Anyone else feel like there is a ceiling for how good smash burgers can be? Top ten burgers I’ve ever had I don’t think there is one smash burger. Think it’s an incredible hack to make at home, and they are great to satisfy a grease craving, but placing them as better than Luger or Bavettes or nusr is crazy to me.

Ive only ever eaten at SB one time... I dont have anything bad to say, I just dont feel like going out of my way to go back.

I noticed on Bravo that Aria has Proper Eats (takeout only) listed as one of the places you can use poker comps. Has anyone done this, and can describe the process? Still manual or now better integrated?

Real sliders(not mini burgers) are an authentic American culinary delight.

What’s the difference between “real sliders” and “mini burgers”?

da greece

I love smash burgers, but I agree with this. There usually isn't a lot of variation with SBs

(cross posted in fine dining for the other parts)

I'm sure some of you know Mike Chen on Youtube. I used to follow him but haven't been keeping up with his videos since maybe the end of pandemic times. Anyways, he's released two videos of Vegas spots recently.

The videos are a mix of casual and fine dining. I'll mark the casual dining part, but I think all parts are worth watching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6MGb88XY50
GangNam Premium AYCE (Wagyu level $45.95) starts around 3:04

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1k1WRbWeYM
Mikiya Wagyu Shabu House (Gold Wagyu level $68/pp member price? $78 normal, secret diamond level +$20 for unlimited dishes that normally would be 1 per person) starts around 0:45

I might have to visit when in Vegas next. Looked good.

Went to Yu or Mi sushi at Durango casino yesterday for lunch. They have a solid lunch special deal. One specialty roll, one regular roll, plus the shrimp tempura, miso soup, and salad for $18.88. The specialty rolls by themselves are normally $20-28 and the stuff I ordered would have been around $50-60 at dinner time.

Also not pictured but their fried rice is incredibly good, also on the $18.88 lunch menu

Why go to that Durango sushi spot when Mr. Shota is right down the street owned by the same people as Neko/Sakana?

Went with family, they wanted to see the casino since they hadn’t been there yet. Will put Shota on the list

Mr. Shota is great. Regardless of what that costs at dinner, 19 bucks seems like a fair price, not a generous one.

Looks great, will try Mikiya sometime this month and report back.

Thanks bro-unfortunately I don’t have social media, but my wife is now following them for me. Will definitely try to check them out if they have a pop up event during my trip in June.

best late night food on the strip? looking for something better/different than the cafe scene (grand lux, etc.)

Stay Tuned Burgers was pretty solid, had the double and some tots. 8/10

Allegro at the Wynn.

Weighing in on the Italian wars...

I got to Mother Wolf. We tried the bread (great) salad (fine) some pizza (very good) and pasta (very good). Tiramisu was outstanding and it's a favorite dish of mine. We also had a lighter dessert.

It's silly to say this isn't a good restaurant imo. But it didn't melt my brain either.


Vetri Cucina at Palms. I eat at Palms a lot and just never felt like going up a special escalator for Italian. But Balbomb's been singing their praises so I tried it and I've been back 2 times.

This is one of my favs in Vegas now, as it fills a special niche. The food is high quality. The portions run small by American and especially Vegas standards. The prices are reasonable.

I really like being able to eat there and leave feeling full, but not bloated and not having to lug a doggie bag around and worry about it spoiling.

I've had the chicory salad, which morphed into arugula with the changing of the seasons. Simply put, the best salad of this type I've ever had. It's mostly leaves, but great dressing, cheese, nuts, etc fill it out into a genuinely delicious dish. Maybe next time I can pry myself away to a different starter.

1 pasta was very good. Another pasta (the ragu) was fantastic.

Had the chocolate and cherry dessert as well as pistachio cake. Both towering home runs.

Also had the duck, which was good but not great and the little potato/cremed spinach side that comes with it is awesome. Maybe the one time I'd like a bigger portion.

Great view, obviously. Attentive and informed service, especially as it's rarely crowded.

Salad, pasta and desert with wine is about $100, very high quality, not too much, and even with the elevator Palms is easy to get in and out of with free parking. So it's really ideal for like, a great meal before poker or other activities.

I really need to give Vetri Cucina a shot, always hear rave reviews.

If you go back to Mother Wolf get the pistachio gelato, it’s almost certainly the best gelato I’ve ever had.

Good stuff ES2.