Aug
24
Eiffel Tower Restaurant at the Paris Las Vegas
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Guests are greeted on the ground level of the Paris Las Vegas Eiffel Tower Replica by an engaging restaurant concierge who is quick to say that this restaurant is the best choice for French food in the sumptuous city. Visit the official website.
The glass elevator doors open on the 11th floor to the busy kitchen with kinetic chefs preparing classic French dishes. Chef Jean Joho prepares updated French classic seafood dishes, rack of lamb and beef Wellington which follow exquisite starters; the blue cheese soufflé nestled in greens and the fresh asparagus soup.
It’s not surprising that the restaurant was nominated for “Best Outstanding Restaurant” by the James Beard Foundation and Chef Joho was Bon Appetite’s “Chef of the Year”. While enjoying the gourmet meal100 feet above Las Vegas Boulevard, diners are treated to spectacular views of the Bellagio water fountain show. Our dinning table was snug against the window, allowing for unobstructed views of the water show and I was mesmerized by the large selection of soufflés flavors.
Dessert soufflés are my favorite and I decided on pistachio—which exceeded my expectations. Visitors can sit at the bar and order a soufflé until the restaurant closes, which was temping because I wanted to try the caramel one.
Sep
15
Ithaa Undersea Restaurant
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Ithaa Undersea might be one of the worlds most interesting restaurants, as you can see it is under water. Ithaa sits 16 feet below the surface of the Indian Ocean, surrounded by a vibrant coral reef and encased in clear acrylic offering customers a 180-degrees of panoramic underwater views. Ithaa Undersea is part of the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
Enjoy the views of the reef and marine life while you sip champagne and sample Maldivian-Western fusion cuisine at this spectacular restaurant. Dishes are inspired by local Maldivian foods using either local ingredients, flavors, methods of cooking or seasoning. They say they are the world’s first all-glass, undersea restaurant. Children are welcome for lunch, but dinner is 16yrs and older.
Sep
12
House Without A Key at the Halekulani Hotel
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The Halekulani Hotel is one of the best resort hotels not just in Hawaii, but the world. It is often ranked at or near the top of the annual “best of” travel lists. So it’s not surprising that one of the best oceanfront lounges, House Without a Key, would be located at the Halekulani Hotel.
I visited the House Without a Key last night and it featured classic Hawaiian music played outside by a three piece combo and accompanied by former Miss Hawaii’s Kanoe Millera an excellent hula dancer. This is a must do / see spot. As we have many times over the years we visited this Waikiki landmark last night to enjoy the sunset, one that was sadly cloud covered, but the entertainment made up for the absent sunset. This experience is not unlike the sunset rituals that occur worldwide, like in Key West FL.
The guest can sit at low cocktail tables, great for drinks and pu-pus (appetizers) or standard tables better suited for enjoying the light dinner menu.
If your planning a visit arrive early, it fills up fast. Call for times, right now the entertainment runs from 5:30-8:30. Dress is toward the higher end of resort casual. Drinks and food are a bit expensive, but it is worth it to enjoy this one-of-a kind experience known worldwide as Sunset At The House Without A Key.
Official House Without a Key Website – Halekulani Website
Note: The Halekulani also is home to two award winning restaurants, Orchids and LaMer. I’ve dined at both and they are excellent.
Inside Tip: If your considering a desert toward the end of the evening at House Without A Key you may want to consider something that is not on the menu… Ask your server if they could get you the manager. Ask the manager if it would be at all possible for you to have a soufflé delivered from the nearby LeMer kitchen. This is very much outside the norm, sometimes the kitchen can’t accommodate, but most times they can. Nothing beats soft music, gentle Hawaiian breezes, and a warm soufflé.
Sep
12
Tiki’s Grill & Bar Restaurant
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Tiki’s is located at the Diamond Head end of Waikiki beach in the Resort Quest Waikiki Beach Hotel. Heading up a few flights of steps takes you above the chain restaurants and to the surprisingly good Tiki’s Grill and Bar.
The tiki bar atmosphere is very hip right now, but Tiki’s has been one of the better casual restaurants along Waikiki Beach. Don’t go for the view, it’s OK, but go for the good food and reasonable prices. This is the only real restaurant in the Resort Quest Hotel, so it appears they put some effort into making it good.
Tiki’s – Website – WebCam – Address: 2570 Kalakaua Ave
We went for lunch yesterday, I had the Grilled Steak Sandwich and my guests had salads and Hawaiian Ahi Poke. We also tried something new, locally made Waialua Soda Works bottled sodas, the Mango and Pineapple. Both the soda’s and food were excellent.
The restaurant offers both inside and outside seating. Located just across the street from the beach the patio is comfortable taking advantage of the ocean breezes. Inside is dark and cool with a tiki bar decor. The third floor palm tree height location causes the view to be more of a tree top view than an ocean view but it’s nice to be above the busy street and sidewalk activity.
Aug
22
Built in Ireland, Sent to Vegas, In New York..??
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Only in Vegas would you find a Irish Pub that was built in Ireland, shipped to Las Vegas Nevada, and then installed in a New York inspired hotel. Nine Fine Irishmen is just such a pub. Located on the strip in the New York-New York Hotel & Casino.
If your interested in what the name is all about click here for a bit of history on the nine fine Irishmen and the rising in 1848.
I was able to check out the place during a recent trip to Las Vegas. The atmosphere of the main room was what I would expect from an Irish pub. Beautiful dark woods and a variety of paintings and artifacts. I’ve never been to Ireland so I guess in the spirit of the Hollywood back-lot environment that is Vegas, if it appears to be authentic, based on our expectations and stereotypes, then it is authentic.
As I said the main room was really nice, we were seated in a upstairs side room that was very small, and maybe “pub like”. A room just large enough for four tables, it would have been great for a group of 10-12 people, but for four separate groups it was a bit uncomfortable.
The food was also right on point. The Nine Fine Irishmen pub serves both Irish and American food, I enjoyed my fish and chips and a pint. The bar offers a great selection of Irish beers and whiskeys.
Food is available 11am – 11pm daily. Bar is open till 2:30am. On the Strip at 3790 Las Vegas Blvd. (702) 740-6463. Website at: www.NineFineIrishmen.com
To maybe get a more authentic pub feel, and to reduce the tourists influence, check out these other off the strip Irish pubs in Vegas:
- McMullan’s Irish Pub, West of the Strip at 4650 W. Tropicana Ave
- J.C. Wooloughan’s in the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort, 221 North Rampart Blvd, (702) 869-7725.
Photo Credits: Exterior Courtesy MGM Mirage / Fish & Chips © John Ormond.
Aug
21
Las Vegas White Tigers to Burgers
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If you are a tiger in Las Vegas and you decide to bite your master’s face off, a word of caution….they will turn your cage / habitat into a restaurant, a pretty good one at that.
In fact, I think I’ll enjoy the new BLT Burger restaurant in the Las Vegas Mirage Hotel and Casino more often than I ever did the famous white tiger show of Siegfried and Roy. You can only really enjoy a stage show once, a good restaurant you can review and enjoy over and over.
The new BLT Burger in the Mirage has a modern decor with subtle references to classic diners of the past. The white and chrome of a traditional diner have been replaced with warm earth tones and bright accents.
The long hours (open till 2am on Sun and Tue-Wed, and till 4am Mon and Thu-Sat) will make this a favorite for those leaving the Mirage’s shows or night clubs.
Created by Laurent Tourondel; a top chef known for his previous work in Vegas at the Palace Court Restaurant in Caesars and several New York eateries including the original BLT Burger location.
And as you would expect the burgers here are top rate. Made from certified Angus beef ground fresh daily, the same used at the chef’s BLT Steak restaurants. Add some Jalapeno poppers, fried pickles and mozzarella sticks and you’ve got something more than just a burger joint review, you’ve got a great meal.
In step with it’s location BLT Burger offers some burgers you won’t find in their other locations. The Stripper Burger is served naked, without a bun that is…. The spicy buffalo chicken burger is covered with hot sauce cooled a bit by Maytag blue cheese and buttermilk dressing. And for a back to basics test I tried a simple cheese burger and was delighted. It was cooked perfectly and was full of flavor. What I thought was a small piece of aged cheddar cheese on top packed a delicious punch.
For a change of pace I tried the salmon burger and was very impressed. Cooked perfectly and with all the fixins I requests.
But what would a burger be without a creamy milkshake? BLT Burger has 20 different flavors to choose from. Beyond the expected flavors are the more unusual. How about a Twinkie Boy? It’s a milkshake from Twinkies, ice cream, and caramel syrup. Adult drinkers can add a shot or two of something like Kahlua or Bailey’s.
You can check out BLT Burger on the web.
