CES @ Vegas... anyone going?

[-Hibikster-]

It'll be my first time going to Vegas and I'll be going to CES. I'll be staying at the Paris. Anyone else going to the show?

 

[Ancient Flounder]

It'll be my first time going to Vegas and I'll be going to CES. I'll be staying at the Paris. Anyone else going to the show?

I'll be here in town, since well....I live here. lol Have never been able to get into the show, though. If you have any free time, you should get a hold of one of us locals. Maybe some of us can get together and hang out.

 

[aria]

I wish. I was in town a few weeks ago. You'll have fun.

Just be sure to hit some of the excellent restaurants and, if possible, the shows Ka or La Reve (my favs of the Cirque du Soliel-style shows).

I'm going to use this thread as an excuse to sort out some thoughts: Here are my opinions of a few restaurants I've been to in the past few years (I go twice a year at least), as well as location (my rating figures quality of food to price; I've also tried to estimate price with dollar signs, out of four):

Bobak's Vegas Dining Guide

• L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon (MGM; 5/5; $$$$) -- This is just the "inexpensive" version of the Michelin 3-star (out of three) Joël Robuchon next door (which is one of the best restaurants in the world; I haven't been... yet), and it's still a starred restaurant with exceptional in food, service and, alas, price. If you're willing to break the bank, this is a good spot to (as are the two below). Go with the prix fixe (or tasting) menu and allow this place to ruin your innocence for other restaurants.
• Alex (Wynn; 5/5; $$$$) -- The Wynn's flagship 2-star restaurant makes dining an event that's been catered to you. Lovely dining room. Pricey as hell.
• Le Cirque (Bellagio; 5/5; $$$$) -- This NYC institution has a small location hidden off the casino in the Bellagio and it is exceptional. Hidden gem with a star to its name.
• Country Club (Wynn; 5/5; $$$) -- Best Brunch on the Strip by an order of magnitude. It takes the concept of the old fashioned Vegas Buffet and takes it to the next level --I've been to the Wynn, Bellagio and other so-called "upscale buffets", and they just overcharge for slightly better food than what you can get at Circus Circus or Excalibur (that latter of which are a fine deal for what they are). If you want to have the most pimp brunch ever, go here. Most people don't even realize it exists.
• Wazuzu (Encore; 4.5/5; $-$$) -- Excellent price to quality ratio, lots of great pan-Asian options that do justice to just about anything they make. I love this place. I've been there at least seven times and never had a bad meal.
• Twist (Mandarin Oriental; 4.5/5; $$$$) -- Only recommended if you're up for molecular gastronomy, a daring form of culinary experimentation which really isn't everyone's taste and is a game of great successes and also failures.
• Sage (Aria; 4.5/5; $$$) -- Excellent fine dining in the Aria.
• Shibuya (MGM; 4.5/5; $$$) -- This place has the best decor in Vegas. I'd give that alone a 6/5. The sushi and Japanese dishes are very good, but you'll be too busy snapping photos of the dining room.
• Society Cafe (Encore; 4/5; $-$$) -- Decently priced place for excellent breakfast or brunch as well as some great Bloody Marys.
• Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill (MGM; 4/5; $-$$) -- Well priced option in MGM.
• Postrio Bar & Grill (Venetian; 4/5; $$-$$$ -- Wolfgang Puck's restaurant has a great patio on the St. Mark's Square for people watching. They improved the decor/menu last year.
• Bar Masa (Aria; 4/5; $$$$) -- If you're really into sushi, you might want to break the bank a bit at Masayoshi Takayama's Vegas outpost. If you're not into sushi, this will seem like financial rape.
• Mesa Grill (Caesars; 4/5; $$$) -- Great southwest cooking from the mind of Bobby Flay.
• Aureole (Mandalay; 4/5; $$$) -- Another great NYC restaurant has a location here.
• Michael Mina (Bellagio; 4/5; $$$) -- I've been to a few of his restaurants and I like Mina's cooking, and this restaurant tries to be more like his flagship namesake in the St. Francis Hotel in downtown San Francisco instead of trying something a bit new. Nothing to complain about, but I was hoping for more. If you want an inexpensive Mina option, Nob Hill in the MGM might be good (I have yet to try it).
• Okada (Wynn; 4/5; $$$-$$$$) -- Solid Japanese, great fish quality.
• Stratta (Wynn; 4/5; $$$) -- Solid Italian.
• Tableau (Wynn; 4/5; $$-$$$) -- Solid American (see a trend?)
• Wing Lei (Wynn; 3.5/5; $$$) -- Weakest Michelin Star in Vegas. I appreciate Chinese food, and this is the only starred Chinese restaurant in the US, but I was not impressed on the price/quality ratio as other places. Perhaps I should've skipped the tasting menu and went for the Peking Duck.
• Taqueria Cañonita (Venetian; 2/5; $$) -- Standard Mexican food, you can find better and cheaper off the strip. This is a lesson for most places like this on the Strip --don't bother.
• Emeril's (MGM; 1/5) -- His New Orleans stuff is amazing, this place is severely phoned in. I mostly listed this one to make a point that there are some bad restaurants with big names tucked in there.

 

[Domino-chan]

There's a problem with that list, Bobak: They're all on the Strip. We have tons of awesome local joints that -really- show what Vegas has to offer. The only thing this city lacks is a casual French restaurant.

The Banana's restaurant picks for Local Vegas. It's small but growing:

-Luv it Frozen Custard ($ - Just off the Strip): Located in the shadow of the Stratosphere, this place has quite possibly the best custard in the state, if not the West Coast. It's made fresh every day. Cash only.

-Ichiza ($$ - Chinatown, west of the Strip): Japanese pub fare. They caved and started to serve sushi, but the rest of their menu still shines. I recommend their ramen and the chilled roasted eggplant appetizer.

-Crown & Anchor pub ($$ - UNLV, East of the Strip): Awesome 24-hour pub with English food. They serve 30 beers on tap as well as a large bottled beer and wine list. Their Scotch egg, chicken curry, and sandwiches are solid options. For dessert, try the sticky toffee pudding.

-Wendy's Noodle Cafe ($-$$ - West side): Chinese food for the foodie. It doesn't have most of the conventional Americanized dishes, but it delivers with more traditional Chinese cooking. Try the Shanghai dumplings and pot stickers. They are some of the best in town. Or for the more adventurous eater, durian crepes and century egg porridge.

-Metro Pizza ($-$$ - Multiple Locations): Best pizza in Vegas. Try the Steinbrenner. It's eggplant parmigiana in a crust.

-In n Out/Fat Burger/Coffee Bean ($ - Just about everywhere): Yeah they're chains, but they're great options in a pinch. I'm not a beef person, but the fries at In n Out are delicious. And everyone tells me the burgers are great. I'm just passing the info on. Same for Fat Burger, but I love their turkey burgers. And Coffee Bean's like Starbucks, but better quality/service in my opinion.

I wanted to list a Thai place, but there are at least 3 I frequent, all on different ends of town. PM me if you're curious about them. Also, I will admit I want to try a place called Max Brenner in the Forum Shops at Caesar's. I hear he does crazy stuff with chocolate.

 

[Ancient Flounder]

There's a problem with that list, Bobak: They're all on the Strip. We have tons of awesome local joints that -really- show what Vegas has to offer. The only thing this city lacks is a casual French restaurant.

The Banana's restaurant picks for Local Vegas. It's small but growing:

-Luv it Frozen Custard ($ - Just off the Strip): Located in the shadow of the Stratosphere, this place has quite possibly the best custard in the state, if not the West Coast. It's made fresh every day. Cash only.

-Ichiza ($$ - Chinatown, west of the Strip): Japanese pub fare. They caved and started to serve sushi, but the rest of their menu still shines. I recommend their ramen and the chilled roasted eggplant appetizer.

-Crown & Anchor pub ($$ - UNLV, East of the Strip): Awesome 24-hour pub with English food. They serve 30 beers on tap as well as a large bottled beer and wine list. Their Scotch egg, chicken curry, and sandwiches are solid options. For dessert, try the sticky toffee pudding.

-Wendy's Noodle Cafe ($-$$ - West side): Chinese food for the foodie. It doesn't have most of the conventional Americanized dishes, but it delivers with more traditional Chinese cooking. Try the Shanghai dumplings and pot stickers. They are some of the best in town. Or for the more adventurous eater, durian crepes and century egg porridge.

-Metro Pizza ($-$$ - Multiple Locations): Best pizza in Vegas. Try the Steinbrenner. It's eggplant parmigiana in a crust.

-In n Out/Fat Burger/Coffee Bean ($ - Just about everywhere): Yeah they're chains, but they're great options in a pinch. I'm not a beef person, but the fries at In n Out are delicious. And everyone tells me the burgers are great. I'm just passing the info on. Same for Fat Burger, but I love their turkey burgers. And Coffee Bean's like Starbucks, but better quality/service in my opinion.

I wanted to list a Thai place, but there are at least 3 I frequent, all on different ends of town. PM me if you're curious about them. Also, I will admit I want to try a place called Max Brenner in the Forum Shops at Caesar's. I hear he does crazy stuff with chocolate.

Don't forget about the Queen Vic Pub inside of the Riviera, just in case one does not want to go off-Strip and still wants a great place to visit for a drink and a bite.

 

[aria]

Sure, but why would someone go to Vegas for the first time and not leave the strip except for the Pinball HOF or to gawk at the trainwreck that is Fremont Street?

There's a problem with that list, Bobak: They're all on the Strip. We have tons of awesome local joints that -really- show what Vegas has to offer. The only thing this city lacks is a casual French restaurant.

 

[NeoTheranthrope]

I would go if it was the epic CESs of yore.
Between CES and Comdex (RIP), during the height of the dotcom boom, I got some FABULOUS swag. I made out like a fucking bandit, but nowadays I don't see the point. There's only a handful of companies who's booths I'd care to see, and what they have out isn't worth the trouble to find parking.

 

[Lagduf]

I'd hit up Vegas if I could get in to the SHOT show that starts in 2 weeks

 

[Domino-chan]

Sure, but why would someone go to Vegas for the first time and not leave the strip except for the Pinball HOF or to gawk at the trainwreck that is Fremont Street?

The same reason people explore other cities: because it has a lot to offer. There's a lot more to Vegas than the Strip. People just have to be open enough to leave the comfort zone. I'd do the same if I was visiting another city for the first time.

 

[aria]

The same reason people explore other cities: because it has a lot to offer. There's a lot more to Vegas than the Strip. People just have to be open enough to leave the comfort zone. I'd do the same if I was visiting another city for the first time.

Respectfully, Vegas isn't like other cities. There's nothing like The Strip on earth.

I'm not saying that without experience: Just last month I spent the better part of a day visiting all of Las Vegas items on the National Register of Historic Places and photographing those that needed pics for the Wikipedia list of them (geeky, I know), and whatever Vegas city planners haven't neglected, raped or destroyed is in terrible shape (I assume Nevada's own preservation laws are to blame). The Mormon Fort was a bit of a joke. I could see someone wanting to take the classic day trip to Boulder/Hoover Dam, or flying over the Grand Canyon, or going to Red Rock Canyon (coincidentally just read this NYT article about gang graffiti there this morning). Speaking purely about the metro area, what I've seen beyond tourist destinations hasn't made me want to recommend a person spend time during their first visit on them. It's like suburban LA, Phoenix or Albuquerque. There's far too much stuff that's completely and totally unique to the massive resorts and casinos --they truly are unique. Macau and LOLtlantic City cannot come close to matching what they have. Heck, just on Michelin starred restaurants, Las Vegas beats the much larger Los Angeles (and Bay Area) by a country mile --but almost everything is in a major casino. I know it's somewhat de rigueur for Vegas residents to hate on The Strip, but it truly is amazing to visitors and --over the 25+ years I've been regularly going to Vegas-- turned into something incredible, unique and rewarding even for non-gamblers like myself.

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