If I am responding to a short message I quote without pruning.

If it is a long message, I prune.

I generally quote because I don't know if someone else will post before I post.

I am on a phone so I rarely multiquote.

We have booked our return. This time with the better halves.

My wife liked the Bellagio rooms better (Fountain View) and that's where we'll be.

Anticipated changes:
More poolside time.
Less burgers.
Wearing pants to dinner.

Love Aria poker room, but I'm a PLO player.

Not sure if they have a humidor/cigars, but if you want bourbon (or wine, etc.) for the room, this place is awesome: https://stagedoorcasino.com/liquor-store/

Have fun, again!

go to En Fuegos on sahara blvd by the Sahara and Strat... you can't walk there from ARIA. you could also get a steak from Golden Steer in the same parking lot.

Montecristo at Caesars is still the best cigar bar in town IMO especially if there are games on that you want to watch. Casa Fuente is great but Montecristo big wall of tvs ftw.

Cut is still the best steak place in town for our group, we've tried just about every place over the last 20 years and Cut is just absolutely the most consistent.

Two solid choices ....

Golden Steer has been there for 45+ years ...

Thanks again for the updated replies.

Sounds like we'll be burning cigars in the cabana by day and at some of the lounges indoors after that. AC casinos are still non-smoking (COVID protocol leftovers that haven't been relaxed). No mention of that at the Bellagio.

I've been reading the Fine Dining thread again, and listed some of the top places to do some research. While I balked initially at the PRIME (Bellagio) prices, as well as JG (Aria) they don't seem out of line. The wife wants to hit Joe's for steak and seafood. That might happen.

I do think a $$$$ dinner at Bellagio with a view of the fountains would be really nice. Current discussion is about Yellowtail for that, and steak elsewhere.

We've done Sushi Samba on other trips, when staying at Venitian/Palazzo. Probably headed to Tekka Bar (Cosmo) for sushi. Any other recs for sushi?

Yea grab a few mojitos and a house cigar at casa Fuente and watch some sports and get bourbob at montecristo. Also you can get food delivered from old homestead at montecristo and old homestead has the best burger in Vegas.

Zuma at Cosmo would be a better call at that property if its sushi you want.

If you're happy to go off strip, Kabuto and Yui Edomae Sushi are both outstanding.

+1

Just be aware that Tekka is very small, and the menu is limited to just hand rolls at the bar.

Thanks. Looked as far as "zuma at a glance $$$$" and didn't add it to the list




Appreciate that. When reading some other threads, I found some AYCE places within a few miles.

We've penciled in our dinner plans, and included an AYCE. I'll have to check Kabuto and YES and see about adding that to the list.


Went back to take another look at Zuma. It does look amazing. If things go really well at the tables, might look into a later in the trip substitution.


Yes, I eventually saw that. It's not on our list currently, but we'll be in the area a few times and might incorporate it somehow. Maybe grab some rolls prior to eating somewhere else at Cosmo. We do have Holstein's and China Poblano both on the schedule. Hoping to slip in some Hattie Bs as well (which didn't make the final list).

The plan so far....

Noodles (Bellagio) - We enjoy N.O.W. at the Borgata and Noodles seems like a casual enough place to grab a variety of different Asian dishes. The wife is Chinese, from HK and raised in the Bronx. While I eat a lot of Chinese food (like all good Jewish men), we both enjoy a variety of Asian cuisines. We've got it as a 1st meal when we arrive, and plan to stop there the night before we depart. I won't be shocked if we grab a mid-day snack/meal.

Wicked Spoon (Cosmo) and the Bellagio Buffet (should be open by the time we arrive) - A couple of big brunches. Skipping the one at Caesars. We've enjoyed it in the past, we'll get to it another time.

Sadelle's (Bellagio) - Should be a good brunch, without getting stuffed. Ate there last time and enjoyed it.

A nearby AYCE Sushi place. Will give a further look at Gorilla Sushi, Jjanga Sushi, Sushi neko, Umiya, and Sakana.

Holstein's (Cosmo) - Loved it last time. Will return for sure.

PRIME (Bellagio) - Proper steakhouse visit. Considered others. TBH, as much as I enjoy a great steakhouse, there are a lot of great ones that to me are just as good as the others. Prices will be similar enough not to really be a factor.

Din Tai Fung (Aria), Jasmine (Bellagio), China Polbano (Cosmo) - A variety of cuisines and Jasmine should be a nicer experience.


So that's the current plan

Appreciate all the feedback ITT and via PM.

OP, I’ve seen several postings from people about how the service in Vegas, even in high end restaurants, is very sub par at the moment. This is mainly due to a lack of staffing in the whole city due to COVID. JSU an FYI for you in case things don’t meet your expectations.

Thanks. We transitioned from staying home to eating out in the spring/summer when our vaccine protection was full. In NJ, there are similar issues as places have a tough time getting the staffing correct. We mostly see them seating less than 100% of tables at restaurants. We assume it's partially social distancing, partly regulations that have not been rescinded, and partially due to under-staffing. We're happy to make a reservation and get good service, but there can be lines for sure as there are still a lot of people who seem to just want to finally go out again.

Using the $ to $$$$ scale on the mlife websites, we have one really nice dinner (Prime) and one nice dinner (Jasmine). The rest should be casual enough that we don't mind slower service as long as they are bringing drinks.

This trip is in lieu of a postponed Carribean trip, which we knew would be full of stress over flight delays/cancellations and possible resort staffing issues. We'll keep our expectations in line with a recovering from pandemic world.

Just returned from a week at the Bellagio. Flew out with the wife last Tuesday. My buddy joined us on Wednesday and his better half came in Friday night.

Noodles - Good. Reminded me of a nicer N.O.W. (Borgata). Decided to eat there on the first night after getting settled in. Decided to have it again as take out another night, and went there the last night for a quick casual. meal.

Holstein's - Great. Decided to bail on AYCE sushi (mistake) and headed to Cosmo to possibly grab a few dishes in the district. Ended up deciding on a sit down meal with a server. Burgers are fantastic. Apps and sides great. Service was top notch and everyone enjoyed a beverage (shake, beer, black cherry soda). Waddled out stuffed. Will return every trip.

Jasmines - Great. Got seated with a view of the fountains. Had to contend with an obnoxious table next to us, but they left about halfway through our meal. Service was A+, food A+, staff A+. They are 100% serious about dress code and age restrictions. Much appreciated.

PRIME - Great. Crappy table, but a good waiter. Food was outstanding. Apps were killer, and the wife and I split the aged bone-in ribeye. I talked my buddy into the F1 filet and it was outstanding.

The Still - Great. Decided to see Beatles LOVE. It was awesome. We were at the Mirage and decided for a casual dinner. Great beer list. Apps were great, as were the meals. If we're at Mirage again, we'll go back.

China Poblano - Great. Waiter was great. Food was amazing. Thought it might be more fusion, but it's simply great Chinese food and great Mexican food. Would happily return.

Resorts World - Headed there for lunch and poker. Ordered a few dishes from multiple places. All were awesome. Brisket soup, roast piglet, peking duck tacos, fried steamed dumplings. There were easily 10+ dishes I would have been happy eating. Poker was OK. Will return if there is a reason to be there. Not worth the cost of 2 taxi rides and the price of lunch just to go eat.

Late morning, early afternoon cigars were in/near the cabanas. Post dinner cigars were mostly at Baccarat, occasionally at the slots.

Weather related flight issues. His better half had her flight out cancelled, but was able to book and still get out. Our flight home was cancelled, but we got on an earlier flight and got home. He got bumped from his flight, and rebooked onto hers. They were diverted, and landed much later than expected and couldn't get home that night.

Looking forward to the next time.

Thanks for the trip report.

What tourists experience and report is interesting to residents, especially dining and poker related topics.

In a few years, when I am retired, I'd like to visit in the 'winter' when it's nicer to be outside and walking around. I know (from reading the threads here in LVL) that there is a lot more to Vegas than the strip.

However, for a short summer trip, it's not worth the effort to us to head outside the strip often. Should have gone to Hayashi with my buddy and his better half, who had an errand to run and just grabbed lunch. Had a great meal at Lotus of Siam years ago, and a great Chinese noodle joint that required a taxi out and a local to give us a ride back (pre-Uber).

As expected, we stayed in the B/A/C complex for the majority of the time. Fortunately, the restaurants were excellent, despite concerns for staffing issues. Lots of reservations, although we cancelled a few after finding that wait times were not going to be an issue.

When it's just the boys again, there is a better chance of headed off campus for cigars, bourbon and a different view.

burger lounge at Aria is among my favorite burgers anywhere. Having it right by the entrance also makes it a great spot to people watch.

I recall having a great, but messy, burger there on the trip from the initial post. I don't think we even made it to Aria this time.

I had the worse “burger” I’ve ever had in my life there. It was so bad I had to throw it out after trying to eat a few bites of it….found out later that I had accidentally ordered a vegan burger

Gearing up for another round.
Same buddy and I are staying at Aria.
Another buddy will be at PH for part of the trip.

How's the burger at Cut?

Thinking about getting over to see the Sphere.
Then might as well check out the Venetian, and Cut.

Bar menu/Rough cuts looks good.
I'm assuming we'll be casually dressed.

We arrived. Cigars at Lift to kick it off


Late night Posh burgers.
Sushi Neko for lunch today and the Holstein trip may get pushed back.