The D Hotel & Casino Fall 2014

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Originally introduced to the market as the SunDance hotel & casino by Moe Dalitz, the D renovated the properties 2nd incarnation as the Fitzgerald from the bottom of the options barrel into something Fremont St desperately need, a cool option. You can feel the difference the moment you walk in the door. The energy is palpable, young and extremely alluring.  

When plans were announced and the name unveiled, shows like this venomously hated it. When we were told the name didn't have one meaning but 3; Downtown, its location in las Vegas, D, the nickname of new owner Derek Stevens as well as for Detroit, his hometown, it didn't help. The name and theme were called everything from unimaginative & dumb to the worst property name in Las Vegas history. We said that.  We were so wrong.  

What Derek Stevens and company did to the Fitzgerald is nothing short of remarkable. It's hard to believe its even the same property. How someone was able to take that unique casino layout, erase all the bad memories it recalled upon first site and replace it with the vibe it has on the bones of the past is beyond impressive.  But its not just the casino. The D has really nice renovated rooms that carry through the cool vibe the property exudes. It has some quality, all be it limited, dining options, low limits and even vintage gaming options on the 2nd floor casino including the only surviving sigma derby machine on Fremont.  Simply put, The D is the best property in downtown Las Vegas today. 

Vegas Mate Rating – 3/5

Mark & Keren – 5/5
Alastair - 4/5

Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino Spring 2014

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Mandalay Bay, or as some have referred to it as, the Mirage south, is a property that very much earns that comparison.  From the gold tri-point tower, aquatic animal encounter, iconic pop cirque show and quality high-end dining, Mandalay Bay needed to be the Mirage 2.0 to overcome the tremendous disadvantaged of being the southernmost property on the Las Vegas Strip.  Fortunately, it was successful.

Mandalay Bay is exquisite without being pretentious, high-end without being snobby.  It is simultaneously the culmination and, inadvertently, the downfall of circus circus enterprises, but we’ll save details about that for Vintage Vegas.  Like the Mirage before it, MGM took it over and also like the Mirage, they’ve taken good care of it.

Vegas Mate Rating – 4/5 chips

Mark, Keren & Alastair – 4/5 chips

Hecho en Vegas @MGM Grand Spring 2014

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For those that enjoy food, Vegas is a place whose vast offerings, in all styles of cuisine, can take you on an amazing quest, taking years to complete, to find the best experiences of your life.  Some would argue the journey is the best part and they may be right. But the experience of eating something you love, and tasting it like you never have before or even knew was possible is an experience everyone should have before they die. 

Hecho en Vegas, Spanish for “Made in Vegas”, was that kind of experience.  Just like the Spanish settlers that originally stumbled upon a lush patch of landscape in the desert and named it The Meadows, the Spanish translation of Las Vegas, we found it by shear happenstance.

From the moment you sit down, you feel like a guest whose residence are so proud of what they’ve created, they can’t wait to share it with you.  Friendly, helpful and extremely knowledgeable about flavors, textures and what they have to offer to suit your individual palette, this is what Mexican food is supposed to taste and service is supposed to be like.

Vegas Mate Rating – 4/5 chips

Mark & Keren Rating - 5/5 chips

Alastair Rates - 4/5 chips