Hobbes,

Service and food at both are excellent. I just think the cut service is a little more modern/efficient style (I love it), while delmonico is more of an old school southern steakhouse vibe (I love it).

I went to Delmonico last night. I went once maybe 5 years ago and had forgotten a lot of the level of service. Last time we were in a room that, to my recollection was mostly white and rather bright while this time where I sat and most of what I could see was darker (in a good way) and more modern.

Anyway, it was excellent. I went with the fresh white truffles with pappardelle pasta, butter sauce, Parmesan cheese and chives. The aroma!!! Every bite delightful. I also had their wilted spinach salad with 3 min egg. And, because the lead waiter had advised that may not be enough to satisfy I got scallops with gnocchi. It was all delicious but the third course was too much. Worst case I should have skipped scallops and had room for desert. They also suggested a wine pairing with the truffles, a Chardonnay, that went well.

I don't think I've actually had shaved truffles before and it was one of the best things I have ever eaten.

Strongly recommend.

Definitely should have gotten dessert!

Instead of scallops, maybe. But I was in misery for a brief time in my room later as it was. Doesn't help I rarely drink and had two glasses of wine. Laughably small amount to most. But significant to me.

So you want to a steakhouse and didn't have any steak? Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it's likely unusual.

Correct. It is unusual.

I walked down restaurant row checking out menus. I wanted something good but lighter (hahaha). I had just seen truffle tasting menu at B&B that really caught my eye but it was way more than I was looking for. The scallops caught my eye at Emeril's and I got inside and discovered the truffles...

Dr,

Unusual, but can be very elite meal. P’s sounded very good to me.

Lobster bisque, bbq shrimp, that pasta, dessert. Mmmmm, that sounds like a great meal.

Ok maybe add a steak. Or at least some steak tartare!

Again, thanks everyone for the suggestions. Here's a quick recap of what we did if anyone cares.

We went to Delmonico the first night and it was excellent. Great wine, perfect steak (ribeye), and very attentive waitstaff. For starters we had an heirloom tomato and motz app that were fantastic and a shrimp cocktail that was good as well. Price was incredibly reasonable for a steakhouse of this caliber, an eyelash over $200 pre-tip for a bottle of Washington cab, and all that food (we shared the steak and got a few sides).

We also went to Picasso and it was gorgeous. I wish we were able to sit at a table on the deck next to the fountain as the weather was perfect, but it was all full over there, so we got a table near a window so we could view the fountains from there. We were also able to walk around the restaurants, take in the Picassos, and hang out on the deck to watch the fountains. A very cool experience. We each went with the tasting menu which ended with a foie gras dish and a lamb dish. I liked the lamb more (guess I'm a cheap date) but all the dishes were excellent. The chocolate fondant dessert was probably the highlight though, wow one of the best desserts I've ever had. The chocolate is very dark and flavorful. Only gripe I have about Picasso is that the meal took nearly 3 hours as there was a decent amount of waiting between courses on the tasting menu. Not sure how standard that is.

We finished the trip with a visit to Chada. After ordering "what jimmy gets", we got a mushroom/lotus app that was very good (I need to eat more lotus root, delicious), crispy pork with Chinese broccoli, and of course the duck panang. All were as good as they were the last time I was there.

Also went to Mandarin Bar and Chandelier Bar a few times as we were staying at Cosmo anyway. Penn and Teller was a total blast, highly recommended. We'll have to check out Absinthe next time.

Hey Chrisman, what was the damage at Picasso? Seems like a place my gf would really enjoy.

Depends on your drinking choices. Food is ~$130/person depending on what menu you get, but that's without wine pairings which might actually cost more than your food.

Thanks madlex, guess it's a good thing we don't drink then

We spent $390 including tip. We had only 1 glass of wine each, but not because it was overly expensive or anything (15-20 each for glasses normally, but if you go the wine pairing route it can be like 60-70 per, ouch). The other menu (not the tasting menu, which is what we had) is also slightly less expensive.

Going to Picasso for the first time, plan is to get one cheaper tasting menu and one more expensive tasting menu and split everything. Any recs on what to get?

Id say I order a steak, especially when just eating at the bar alone, about 25% of the time at a steakhouse. You get your favorite place and load up on the apps and sides! Go to carnevino, i get 2 or 3 pastas and am happier than having any steak, or delmonicos and get bbq shrimp, lobster bisque, and steak tartare etc.

so if any you had to take 3 guys who have never been to Vegas to a steakhouse, would it be cut, delmonico, or carnevino? I've had fantastic meals at all of them, but im usually so whiskey'd out I just call each one I was just at the best steakhouse in the world and get back to the craps game. I dont really know if there is a consensus on the best of those three, but i know those are the 3 i have enjoyed the most.

It depends on what you and your friends want out of a steakhouse visit. If it's about impressive meat, Cut is clearly #1 imo, except for the Fiorentina at Carnevino. But if you are going for great apps or want pasta dishes, I wouldn't pick Cut.

Never been to Vegas shouldn't matter imo, it's not like you can't find really good steakhouses in other major cities in the US, none of the 3 restaurants on your list has a specific Vegas feel and their "celebrity" chefs all have multiple restaurants.

I only brought up the "never been to vegas part" as they seem unlikely to come back anytime soon, so I wanted to get it right.

Canoe,

Not a steakhouse per se, but consider Bazaar Meat.

jesus. I forgot SLS existed and that Bazaar Meats was a thing. Looked at the menu and this is going to be perfect. I booked us a table. Considered pre ordering a quarter pig but there's just too much other stuff to try. I have 3 of 4 dinners booked (Chada, Kabuto, Bazaar Meats) if anyone has an idea for a fourth. Probably going to skip L'atllier/Picasso since I dont want to sink all that much time in to dinner. Probably just hit Scarpetta since its in the hotel and Italian will be a nice round out to the deal

Where you comin from Canoe? Depending on sushi accessibility where you're at, I'd prioritize Raku over Kabuto. They have just a great range of things, and you can eat all of them for the price of a dinner at Kabuto. If you're going sushi, consider Yui Edomae instead of Kabuto -- it's the original chef from Kabuto. Either would be outstanding, but Yui would be something new if you've ever done Kabuto before.

Scarpetta obviously a great choice, but Piero's feels so Vegas-y, and if you're looking for a guys' dinner that will be memorable with a Vegas vibe, I'd consider it, despite it being overpriced for what it is. I'm a sucker for a big juicy breaded piece of veal though.

I think I put a picture-laden TR of Bazaar Meat in here from its opening a few years back in case you want to see the non-steak options. Can't go wrong either way - that place is legit and a really fun vibe...once you get through the sad SLS.

Wynman - I am Coming from Orlando. Sushi here is probably on par with Omaha. I'm interested in Yui, but I have never been to Raku. So is your order, Raku > Yui > Kabuto? I have been to Kabuto before, so I am ok skipping it, but with that being said it was (previously) phenomenal. Its been a couple of years though.

Scarpetta is kind of on the list due to the fact that I never have to pay for food at Cosmo, and it's nice to get at least one comped meal in. Piero's does look cool, and could take the place of whatever Peppermill 4 am run I had considered for that Vegas-y meal.

For as nice as the Cosmo is, I find their dinner options to be less than stellar.

Jaleo has gone way downhill/ I really didnt care for e (especially for how expensive it was)
STK is a bull**** chain like Ruth's Chris with a DJ
Momofuku & Beauty and Essex both managed to lose all essence of their originals. Overpriced cafeteria food (fight me)
Milos, China Poblano, Holsteins- all fine for lunch but not enough in vegas for dinner imo
Blue Ribbon Sushi had the dope chicken, Blue Ribbon has some other variation that is pretty OK.

I think maybe because I've never been to the NYC Scarpetta, I still like it.

I have not been to the new Japanese place at Cosmo yet, will check it out sometime but not in a huge rush until someone I trust tells me its awesome.

edit to add: if you have a link to your Bazaar Meats TR i would dig reading it. I already booked the table so it would really be just for fun. I did a thread search but came up pretty empty, you post in here quite a bit!

Canoe,

Yeah, I would recommend blindfolding them on their way into and out of the restaurant so they don’t have to see the sad casino.

I think I also have a detailed trip report from bazaar itt. Been there three times, loved it every time.

Friends who have been there more recently have been offered a tasting menu style dinner where they pick a price per person and the waiter brings stuff. Definitely an easy way to go, but I think you can get a much better meal by reading the reviews itt and looking at the menu yourself. Good chance there’s stuff you prefer more than their chosen greatest hits.

Wyman,

Speaking of overpriced Italian, have you been to carbone? I kinda want to try it.

Canoe,

I’m better at search than you!

Well you just said you're ordering everything on the menu...so get that