OK, I've heard from friends that there's super fancy eateries in LV (imagine that's true anywhere, but especially in LV). However, I've also heard friends tell me they drink for practically nothing...? Is this because of comps? Or do some casinos actually hand out free drinks on the floor to encourage loose play? Never been to LV, heading there in Jan. Staying at the Venetian.

Sorry if this seems noob.

Similar question about food. I know there are cheap buffets (so I've heard), and I want decent food at a reasonable cost. Don't want chain fast food, but don't want crazy fancy/expensive either.

Good normal (cheap) eateries on/around the strip?

I dunno where you're traveling from, as that makes a difference whether it is expensive or not. Coming from London I found food and alcohol generally cheaper, even with tipping. If you are playing on the poker tables or slots waitresses will come round and ask you if you want any drinks. It is customary to tip the waitress a dollar, or more if you feel like it. You effectively drink for free then.

I was out there last month and while I did eat at a couple fancy places, there were plenty of reasonable food choices that were tasty and decently priced. If you like Thai try the lotus of Siam when you're out there, cheap and soooooo good (slightly off strip though). You'll definitely find stuff on a budget on the strip though!

You drink for free when you gamble you can also buy alchohol cheaper at any walgreens if your not gambling its 8-15 per drink

Food is expensive on the strip but some places are less expensive than others the cheap buffets are off strip and I can't recommend going to the trouble of getting there the big chain restaurants are probably your best deals.

Make a stop at Ellis Island for their BBQ or steak special. Off the charts good and so cheap.

<----Casual Dining Thread is thataway

Can we get a Trihonda containment thread?

You can also buy liquor 24/7 at drug/grocery stores. If you have a big group it's worth stocking up and having some in the room.

Stage Coach bar (batistas) on Flamingo just east of the Cromwell has 1$ Michelobs, 2$ Jager Shots, and 4$ Patron. Walk in there with 30 bucks and you can get wasted out of your mind. Good Jukebox, cool bartenders, cross section of society.

How big are there shots? They must be tiny(when I think shot I think about 2oz) that's about 13 a bottle x4 they would make like $5 a bottle..Plus that play looks shady as hell.

You get 26 drinks out of a 1k ML bottle. Shots seems standard to me. Of course the place is a little shady, all the best dive bars are. You will get waitresses and dealers from the casinos, rich guys from the strip slumming it, street people who scraped up ten bucks. Being from Chicago, I like those kind of places. After being served 13$ drinks in corporate sanitized casinos for a few days I want a little grime.

So I'm guessing a 1 liter bottle of Patron wholesales for around $50, so 26 x $4 = $108 and that's a solid profit margin.

You can get patron750's for around 400 a case figure 250 shots at 4 a crack and your making 600 a case. Not bad, but most bars are looking for a triple on their cost (at least) so they are in the 6-8 range to attain that. But Batistas does sick volume on a property they have been on since Bugsy Siegel was there. Very little upkeep, some solid video poker action, plus the liquor/general merchandise store that gets a ton of traffic because of the parking. I mean jesus, the free Nathans Hot Dog they give you for free whith every 3$ Budweiser is insane. It would literally be impossible to go hungry in LV even homeless as long as they are around.

I know way to much about this place because I grind Bellagio/Aria and usually stop in to chat up the waitresses who go in after their shifts. It is just mind bogling the money this guy makes with a little dive tucked underneath multi billion dollar properties. It is like a college bar Friday night every day every hour.

I am arriving in LV for my Winter Grind, hate the cold in Chicago, on the 11/29. On a slow poker night we should do a 2+2 meet and just have a Patron drinking contest. All of us plus the usual degens who are usually there, it could be epic.

Any poker room you drink for free just don't be cheap and not tip the server...go play at the V 2.00 an hour play 8 hours eat a great meal for free. Palms has a cheap buffet average price 12.99

The above post highlights the notion that wherever you are staying, you should play poker at or close by. And the it follows that you will also eat and drink at or close by as well. Most of the larger poker rooms are in the larger casino, which have larger options for food.
While the Ellis Island Cafe is well-known for value, and I've been and agree, its really only convenient from Flamingo and Ballys, from a walkability standpoint. And a tourist from out of the area or country isn't really going to hop in a car or cab to get a meal that saves a few dollars. And this is not a slam at all on any well-intended advice on cheap, decent or mid-priced eats. Its a discussion on the OP's concerns. So please lets dispense with the possible disparaging of anyone, when the OP is really being genuine- and future readers will have the same concerns as him.
So, to the OP- I would highly recommend you get a casino card first, wherever you stay and play poker. Most places give you at least $1.00 and up to 2.00 per hour towards food comps. Some places will let you withdraw comps right at the point of sale (Caesars/Harrahs/Total Rewards), and other may make you get a paper comp at the poker desk (Mirage, and other MGM properties) Ask the poker desk person about this, and how their property works. Fr'instance, the Mirage Poker Desk has to issue you paper comps, but they also have all the menus for the restaurants, and have prices for the buffets offered at different times of the day and week. So you can withdraw the exact amount of the comp you will need. And perhaps find out when the comps get loaded onto your account- instantly, at midnight, overnight or when you log out of the Bravo system are all possibilities.
Despite what you may have read, there are a lot of buffets on the strip that give you good value for your comp dollar, have great variety, and can get you in and out in a short time so you can get back to the felt.
Be prepared to not be able to use food comps at "food court" places that are adjacent to casino, like in the malls nearby(Mandalay Place, Forum Shops, Miracle Mile etc.) McD's, Panda, earl of Sandwich are great for visitors that want to try a place like that, but make sure they will honor comp dollars.

Thanks for the advice! We're staying at the Flamingo. I plan to play poker there, as well as potentially the V and Ceasars, and any other number of other places that fit my fancy. I agree with wanting to play close to my hotel, convenience factor.

Not like it adds up fast, but the $1/hr comped playing poker at CET rooms like Flamingo, Caesars, Harrah's etc. can be directly applied towards your Flamingo room bill on checkout.

Mirage across the street is $2/hour but must be redeemed at one of their pricey restaurants.

Don't know how many of you all know....but if you play for 4 hours at the Nugget they will give you 10 dollar food comp for every 24 hours so anyone coming in to play DT that's the place to play very fishy!! But beware don't play their tourney's structure is very bad!!