It’s my local spot, as well as the place we go to every week for ravens games. Love the people, the food in my opinion has gone from very similar to Baltimore seafood house which I think is an amazing compliment 3000 miles away to not something I would overly recommend, still will hit the spot if you haven’t spent a lot of time in md.

Looking for recommendations for an anniversary dinner this summer. Staying on a Wednesday through Monday in June. Any kind of food, and the atmosphere is going to be more important to my wife than the actual quality of the food.

So far we only have AYCE sushi planned for one night.

Joel Robuchon

Right answer, probably. Picasso is nice if you're into that kind of thing (I am, sometimes)

If you're looking for something less formal, Sinatra at the Encore is nice. Eiffel Tower at the Paris has a nice view of the fountains but the food isn't spectacular - safe choice. As I've posted before, I have a grudge against Sage at the Aria, but most people are fine with it.

MM MD

I think Joel Robuchon is an absurd waste of money for somebody who doesn’t care that much about food.

Picasso is probably the best combination of great food and romantic atmosphere. Eiffel Tower is also very romantic but the food is a level below. Still pretty good though.

Joel Robuchon looks like it'll be $1,100 for two people before wine pairings, right? I'm budgeted for that, but to be honest, neither of us would be able to appreciate that beyond knowing and having been told it's amazing food.

The Picasso fixed menu + wine pairings looks like something that will be more reasonable for us. Also, if it has real Picasso paintings, that's pretty sick.

They do. They're also very accommodating - my wife has a pretty bad shellfish allergy and we swapped out a couple of items on the fixed menu for some stuff off the vegetarian menu with no issues.

Come to think of it, probably time for another visit.....

MM MD

How does Sage not get more love? Been there and Picasso and would pick Sage no question. As far as Vegas fine/fine-ish dining, Sage is the closest I've been to not feeling ripped off on the food/price ratio.

God your such a ****ing nit it’s sick.

I think Madlex gave a thoughtful analysis based on beechboy’s description of what matters to he and his wife and was very helpful.

I’m a fan of both, but I think Picasso has the best value of any fine/fine-ish restaurant on the strip.

The difference between the two, aside from just the level of fine dining you’re getting, is the consistency. Sage is a restaurant that can make mistakes that Picasso never would.

Separately about Sage, as I was just there the other day- they ain’t doing well. It seems that Catch is siphoning off too much of their business. People don’t appreciate good things.

Depending what what your looking for as far as atmosphere, a completely different (and very cheap) take would be to hang out at bar on top of stratosphere for a couple hours and watch it get dark. Obviously not fine dining but a pretty cool view.

Im also looking for a nice spot to take a date in May, I cant afford to do Joel Robuchon or Piccasso, Id like to take her to a nice place with a cool view but most important, a good meal. Hopefully there are a few options.

If you're willing to go downtown, Oscar's steakhouse at Biff Tannen's Pleasure Paradise has kind of a cool view. It's a glass dome on the 2nd floor looking directly out along the Fremont Street Experience. Not exactly rooftop looking over the strip level cool view, but cool in it's own way.

(haven't been there recently, so not exactly sure what all the construction for the D owner's new casino there looks like - that may make the view better or worse)

Thanks for the opinions all. I gave them to my wife and will let her pick.

She saw pictures of Costa di Mare at the Wynn and thinks it looks beautiful. However, since it will be June, will they be seating at those tables under the cabanas next to the water? Or are those outside? The inside portion of the restaurant doesn't look nearly as pretty or romantic. Also, is the food any good or meh?

The view/food/price trifecta is really tough. Don't know what your budget is (that might help) -- I think Twist is in the same price range as Picasso but don't remember. L'Atelier has no view but good food at not a completely stupid price point.

You also could do Delmonico or Cut or sthg like that.

Great food and a different view/show you could consider SW steakhouse at the Wynn. Go late enough that it will be dark so you can enjoy the show on the lake.

I'd second going to the SW - you're paying the Wynn tax at both, but Costa gets into the " I feel stupid for paying this much " area. Ate there once on a comp, and it was VERY good. Just not good enough for me to dig into my pocket to pay that much for it.

June should be perfect for sitting outside, but I'd wait until after sundown, both for viewing the show and not feeling like you're sitting on the surface of the sun (especially if we're talking late June.)

MM MD

Possibly thirded. Although there comes a point where if you go to SW and either (a) your finger goes too far down the wine list or (b) your date decides to try the wagyu surfed with lobster tail you will be in Picasso $$ territory.

Maybe I'm in the minority, but the frog show is wtf? If you go to SW and end up walking out with a $400 check, you may have been better going to Picasso where iirc $450 covered prix fixe + wine pairings + dessert on the patio (with the fountains) + tip. If the date has expensive tastes..... there's really nothing much she can do in Picasso to run up the bill from there.

That said, if you go to SW, you'd have to order very badly to not have a great meal.

Just looked up the Wagyu menu... pfffft. Maybe not the place to let loose with a first date

yea, even 400 a lot for this broke bastard, i think charlie palmers or even mon ami gabi are nice, might not be fine fine dining but would do the t

Sorry I misread the price constraint and thought it was “can afford”.

That said, for general review of SW I agree the frog show can be “WTF” and not a great fit for a romantic date early in a relationship but it and the subsequent acts can also be a lot of fun and a unique experience if you are open to the “unique”.

The atmosphere sitting lake side at SW is wonderful. Then every 30 minutes comes the absolute **** show. They need to seriously trash the show and replace it with full time, SUBDUED lights and music. I don't know who finds that show appealing but it is not us.

Completely agree, ran. That is one of the most serene and beautiful locations on the strip and it's reduced to an Excalibur level sideshow when that stupid frog pops up. Depending on the occasion I'd prefer the Country Club's outdoor seating with the golf course and waterfall backdrop instead. I'm sure we're not alone. Such a waste.

I completely get the view of all of you saying the lake show is ridiculous and that was the reaction of our group as well and then as we had the following acts (every 30 minutes as far as we could tell) it grew on us. And, no, it wasn’t that we were just getting more drunk. Or at least I wasn’t. Maybe I was just enjoying the rest of our group.

Definitely not romantic or elegant but I think some could find it fun.

Or just go before dark and have an excellent meal.

Unfortunately they closed Country Club when they were planning on removing the golf course (which they have since shelved). I think that restaurant only lasted as long as it did because (I was told) Steve Wynn ate breakfast there every day.