gmi3804

I've been to Aqua (Michael Mina) in the past; I wanted to try places I havent tried yet. I know from your previous posts that Prime has huge portions, so we'll order sides accordingly (one vegetable and one potato to split between the two of us). Even though it's comped, I don't believe in wasting food. We'll probably pop into Fix for a drink, at least, because I like to check out places. We've enjoyed Noodles in the past (good Dim Sum for breakfast/lunch), so we'll go back there. Too many good places to try, not enough time! We stayed at The Venetian one cold, drizzly Februaury weekend and never left the building! (God, I love Zefferino, but The V took out all their good video poker, so we can't play there anymore. )

Here's my "rough draft" Thursday, Dinner - Circo Friday, Lunch - Olives Friday, Dinner - Prime Saturday, Lunch - Noodles Saturday, Dinner - Le Cirque Which is better for dinner, Olives or Circo? We don't want three HUGE dinners in a row, hence the casual option on Thursday. I know Prime is "just steak," but it looks like a cool atmosphere. How'd I do?

Will do! Have you been to Fix? Any thoughts about it?

For what it's worth...I've been to Le Cirque 2000 once and didn't think it was nearly as good as LV Le Cirque. I've been to both Picasso and Le Cirque (LV) numerous times and would give Le Cirque somewhat higher marks. ← Thanks, F-G. For this and for your other suggestions!

As a former CIA student, I can say that the "E" Room (as we called it) always delivered a better experience that The American Bounty, even though the latter restaurant was their flagship. I remember great tableside Caesar salads from the E Room. But it's true that the service is shaky, served by students who just need to get the table service classes done. The CIA restaurants are pretty much average at best. The emperor has no clothes.

OK - here's the question. Picasso or Le Cirque? I've been to Picasso, and loved it. And I've been to Le Cirque 2000 in NYC and loved it. How is the LV Le Cirque, and is it worth trying over a return visit to Picasso?

Nice report, midwesterner! I agree about the pear dessert - delicious, though I found the cake a tad bit overcooked. The flavors were spot-on, however. Stick to the pies next time instead of the crepes - they're perfect! I told my partner's mom that we found an apple pie that's as good as hers, and that we don't need her for anything anymore! We made her guess how much a slice cost - she's from West Virginia - and she guessed on the high side at $2. She almost keeled over when we told her they were getting $7 for a slice - we want her to move here and start a pie-baking business!

Another GREAT meal! The place was more packed than the last two weeks. It's well on its way to being a MAJOR player on the casual north shore dining scene. I had the bleu cheese salad and the Italian sausage. Now I know from good sausage , and this was wonderful! I tried the baked pear in the almond cake for dessert - another winner. Pumpkin pie (perfect flavors, not too much nutmeg!) was on the menu instead of the pecan pie. Funny story: We got to meet Cindy Barrie, the publicist for the restaurant. Rohit wanted us to meet her. She thought I was eGullet's own Ronnie*! After setting the record straight, we proceeded to have a nice conversation with her (as my Grey Goose was calling to me) and her husband Lee. We exchanged cards and promised to keep in touch. Apparently, she's reading eGullet, and asked if I knew of any other food-related message boards - the Check, Please! site was the only other one I could come up with, which is a mere shadow of eGullet's. I could really get used to this place! (*Ron, when are we going to finally meet?!?)

Goin' back tonight - 6:00!

For all you lushes: $4 Mai Tais on Monday.You rang?!? Is this at the Chicago location only? This I do not know. Might want to call them. For your weekly Mai Tai fix, Thursdays at Trader Vics also does a $4 Mai Tai. Then on Friday go to Mambo Grill for their half priced Mojitos. ← Fetch me my diet pills and call the police!

For all you lushes: $4 Mai Tais on Monday. ← You rang?!? Is this at the Chicago location only?

Bob Chinn's Chicago Crabhouse is on Clark St. at the Chicago River, but under different ownership/management. They (might be Chinn's nephew) bought the rights to use the name from Chinn (more marketing!). It's a more formal setting (with great views!), but the food is rather uninspired and the prices quite a bit higher. I love the Red King crab legs (cold, please) at Chinn's, and every so often they go on "sale" for $19.99 for a pound. Not a bad deal, considering they're usually $28.95.

You guys are a bunch of nerds. ← Completely =R= ←

Sounds like Dish may be spying on us again: Anyone tried the fried chicken at the Evanston Chicken Shack (1925 Ridge Ave.; 847-328-9360)? Heard it’s pretty good... 11/3/04

HE SCORES!

Dish has reported that the new chef is Roland Liccioni!

Jeans are totally fine - just wait until you see how some people dress!

Thanks for the insights! It's always interesting to see different cities' dress code etiquette. L.A. has me totally confounded: I always feel self-conscious wherever I go there, since I'm not partial to ripped jeans and dirty $300 t-shirts!

We're taking friends from NY to Green Zebra on Friday. I'll be interested to see if they live up to the challenge of Fall Vegetables! I have confidence they'll do just fine. Report to follow.

Do you get a sense that the restaurant employees treat you differently if you're not "dressed up" enough? I usually like to err on the side of dressy when in doubt, because I believe customers really are typecast when they walk in to a high-end place. If this happens to us, the icyness usually melts once we put our wine order in - we tend to order costly wines. I was shocked when we dined at Aureole shortly after it opened and some guys came in wearing kahkis and short sleeved knit Polo shirts - that was a bit TOO casual, I thought. I'm afraid that, unfortunately, Las Vegas restaurants tolerate dress like this, but it can't be easy for those professionals to see customers not respect a place enough to at least make an effort to dress up, even a bit. Would your husband wear a jacket to Picasso? When I went there, I wore jacket and tie - and didn't feel overdressed at all. What is the proper "code" in Las Vegas?

I forgot to post this! We went back last Thursday evening, and it was every bit as good as the first time - if better! This place is a real winner. This time we tried the bone-in ribeye, which was superb. I remember reading that they were going to buy their beef from some special ranch (owned by Bill Kurtis? Or am I losing my mind?), and the taste really shows. Rohit, the co-owner (and Sarah Stegner's husband) couldn't be nicer if he tried. He remembered where we sat the week before and what we drank. I tried the pizza this time (low-carb diet be damned) which had finely chopped ratatouille - delicious and light. Shrimp spring rolls were light and flavorful as well. I didnt' try my friend's beet salad, but she raved. I had the shepard's pie this time - good again. Can't wait to go back. And they're on OpenTable now.

Thanks for the receommendations, Neil. How's Prime? I don't usually equate steakhouses with "fine dining," but does something other than the decor push it into fine dining territory? I peeked into the dining room on my way to Picasso last time, and it's certainly BLUE!

Which are the best restaurants at Bellagio? I have two lunches and three dinners. I've been to Picasso (loved it!) and Aqua (which is now Michael Mina - is it THAT different now?), and wouldn't mind going back to either. Are certain better for lunch? I'm staying at Bellagio on a full comp, so money's no object. Thanks!

I have some mixed thoughts about the place. I've been going there regularly (about every other week) for seventeen years, and have always loved the "vibe" there. I know it's not "fine dining," and the place is a factory, and you're served $40 entrees on plastic plates sometimes. But the quality of the seafood is wonderful, in an area of the country where really good quality seafood is a rarity. So I've no problem with the food. Upper management, on the other hand, is problematic. I remember noting that the place is the third highest-grossing restaurant in the country, at $21MM in sales last year (they post the Industry News list proudly in their bar/waiting area.) In short, they ain't hurtin' for business. It's a bit insulting to the customer to be in the restroom and have little signs everywhere reminding you to "conserve nature" by using only one pump of hand soap, or only one towel to dry your hands. Now I'm all for Saving The Planet, but this is a bit much from a place which sells overpriced souvenirs at the entrance and certainly doesn't charge bargain prices for any of its food. Two weeks ago, we were informed by our favorite server that after twenty years of faithful service, she'd given her two-week notice to leave. She had the most seinority of anyone server in the place, but was hardly recognized as being an asset to the place by any of the owners. I won't go into detail because I don't know the full story, but it seems to me that a place that would let someone who's given so much good service to a place (she was head server, responsible also for training all the new hires) walk without even asking why she'd grown unhappy with her job, clearly views its employees as a means to a financial end. It seems to be all about maximizing profits for them. I could hardly blame them for that - it is a business, after all. But still...when someone I consider a good friend after all these years, who I've seen get married, become a grandmother, etc., is unhappy, it makes me unhappy. I know she's devastated at her decision to leave, and I'll miss her terribly. But she's typically optimistic about her decision to move on. Even though she's one person in a place where many work, the place won't be the same without her.

A correct guess will be confirmed Does it start with an M?