Christmas In Vegas

[LoveToEatATL]

We will be in Vegas from 12/23-27 this year and would like opinions on where to eat Christmas dinner. A few years ago we went for Thanksgiving, stayed at the Wynn and ate at DB, and were incredibly disappointed.

We are considering Lotus of Siam for Christmas Day and maybe Guy Savoy for another night.

Have any of you egulletiers had Christmas Dinner in Vegas? Where? Was it good?

Edited October 7, 2007 by LoveToEatATL (log)

[BigboyDan]

Uhhh, first, you might want to consider a restaurant that does Christmas fare rather than a French or Thai place...

Recommendations: The Four Seasons, Ceres restaurant at JW Marriott - Las Vegas, Ritz-Carlton - Lake Las Vegas, and both Delmonico and Micheal Mina have special menus for dinner.

[dockhl]

Uhhh, first, you might want to consider a restaurant that does Christmas fare rather than a French or Thai place...

Recommendations: The Four Seasons, Ceres restaurant at JW Marriott - Las Vegas, Ritz-Carlton - Lake Las Vegas, and both Delmonico and Micheal Mina have special menus for dinner.

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Several years ago we had Christmas Eve dinner at the Bellagio (Aqua, which is now Michael Mina, I think) and it was spectacular. Christmas Day we still weren't hungry and has room service

One thing that surprised us was how COLD (and empty) it was !

[rjwong]

Actually, you first want to check and see whether a restaurant will be open on Christmas Day. Be aware and that the few places that may be open on that day can be very crowded. So, call ahead of time and find out to avoid disappointments.

One year, I stayed in Las Vegas during Christmas time. I remember passing by the Bellagio Buffet and the wait was two hours, MINIMUM!!

I second the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas. It's far away from the Strip, more near Boulder City area. I know the desserts are excellent. Chris Hanmer (formerly of Bellagio) was on the World Pastry championship team back in 2003 with Jean-Philippe Maury, if you're into desserts ...

[LoveToEatATL]

Actually, you first want to check and see whether a restaurant will be open on Christmas Day. Be aware and that the few places that may be open on that day can be very crowded. So, call ahead of time and find out to avoid disappointments.

One year, I stayed in Las Vegas during Christmas time. I remember passing by the Bellagio Buffet and the wait was two hours, MINIMUM!!

I second the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas. It's far away from the Strip, more near Boulder City area. I know the desserts are excellent. Chris Hanmer (formerly of Bellagio) was on the World Pastry championship team back in 2003 with Jean-Philippe Maury, if you're into desserts ...

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Russell, that sounds great. We are driving from LA so that would work out beautifully.

Big Boy Dan, why would I only consider a place that serves holiday fare?

As for eating at a fabu restaurant on a holiday.....DB at the Wynn was miserable for Thanksgiving dinner. The wait staff were pissed to be working (and it showed) and the food was boring.

Dockhl, I love the idea of staying in bed and ordering room service. So Decadent!!! Love it!

Edited October 8, 2007 by LoveToEatATL (log)

[Barbara Moss]

We always go to LV during Christmas. However, we are Jewish so it is not our holiday. We usually do Delmonico's on Xmas Eve and it is always fine. If they open on Christmas I think it would be a lovely dinner. I be there are lots of places open on Christmas Day. The hotels will always have someplace to go. I would skip the buffet on any holiday. Mon Ami Gabi is probably open for something a little less fancy. I wonder if Bouchon is open.

[SundaySous]

Having been a server I could never understand others not wanting to work Christmass Eve and Day. The money is incredible.

[Robin Meredith]

We spent Christmas there last year - one additional piece of advice is to check in advance to see if the places you are interested in are serving their regular menu or a "special" holiday menu. We had reservations at Mix but decided to cancel because they were serving a fixed (and very limited) holiday menu that didn't include any of the dishes on their regular menu that we were interested in trying.

[Merseymike]

What about a fine dining blow-out? We are spending Christmas in Vegas as wqell but I thought , well, its Christmas, so we are planning to spend big - perhaps at Robuchon's?

[LoveToEatATL]

What about a fine dining blow-out? We are spending Christmas in Vegas as wqell but I thought , well, its Christmas, so we are planning to spend big - perhaps at Robuchon's?

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Awesome. I think we are going with B&B Ristorante for Xmas eve and then Burger Bar for Xmas Day! LOL

I checked and B&B will be serving their regular menu. Yay!

[Merseymike]

well, we have booked at Robuchon, and they have their third Michelin star!

[Genny]

Years and years ago we were there for Christmas and I think we had dinner at the top of the Stratosphere. I recall the food being good (not Michelin tho) but the view is amazing!

We've just booked a last minute trip there for Thanksgiving...time to run away!! There are some great suggestions here for "plan ahead" so I'll try those.

[rjwong]

Before I forget, consider Binion's in downtown Las Vegas. Yes, Binion's, where that World Poker Tournament all started, if you're into poker ...

On the twenty-fifth floor, there's a steakhouse with a gorgeous view at night. eGullet member Chris Cognac has a Food Network program called The Hungry Detective. In the Las Vegas episode, Binion's was featured, and they serve this amazing chicken-fried lobster.

Anyways, Binion's is open for Thanksgiving and Christmas. One of the servers told me that on Christmas Day, mostly the locals & regulars come in for Christmas dinner. This place is not "Las Vegas of the Strip." This is local Las Vegas. You've been warned informed.

[Genny]

We had a great time in Vegas! It had been about 8 years since my husband and I took a vacation alone without meeting or visiting family or friends. It was so great to just hang out together!

From what I could tell, everything was open on Thanksgiving Day. All the fine restaurants, all the regular restaurants. We were chatting with a few service staff (wait staff, hotel staff and spa staff) and they confirmed that Vegas never closes. The only thing you'll need to concern yourself with is if you want a traditional Christmas dinner or just a great meal. It appeared to be a designated restraunt in each hotel/casino had a traditional holiday menu.

Places we enjoyed:

Boa in Cesar's Forum Shops was a-mazing. Kettle chips, foie gras, steaks & their strawberry/basalmic/black pepper martini were real stand outs.

Nero's in Cesar's: we sat at the bar and enjoyed French Onion Soup (a bit on the beefy side if you like it that way) and bone marrow - perfect! Great desserts too!

Vosges Haut Chocolate is in the forum shops as well, try the curry!

Shibuya in the MGM has some excellent teppan cuisine, we went for the Japanese Waygu and were not disappointed. The catch of the day was sea bass and it was etherial. Skip the fried rice and just get steamed though. Miso soup was not to our liking either and we tried both the lobster and mushroom.

Next to the Burger Bar is The Chocolate Swan, get the eclairs! WOW!

Places that did not live up to expectations:

Ugh, I hate to say it but the Burger Bar just didn't do it for me. The burgers were good but my husband makes them just as well with the ground American Kobe we get from our local butcher. The $60 burger with foie and truffles was actually a bit of a let down. I tasted the foie and truffles separate from the burger after a few bites and decided they were VERY sub-par. Seriously some of the worst foie I've ever had. Sorry! And waiting 45 minutes for it didn't thrill me.

Japonaise in the Mirage has gotten some great press but we found our dishes very salty and just all together balanced wrong. We got a few small plates and then went and found dessert elsewhere to get rid of the taste!!

Good luck on your Christmas trip!

[Barbara Moss]

We are going to LV over the Christmas weekend and have one night to have dinner by ourselves sans grown up children.I would love someplace nice but I really don't want to spend the money for Guy Savoy. What to do? When I look at the pictures of Atalier, the portiions look tiny. I am not a big eater but they did look small. We have dinner res at DB the night after. One of the posters said that there are few B+ places and I guess that is true.

[rjwong]

We are going to LV over the Christmas weekend and have one night to have dinner by ourselves sans grown up children.I would love someplace nice but I really don't want to spend the money for Guy Savoy. What to do? When I look at the pictures of Atalier, the portiions look tiny. I am not a big eater but they did look small. We have dinner res at DB the night after. One of the posters said that there are few B+ places and I guess that is true.

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Barbara, I've been to L'Atelier a few times and the portions aren't that tiny. Probably the pictures you saw may be part of a nine-course tasting menu. The small portions do add up and I would consider myself a pretty good eater. The last time I ate there (Nov. 2007), I ordered a peppercorn steak from their a la carte menu and it was a nice size piece of meat that tasted great. And I got to meet Chef Robuchon himself!!

"What to do?", you said? Please reconsider L'Atelier. In terms of food, I consider it one of the best fine dining values in Las Vegas. If lots of money comes your way, definitely eat at Guy Savoy. Off the Strip, there's Rosemary's on W. Sahara Blvd. Of course, call first to find out their holiday hours. And enjoy!!

[lgott]

rjwong speaks the truth! I've eaten at L'Atelier five times, and it's my favorite in its price category. I'm a pretty hearty eater, and the nine course tasting menu was more than enough food.

[Merseymike]

Ended up going to Alex for Christmas day for the tasting menu. It was excellent - real special occasion stuff.