God damn it, I just had to cancel my Vegas trip. I got a serious family situation, I'm not going to go into it, cause this isn't a blog. I just wanted to thank every one for your recommendations. I'll be going next year, so that will give me more time to amass more cash and go super baller. And hopefully gobbo's site will be running by then, ha. My trip report will have to wait. I'll be booking e for sure.

I was in a taxi on the way to the CC steak house, which is my favorite in LV. The cabby was a grouchy old guy from Brooklyn. When I told him I was going to Circus Circus for steak, he said, "I wouldn't chew gum I bought at Circus Circus. But I'd go there for steak..."

The post you just quoted is from 7.5 years ago.

Still holds though

Went a few months ago. It was lunchtime, so maybe the dinner menu is better, but it wasn't even close in terms of quality to other places. The view is amazing and I'll still take guests there for the view, but wouldn't order more than an appetizer or drink next time.

Didn't go anywhere too fancy on my last trip but did end up checking out Blue Ribbon inside the Cosmopolitan. Prices were somewhat okay, very good selection of sushi and bonus that it's right next to Marquee.

Went early before line up started to get big, got our stamps, for in and out access, then went for dinner and walked right in without having to wait in the huge line etc.

Posted about Chada, Tacos el Gordo and Shake Shack in casual thread. Here are the fine dining (sort of) visits from this past weekend:

Costa di Mare
I had been years ago when it was Bartolotta. Back then, I thought the pastas and other appetizer dishes were outstanding while the whole fish was decent, but too much of a money and appetite suck (for two people, anyway). So for this trip, the plan was to skip the fish and just go with the other stuff. Certainly no complaints, but I wasn't as wowed by the pasta this time. I think in the years since I had been there, I have experienced better pasta so it didn't impress me as much. The soft shell crab though was truly excellent.

Triple George Grill
It ain't fine dining, but I had a ribeye so it'll go here. Used a dining credit I had from Downtown Grand to turn an already reasonably-priced place into an incredible deal. Split a ribeye, chopped salad, shrimp cocktail, baked potato, couple of drinks. $90 before discount, and everything tasted good. Dug the atmosphere, which is modeled off of Tadich Grill in San Francisco for those familiar. Basically, the kind of unassuming no-nonsense place that drunk journalists would hang out at in years past. I give it my highest recommendation for a downtown restaurant.

Bouchon
Had breakfast, and it still doesn't disappoint. Great food, great value (for Vegas).

First time at Kabuto tomorrow night. What is the best way to go? Just doing the big omakase?

Also, for price if I do that it looks like it should be $240 for two Omakase and then throw in a couple drinks / tips / tax. So like $330 total?

More if you get extra nigiri. But yeah.

When you throw in the extra nigiri, not if.

Jealous of your Kabuto cherry being popped.

What did you get? I'm a sucker for the banana-walnut waffles, but the florentine quiche or whatever they call it is also amazing.

when they ask you what extra nigiri you would like to order (seems to be roughly 2/3 of the way through the omakase experience, iirc), my suggestion is to tell them to select it for you. if you sign up for omakase, why not let them pick the extra nigiri? our Itamae the last time we visited didn't choose the most expensive items on the menu, he instead appeared to select nigiri based on our reaction to offerings from the omakase menu.

Because the whole point is to get the stuff that you want to try that wasn't included in your omakase. Get one of each of the most expensive is usually what I do and it never disappoints.

totally understood, but the four items we were served weren't included in the omakase menu. why not let the itamae chose what he thinks are the best ingredients of the day that allow him to showcase his skills?

Because toro is ****ing delicious and they never put it on the omakase because it's too expensive.

and spouse and I were served toro when we let them pick for us, along with a couple of less expensive items.

Went to Yui tonight and it was everything I had hoped for. Ordered Gen's selection. The nigiri course/menu is so damn good. I could've just had two of everything. Also the loved the grilled course. I can't remember the fish on that one but also included wagyu. There was also raw wagyu on the sashimi course. Favorite of the sashimi was the one from Spain (bluefin?) can't recall. The nigiri was the highlight for me. Every piece. The dessert wasn't good but who cares.

I'm not gonna pretend like my palate is strong enough to discern between Kabuto and Yui. Iirc Kabuto didn't use as much wasabi as Yui did. I love them both. Can't wait to go back. Yui also has a wagyu beef place that just opened up a few days ago according to the hostess. It's in the same building.

Gobbo, you're doing omakase still and adding nigiri? I thought you were just going straight nigiri these days there?

I swear toro was on our omakase experience, and it was so amazing we definitely ordered more at the a la cart portion, but now you have me wondering!

Probably chu-toro and akami, not o-toro/kamashi ta/wakaremi

Pretty certain that one of o-toro and chu-toro (if not both) were part of our recent omakase experience. I hit both again as options at any rate.

Generally I am but I did for the former at my first Yui trip.

I've had a number of things, including their chicken and waffles (which are great) and boudin blanc; this time around I just got a fairly standard eggs and stuff. Wife had the waffle (not banana-walnut) which she loved.

Interesting, because my one complaint about Kabuto was that they put too much wasabi on there. Can't taste the fish anymore when there's too much wasabi.

Been quite some time since I have been to Las Vegas, going to make a quick trip with the wife staying at the Cosmo over Valentines/President's day weekend. Any suggestions on a good splurge for a dinner while we are there? I don't mind spending some money, but wife isn't too adventurous. Especially want to hear of any of the good places from the past 3-4 years, as I have probably been to most of the older places ( but if a restaurant has stepped up it's game, wouldn't mind trying it ) Thanks in advance.