Lindeman's and Guinness Stout combine to make the Cupid's Arrow at First Food & Bar, Las Vegas.

Have we told you how much we *heart* FIRST Food and Bar at The Palazzo?  No?  Then let us count the ways:

1. FIRST feels like one of those secret out-of-the-way joints that only “insiders” know about.  Really.  To get there, you have to go to the second floor of the retail shopping area connecting the Venetian to the Palazzo; hang a right at Barney’s New York; and then make your way down the corridor to the barely-marked restaurant.  (We had a hard time just getting past the shoe display in Barneys’ windows.)
2. It’s open late — ’til 1 a.m. during the week and even later on weekends.
3. The front-of-the-house manager stops by — more than once — to check on your food, drinks, service, etc.  On our last visit, we felt like “regulars” by the end of the meal.
4. The food:  big yummy portions of amped-up diner food.  Burgers to blackened steak, pasta to pizza: this is comfort food meant to help banish your hangover (or get you poised to work on a new one.)
5. 

   Hearty breakfast sammie with Tater Tots at First Food Bar at the Palazzo, Vegas.

   Sunday brunch (11 a.m. – 4 p.m.) — A traveling Bloody Mary bar complete with a cute mixologist ready to make it your way.  (Our way?  Extra Tabasco and black pepper plus enough green olives to mimic a salad bar.)  A $10 per person all-you-can-drink champagne deal.  This may not be Krug or Cristal but face it, there’s something abnormally fun and decadent about washing down your corned beef hash or chicken and waffles with a glass or two — or eight — of bubbly.  Try the Breakfast Mini-Burgers with cheese, bacon, Hollandaise sauce and a side of Tater Tots.

6. The Cupid’s Arrow — Just like drinking an alcoholic dark chocolate truffle.  Take a bottle of Guinness Stout and a bottle of Lindeman’s Framboise Ale then pour them — simultaneously — into an iced schooner.  Drink.  Drink.  Burp.  Drink.
7. Strip view.  Grab a spot near the windows and gaze out onto Treasure Island and, if the sun has set, the pirate battle show.

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In-house aging is one key to the juicy tender steaks at STRIPSTEAK LV.

I recently had lunch with a friend of mine (a professional food writer and guest reviewer here) who made the most spot-on comment I’ve ever heard when it comes to Chef Michael Mina’s food: “The man is a wizard with potatoes!” So, you’re thinking if this is a review on STRIPSTEAK LV, why do I care what the chef does with potatoes? It’s the meat that matters not the sides. Well, in this case, while the steaks are more than worthy, it is definitely the spuds that make for a memorable meal. And, did we mention that said spuds are free? No kidding, these crisp crunchy beauties come courtesy of the chef… au gratis… n/c.

First, the restaurant itself: Located at Mandalay Bay Las Vegas, the space is sleek and edgy with enough hard surfaces to make sound somewhat of an issue if you were hoping for an intimate dinner for two.* But keep in mind, the sound bouncing from walls to ceiling comes from people having fun! This is a great spot for celebrations like bachelor/bachelorette parties, birthday bashes and other group events or for couples looking to dine in a high-energy atmosphere. (We had a terrific time chatting away with the couple at the table next to us who also happened to be from Phoenix. Yeah, it’s that kind of place.)

This trio of spectacular fries is presented au gratis with dinner at the winning STRIPSTEAK LV.

The fries: Okay, back to those marvelous complimentary potatoes. After ordering drinks (wine for P.B., a draft for me) and dinner, the server brought out this very cool serving stand filled with three tubs of perfectly cooked-in-duck-fat fries – herb-flecked, paprika-dusted and saffron garlic – along with three dipping sauces: housemade ketchup, perky BBQ sauce and our hands-down favorite, a luxurious truffle cream sauce I would’ve eaten with a spoon! The serving is so large we couldn’t finish it but, oh, how we tried.

Dinner: For an appetizer, we chose to share the Maine lobster fritters, a dish we unfortunately wouldn’t order again. The batter was too heavy for the delicate seafood flavor to come through and the bacon mentioned in the menu description seemed to be AWOL from our dish. In hindsight, we would have merrily munched on the fries with our drinks and ordered a salad to share with the yummy warm potato focaccia (served in a cast iron skillet) before the main course. For our steaks, we chose the American Kobe beef – the Rib Eye ($64) for P.B. and the Rib Cap ($65) for me. (STRIPSTEAK also offers Japanese A5 Wagyu beef at Market Price.) Chef Mina’s steaks are heralded for their cooking method which entails a long slow-poach in clarified butter and then a quick turn on a high heat (think 1,000 degrees!) grill. The process renders a steak that is meltingly tender inside with a beautifully crusty exterior. As we expected, our steaks were superb. As a side, we shared a de-lish mountain of creamed spinach topped with crumbled bacon bits. (Note to self: next time we eat here, we walk back to our room at the Bellagio.)

Well-marbled and perfectly cooked, the rib cap American Kobe steak is a terrific menu choice.

Dessert: Overkill for sure but the “Beignets with Macallan 18-Year Butterscotch Pudding” were just way too tempting to resist and we’re so glad we didn’t. Plump, fluffy pillows of warm donut dipped in scotch-flavored caramel pudding…uh, what’s not to like? (Do be aware that the liquor really comes through in this decidedly “adult-flavored” dessert.)

Service and other highlights:

Excellent, attentive service even on a busy Saturday night during prime time dining hours of 8 – 10 pm.

Another freebie courtesy of STRIPSTEAK — A bag of gourmet dark-chocolate-drizzled caramel corn made in-house sends you out the door.

I have to say that I knew we were in for a great meal when Las Vegas local, UNLV professor and famed foodie, Patti Shock, highly recommended the place to me via Twitter. (If you are interested in food and Las Vegas you should follow her.  @PattiShock)

The best: We used a $25 certificate purchased for $2 at Restaurant.com (use coupon code “FOUR” and the link below) to pay for part of the meal.  At the restautant, be sure to present it early on so they have time to validate the certificate before the check comes.

STRIPSTEAK definitely merits a top spot on our list of “Best Las Vegas Steakhouses.”

(*Looking for a romantic spot to dine? Try Fleur De Lys or Mix In Las Vegas, both located at Mandalay Bay and both participate in the Restaurant.com certificate program.)

Save 80% off on every $25 Gift Certificate order. Use code “FOUR” and pay just $2 through 10/12/09 only at Restaurant.com.

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A dedicated wine room overlooks the main dining area at the contemporary French gem, Fleur de Lys at Mandalay Bay Las Vegas. (All photos and content property of www.royallyflushed.com)

In honor of this week’s episode of “Top Chef Masters” on Bravo TV, we give you our review of chef/competitor Hubert Keller’s splendid Fleur de Lys at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. (Warning: gushing ahead!)

This last trip to Las Vegas was memorable for a number of reasons not the least of which was not only did we enjoy a superb dinner at contemporary French restaurant, Fleur de Lys, but also because we had the unique opportunity to meet the chef. (We have been fans of Chef Hubert Keller’s food for years after having dined at his original San Francisco outpost several times over the years so meeting him was a real treat.)

But, more on that later: first, we’ll highlight the food and atmosphere of  Fleur De Lys at Mandalay Bay. (By the way, we used one of our fav dining discounts – a $25 certificate (our cost $5) from Restaurant.com toward our check. See details at the end of the post.)

The space: This is a romantic Las Vegas restaurant perfect for couples and it seems especially designed for those celebrating special occasions. In addition to the low-lighting, lush smoky velvet drapes, widely-spaced tables and hushed atmosphere, the compact space somehow fits in several private, curtained tables for the ultimate in cozy dining. Although compact in floor-space, the room is easily two or more stories high and features a second-floor wine room overlooking the main dining area. (The night of our visit, a private table for two was in use in the glass-fronted, candle-lit space so you may be able to book a table there in advance.)

The focal point of the room is a huge leaf-shaped wall sculpture made entirely of hundreds of fresh peachy-pink rosebuds. When we remarked on it, our server shared that a local floral company came in daily to replace any spent blossoms.

The food: For a chef who has been re-interpreting French classics for decades, Chef Keller’s dishes are as fresh and imaginative as they were twenty years ago. While looking over the inventive wine list – a menu of specialty cocktails is also available – the kitchen sent out an amuse bouche of a tiny bite of cod paired with a creamy smidge of warm potato salad and a spicy aioli sauce.

Tender monkfish, clams and mussels served atop flavorful barley is a winning entree.

Having settled on a bottle of the Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($75,) we indulged in the chewy pretzel bread while deciding on the night’s meal. We began the meal by splitting a light salad of organic greens and heirloom tomatoes in a perky herb vinaigrette.

For entrees, we chose the citrus-glazed monkfish ($43) with clams, mussels and chorizo sausage and the “gently heated” Alaskan King salmon filet ($39.) The generous monkfish plate was a riot of color, flavors and textures with the lobster-like sweetness and meatiness of the fish playing off the briny taste of petite mussels and clams and all set off by a risotto-like side of creamy barley festooned with bits of oven-roasted tomatoes, baby broccoli florets and a smoky dice of chorizo.

Though simpler in presentation and number of ingredients, the Alaskan King salmon filet was a master’s example of how to treat a scrumptious piece of fresh fish. Oven-roasted at just 200 degrees, the fish emerges from cooking with a silky, melt-in-your-mouth tenderness and clean, smooth flavor. The accompanying julienne of beets and surprisingly mellow apple rosemary puree and horseradish chive bouillon served to accent rather than overwhelm the pearly filets. We would most definitely order both dishes should they be on the menu on our next trip.

Even though both entrees were more than generous, we specifically went light on the first course so that we could indulge in something sweet post-entrees.  While chocolate and Grand Marnier soufflés are available (order early in the evening to ensure ample time for prep) and we saw several tables sharing the airy confections, we chose the appealing carrot cake ice cream sandwich ($12) and finished every bite. Luscious cream cheese-flavored ice cream was fitted between two slabs of moist carrot cake, the whole sprinkled with candied walnuts and served with a decadent scoop of pineapple coconut ice cream.

The service:  Excellent service with attentive yet non-intrusive servers.

Back to meeting the chef: While we were sipping our wine and relaxing before the first course, out from behind the long velvet drapes that line the front of the restaurant, pops Chef Keller himself – sort of like a culinary Wizard of Oz.  It was so cool to see him in Las Vegas and according to our server, he visits Mandalay Bay for at least one week each month.  Table to table he went, greeting diners and making small talk. Once he reached our table we couldn’t help but ask about his “Top Chef Masters’” experience (he enjoyed it immensely) and compliment him on the many dinners we’ve enjoyed throughout the years at his restaurants.  (For a “foodie” like me, meeting Chef Keller is like coming face-to-face with a rock star you’ve listened to for years!)

More reviews at urbanspoon.

More info:  Save money while dining at some of the best spots in Las Vegas! Save 80% Off w/every $25 Gift Cert. order. Use code PORTION. Pay $2 thru 8/13/09 at Restaurant.com.

Mandalay Bay Resort is a fabulous place to stay while in Las Vegas (have you seen the extensive pool area and “beachside casino?”) plus you can’t beat the great online rates right now.  Check out  Special Online Promotions at Mandalay Bay Las Vegas

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Michael Mina's Nobhill at MGM Grand Las Vegas serves a stellar soup & sandwich nosh.

In this Part 2 of our “Top Las Vegas Chefs for Less” post, we show you how to save money on more great Las Vegas restaurants.  While we always plan for one extravagant gourmet meal — hello, Botero! — we actually enjoy our visits to casual Vegas restaurants just as much and these “name” chefs have made it easy for us to sample their culinary talents for a lot less dough.

Here are three more Vegas dining deals:

BLT Burger at Mirage – Chef Laurent Tourondel, acclaimed toque behind BLT Steak, BLT Fish and more, knows his way around a burger and a milkshake. How a classically-trained French chef came about making what is arguably one of the best shakes in the country is a mystery but, heck, you don’t need to know how a combustion engine works to enjoy driving a Porsche either. Debating whether to eat here? Check out this comment reader “Amy” left on our earlier review here at RF: “I truly believe they mix magic into the chocolate shake at the BLT burger. I would seriously fly there from Wisconsin to get one. We ate there last October and then again on the last night of our trip, when both my husband and I agreed we’d rather have another of these chocolate shakes than anything else we could get in Las Vegas.” Now that’s what I call a ringing endorsement.  (Our review on BLT Burger can be found here.)

Nobhill Tavern at MGM Grand – Michael Mina of Bourbon Steak, SeaBlue, and the elegant, eponymous Michael Mina at Bellagio offers a fun, less expensive lounge menu at this sleek intimate gem hidden in the sprawling MGM resort. Try the Lobster Grilled Cheese sandwich with Roasted Tomato Soup (pictured) then share a dessert – the decadent Candy Bar is a winner — for a taste of Chef Mina’s award-winning, San Francisco-honed cuisine.

Enoteca San Marco at the Venetian – “Molto” Mario Batali, yes, the orange-Croc-wearing dude, has a couple of fine dining establishments in Vegas – B&B also at the Venetian and CarneVino at the Palazzo – but this casual café on St. Mark’s Square in the resort gives you a feel for his rustic cooking for significantly less lira. Share one of the “daily” pizzas and indulge in a great glass of wine with a generous eight-ounce pour. Hey, it’s Vegas – live a little!  (Check out our review on Enoteca San Marco.)  For an even better deal, buy a $25 gift certificate for “ESM” for just $5 at Restaurant.com.)

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Creative gourmet sandwiches from "Top Chef" Tom Colicchio are on the menu at 'wichcraft at MGM Grand, Las Vegas.

Eating well in Las Vegas isn’t hard but eating well on a budget in Las Vegas?  That’s a little more tricky.

Let’s face it — we’re all watching our pennies and nickels and dimes (and, if we have any, dollars) these days and even if we are off on vacation, we still want the most bang for our buck — especially when it comes to dining. Did you know you can experience the cuisine of several of the best chefs in Las Vegas (actually in the country!) but for a lot less money? Sure, you can spend the big bucks at their “signature” restaurants, or, for a fraction of the cost, you can eat very well at their more casual Las Vegas eateries.

Here’s a sampling of some of the best Las Vegas restaurant values:

Stratta at Wynn Las Vegas – Alex Stratta of the ultra-expensive but totally worth it, AAA Five Diamond Mobil Five Stars-winning “Alex” at Wynn Las Vegas has a much less costly trattoria-style restaurant, “Stratta,” featuring thin and crispy pizzas, homemade pastas and simple grilled items. On a recent trip, I sat at the bar and before long was joined by another single diner, Donna, and we proceeded to share a fabulous whole-leaf Caesar salad and a spicy Bianca pizza with arugula, spinach, ricotta and prosciutto while trading Las Vegas stories. The meal was excellent and throughly lived up to Alex’s attention to detail and authenticity but at a much more palatable price.

‘wichCraft at MGM Grand – Tom Colicchio, the straight-shooting “Top Chef” judge, offers creative sandwiches and grilled paninis, salads and homey desserts just a stone’s throw from his popular CraftSteak restaurant. These aren’t cheap eats but the fillings like meatloaf with cheddar and bacon or the Sicilian tuna with fennel, black olives and a lemony dressing are first-class. Also, don’t miss the dinner-plate sized Whoopie Pie – two soft chocolate cake rounds stuffed with vanilla custard. It’s easily enough for two people.  Breakfast-style sandwiches such as steak and oyster mushrooms or egg, bacon and bleu cheese are also available all day.

Now Take 70% Off with every order of $25 Gift Certificates at restaurant.com. Use code FEAST and pay just $3 for $25 in dining dollars thru 4/20/09.

Tomorrow – Three more suggestions in the “Top Chefs for Less” category.

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Enjoy a glass of the signature Sauvignon "B" while perusing the menu at Enoteca San Marco at The Venetian Las Vegas.

Any trip to Las Vegas wouldn’t be complete without me making a sojourn to one of the many celebrity chef outposts on The Strip.  On our last visit, I left P.B. at the Bally’s Sports Book and took a trip to The Venetian where I had a completely enjoyable solo lunch at Mario Batali’s Enoteca San Marco facing St. Mark’s Square.

It was a relatively quiet Sunday afternoon so I had my choice of tables.  With newspaper in hand, I selected a table on the patio and settled in for a long leisurely lunch.  Soon after I was seated, a group of performers from the resort’s “Phantom of the Opera” production took to a small stage set up on the Square and proceeded to entertain diners and visitors to the Grand Canal Shoppes alike.

My server arrived promptly to give me a run-down on the Chef’s specials including the daily pizza, pasta and salad choices.  After looking through the selections on the menu, I chose one of the day’s pasta specials – cavatappi with pork belly ragu along with a side of the Brussels sprouts salad.  While a hearty red would have gone with the pasta dish, I chose a glass of the signature white Sauvignon “B” which was, in my opinion, a little more conducive to lunch.  The quality of the wine plus the hefty eight-ounce pour made the $15 price tag seem a lot more reasonable.

Casual seating at the marble bar is available for diners at Enoteca San Marco.

Shortly after pouring my wine, my waiter returned with a paper-wrapped serving of mahogany-crusted country bread along with a package of thin and crispy breadsticks.  These were excellent chewy complements to the Brussels sprout salad, a crunchy concoction of shredded raw sprouts, piquant Parmesan Reggiano cheese and a light slick of grassy olive oil.  (I’ve since made this and several of his dishes from his ” Italian Grill” cookbook and we’ve enjoyed them all.)

Impressed with my meal so far, I eagerly anticipated my pasta dish while flipping through the Sunday paper, sipping my wine and enjoying the entertainment.  My pasta arrived and, in a word, it was superb.  Redolent of caramelized onions and garlic, the rich meaty sauce featured a generous amount of meltingly tender shreds of pork.  The homemade pasta spirals a perfect vehicle for the luxurious sauce.  By far one of the most decadent pasta dishes I have ever had and I finished every bite.

Cavatappi with pork belly ragu.

Too satisfied to even think about dessert, I finished my wine while watching the crowd go by and, if my Las Vegas Review-Journal had been a copy of Le Monde and the blue above a true sky, I could have easily mistaken my afternoon meal for a luncheon in the real Venezia.

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Stylish dining at Botero Steak at Wynn Encore in Las Vegas.

A lot of special occasions are celebrated by going to Las Vegas.  Birthdays, anniversaries, bachelor and bachelorette parties, “the-divorce-was finalized-and-it’s-time-to-party”-party.  You name it; we celebrate it by taking a jaunt to the Nevada desert.  So on a recent trip to Las Vegas, when it was time to pick a restaurant for a birthday dinner for P.B., we chose the new Botero Steak restaurant at Wynn Encore.

Being huge fans of SW Steakhouse at Wynn Las Vegas, we were curious to see how the newest steak-centric Wynn restaurant would stack up.  It’s a real pleasure to report that this newest eatery is firing on all cylinders – and that’s just a few weeks after opening.

Botero – named for the South American painter, sculptor, and artist who is a favorite of Steve Wynn’s – is striking in its design and lay-out no doubt in part to nightlife impresario and Botero partner, Victor Drai.

Entry into the circular dining area is through a cozy bar/lounge (a goldmine of people-watching opportunities) with a colorful display of artwork and glass decanters filled with gumball-hued liquids.  The main dining room – dominated by Botero’s “The Seated Lady” sculpture and looking out over the Encore’s lavish pool area – is done mostly in chocolate browns and glossy white which allow the primary colors of the paintings to stand out in stark relief.  It’s a sleek, wry space.  (Even if you don’t dine here, it’s worth a trip into the restaurant just to see the fanciful décor.)

But, you should dine here.  Décor aside, the food is well worth the visit.

Chef Mark LoRusso, formerly of Wynn’s Tableau restaurant, is the toque behind the menu and a fun menu it is.  His appetizers offer everything from soup to nuts in the form of a “Tasting of Soup” (choose two) to the candied walnuts found atop the “Gem Lettuce Salad.”  A hefty number of sea creations vie with entries from his “Farms and Fields” collection for your dining attention.

P.B. and I both chose salads (a real rarity we both wanted greens) with the Caesar for him, the aforementioned Gem Lettuce Salad – pears and Roquefort as well as walnuts on baby greens – for me.  Both were exactly what we wanted: crisp greens perfectly dressed with complementary vinaigrettes.

For our main course, P.B. was extremely happy to find that one of the night’s special entrees was Dover Sole – his absolute favorite fish.  (Happy Birthday, indeed!)  My choice was the bone-in, dry-aged New York Strip.  All steaks are offered with your choice of preparation:  traditional, pepper steak or chimichurri.  I chose traditional grilling with a ramekin of the spicy, garlicky chimichurri sauce on the side.

Far and away, the star of the evening was P.B.’s huge portion of melt-in-your-mouth Dover Sole done in a caper-accented buerre blanc and presented in a copper pan which served to keep the fish warm throughout the meal.  My steak was very good – beefy, chewy in the best possible way and cooked perfectly; the assertive chimichurri sauce a good accompaniment to the hearty flavor of the meat.

Side dishes could possibly steal the show if not for that stellar Dover Sole.  Our “Creamed Spinach with Crispy Egg” featured a breaded and fried whole egg whose yolk combined with the cream sauce for a rich take on this steakhouse side fav.  The “Polenta and Leek Onion Rings” were light and crunchy – terrific munchies to go with the beef.

And what meal would be complete without dessert?  None that I know of but particularly not one meant to be a birthday celebration.  We chose the “Ice Cream Cupcakes,” hobbit-sized babycakes in a variety of sweet flavors like banana, strawberry and mint chocolate topped with housemade ice cream frosting.

Does Botero break new culinary ground?  No.  Did I expect it to?  Again, no.  Is it a hip, well-executed steakhouse restaurant with enough interesting and outstanding dishes to warrant being a Las Vegas favorite?  You bet.

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Sliced apples atop perfect puff pastry from Jean-Philippe at The Bellagio.

As much as I love the hustle and bustle of the Strip in Las Vegas, it’s kinda’ nice to also find a quiet spot and just kick back, relax and soak in the atmosphere.  If you’ve been reading this blog, you know of my fondness for all things sweet — be it a five-star dessert, a humble cookie or a morning pastry — so it will come as no surprise that this little respite from the action included a visit to Jean-Philippe Patisserie at The Bellagio.

While P.B. was enjoying breakfast and the newspaper back at our hotel’s all-day café, I took a walk over to Bellagio to see the latest transformation of the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, pick up a light breakfast and simply enjoy the morning.

I’m really not a “big breakfast” eater; I tend to want to go back to sleep if I indulge too much.  For that reason, a stop at Jean-Philippe is perfect for me.  I ordered a double latte and the sliced apple pastry and, as always, the pastry was delectable.

I got my items to go, hiked down the hallway a bit and found a comfy little spot with a table and chairs where I could enjoy a view of the pool area, the luxurious Bellagio surroundings and my perfect little breakfast.

The Chinese New Year is celebrated in color and form at The Bellagio gardens in Las Vegas.

After lingering over breakfast, I visited the Bellagio’s indoor gardens which were decorated in vibrant tones of lucky red and gold for the Chinese New Year festivities — a design that will be on display through February 28.  In addition to this colorful figure perched atop his mountain of gold coins, the garden designers paid homage to The Year of the Ox by creating a sculpture of the beast out of what looked like boxwood.  Any time of year, the garden is always a must-see on my Las Vegas list.

A note about Jean-Philippe:  There can be an imposingly long line at the counter but be aware that the queue moves very quickly and you’ll have your order in no time.

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Daniel Boulud at Wynn Las Vegas failed to impress this diner.

Our favorite food writer visits Daniel Boulud Brasserie at Wynn and comes away with a less-than-stellar impression.

Not even the crustiest critic goes out looking for a bad experience.  Au contraire! Hope springs eternal that each new restaurant just might be the one that delivers a great meal with adept service in a charming environment.

Naturally, the more high profile the eatery,   the more the diner is led to expect and if the name Daniel Boulud is not emblazoned in the culinary firmament, I don’t know what is.

Boulud’s Vegas home is at The Wynn, tucked downstairs with a view of the lagoon (they actually call it a lake) and its always-surprising conceptual sound and light show. The room is narrow, sinuously curved and with a palette of grays, coolly cozy. Cool might best describe the staff as well, at least until an issue arises.

We were cheerfully ensconced in front of a window, the three of us sipping wine and rooting for the giant frog that sometimes materializes atop the waterfall to appear. Homey, country French dishes appealed and we happily shared meaty rich, ideally seasoned steak tartare; tender, garlic-butter-dripping escargot and a bowl of classic onion soup topped with bubbling, browned cheese. Along with a boulangerie’s worth of exceptional breads, we were happy campers.

After a suitable interval, in which I visited the lavish ladies room and wondered why bother with a glassed-in kitchen which is at the back of the room and not visible by most diners, our entrees were served.

I had ordered a skate special. That wonderfully flaky, delicately flavored specialty is too rarely seen on American menus and I was very much anticipating it. It was presented with a flourish and before I could even appreciate the artful arrangement I was hit with the nose-stinging, eye-watering smell of ammonia. It was strong and it was obvious. So obvious it is difficult to understand why neither the person who prepared it nor the wait staff noticed and put the brakes on.

When I pointed it out to the server, suggesting he inhale a snootful, he visibly quailed and hesitantly offered to take it back. “Please,” I replied. “And, bring me the menu again.”

Meanwhile, my companions each dug into their crispy-skinned duck confit and a tureen of sweet, briny mussels.

The server returned to apologize, explaining the problem was with the lobster garnish.

Did I care? Noooo. Now I had to quickly order something or I would be finishing my entrée long after the other two were done. So, I settled on a charcuterie plate. It was decent, but something I could have assembled myself at a decent delicatessen for a lot less than $26.

Not another word was said or action taken by the staff to ameliorate the situation. I didn’t expect the charcuterie platter to be comped, but dessert on the house was the least they could have done to make up for such a major glitch — especially when dinner for three rang in at close to $300.

Would I go back? Well, maybe if they guaranteed the giant frog cooked and served my dinner.

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Rick Moonen's RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay Las Vegas.

It may seem odd to go to the Nevada desert to indulge in your favorite seafood dishes but that is exactly what P.B. and I set out to do when we dined at RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay Resort And Casino. RM refers to Chef/Owner Rick Moonen, a former New Yorker who previously helmed the kitchens at two of our favorite NYC seafood restaurants – The Water Club and Oceana. Because we were familiar with his food, we were expecting excellent meals and weren’t disappointed.

Occupying a back corner of the casino, the two-story restaurant is near the Mandalay Bay theater. Upstairs is the high-end more formal restaurant complete with chef’s tasting menu, Hudson Valley foie gras and an assortment of caviars. Downstairs, where we ate, is a seafood joint that would be perfectly at home on any street corner in New York or San Francisco.

White leather banquettes, teak chairs and table tops — plus a few TV screens perched over the bar — let you know you’re in the “slang” portion of the restaurant. While the setting and menu may be more casual, the attention to food and service is most decidedly not.

Our table was near the front of the restaurant with a view of the casino floor. Although close to the gaming area, we didn’t notice any noise or other negative distraction. (Perhaps we didn’t notice because we were too busy enjoying our meal.)

We started with a bowl of superb clam chowder for P.B. and a lemony seafood salad for me. The creamy pale golden chowder was packed with flavor from fresh herbs, diced potatoes, onions and best of all – tons of sweet chewy clams. This was easily one of the best clam chowders we have ever eaten.

My seafood salad was a colorful, puckery plate of calamari, shrimp and lobster mixed with celery and sweet red peppers. The assertive lemon dressing had a spicy kick to it and if anything, the lemon was a little bit over-powering. A quick sprinkling of salt improved the balance of the vinaigrette.

Clams served with cheese-topped garlic bread shine on the RM Seafood menu.

Our next course consisted of shared plates of tuna sashimi, steamed Manila clams and a side portion of sautéed spinach with garlic. The velvety tuna was textbook fresh and of high-quality but the star of the show was the mound of petite clams. Served in a sprightly broth with white wine, morsels of fresh tomato and ribbons of fresh basil, this was a superb dish. The two fat wedges of crusty, cheesy garlic bread that accompanied the clams were just right for soaking up every last drop of the flavorful broth.

A fresh, light ending to the meal came in the form of the angel food and fresh berries shortcake served with a tangy vanilla crème fraiche that we shared.

Service throughout the meal was attentive and friendly. Both wine and water glasses remained full and the courses and check arrived on time.

Next visit will be for lunch when we can try the Catfish Sloppy Joe that “Esquire” magazine and Oprah Winfrey have both raved about.

Read more of our Las Vegas restaurant reviews here:  Bouchon, Olives, BLT Burger, Payard Patisserie, Jean-Philippe at The Bellagio.

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Morels French Steakhouse at The Palazzo made our list of favorites.

Doing a “Best Restaurants in Las Vegas” list is sort of like doing the “Sexiest Man Alive” issue of People magazine.  We’ve probably missed a couple of hotties; you might think a few are past their prime; and we may even have you shaking your head in a “What-the-hell-were-they-thinking-picking-Zac-Efron?” kind of way but, hey, it’s our list and we’re sticking to it.  (At least until our next trip to Vegas later this month….)

And while you can go to innumerable websites and find scrolls and scrolls of Las Vegas restaurant listings, we’re going to give you a workable, two-page printable list of our favorite Las Vegas restaurants — mostly on the Strip — conveniently arranged into different categories.  We’ve even included the 36 links you need to check them out for hours, phone numbers and all the info you may need.  Also, be sure to check out the most up-to-date Las Vegas dining deals and restaurant coupons at our sister site, BestLasVegasValues.com.

Steakhouses:  SW Steakhouse at Wynn Las Vegas     BOA Steakhouse at the Forum Shoppes at Caesars Palace     CUT at The Shops at the Palazzo     Morels French Steakhouse at The Palazzo     Delmonico Steakhouse at The Venetian     Craftsteak at MGM Grand     Strip House at Planet Hollywood     N9NE at The Palms     Prime at The Bellagio     Charlie Palmer Steak at The Four Seasons Las Vegas

Seafood:  RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay (either upstairs or the more casual downstairs)     AquaKnox at the Venetian     Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare at Wynn Las Vegas     Emeril’s New Orleans Fish House at MGM Grand     Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab at The Forum Shoppes at Caesars Palace     Michael Mina at The Bellagio     SeaBlue at the MGM Grand

Sushi:  Koi at Planet Hollywood     Social House at Treasure Island     Nobu at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino     Sushi Roku at The Forum Shoppes at Caesars Palace     Yellowtail Sushi Restaurant & Bar at The Bellagio     Shibuya at MGM Grand

Chef-Driven, Food-as-High-Art, Titanium Card Preferred Fine Dining: Alex at Wynn Las Vegas     Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace     Bouchon Bistro (Thomas Keller) at The Venetian      L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand     Picasso (Julian Serrano) at The Bellagio

Staff Favorites:  Olives at The Bellagio     Burger Bar at Mandalay Bay     Mon Ami Gabi at Paris     David Burke at The Venetian    Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill at Caesars Palace     Rosemary’s Restaurant (Off-Strip and completely worth the cab ride!)     The Grill at Valentino at The Venetian     Mix at THEhotel at Mandalay Bay

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The alluring pastry case at Payard Patisserie at Caesars Palace.

Making a visit to Payard’s exquisite bakery at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas takes on Holy Grail-like overtones because this place is NOT easy to find.  My advice — save yourself a lot of time and shoe leather and just ask any hotel employee to point you in the right direction.  (It’s at the back of the resort near the Café Lago buffet.  Look for the caramel-toned lighting and chocolate-colored curlicues facing the walkway.)

Once you do find it, you’ll be presented with two options for dining – either the casual counter-service-only café or the adjacent tiny jewel box of a restaurant.  The timing may decide for you since the café is open from 6:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. while the bakery counter serves from 6:30 a.m. until 11 p.m.  Either way, you can rest assured that the fabulous pastries and desserts are on both menus.

And fabulous is not an overstatement when it comes to Monsieur Payard’s artistic pastries and sweets.  Winner of numerous “Best Pastry Chef” awards, Francois Payard proves his culinary mettle in every buttery croissant, velvety mousse and perfectly-constructed tart and gâteau on the menu.   Our favorites include the lush Maple Cheesecake with Blueberry Compote, the classic multi-layered Raspberry Napoleon and the sophisticated Vienne with its masterful blending of dark chocolate, orange and caramel. 

Dessert flavors extend to the decor at Payard with its caramel-toned lighting.

Since man cannot live by dessert alone (well, you could but probably shouldn’t) Payard Patisserie offers breakfast fare including omelets and quiches plus a lunch/light dinner menu of sandwiches and salads including a Tuna Nicoise salad that will remind you why this is one of France’s most beloved dishes.  For a heartier appetite, the Roast Beef Panini on authentic ciabatta with caramelized onions is robustly flavored while the accompanying house-made spicy potato chips are addictive. 

In addition to the café and bakery, there is a retail store stocked with boxes of luxurious handmade truffles and candies as well as Payard’s signature gift baskets to take home.

Where:  Caesars Palace

Hours:  Breakfast: 6:30am to 11:30am
              Lunch: 11:30am to 3pm
Pastry Counter: 6:30am to 11:00pm
Retail Store: Tue-Fri 6:30am to 11:00pm
Retail Store: Sat-Mon 6:00am to 11:00pm

Reservations: Tel.  877-346-4642

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Chef Todd English's "Olives" at The Bellagio is a great bet for lunch.

Don’t be fooled by the location or first impression of Olives at The Bellagio, Las Vegas.  It’s open to the walkway through the tony shopping arcade and at first glance appears trendy-casual. And while it is marketed as one of the resort’s casual eateries, Olives at The Bellagio is actually a paragon of culinary consistency and excellence.

Once inside, it’s also pretty nifty looking with rich, dark hues, luxurious furnishings and over-sized arched windows leading out to a lovely patio overlooking the fountain.

The briskly professional staff sweeps to the table with water, menus and the most seductive bread service ever. An artisinal assortment is accompanied by both mellow, satiny black and green olive tapenades and glistening, giant whole olives. Warning — don’t overdo — the dishes that follow are equally spectacular. 

Celeb chef/owner Todd English has assembled a crack culinary staff to produce a roster of dishes that could best be described as “Mediterranean contemporary.”  Ingredients and flavors are direct and emphatic, preparations careful and sophisticated.

A rich, warm interior complements the excellent cuisine at Olives at The Bellagio.

Among the starters are a gently dressed, textural squid and octopus salad. Rosy as prime beef, tuna carpaccio is light but satisfying. Beef carpaccio is paired with an assertive Roquefort polenta that adds plenty of oomph to the blandish meat. All the lamb dishes are good – especially so the seductive little crusty, rare riblets.

Olives pizzas and flatbreads are thin and crackly yet have a pleasingly elastic texture that’s an ideal foil for toppings like earthy Portobello mushroom, Fontina cheese and truffle oil or, profoundly rich, sweet and salty fig and prosciutto.

No flagging with the entrees from delicate tortelli stuffed with butternut squash and moistened with brown butter and sage to duck “three ways” with a killer peach reduction that brings out the natural muskiness of the meat.

Having always opted for two starters rather than a dessert, we’ll assume that category is just as stellar as the rest of the menu.

The wine list is high-end and high-priced. With appetizers ranging from $15 to $20 and entrees going from $30 to $50 at dinner, lunch at Olives is a relative bargain.  But bear in mind, reservations – lunch and dinner – have been a must.

Where:  The Bellagio

Hours of Operation:
Lunch and Dinner Daily
Lunch: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Dinner: 5:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Reservations:
Suggested by calling 866.259.7111 or 702.693.7223

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Bouchon Las Vegas at The Venetian serves French bistro favorites with quality and precision.

Our favorite restaurant reviewer visits Bouchon at The Venetian –

Bouchon is an odd but worthy bird. Perched far away from the hubbub of The Venetian’s casino and shops, this brain-child of chef Thomas Keller is a shining example of “The Disneyland Effect”. That phenomenon is the re-working of a familiar entity, like New Orleans’s French Quarter, which ends up far grander, glossier and more polished than the real thing ever was.

In this case, the restaurant designer has taken the notion of a Parisian bistro and blown it up into an idealized, sanitized, over-sized and utterly beguiling stage set. Minus the nicotine stained walls and crusty old waiters, Bouchon is all the right stuff writ large — zinc countertops at the raw bar, gleaming tiled floors, chalkboard menus, an old-fashioned wall clock, artless floral arrangements and mega-yards of crisp white bistro aprons. Those aprons wrap a crew that is, for the most part, highly professional.

The food, too, is a gorgeous idealization of the real thing. Sorry Francophiles, but rare is the bistro in France that produces dishes of this quality and precision.

Starting with the crusty, yeasty, braided loaves of bread and super-rich butter — it’s dreamy stuff. The ultimate starter is the fabulously silky-smooth foie gras, cunningly served in a sealed jar.  At $49 it easily satisfies four. Raw oysters taste as if they’d just been harvested off the Breton coast and chubby escargot nestled in butter-soaked little pastry rounds are plenty garlicky.

Classic dark woods, traditional tile floors and servers in crisp white aprons give Bouchon an authentic Parisian feel.

Salads are inventive, utilizing contrasting ingredients for greatest taste appeal. The onion soup is perfectly balanced and draped with lip-blistering melted cheese.

Looking around the room it’s easy to see that moules rule – the big cast iron serving pot takes pride of place on many tables. Those mussels are plump and briny and the accompanying cone of golden fries (served properly with mayonnaise) are faultless. 

Whoever butchers the lamb legs extracts just the single most clean, dense part of the leg and it is always strictly done to order. Pork ribs aren’t the usual skinny, skimpy jobbers but instead big bones packed with lean, meltingly tender meat. And, anytime sausage is mentioned on the menu, go for it – the links are invariably deeply flavorful and surprisingly lean.

It’s tempting just to gorge on the sides starting with hedonistic macaroni gratin with the hauntingly smoky taste of Comte cheese. Potato puree is pure luxury personified.

Keep an eye on the chalkboard for specials like monkfish with a lobster-like texture and taste. Though, one night, a $14 squid salad, while amazingly delicious was also embarrassingly skimpy by Bouchon’s usual generous standards.

And desserts don’t exactly thrill — ice cream-filled profiteroles and lemon tart are okay but a selection of great cheeses with a glass of Armagnac is ever so much better.

Lift that glass to a restaurant concept that truly transcends its genre.

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The Mirage's juicy entry into The Strip's upscale burger joints - BLT Burger - wins praise from our reviewer.

This is the first in our series of restaurant reviews where we’ll tell you if a place — new or old, glam or down-home — is worth your cash.  We’re so lucky here at RoyallyFlushed to have highly-experienced, well-respected guest writers who contribute terrific articles like this one.  C.C.

On the Strip, even fast food is flashy. Witness BLT Burger at The Mirage. Its part of Chef Laurent Tourondel’s high-profile restaurant group and if that long, shallow space feels familiar, well, it used to be the resort’s white tiger habitat.

Open to a busy corridor and with an ever-present wait line outside peering in, diners can feel much like the tigers must have. The darkish interior, dominated by a huge black and white photomural of the barren Nevada desert, is eerily cave-like. Customers with less than 20/20 vision must scamper outside to read the menu. No need to hurry back, though, while service is chipper, its tortoise slow.

Once things get going, it’s happy-time. This is rightfully uncomplicated food, but the ingredients are top-notch and everything is meticulously prepared.  For a purist delight, it’s hard to beat the American Kobe burger. Not cheap at $22, but the intensely beefy taste and texture coupled with a good bun makes it worth every penny. A Mediterranean-spiced lamb burger with puckery yogurt sauce is a fun walk on the wild side and the rare tuna burger is, well, so meaty you might just consider going for the less expensive regular burger.

If you’re not a carnivore, that’s okay, decent salads are available or, you could fill up on super-appealing sides like the addictive fried pickle slices, crispy sweet potato fries and sturdily-crusted onion rings.

Or, just skip straight to some of the most stupendous ice cream shakes ever shakerized. Granted, there are weird options. If you want such a thing, there is a “Twinkie Boy” for instance (don’t ask). But the chocolate is true flavored and the strawberry tastes like real right-out-of-the-patch strawberries rather than artificial flavoring. Better still, there are alcohol-fortified options (plus a full and inventive cocktail list).

BLT Burger doesn’t have quite the retro-cool vibe that Burger Bar at Mandalay Bay does, but it’s a great option for soaking up last night’s hangover or getting a good start on tomorrow’s.

Location:  The Mirage

Hours:  Sunday, Tuesday, & Wednesday:11:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.
              Monday, Thursday – Saturday:11:00 a.m. – 4:00 a.m.

Dress:  Casual

Info:  702.792.7888

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