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"...F&B outlets aren't really seeing much if any "float" from the gaming floor." An outside restaurant operator can benefit, when the casino picks up the tab for one of its preferred players. A good casino comp provides plenty of opportunity for the restaurant to provide a high profit margin meal to its VIP guest.

I haven't been to Ortolan, but Sona fits your criteria for modern cuisine with a more relaxed environment. Great clean flavors and dish conception. Definite Japanese influence coming into the menu (probably due to David Myers spending more time with other projects). Just went to providence last month, and was underwhelmed. The dishes were well executed, but the dishes weren't well integrated and/or the flavors were uninspiring, IMHO. David Myers of Sona also owns Comme Ca, which may fit your casual criteria.

Yeah, can't argue with that. ← How important is atmosphere? Mesa Grill overlooks the Caesars Palace sportsbook and entrance to Pure.

Enoteca San Marco http://www.venetian.com/venetianeng/Assets/Files/enoteca.pdf

I should have considered the lack of a question mark, and, of course your tag line!

Thank you Octaveman. I apparently need to be more careful when making a reference to a popular musical event associated with a southern California pop-culture icon in this strictly food discussion thread.

I recall two stories, but I can't verify the veracity of either: David Lynch allegedly ate at the Bob's on Van Nuys Blvd. (no longer in existence) everyday with Kyle McLaughlin while filming a movie in the neighborhood. He supposedly ordered the Big Boy combo every time as well. The producers of the 1968 Elvis Comeback Special went to the Toluca Lake Bob's to find audience members for the show.

I was sitted waaay over in the last room next to the kitchen, I think. I hope to return to Las Vegas in Dec. We'll see what happens ... ← Consider requesting the kitchen table. Be warned, it's a lot of food.

Bradley's son is named Bryan. Love the triple seared Kobe beef preparation that they offer on the appetizer list sometimes. The bison steak is also quite good.

Other high end Chinese restaurants include: Empress Court in Caesars Palace and Jasmine in Bellagio. Empress Court emphasizes Cantonese and Hong Kong dishes. It's a nice looking room on the second floor, and overlooks some of the pools. Depending on your budget and tastes, it's definitely the type of place where one can order the expected dishes (walnut and honey prawns), or one can go way off the menu. Although it's been a few years, I distinctly remember the waiter telling us about a table near us that ordered four 3 ounce servings of swallows nest soup at $100+/ounce. Never eaten at Jasmine, but I've seen some Shanghai and Jiangsu items on the menu, such as Wu Xi ribs. Finally, there's a restaurant in the Venetian that only allows patrons in with a minimum casino credit line of $500,000. I imagine one could eat whatever one wanted there for free...

The restaurant was called 3950. It's closed. Michael Mina's new steakhouse will take its place.

Prime recently turned over its management, chef, and some staff. That said, the "lake view" seats are great. I'm not sure whether the patio serves dinner, but it is definitely available for drinks. Delmonico's atmosphere, in my opinion, does not compare to Prime. Personally, I thought the rib eye was better at Delmonico. The NY at Prime never let me down. Charlie Palmer in the Four Seasons (Mandalay Bay), has been garnering very positive reviews, but I haven't been there yet.

Can't offer any first hand advice, but the 7/31/05 Wine Spectator covered the Wynn restaurants. "Bartolotta opened with 800 wines, including a broad selection of Italian whites to go with the fish, and lots of big-name reds from Piedmont and Tuscany. Florence-born Cluadio Villani, who came from Incanto in San Francisco, is the sommelier." This is about as in depth as it gets in the article on Bartolotta's wines.

Foodie-Girl, fear not. There are some really great places to eat that are relatively inexpensive, and I don't mean In-N-Out or Fatburger. Based on the LA Times article (17 May 2006) noted above ^, I suspect there is an a la carte menu. The article mentions one dish, Perhaps, there is someone who may be able to answer your question more thoroughly. ← Hi Russell, I wasn't suggesting a jump to the opposite end of the price spectrum to "inexpensive"...just curious as to anyone else who might have dined at Guy Savoy or has access to menu information/prices. Our 'usual suspects' in LV are Bradley Ogden/Il Molino/Daniel Boulud, etc...so we're not exactly unacquainted with costs for great meals...but even a foodie-girl has her limits....... ← This raises an interesting question (at least to me): Is vegas reaching a high end price point? These restaurants cannot presumably maintain their operations on casino comp guests alone.

For Lebanese, try Skaf's Grill. It's a family run place in a strip mall on the corner of Laurel Canyon and Oxnard (North Hollywood). Besides the basic staples, like chicken and beef kebabs, foul, etc., there are always daily specials, including, but not limited to: stuffed eggplant (Tuesday), kafta (Wednesday), and lemon chicken (Friday). The restaurant also sometimes offers lamb, stuffed cabbage, lima been and beef stew, green bean and beef stew, and stuffed squash. All meals come with a salad, pita and hummus. Skaf's Grill 6008 Laurel Canyon Blvd. North Hollywood (818) 985 5701