I don't like foie gras. For some reason I didn't realize that the rib eye came with a small piece of it.

The lobster pot pie was a smaller portion but pretty generous for a tasting menu.

i ate there last summer with thac and clayton and a bunch of other 2p2ers and i got food poisoning. awesome experience to lose ccr after that!

I need help. My cousin and I will be in Vegas for the 2p2 party in July.

In addition to one really nice dinner, I'm planning on brunch at Bouchon and lunch at maybe Rosemary's or Vintner Grill.

Considerations for the dinner:

- I've made a reservation for this at Carnevido, but I'm wavering.

- Budget about $150 each. If we got a wine pairing, we'd probably share it. I'm sure both of us would be just as happy with a cocktail or two.

- She is allergic to shellfish.

- L'Atelier: Very hard to dismiss "chef of the century." May be my only chance to ever try his food.

(Love the idea of Robuchon, but realistically can't see spending the money it would require. Is the three courses for $168 worth it? I'd want the cheese course -which bumps it to $215 with nothing to drink!)

I can see us enjoying the bar at L'Atelier. Tasting menu is reasonable, but of course there's shellfish. (I'm sure they'd substitute.) If we ordered a la carte can we get out of there for around $150 each?

- Lobster Pot Pie: The one thing I've read about that sounds to die for in Vegas is Mina's Lobster pot pie. In comparing Mina and Nob Hill's menus, I like Nob Hill's better, but I'm concerned about comments that quality is lesser at Nob Hill. I hate to have our one big dinner decided on me wanting this one dish that sounds delicious and pass up what might be better options overall.

- I've never had foie gras and it's on my list to try it this trip.

Any advice?

Picasso is amazing, you would probably enjoy that a lot. It's at Bellagio and it was where I had the best meal of my life.

Looking at their menu I could definitely be talked into it. The Prixe Fixe looks like it has non shellfish options for each course, and I really like the fact that you get a choice for each course. Prices look very reasonable.

Have you had their Foie Gras au Torchon?

Noob first post:

As much as I'd like to visit all of the places mentioned here (I really think I read the whole thread) I'm not sure the group I'm travelling with is as much a foodie as I am. And a few of them are vegetarian.

Can I get a few suggestions of places a tier down from the "fine dining" establishments. I'm not interested in places like Grand Lux ( we have one in Dallas here) or other chains. A chef run place with a small amount of cachet would be ideal.

Unfortunately we are staying at Mandalay but we can cab it to wherever.

My first prefeernce is places on strip but am open to near strip. Thanks!

Yeah, it's very good. First time I ever had foie was at there.

holy
****

sage

Whoa, I'm real psyched now! The closure of La Madonna was truly a sad event; now I can't wait to get back to Vegas to sample at Robert Solano's new digs:

http://www.eatinglv.com/2010/04/mund...-vegas-weekly/

Has anybody been to Mundo yet?

Keep in mind that the $215 meal gets you two main courses instead of one, in addition to the cheese course. It's a pretty good value when compared to the $168 meal (though obviously still very expensive).

If you mean a tier down from the true fine dining places (really anywhere with a true prix fixe is what you're thinking of, right?), you can and should still consider places like Sage, Bouchon, Bradley Ogden, RM Seafood (at Mandalay), etc. But are you thinking a tier down from those?

my impression is that they are looking for a tier lower than this.

you could try emeril's at MGM. i ate there once with my grandma and we all liked the food.

you don't have to say you're unfortunately staying at Mandalay, they have a pretty wide selection of casual dining.

http://www.mandalaybay.com/dining/casual.aspx

It's very similar to La Madonna, maybe even a bit better. In other words, it's the best Mexican food I've had in Vegas.

Good to know. I also really like the idea that Julian Serrano actually works at Picasso.

Thanks. I didn't catch that when I checked their menus. Still very tempted, but I can't see getting out of there for less than $600 for two of us. I'm fine going somewhat over the $300, but can't justify $600 or more to myself.

I now have reservations for the same night at Carnevido, L'Atelier, and Picasso. I'm 90% sure Picasso is the one I'll keep.

came ITT to ask about Mundo after reading the review. Really want to try it this trip (in a plane, on my way to vegas, as i type!)

Carnevino. Yes, I'm a spelling nit.

I haven't eaten at L'Atelier but between Picasso and Carnevino, Picasso is definitely the right choice.

entertainme, I think you have to go w/ Picasso. Jimmy's been to all the restaurants and he really, really loved the meal there. So much so, he paid for my daughter and son-in-law's meal there their wedding night. I'm thinkin' I might even get him to spring for dinner there on his birthday Monday night

What I meant was mandalay not close to the heart of strip where more dining action is at.

And I did mean a tier down from Sage et al. e.g how is Dal Toro, Eiffel tower restaurant, etc. And is there a place that offers better than usual value for being on strip?

Mon Ami Gabi at Paris would work for you I would think

This is a pretty good recommendation.

If you're more concerned with food quality than ambiance, Enoteca San Marco at the Venetian is an awesome value. It feels a bit like you're eating in a mall food court but the pizza and pasta very nearly keeps up with Batali's fancier places like Carnevino and B&B.

Brag: husband taking me to Joel Robuchon this summer! Whether it will top the best meal of my life-- at the French Laundry --remains to be seen.

went to okada @ wynn a couple weeks ago. I was actually surprised when I went and asked about a tasting menu, and was told that they really only offered them for 6+ people or whatever (3 of us). I ended up just asking the waiter to put together a tasting menu for us based on things he recommended, only thing I wanted for sure was the omi beef (waygu beef from Omi prefecture in Japan) to split between the table. Not sure on the rating, but I assume it was A-5 or close given it was $35/oz. The entire meal was good, but the highlight was definitely the steak. Only thing I wasnt a bit fan of was the roboto or whatever it is called (skewers grilled on charcoal grill...we ended up only getting veggies) Bill for the 3 of us ended being close to $600.

Next morning I left Vegas for California, and had a late dinner @ French laundry. Wasn't blown away by the meal, tasted just like Per Se (many of the courses I had before @ Per Se). Cool thing is that we ended up getting the night's menu autographed by Thomas Keller (mailed to me a week later).

Did you prefer Per Se?

Took my girl to American Fish the other night. Damn, that place is fantastic. Best tuna tartare I've ever had, the mixed seafood grill was amazing, she had Alaskan King Crab and it was delicious. The service was pretty good and for being a restaurant in City Center, the ambiance wasn't bad. Their bar is really cool and they specialize in old fashioned drinks, none of the fancy crap. I highly recommend it. Oh and out the door it was about $200 for us with entree's, shared appetizer, drinks, and dessert

Ditto.

Really, pretty much the same experience.