Two Way Hard Three: Comments

Comment on "Strip Walk - July 2009: City Center, Wynn, Palazzo and Stratta"

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:48:53 -0800

Thanks Mike. I always enjoy your stripwalk and will now look forward to stripmunch as well.

- donnymac

Comment on "Open Topic Discussion - July 1, 2009"

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:00:24 -0800

Jeff, I go things I can't at home, too. But I go to the good ones. There's very few casino coffee shops that I think are actually good anymore. TI is alright. Cafe Bellagio is always good. I enjoyed the Planet Ho one on my stay there last year. And of pretty recently Luxor's Pyramid Cafe is improving. Those are the only ones of real note to me.

Recommended avoid are MGM (has never been good), Ballys (three out of four times all customers were seated in a noisy little corner), Mandalay Bay (new menu and a mostly invisible staff at a former top choice, very sad!) and NYNY (seven or eight visits from 2000 onwards, and it's always been slloooowww)

I wouldn't recommend replacing Botero with an Outback Steakhouse or whatever, but the cafes seem to not do much for me.

- mike_ch

Comment on "Open Topic Discussion - July 1, 2009"

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:09:45 -0800

I'm surprised Bartolotta is the second highest grossing restaurant at Wynn. I assume SW is #1.

Q. Seafood is a big part of Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare.
A. I bring in more than a ton of fish every week from the Mediterranean, upward of 40 species. My restaurant is the second-largest grossing at Wynn. I'm able to do in one restaurant what our entire group in Milwaukee does in seven or eight.
http://www.jsonline.com/features/food/50150342.html

- detroit1051

Comment on "Oh Ye of Modest Means, Cometh to the Casino"

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:00:23 -0800

Mine said "beginnings"

- Bobby

Comment on "Open Topic Discussion - July 1, 2009"

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:00:49 -0800

"I hope when the economy turns around the clubs and the crowds it attracts will cease to exist."

The clubs aren't going anywhere. My guess is that you have no idea how much money those places make when they're operating at full tilt in good times. They are a license to print money. Despite only being 33 years old, I like a good lounge act as well. Listening to the pianist at Petrossian while having some drinks with friends is a great way to spend an early evening.However, places like Tao, XS, etc. are gold mines. Tao has been the top grossing restaurant/club in America every year it's been open. We're talking in the $50-60 million range. So aesthetically you may not like these places and the sometimes annoying clientele they attract (i go to the clubs, and sometimes some of the people there get on my nerves too), but my guess is if you were the one making the decisions on whether they were in your place or not, you would think differently. Ask Steve Wynn how he likes having Victor Drai run clubs in his hotels.

- Mike T

Comment on "Open Topic Discussion - July 1, 2009"

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:38:32 -0800

Whenever I am out of town, I always try to eat at places I can't get at home. I can eat TGI Friday's or Denny's anytime, give me something different. Finding out the quality of service or food is a big part of the vacation adventure.

- Jeff in OKC

Comment on "Open Topic Discussion - July 1, 2009"

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:03:19 -0800

Also, for whatever it's worth, I think replacing generic casino-brand coffee shops with outside chains is great. I just so rarely have a good experience at a casino eatery that I try to eat outside of casinos whenever possible, so bringing the strip mall places into the casinos is fine by me.

I went to scout out Aliante Station and there was no cafe so we took the Fridays, and had much better service than I've ever had at a Station cafe where they seem to be trained to avoid eye contact.

- mike_ch

Comment on "Open Topic Discussion - July 1, 2009"

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:59:57 -0800

Phil: Invisible beverage refillers are a city-wide phenomenon that goes all the way back to when I first came here in 2005.

Hell, all the way to 2000 for us, actually. My father once cheesed off a wait staff by taking his drink behind the scenes to refill it because nobody would.

- mike_ch

Comment on "Open Topic Discussion - July 1, 2009"

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:02:23 -0800

I hope not David, but speaking of Boyd it seems like you noticed the trend of them adding TGI Fridays in virtually all of their places the past few years. Some of which are 24 hours. Why hire a staff and run a coffee shop when you can just rent the space out to a chain restaurant and let them worry about employees and service I guess is their logic. A week ago I was at the Suncoast playing late and saw their coffee shop closed at 11pm and they now keep their Terrible Mikes snack shop, or whatever they call it now, open 24 hours and TGI Fridays was open to 2am. I appreciate that something is open, but again its the little things going away that make this town unique. I like being able to eat Chinese food or get an omelet at 3am. not a person telling me we only serve breakfast 7am-11am now or you'll have to go to the snack bar sir, we're closed. Certainly there are still many exceptions to the above, but first it started with the limited menu during late nights, add to that now is a time limited menu, you can only eat what we serve during these hours and now the first signs of franchised restaurants like Fridays to replace coffee shops. Its that leaning out of the operations that make the little things suffer. The problem is its the little things that make this town great.

Amongst all the negativity I posted about my stay, I still love Vegas enough that it will be my full time residence of retirement in a few years. In reality if the economy was better a lot of the negative comments wouldn't have been made as that effects everything, interior and exterior property maintenance, service, looser machines.....etc. Right now it seems like a snowball effect and Vegas is in survival mode and therefore standards slip, so yes the Denny's in Caesars I guess isn't too far fetched if economically things continue to trend downward or strip clubs in hotels. I think we all don't want to see that trend develop, but if it does, my hope is that when the economy does turn around so will all the little things because coming to see big rundown resorts isn't why I come here. This town's history was built on making that customer feel special, service was priority and right now its taking a back seat to survival.

Heading back to Cleveland tomorrow, but looking forward like always to coming back to Vegas shortly.

- Phil

Comment on "Open Topic Discussion - July 1, 2009"

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:41:12 -0800

Don't worry, Phil. If Harrah's follows the example of Station and (sorry to say) Boyd, the Augustus Cafe will be swapped out in favor of a Dennys, thereby lowering the level of the cuisine to match that of the service.

- David McKee

Comment on "Strip Walk - July 2009: City Center, Wynn, Palazzo and Stratta"

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:29:39 -0800

I posted the above in the wrong topic. Meant to go in Open Discussion regarding David McKee's link about the Hard Rock.

Too many tabs open at once! Sorry. (slinks away)

- mike_ch

Comment on "Open Topic Discussion - July 1, 2009"

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:32:22 -0800

Just to add to my comments about service (or lack there of) in the mid level restaurants in the better hotels this time. I was talking to one of the waiters in Caesars and he said he normally works in the coffee shop (Augustus Cafe) but lately we've been switching to a lot of the diffferent restaurants. I naturally assumed this happened normally when somebody called off sick or a restaurant got busy, but he said with their hours being dramatically reduced they'll work whenever/wherever they can. Can't fault them for that and it makes complete sense, but from a service standpoint a person who serves in a coffee shop may not be the same quality (training) as you would get in mid level restaurant and hence one possible reason I noticed the dropoff in service. The other reason I mentioned earlier where I see cutbacks in less visible beverage persons making the server take on more responsibilities. When the beverage person is gone, like I said, we're finding out some of these servers maybe working in a 5 star hotel, but their service is no better than you would receive at Dennys.

- Phil

Comment on "Strip Walk - July 2009: City Center, Wynn, Palazzo and Stratta"

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:58:07 -0800

Yep, anyone who has watched that Rehab TV show (though it's probably scripted to hell) knows what they have to deal with.

Strangely, despite the sometimes rowdy clientele, employees at the Hard Rock are some of the nicest I've seen in a casino. Last concert I went to there a security guy offered a father up front to take the son out for I guess a restroom break or something. Some minutes later the security guy returned with the man's son who now had a whole bunch of vending machine goodies with him.

They'll also toss out small bottled waters between acts, at least until until the first jerk who throws water into the air on the crowd and ruins it for everyone. Overall, fairly nice to people who spent 4-6 hours (depending on how soon you got in line) hanging around and not gambling or spending money.

- mike_ch

Comment on "Open Topic Discussion - July 1, 2009"

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:07:59 -0800

Jean Scott recently went to the Hard Rock on a Sunday and saw *five* ambulances on duty, ready to cart away intoxicated or otherwise incapacitated revelers: http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/blogs/jscott/index.cfm/2009/7/6/Perhaps-Im-Oldfashioned

- David McKee

Comment on "Open Topic Discussion - July 1, 2009"

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:09:38 -0800

By the way, unless anyone thinks my commentary above is a little too VegasRex in that above post, I want to make it clear that I'm being totally honest when I say that fake boobs are EVERYWHERE at Wynn past 11PM or so. I've been to the Hard Rock late at night as well and while the Sleaze Factor isn't quite that high, it's hard to miss even if you're just coming down for a midnight pastry like I was.

Comparitively, late night at Bellagio when I stayed there in 2003 was very quiet.

- mike_ch

Comment on "Open Topic Discussion - July 1, 2009"

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:05:52 -0800

Phil: Thanks again. No, I'm not out at 2AM on a Saturday night. I've been out at Wynn and others around 1AM on weekday nights and notice that the tops become lower and the breasts larger, but that's about it. The biggest annoyance is Blush/Lure at Wynn and how it can be blasting noise into the casino as early as 9PM. I've heard of people in the Encore tower complaining about the noise from XS as well.

I'm afraid the people who pass out drunk were there when room rates were high also. Rates are about even with 2004 right now, IIRC, which is when I stopped going to Vegas (to me, 2001-2003 are "normal" because that's when I first started coming, but investors like Brian and people who work in the industry balk at how low prices were then.) A room at one of the nice hotels in an expensive period still isn't much to complain about compared to the price of "bottle service." The revellers are loaded with cash.

Detroit: Though I'm nowhere near as club-smart as Mike E, I do look at those alternative weekly papers they hand out at bus stops and look at the big glossy club ads that are always loaded in the front. You don't hear as much about Bank, but I don't know if that's because it's not popular or too expensive. They still lure in some big names, they had Tiesto there a few weeks ago, though that was a Light Group thing since he was also at JET at Mirage which I know is not nearly as popular as the Wynn and Hard Rock places.

- mike_ch

Comment on "Open Topic Discussion - July 1, 2009"

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:01:16 -0800

Phil, I enjoyed your reports. We could never travel together because I'm up at 6 AM and hardly ever stay up past 11 PM. Reminds me of the one time I was approached by a hooker at Bellagio at 5:30 AM. I was ready for the day and on my way to Cafe Bellagio and then McCarran.. I guess she was finishing her work day. She and her friends were relaxing at the Baccarat Bar.
Does anyone know how The Bank is doing at Bellagio? I don't hear much about it or any wild times there. Perhaps its smaller size and upstairs location don't draw in the crowds like XS, Lavo, Pure, etc.

- detroit1051

Comment on "Open Topic Discussion - July 1, 2009"

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:32:43 -0800

I think its the hours you visit them when you say early evening. My wife and I are night owls and we're up to 3 or 4am every night. Our first meal is usually 2-3 in the afternoon, thank goodness Payard in Caesars still serves a quality breakfast at that hour. Because of the economy, in some cases they don't kick things up to the max until the Friday-Sat. but I stand by my position that its louder than it ever has been in those specific places like Mandalay and Rio. I'd be curious if you agree if you go there at 12 or 1am pass through the casino and you'll keep hearing the music change, start at RumRunner, then pass the lounge, then the lounge in the center of the casino and then the final one near the front entrance mixed with the music they pump into the casino and it will hit you like a wall one after another. If it was music that appealed to the masses that one thing, but not the crap they play. The trend also the past few years has been they blast this music outside. Walking past Bally's, then Flamingo and Margaritaville and Imperial its all blasting full throttle and it reminds me of a county fair with a bunch of carneys pushing their junk.

Wynn and Encore are quiet by others our there, except my experience in Society late Friday night where I thought it seemed to be a different music in there and too loud.

As far as 4 Seasons, no doubt I would recommend that because its still in the heart of the action, but a different world inside. As far as staying there, I have a 2nd home here in Summerlin. Been a part-time resident of Vegas in different locations for going on 30 years, so I was lucky enough to experience the good ol' days and thats why I see people drunk like a skunk and vomiting outside of clubs I had to go on my rant. My only hope that once room rates go up when the economy turns around it will weed out the type of people that come here with the only goal to pass out wasted. Vegas likes to reinvent itself, so like many other things I hope the club scene will be a passing fad.

- Phil

Comment on "Strip Walk - July 2009: City Center, Wynn, Palazzo and Stratta"

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:23:40 -0800

This info comes from dealers at Wynn LV, so take it however you like. High rollers are supposedly being required to stay and play at Encore in order to be comped. Play at Encore is way below that at Wynn (and you know how much I like Encore, so this is not something I'm happy to report). Also, management has allegedly starting cutting itself in on tips rec'd by cabana boys, spa attendants, etc. To whatever extent this may involve Culinary Union employees, it merits further inquiry.

- David McKee

Comment on "Open Topic Discussion - July 1, 2009"

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:15:57 -0800

By the by, Phil, I don't know what hours you walk around the casinos, but I visit them at day and often in the early evening and I rarely get overwhelming nightclub music. Wynn has that problem in the evening, but others don't. I have highly sensitive hearing and loud music that most people can endure causes me to leave the area. Rio and the whole carnival thing, for instance, is just too noisy. I don't play there but if I did I'd avoid that room for the most part.

I'm just bringing this up because I don't really see what you describe in most places. In Encore the club entrance is really inconveniently located between hotels with a lot of passing traffic going by, and Wynn has the noisy lounge just off the casino. If you like Four Seasons you'd probably like their Tower Suites section that is rather off from the action.

I would say casinos are less noisier now than they were five years ago because the free live music trend seems to be dying out. NYNY ripped out the live music lounge and replaced it with a middle bar that has no stage. Paris seems to have less live music than it used to as well.

In other casinos, Planet Hollywood keeps it's nightclub on a completely different level from the main casinos floor. Bellagio's casino remains mostly just the noise of patrons at night and vomit free barring the occasional accident.

It is clubbier, but you can still sit down at Petrossian and sip on cocktails while listening to the piano, if you wish.

- mike_ch