[TheGreatCurve]

Originally Posted by PinotGuy

To be honest, I'll take Duangrat's (Virginia) over LOS in a heartbeat if food only is considered, its better at that. But LOS beats it on price and an incredible wine list, which is available at retail price. Will have to check out Pin Kao once we move here next month.

Had a sub-par dinner last night at Olives, just another confirmation that "imports' are no way near their originals. Olives in Boston (original) is head and shoulders above its Bellagio counterpart. Even Todd's Kingfisher restaurant in Boston, which is a more affordable place than Olives (Boston) serves better food than Olives in LV.

Steak houses wise, I am willing to give Old Hempstead a shot once it opens (Caesar's), it is one of the best in NYC for who knows how long now and actually preferred by NY locals instead of such knowns as Peter Luger and a few others. And my favorite, hands down, is Sparks in mid-town, best steaks in NY at any price. Don't think they will open in Vegas any time soon, though.

Chinese food wise, we again checked menus at some high end places on the strip yesterday. Huge joke in more ways than one. NY and SF offer way better Chinese food at a fraction of the cost of LV counterparts and NY offers various Chinese cuisines on top of that (SF and West Coast is mostly Cantonese and Hong Kong in some places). I am sure off-strip Chinese is not that good, either, par for the course for most of America, IMO.

Japanese wise, same story once again: NY and SF/LA.

We'll be exploring a bit more once we move (Henderson area), I am sure there are some places to be discovered as an alternative of driving to LA/Orange County. I'll be posting my impressions as we go along.

You really ought to get away from the strip the next time you visit Vegas. Vegas is more than just the strip. Some of the best Chinese food can be found off of the strip. Just head west on Spring Mountain Road and keep going. There's a whole other world in Vegas not near the strip.

[macgeek]

We are also the Massage Capital of the west!

Jonathan

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by TheGreatCurve

You really ought to get away from the strip the next time you visit Vegas. Vegas is more than just the strip. Some of the best Chinese food can be found off of the strip. Just head west on Spring Mountain Road and keep going. There's a whole other world in Vegas not near the strip.

The "best restaurant on Spring Mountain" is merely "passable" by San Francisco and New York standards.

We don't have an educated population (food-wise, or otherwise) -- most don't know the difference between Cantonese, Mandarin or Szechuan. They just know they like General Tso's lunch special #5, with fried rice and egg-drop soup.

Therefore, the mom & pop joints don't have to "bring it" the way they do in San Francisco. Also, the big coastal cities get better-quality ingredients. That leads to a better end product -- and often for less money. San Francisco Chinese places are both higher quality and lower priced than Las Vegas, despite being located in one of America's most expensive cities.

That doesn't mean I don't like the dim sum joints and bahn-mi stands here in Las Vegas. Only that I'm not going to proclaim them to be "among the best in the world" when they quite certainly are not.


Also, I have a theory about why Las Vegas outposts of various flagship restaurants aren't as good as the original. I'll test the theory next time I go to SF.

[von949]

Originally Posted by macgeek

We are also the Massage Capital of the west!

Jonathan

I have also noticed a rise in foot/reflexology parlors. I always wondered what those were all about.

[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by von949

I have also noticed a rise in foot/reflexology parlors. I always wondered what those were all about.

The one in Chinatown near the indoor mall gives foot massages; but I get the feeling most of them give happy endings.

I don't think any of them know anything about reflexology. And I think sanitation might be a problem with all of them.

[mco65]

Originally Posted by cecnj

I planned on posting a personal take on living in Vegas after one full year here....and probably will still do so; however, I couldn't wait any longer to post some thoughts and reflections.

My first two months in town were tough, very tough. Little of it had to do with Vegas specifically, however. I'm not sure I realized that at the time though. I was homesick (for New Jersey? crazy, I know). I felt rather lost, even though I had a job prior to arriving here. I'm glad I stuck it out through those couple months.

I've grown to really like it here:

*Despite posts about it being colder here this year at this time than normal, I still love the fact that cold here does not also mean ice, freezing rain, snow to shovel, etc. The sun is out nearly every day and midday temps are still great for outdoor activities.

*I've made many friends, several great ones. I realize Vegas is somewhat more transient than many other cities, but what helps one to make friends is this very fact---most of us come from elsewhere. We are all new here at some point and immediately recognize that in others.

*There is sooooo much to do (and I'm not even including the strip in my accounting). And much of it is free or cheap.

*Cost of living still beats the east coast by....well, a lot. I earn a decent but modest living (I'm a teacher in an independent school and take home less than 50K per year). I can afford housing, car, utilities and still have some money for fun and for savings. I do live quite modestly---so if you're a shopper, fashionista type, I can't relate.

Part of what helped me to fight the initial feeling that I'd made a big mistake moving here were many enouraging posts and messages from members of this board. The snarky comments also provided motivation---I had to prove someone wrong.

So, enjoy the holiday all. Looking forward to New Year's here in Vegas with old friends from NJ and my great new ones from my new home.

This is a great post. Thanks for Sharing. I have visited Vegas many times and at one time was seriously considering move out there.. i never did and some what regret that but hey, I still get to visit!

[Swigchow]

Originally Posted by PinotGuy

Absolute nonsense uttered by those who know nothing about food. Pretty much EVERY highly rated restaurant on Las Vegas strip is an outpost of an original elsewhere or is run by chef imported from another city. And then run by an executive chef, not the original chef with just a few exceptions. Think about, would you rather eat at the original chef's place or a copy?

Yes, we should probably go to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower or Egypt to see the Pyramids. But, isnt that one of the advantages of Las Vegas, to have access to some of the best restaurants (even if only satellites) without having to travel the world. My wife, who rates restaurants not just by food but by ambience and by their cosmopolitans loves Olive's.

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by Swigchow

Yes, we should probably go to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower or Egypt to see the Pyramids. But, isnt that one of the advantages of Las Vegas, to have access to some of the best restaurants (even if only satellites) without having to travel the world. My wife, who rates restaurants not just by food but by ambience and by their cosmopolitans loves Olive's.

I think the gaming companies made a mistake here -- making "theme park" casinos. Back when we tried to pass ourselves off as a "family-friendly destination."

Nobody brags about going to Epcot Center in Orlando as a alternative to foreign travel. Luxor and Paris are just more adult versions of Epcot, and just as badly-done. Las Vegas is a destination in itself. Trying to pass itself off as an ersatz France, Egypt, or Venice doesn't do anything for our image. We should have stuck with a neon and glitz -- the Stardust, Flamingo and Sands. That's what we do. People come for the entertainment, the lights and the action. Not our stately European architecture.

We're not France. Nor are we Venice. Let the Parisians and Venetians do their thing. We'll do ours.

As for satellite restaurants, some are hits. Most are misses. But none of them are 100% as good as the original. I think Bouchon comes closest to it's original Yountville location -- I'd say it's 90% as good as the original.

Rao's Las Vegas isn't even close to the Rao's on 114th Street. But how could it compare? New Yorkers buy a table there for life.

I haven't been to Olives in Boston, so it's not fair to compare.

Bouchon aside, I generally stay away from celebrity-chef-owned restaurants. The more locations a chef opens, the less he or she can supervise any of them directly. I'm looking straight at you, Wolfgang Puck.

[TheGreatCurve]

Originally Posted by ScoopLV

The "best restaurant on Spring Mountain" is merely "passable" by San Francisco and New York standards.

We don't have an educated population (food-wise, or otherwise) -- most don't know the difference between Cantonese, Mandarin or Szechuan. They just know they like General Tso's lunch special #5, with fried rice and egg-drop soup.

Therefore, the mom & pop joints don't have to "bring it" the way they do in San Francisco. Also, the big coastal cities get better-quality ingredients. That leads to a better end product -- and often for less money. San Francisco Chinese places are both higher quality and lower priced than Las Vegas, despite being located in one of America's most expensive cities.

That doesn't mean I don't like the dim sum joints and bahn-mi stands here in Las Vegas. Only that I'm not going to proclaim them to be "among the best in the world" when they quite certainly are not.


Also, I have a theory about why Las Vegas outposts of various flagship restaurants aren't as good as the original. I'll test the theory next time I go to SF.

I've lived in both NYC and SF for many years and I've been to many Chinese restaurants in Vegas, none of which are anywhere near the strip. You have to go the restaurants where 100% of the other customers are Chinese and no one in the restaurant is speaking English and the menus are written in Chinese. Those are the ones that serve good Chinese food.

[pommysmommy]

Originally Posted by TheGreatCurve

I've lived in both NYC and SF for many years and I've been to many Chinese restaurants in Vegas, none of which are anywhere near the strip. You have to go the restaurants where 100% of the other customers are Chinese and no one in the restaurant is speaking English and the menus are written in Chinese. Those are the ones that serve good Chinese food.

I wouldn't recommend that to people who are particular about the meat that comprises the meal.