegas condo, as well, and move up to a house.
We've been busy gallivanting around town, I guess you could say we've made up for our down time in April-June, this month. We've said farewell to the Frontier. We've tried a few restaurants like Charlie Palmer Steak, Nora's Italian Cuisine, Canter's Deli and hit a couple old favorites such as the Buffet at TI and Lawry's. We also stayed at the Platinum Hotel this past weekend and we have the Signature reserved for this upcoming Sunday. Pictures and details to come.
July 9, 2007
7.7.7 Getting lucky in Lake Las Vegas (conclusion)
We woke Sunday at 8am, showered, and prepared for the day. We decided that we'd have brunch at MiraLago, but it isn't available until 10:30 so we had time to kill. I brewed a pot of coffee and we nestled outside on our patio. Frank check email on the laptop while I read a magazine, such a lovely way to start the day.
We weren't sure how far away MiraLago was so we hopped in the car and drove up the mountainside. If it wasn't for the heat it would be an easy walk. MiraLago is the cafe at Reflection Bay Golf Club. They offer Sunday brunch from 10:30-2:30 and it is $34.95. We had the choice of dining indoors or on the terrace; we opted for the latter since the views were spectacular.
Reflection Bay:
We began with some bubbly, they served LeDomaine champagne:
Then we looked to see what foods were available. Eggs made to order were available from the kitchen. The buffet was divided by salads; cheese and crackers, fruits; breakfast items: eggs benedict, biscuits and gravy, sausage, bacon, potatoes; lunch items: orange pork tenderloin, miralago steak, harvest veggies, turkey pot pie, stuffed shells, salmon, halibut; cold seafood: shrimp, crab claws, oysters, sushi; carving station offered lamb chops and prime rib. There was also a plethora of pastries and desserts to choose from.
We sampled a bit of everything. I didn't think to take a picture of our first helping, but I remembered on our second.
My sampling of fruits, cheese, claws and shrimp:
All in all, it was a really nice spread. We enjoyed it immensely. We felt it was worth every penny and thought it was better than all the top buffets we've had in Vegas. Our server's name was Jeff and he provided us with superb service throughout our meal. He was well-informed and answered all our Lake Las Vegas questions. Needless to say, brunch was excellent!
Reluctantly, it was time to go; we had to check out of the room. We packed up our belongings and then head home. We'll certainly return, we found Lake Las Vegas to be a tranquil escape from the craziness of the Las Vegas strip. It seemed liked we were hundreds of miles from home, but in reality it was only 30 miles away. As luck would have it, a stay at the oasis in desert is just what we needed.
We weren't sure how far away MiraLago was so we hopped in the car and drove up the mountainside. If it wasn't for the heat it would be an easy walk. MiraLago is the cafe at Reflection Bay Golf Club. They offer Sunday brunch from 10:30-2:30 and it is $34.95. We had the choice of dining indoors or on the terrace; we opted for the latter since the views were spectacular.
Reflection Bay:We began with some bubbly, they served LeDomaine champagne:
Then we looked to see what foods were available. Eggs made to order were available from the kitchen. The buffet was divided by salads; cheese and crackers, fruits; breakfast items: eggs benedict, biscuits and gravy, sausage, bacon, potatoes; lunch items: orange pork tenderloin, miralago steak, harvest veggies, turkey pot pie, stuffed shells, salmon, halibut; cold seafood: shrimp, crab claws, oysters, sushi; carving station offered lamb chops and prime rib. There was also a plethora of pastries and desserts to choose from.
We sampled a bit of everything. I didn't think to take a picture of our first helping, but I remembered on our second.
My sampling of fruits, cheese, claws and shrimp:
All in all, it was a really nice spread. We enjoyed it immensely. We felt it was worth every penny and thought it was better than all the top buffets we've had in Vegas. Our server's name was Jeff and he provided us with superb service throughout our meal. He was well-informed and answered all our Lake Las Vegas questions. Needless to say, brunch was excellent!Reluctantly, it was time to go; we had to check out of the room. We packed up our belongings and then head home. We'll certainly return, we found Lake Las Vegas to be a tranquil escape from the craziness of the Las Vegas strip. It seemed liked we were hundreds of miles from home, but in reality it was only 30 miles away. As luck would have it, a stay at the oasis in desert is just what we needed.
7.7.7 Getting lucky in Lake Las Vegas (cont.)
Refreshed, we headed over to Como's for dinner. Patio seating is available, but not offered tonight due the heat. Therefore, the indoor dining area was quite crowded, but tables were arranged in a way that allowed privacy from other diners. It took only minute to decide on our order. We started with onion soup and caesar salad, I selected filet mignon and Frank chose the rib eye for his entree. He also requested a side of au gratin potatoes.
We snacked on a variety of breads while waiting for our meal to arrive. Olive tapinade was served alongside the fresh and delicious breads. We shared our starters; both were nicely prepared, although the romaine hearts were dressed too heavily for tastes. The entrees were delivered in ample time, and each had a lovely presentation. Sautéed spring vegetables and mashed potatoes accompanied my filet. Everything on my plate was excellent and prepared to perfection. The filet had a peppered crust that sealed in the juices and the meat itself was tender. I savored every bite. Frank's rib eye was served with roasted fingerling potatoes and spinach; those were the low-lights of the meal. The rib eye, however, was outstanding. The au gratin potatoes were layered with care and they were delicious, as well.
We were quite full when our plates were cleared away, but we found it too hard to resist the dessert menu. We couldn't settle on one selection so we ordered two: chocolate bread pudding and molten cake.
Again, the presentation was delightful. My molten cake was beside an expresso cup filled with espresso flavored gelato; garnished with mixed berries. The bread pudding had several layers and was served with chocolate gelato. Unfortunately, the desserts were all show and no substance. They were the weakest links of the meal.
Service was great and our bill came to $140. We'll definitely return, but next time we'll forego the dessert.
The sun had set when we left Como's. We walked the lakefront and listened to the Jazz band. We planned to walk around the village and check out a few shops, but all the events of the day were taking a toll on Frank (he’s recovering from surgery he had last month). His back was achy and his legs were tight so we felt it was best to return to our room.
Looking toward the Pontevecchio Bridge:
Before retiring to the room, we snuck a peek at the pool, but it was too crowded to swim. Instead, we called it a night and enjoyed the rest of our evening in our "suite".
We snacked on a variety of breads while waiting for our meal to arrive. Olive tapinade was served alongside the fresh and delicious breads. We shared our starters; both were nicely prepared, although the romaine hearts were dressed too heavily for tastes. The entrees were delivered in ample time, and each had a lovely presentation. Sautéed spring vegetables and mashed potatoes accompanied my filet. Everything on my plate was excellent and prepared to perfection. The filet had a peppered crust that sealed in the juices and the meat itself was tender. I savored every bite. Frank's rib eye was served with roasted fingerling potatoes and spinach; those were the low-lights of the meal. The rib eye, however, was outstanding. The au gratin potatoes were layered with care and they were delicious, as well.
We were quite full when our plates were cleared away, but we found it too hard to resist the dessert menu. We couldn't settle on one selection so we ordered two: chocolate bread pudding and molten cake.
Again, the presentation was delightful. My molten cake was beside an expresso cup filled with espresso flavored gelato; garnished with mixed berries. The bread pudding had several layers and was served with chocolate gelato. Unfortunately, the desserts were all show and no substance. They were the weakest links of the meal.
Service was great and our bill came to $140. We'll definitely return, but next time we'll forego the dessert.
The sun had set when we left Como's. We walked the lakefront and listened to the Jazz band. We planned to walk around the village and check out a few shops, but all the events of the day were taking a toll on Frank (he’s recovering from surgery he had last month). His back was achy and his legs were tight so we felt it was best to return to our room.
Looking toward the Pontevecchio Bridge:
Before retiring to the room, we snuck a peek at the pool, but it was too crowded to swim. Instead, we called it a night and enjoyed the rest of our evening in our "suite".
7.7.7 Getting lucky in Lake Las Vegas (cont.)
After we got situated we walked across the Pontevecchio Bridge to the village where the shops, restaurants and casino are located. I snapped a few pictures along the way.
Lake Las Vegas and Luna Di Lusso to the left:
Marina and village to the right:
Opposite side of bridge looking toward Ritz-Carlton:
We walked through the village shops, but it was hard to see what each was selling because of the scorching sun. Not many people walking about probably had something to do with the 115 degree temperature.
We were getting pretty hot from our walk so we sought relief from the hot sun inside Casino Monte Lago. Sweet A/C, can't live in the desert without it. We made a stop at Club Uno for player's cards. We played once there before shortly after it opened, surprisingly Frank was still in their system after four years. I didn't have an account so I was entitled to $5 of free slot play.
First stop was $1 Crystal 7's with my free play, nada won there. We moved on to Blazing 7's, no luck there, either. Next we found full pay double bonus VP and made ourselves comfortable. Played for a bit, but no notable jackpots were won. Frank decided to play some blackjack and I hit the penny slots. Finally we each had some luck. We doubled our money and killed a decent amount of time. We met up and played misc slots. Said and done, we lost $20 between the two of us, that's not a win, but we felt pretty lucky.
We had time before our dinner reservations at Como's so we decided to return to our room and lounge a bit beforehand.
Lake Las Vegas and Luna Di Lusso to the left:
Marina and village to the right:Opposite side of bridge looking toward Ritz-Carlton:
We walked through the village shops, but it was hard to see what each was selling because of the scorching sun. Not many people walking about probably had something to do with the 115 degree temperature.We were getting pretty hot from our walk so we sought relief from the hot sun inside Casino Monte Lago. Sweet A/C, can't live in the desert without it. We made a stop at Club Uno for player's cards. We played once there before shortly after it opened, surprisingly Frank was still in their system after four years. I didn't have an account so I was entitled to $5 of free slot play.
First stop was $1 Crystal 7's with my free play, nada won there. We moved on to Blazing 7's, no luck there, either. Next we found full pay double bonus VP and made ourselves comfortable. Played for a bit, but no notable jackpots were won. Frank decided to play some blackjack and I hit the penny slots. Finally we each had some luck. We doubled our money and killed a decent amount of time. We met up and played misc slots. Said and done, we lost $20 between the two of us, that's not a win, but we felt pretty lucky.
We had time before our dinner reservations at Como's so we decided to return to our room and lounge a bit beforehand.
7.7.7 Getting lucky in Lake Las Vegas
Last Thursday afternoon, Frank suggested we book a hotel for the weekend. Finding a reasonable weekend rate last minute on one of the busiest wedding days of the year in Las Vegas in no easy task. However, I managed to find a room available at Montelago Village on Lake Las Vegas for $160 on Saturday night.
After a couple days of anticipation Saturday had arrived. We packed and headed out around 2pm, traffic was a little heavy, and it ended up being about a 30 minute drive via 215. Upon check-in we requested a lakeview room in Luna Di Lusso. No lakeview was available, but we were assigned a studio "suite" in the west portion of Luna Di Lusso.
The room was very nice, everything you could possibly need was provided. The view was nothing special since it overlooked the parking lot. But we’ll know next time it'll be worth an extra $20/night for the lakeview upgrade.
After a couple days of anticipation Saturday had arrived. We packed and headed out around 2pm, traffic was a little heavy, and it ended up being about a 30 minute drive via 215. Upon check-in we requested a lakeview room in Luna Di Lusso. No lakeview was available, but we were assigned a studio "suite" in the west portion of Luna Di Lusso.
The room was very nice, everything you could possibly need was provided. The view was nothing special since it overlooked the parking lot. But we’ll know next time it'll be worth an extra $20/night for the lakeview upgrade.
Back in the Saddle
It's been hectic for the past few months, but thankfully things are beginning to settle down. Frank is still recovering from his surgery last month, but he’s on his way to return to normal every day activities. He’ll meet with his doctor on Thursday; he’s hopeful that he’ll be given permission to return to work. Frank is anxious to get back and his presence is needed in Laughlin.
In other news, Frank’s return to Las Vegas is in sight. He has an interview for a Specialty Games Manager position at a strip property on Friday.
In other news, Frank’s return to Las Vegas is in sight. He has an interview for a Specialty Games Manager position at a strip property on Friday.
May 25, 2007
Next step
Frank met with his Dr. this morning to go over the results of the MRI. He has two bulging discs and one herniated disc. The doctor was amazed he's walking. Surgery is needed. He has a pre-op appt. on the 31st and surgery is scheduled for June 5th. Sounds like the surgery will be less invasive than I thought, it'll only require one night in the hospital and he should experience relief from the back pain immediately following the surgery. Not exactly what we wanted to hear, but a return to normalcy is in sight.
May 19, 2007
Planet Hollywood
Check out the following link for photos from our recent visit to Planet Hollywood:
Planet Hollywood Slideshow
Planet Hollywood Slideshow
May 16, 2007
The Road to Recovery
Sometimes it can be a longer than expected. Frank is still experiencing unbearable back pain. He started to show some improvement after a few weeks of physical therapy, but this past Thursday he moved awkwardly causing a relapse. He went to the ER, and then followed up with a specialist. Monday, he’ll finally have an MRI. Treatment will depend on those results.
My ankle seemed to be healing nicely, but it appears the extra running around over the weekend was too much too soon. Pain and swelling have returned.
We had rescheduled our stay at the Signature on Mother’s day, but we had to cancel again due to our set backs. Fortunately, I received another promotion valid through June. Hopefully, the third time will be the charm.
My ankle seemed to be healing nicely, but it appears the extra running around over the weekend was too much too soon. Pain and swelling have returned.
We had rescheduled our stay at the Signature on Mother’s day, but we had to cancel again due to our set backs. Fortunately, I received another promotion valid through June. Hopefully, the third time will be the charm.
May 3, 2007
Mega Beat Jackpot
Frank's pet project finally came to fruition. The Mega Beat Jackpot was unveiled yesterday in Harrah's poker rooms.
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2007
Poker Rooms Launch Progressive Mega Beat Jackpot Poker
Win For Losing in Multi-Property Texas Hold’em Progressive
Las Vegas, NV – Poker enthusiasts have the chance to earn $50,000 or more playing Texas Hold’em at any one of six participating Harrah’s properties during the new Mega Beat Jackpot Live Poker promotion. Starting today, poker rooms at Harrah’s Las Vegas, Flamingo Las Vegas, O’Sheas Casino, Bally’s Las Vegas, Paris Las Vegas and Harrah’s Laughlin are introducing the mammoth jackpot promotion that makes designated losing hands a winner.
The new Mega Beat Jackpot starts at $50,000 and increases daily the more the game is played without a winner. The initial qualifying hand to win the Mega Beat Jackpot is when four 10’s or higher is beaten by a higher four-of-a-kind or better. Each week the Mega Beat Jackpot isn’t won, the qualifying hand will drop numerically until the Mega Beat Jackpot is won. Once the jackpot is claimed, the prize will reset at $50,000 and the qualifying hand will return to four 10’s.
“We’re excited to introduce this multi-property promotion to our poker players,” said Mark Kelly, Vice President of Table Games for Harrah’s and Flamingo Las Vegas. “Avid players know the disappointment when a seemingly winning hand is crushed by an even better hand. With the Mega Beat Jackpot, even a losing hand can be a winner and the jackpot has the potential to grow daily.”
To add to the excitement, when a Mega Beat Jackpot is hit, all active players engaged in an eligible Texas Hold’em game at any one of the participating casinos will win a share of the Mega Beat Jackpot. Official rules and regulations about the Mega Beat Jackpot Promotion are available in the poker room of each participating casino.
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2007
Poker Rooms Launch Progressive Mega Beat Jackpot Poker
Win For Losing in Multi-Property Texas Hold’em Progressive
Las Vegas, NV – Poker enthusiasts have the chance to earn $50,000 or more playing Texas Hold’em at any one of six participating Harrah’s properties during the new Mega Beat Jackpot Live Poker promotion. Starting today, poker rooms at Harrah’s Las Vegas, Flamingo Las Vegas, O’Sheas Casino, Bally’s Las Vegas, Paris Las Vegas and Harrah’s Laughlin are introducing the mammoth jackpot promotion that makes designated losing hands a winner.
The new Mega Beat Jackpot starts at $50,000 and increases daily the more the game is played without a winner. The initial qualifying hand to win the Mega Beat Jackpot is when four 10’s or higher is beaten by a higher four-of-a-kind or better. Each week the Mega Beat Jackpot isn’t won, the qualifying hand will drop numerically until the Mega Beat Jackpot is won. Once the jackpot is claimed, the prize will reset at $50,000 and the qualifying hand will return to four 10’s.
“We’re excited to introduce this multi-property promotion to our poker players,” said Mark Kelly, Vice President of Table Games for Harrah’s and Flamingo Las Vegas. “Avid players know the disappointment when a seemingly winning hand is crushed by an even better hand. With the Mega Beat Jackpot, even a losing hand can be a winner and the jackpot has the potential to grow daily.”
To add to the excitement, when a Mega Beat Jackpot is hit, all active players engaged in an eligible Texas Hold’em game at any one of the participating casinos will win a share of the Mega Beat Jackpot. Official rules and regulations about the Mega Beat Jackpot Promotion are available in the poker room of each participating casino.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)