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8 hours ago, bigup2dahorns said:

We can recommend just about any type of restaurant but the choices are all over the place. Do you want an experience at a big Strip hotel with a view or something more low key and are you mostly asking for a steak restaurant recommendation or another specific type? If you narrow that down a little bit someone on here will give you a few winning choices

Two kids under 21 so nothing casino adjacent I would think, but something special and unique )if that exists).  It's a birthday dinner for the youngest and his favorite cuisine is probably Thai, with Nashville hot chicken a close second.  My wife and I are fish and fresh vegetable types.  I'm the only one who drinks so the wine list is irrelevant. 

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Considering your answer I would think the winner could be Lotus of Siam (as mentioned above). It’s one of the best Thai restaurants in the country. Definitely make a reservation in advance it can be tough to get in at times. It’s off the Strip and not fancy. Many of us eat there every single trip to Vegas.

When my family was staying at the Sahara in 1957 we drove “all the way” out in the desert to the Flamingo for their smorgasbord dinner. It was awesome to a 12 year old kid.
 

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15 minutes ago, bigup2dahorns said:

Considering your answer I would think the winner could be Lotus of Siam (as mentioned above). It’s one of the best Thai restaurants in the country. Definitely make a reservation in advance it can be tough to get in at times. It’s off the Strip and not fancy. Many of us eat there every single trip to Vegas.

This is the answer, if his favorite food is Thai take him here, I am one of those people that goes on every trip. 

It’s not fancy, but it’s also not hole in the wall, it would be great for a birthday dinner. 

I asked a Vegas local friend about that Thai place, if it was the best in town. 
Here’s his reply:

Quote

From what I hear it is…

Been wanting to try the place but I hear it takes weeks to get a reservation there…it isn’t close to where we live and we have an excellent Thai restaurant (Pin Kaow) in Henderson just a few minutes from where we live.

Kinda makes it a no brainer why we go to Pin Kaow instead…but one of these days I’ve gotta try Lotus of Siam.

 

Le Thai on Freemont is really good. Short rib Fried Rice is amazing. Its about half a block down from the El Cortez. Follow it up with a walk down Freemont Street. Kids will love it.

3 hours ago, bigup2dahorns said:

Considering your answer I would think the winner could be Lotus of Siam (as mentioned above). It’s one of the best Thai restaurants in the country. Definitely make a reservation in advance it can be tough to get in at times. It’s off the Strip and not fancy. Many of us eat there every single trip to Vegas.

Yep. Ate there the last Saturday in March. Reservation of course as it was packed. Garlic prawns, king crab fried rice, duck noodle, and drunken noodles with beef. Every trip its a must. Had brunch at Mon Ami Gabi twice, Peppermill once. STK on Friday night. Superb with talent everywhere. Wraparound suite on 65th floor facing the fountains.  LAVO was good. Capo's. Secret Pizza and In-n-Out. Always need days of water, fruit and vegetables when I get home.  

Mon Ami Gabi is one of our go-to places for a meal and to catch the Vegas vibes.

 

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Also would be remiss if I did not mention Piero's. I take clients there every year. It's a blast. 

Based on what he eventually said, yes, Lotus of Siam is a great choice. I’ve been many times and the food will not disappoint.  It also won’t cost an arm and a leg and the vibe will be good for a family including underage kids. 

That said, I don’t see it as a must every time. To each their own. We mix it in. 

With everyone I ever go with, the only two musts are a strip steakhouse, of the highest quality, and Piero’s, which is unequaled in terms of Vegas mobbed up Italian. I am pondering buying tickets for a long Vegas weekend with my wife right now just thinking about this. 

When I am with my wife only, we also always go to Le Cirque. Going with dudes would be weird. Going with a SO, it is the most certain guarantee of pussy afterwards outside of being a teenager or using Rohypnol. 

Because I always stay in Aria, I always wind up at Javier’s in an unplanned way. They have the best queso flameado on the planet. Their margaritas are also at the top of the mark. 

Anyway, for future reference to others. 

21 hours ago, Classic Rock said:

Le Thai on Freemont is really good. Short rib Fried Rice is amazing. Its about half a block down from the El Cortez. Follow it up with a walk down Freemont Street. Kids will love it.

This is also a correct answer. Ate there last trip. Stayed at El Cortez and was hungry. Walked outside and saw it across the street. Never heard anything about it before. Wandered in and it was stupid good.

Went a few weeks ago and saw the Eagles at the Sphere.  It was awesome.  I was burned out on the Eagles but the Sphere experience made it seem new.  We stayed at Vdara which was awesome.  It didn't have a casino but was tied to Cosmo, Bellagio and Aria.  No casino meant no huge lines for taxis, ubers or checking in or out.  We ate at Nobu and Jean George.  Both were meh.  Nobu was crazy expensive and 100% not worth it.  Jean George--had better steak at outback.  Oh well live and learn.  Was going to play Shadow Creek but my game blows and the weather was cold rainy and blowing like Bandon on a bad day.  Saved that $1500.  Put $100 on the Gators to win the natty so that worked out well.  Broke even on about everything else (isn't that what everyone says that doesn't win big).  

33 minutes ago, Litig8r said:

Went a few weeks ago and saw the Eagles at the Sphere.  It was awesome.  I was burned out on the Eagles but the Sphere experience made it seem new.  We stayed at Vdara which was awesome.  It didn't have a casino but was tied to Cosmo, Bellagio and Aria.  No casino meant no huge lines for taxis, ubers or checking in or out.  We ate at Nobu and Jean George.  Both were meh.  Nobu was crazy expensive and 100% not worth it.  Jean George--had better steak at outback.  Oh well live and learn.  Was going to play Shadow Creek but my game blows and the weather was cold rainy and blowing like Bandon on a bad day.  Saved that $1500.  Put $100 on the Gators to win the natty so that worked out well.  Broke even on about everything else (isn't that what everyone says that doesn't win big).  

What did that $100 pay out?

On 4/10/2025 at 10:51 AM, Armybrat said:

Fremont on Halloween seven years ago…

 

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Working Super Troopers GIF

34 minutes ago, tokamak said:

Working Super Troopers GIF

Yeah, my hand was a bit shaky with the cellphone that afternoon & evening. 
But the two street chicks wanted $$ to take their pics, so I had to sneak around to another vantage point in the Gokden Nugget.

1 hour ago, gernblansten said:

What did that $100 pay out?

$650  Should have bought earlier in the week.  I can't remember where the Gators were in the SEC tournament but pretty far along I think. 

4 hours ago, RPM said:

This is also a correct answer. Ate there last trip. Stayed at El Cortez and was hungry. Walked outside and saw it across the street. Never heard anything about it before. Wandered in and it was stupid good.

+1   

A staple for us. Short rib fried rice and a lot more to like. 

Firs time to Vegas in 2 years. Went a spent a day at the Bronco Off-Roadeo which was awesome. Got a suite at the Fontainebleau - hotel is meh and I won’t go back. 
 

food was meh.
 

Maybe it’s because I’m in my mid-40’s and have been going to Vegas almost twice a year since I was 13 (slowed down to mostly annually once I had kids, but I never remember the place overall being so fucking trashy. Yeah, yeah, I know walking along the strip you see all the unwashed, but even in the nicer hotels I gambled/ate in, just nasty looking people who’d I just as soon like to take a flamethrower to as if they were homeless people living in a tent city. 

  • 2 weeks later...
43 minutes ago, Armybrat said:

Friend having a Wagyu burger at the Venetian shopping mall.

 

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The restaurant should probably keep a defibrillator nearby with that thing on the menu.

2 minutes ago, royiv said:

The restaurant should probably keep a defibrillator nearby with that thing on the menu.

He posted those pics on our little Vegas social board, so I replied with this….

 

 

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We have a trip to Wynn in July, and in finalizing dinner reservations and whatnot, I was told that SW will be closed that month for remodeling.  However, 6666 will be open through August.

There's just no place in Vegas with the level of attention and service that Wynn has.   I booked a dinner at Sinatra, and the concierge noted that we ate there a year ago, same night.   He asked how our corner booth was (we had a 3.5 hour dinner) and asked if we would like the same booth that we had a year ago.   

 

 

  • Author

I would call Wynn again just to confirm what will be open and closed. Tonight on their earnings call they announced delays/pushbacks to their capex plans (due to tariff costs) including the remodeling of rooms at the Encore and other projects. So it’s possible some plans have just changed.

On 4/27/2025 at 6:36 PM, royiv said:

The restaurant should probably keep a defibrillator nearby with that thing on the menu.

On a related note, I don't think I've ever seen (much of) anyone eating at this place downtown but it seems to have been around awhile.

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6 minutes ago, Wally Pryor said:

On a related note, I don't think I've ever seen (much of) anyone eating at this place downtown but it seems to have been around awhile.

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Great, so half of San Antonio and 3/4 of Alabama get free meals!

I got 2 coworkers that definitely would be eating free. But they would rather go to Florabama.

Going to Vegas for a conference in a few weeks. Need a romantic spot for night one with the wife. We did me cirque last year and it was awesome. Something like that but not $600 would be ideal. Also, haven’t seen absinthe in awhile. Still good?

11 minutes ago, NoRagrets said:

Going to Vegas for a conference in a few weeks. Need a romantic spot for night one with the wife. We did me cirque last year and it was awesome. Something like that but not $600 would be ideal. Also, haven’t seen absinthe in awhile. Still good?

Could always do Bavette’s or Eiffel Tower with a view of the fountains. Saw Absinthe a month ago. Didn’t seem as good as in the past, could’ve just been an off night. 

Heading out tomorrow.  I may end up like that guy in the hallway after the last couple of months I've had at work.

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On 5/1/2025 at 2:24 PM, Armybrat said:

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CSB a few years back, that was a buddy of mine. We had gotten separated somewhere along the way, as young single guys often do in Vegas. We had rooms next to each other and for some odd reason, his key didn't work. He knocked on my door but no one answered, it was around 3 or 4am so in his infinite drunken wisdom, he figured he'd just wait in the hall until I got back.

He was in the wrong hotel.  Right room number though.

On 5/7/2025 at 6:44 PM, gernblansten said:

Could always do Bavette’s or Eiffel Tower with a view of the fountains. Saw Absinthe a month ago. Didn’t seem as good as in the past, could’ve just been an off night. 

Ate at Bavette’s this week, have to say I prefer the Chicago location. Something about it being in the Park MGM and where it was located inside just didn’t fit. We ate at Beauty and Essex again and it was great like always. Also ate at Amaya (took over Holstein’s spot) at the Cosmo and it was excellent for what it was. 

On 5/7/2025 at 6:31 PM, NoRagrets said:

Going to Vegas for a conference in a few weeks. Need a romantic spot for night one with the wife. We did me cirque last year and it was awesome. Something like that but not $600 would be ideal. Also, haven’t seen absinthe in awhile. Still good?

 

Sinatra or Pieros could fit the bill.

 

 

17 hours ago, kevwun said:

Heading out tomorrow.  I may end up like that guy in the hallway after the last couple of months I've had at work.

Raider Claw might be worth hunting down.

 

Heading out for a show soon and typically stay at the Wynn but the folks we're going with are thinking Fountainbleau.  I like the restaurants at the Wynn and the easy walk to the Sphere but would be easier to stay with the group at the Fountainbleau. Any thoughts on or experiences at the Fountainbleau?

1 hour ago, Gale Snoats said:

Heading out for a show soon and typically stay at the Wynn but the folks we're going with are thinking Fountainbleau.  I like the restaurants at the Wynn and the easy walk to the Sphere but would be easier to stay with the group at the Fountainbleau. Any thoughts on or experiences at the Fountainbleau?

Wife stayed there a couple of months ago when she was in town for a trade show at LVCC. She said her room was nice and it was convenient for her to get to the convention center. She said it was completely dead in all the common areas, which for her is a plus, but probably isn’t for most people wanting a more Vegas-like experience.

On 5/7/2025 at 10:15 AM, Wally Pryor said:

On a related note, I don't think I've ever seen (much of) anyone eating at this place downtown but it seems to have been around awhile.

image.thumb.png.89f78ad9a7cfdb549d050ab467f4b9b1.png

 

 

I had an ice cream there or a shake or something there once, it came with a half stick of butter which was tough to finish.   Had a burger there which was just okay but nothing memorable.   Typical tourist trap.

It does get entertaining when the waitresses spank customers with a paddle for not finishing their order.   They beat the shit out of some people

1 hour ago, royiv said:

Wife stayed there a couple of months ago when she was in town for a trade show at LVCC. She said her room was nice and it was convenient for her to get to the convention center. She said it was completely dead in all the common areas, which for her is a plus, but probably isn’t for most people wanting a more Vegas-like experience.

Agree with this.  Was there last Fall and while the place is pretty gorgeous it was devoid of people.  Granted it was mid-day, mid-week but it was empty.  It is not convenient to other strip properties as well except for Resorts World and CC (not that you would want to go there).  

4 hours ago, Gale Snoats said:

Heading out for a show soon and typically stay at the Wynn but the folks we're going with are thinking Fountainbleau.  I like the restaurants at the Wynn and the easy walk to the Sphere but would be easier to stay with the group at the Fountainbleau. Any thoughts on or experiences at the Fountainbleau?

I can’t remember if I commented on Fontainebleau from one of my visits last fall, but it falls in line with the rest. We had a reservation there for the Dan’s Steakhouse. 

We went early from our hotel, Aria, and the drive was like 20 minutes. It is was far away from everything else on The Strip. 

When we got there, the place was dead on a Friday evening. We were able to walk up and take over a blackjack table and play for an hour. I prefer craps, but I would have been the only one rolling, so, fuck it. Probably put down $500 to play and have since been offered 3 complimentary nights stay. They seem desperate. 

The place is beautiful. 

The food at the steakhouse was outstanding. We may go back there for the steakhouse again this time since we’ve done most of the others multiple times. 

46 minutes ago, closetojumping said:

I can’t remember if I commented on Fontainebleau from one of my visits last fall, but it falls in line with the rest. We had a reservation there for the Dan’s Steakhouse. 

We went early from our hotel, Aria, and the drive was like 20 minutes. It is was far away from everything else on The Strip. 

When we got there, the place was dead on a Friday evening. We were able to walk up and take over a blackjack table and play for an hour. I prefer craps, but I would have been the only one rolling, so, fuck it. Probably put down $500 to play and have since been offered 3 complimentary nights stay. They seem desperate. 

The place is beautiful. 

The food at the steakhouse was outstanding. We may go back there for the steakhouse again this time since we’ve done most of the others multiple times. 

Almost the exact experience, went for sushi on a Friday night. The restaurant was great but the casino was dead. 

Thank y’all. Just a short guys trip no wives - show and a good steak so I’m gonna try it. I’m old and broken down so fine with it not being crowded. Will get plenty of that at the sphere.

Just decided with the wife to go in early June. Booked flights and picked up a free room for the stay at Aria. 

Booked Le Cirque and Piero’s already. Need to book two more evening spots. One will be a steakhouse and one is an open wildcard. 

If anyone has any new recs, I’m all ears. 

2 hours ago, Gale Snoats said:

Thank y’all. Just a short guys trip no wives - show and a good steak so I’m gonna try it. I’m old and broken down so fine with it not being crowded. Will get plenty of that at the sphere.

For causal eating the food court is pretty good there. The pizza is legit and there are sushi hand rolls that are very good. 

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