This is very kind of you! I appreciate it. I would be fine with anyone just using the services at all. Only done a few of them so far. I expect it will go up this summer, however.

Awesome, hope you enjoy. Marinated pork shoulder and short ribs are the only things you should end up getting imo. And a steamed egg.

On a sad note, Du-Par's at the Golden Gate has closed unexpectedly. The one in Suncoast is still around though.

Rhode Island?
People actually live there? 🤔

Jimmy really happy that you gave momofuku a great review. I know a lot of people weren't completely satisfied with the experience. I am somewhat biased because for over two years I have been getting quarterly shipments of the ssam sauce, its freaking amazing from anything to putting on eggs, to chicken, to french fries, to sandwiches. I went to the original in new york when it was insanely popular and had one of the best meals, especially considering I am not a huge ramen guy. Two years ago he opened a DC location that was a real disappointment outside of his famous dishes like the pork buns. I saw some of the reviews and some weird things on the menu like meatballs? and thought it would just be an afterthought, glad you had a great meal and cant wait to try it now.

Dupars at GG probably closed by the health department again. It's a very old small kitchen. They had issues keeping up before they added additional seats outside the restaurant.

They need to shutdown and do a major remodel and find a way to expand and modernize the kitchen.

I heard they closed permanently a few days ago. No more famous Golden Gate shrimp cocktails.. 😔

Ellis Island has 3.99 shrimp cocktail also 😜

That's odd it's probably busiest restaurant downtown.

It wasn't the health department. They haven't paid their rent in a while:

https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/fe...e-golden-gate/

Being busy is absolutely no indicator for a financially successful restaurant. On the contrary, lots of restaurants are busier than they would be in a revenue optimizing setup, because ownership is bad at the numbers game.

I totally agree but something doesn't add up. They charged a premium for there items and where busy. Can't imagine Derek charging a super high rent as the place brought in business. Maybe he did increase rent and owners decided to try elsewhere but not before stifling them for rent.

The owner of Golden Gate (Derek Stevens) tweeted that Du-Pars closure was NOT related to the rent. I read it was likely due to problems with the IRS.

"So you're telling me you sold how many pancakes? And they ALL paid cash??"

It's the other way round. The restaurant claims they sold only X pancakes and almost no customer paid cash.

The IRS checks how many bottles of maple syrup they bought from Costco and based on that number, they find out that the restaurant probably sold amount 2x pancakes and half the customers paid cash. Not good.
Totally possible there are other reasons.

Another thing that's hard to see from the outside: opening and operating a restaurant is very cash intensive. That fact, combined with the high number of restaurants that fail, results in high interest rates if a restaurant owner takes out a loan.

Recently I calculated the numbers for someone who wants to build a brewpub. He wasn't super happy when I told him that even in one of the more favorable scenarios, he'd work the first 3 weeks of the month just to pay back interest.

Jimmy what is your favorite appetizer and why is it Nam Kao Tod?

But for real, that's one reason I like Lotus over Chada. Panang duck at Chada is elite but what else do you suggest there?

The nam kao tod is the one thing I miss at Chada. It's truly fantastic.

Pad kra pow with crispy pork at chada is absolutely incredible. Just a perfect flavor/texture combination. Also really love the moo khum waan. But if you go, just ask them for my favorite dishes and they'll bring them out. Their thai beef jerky is also my favorite there as well.

Went to Momofuku on the basis of the review, the other night. No. Its just not good.

They've brought in a load of dishes from elsewhere, and just made them worse.

Had the pork buns, chicken karaage buns, the katsu dish, yellowtail, and a few other bits, and we all agreed that it just isn't good. Usually when you eat out you're fighting over the bits left on the plate, here we were offering them to each other. Everything right down to the shi****o peppers was just not great.

Slight plus point, I mentioned to the waitress that we really didn't think that much of it, and they actually took 15% off the bill. Nice touch I thought.

Also saw the 'big dishes' on the back of the menu. Insane pricing.

Wife will be in Vegas with her Mom in a few weeks, staying downtown and will want some Mexican food, preferably close to the Nugget. Recommendations, please, and thanks.

Brutal! I need to go back and try it all again then.

Mexican food downtown, no idea tbh.

From what I remember, this place was pretty good http://lacomidalv.com/

Was a couple years ago that I ate there, though.

If you're heading from the Nugget to El Cortez, you take a right at one of the crossings, and it's about 50 yards down on the right.

Worse part was since it was "my" recommendation and everyone thought it was crap is that I had to pay for everyone lol -so thanks for that!

-you redeemed yourself a little with Zen curry house though



-what was the name of that pub/sportsbar place you liked?

Tough crowd.

Sporting Life. It's exceptional bar food, but it's still bar food.

Can confirm. Watched Game 7 of the World Series there. Not only was the food great, but the service didn't suffer one iota given how crowded it was.

Jimmy, my brother asked me what my favorite steakhouse is in Vegas. Since I'm a student of the OOT steak thread I have been out of the steakhouse game for a few years. Whats the top dog these days?

Favorite is Delmonico, best is probably Cut or Carnevino.