Du-Par's @Golden Gate Spring 2016

It’s basically a coffee shop & old-timey diner.  How good could it be?  Well, it’s been at the Golden Gate on Fremont St since 1959 and was kind of the first California based concept restaurant to come to Vegas.  It brought the famous shrimp cocktail to downtown and blew people’s minds with how good it was, the price and the presentation.  But more than anything, Du-Par’s is known for it’s pancakes, often referred to as the “Best Pancakes in America”.  With such a dubious claim in a city known for having the best of the best when it comes to food…challenge accepted.

Rating

Mark & Keren – 4/5

Alastair – 4.5/5

Correction per listener Chris Hall (Thanks)

Du-Par's has only been at Golden Gate since spring of 2010.  Prior to that, it was called Bay City Diner.  The shrimp cocktail used to come from a deli counter in the casino.  Right at the end of the bar there was a live piano player (mostly played Sinatra/Gershwin/etc..) and right past the piano was the deli.  Once the Stevens brothers bought in and started making changes, they brought in Du-Par's, got rid of the deli, and moved the shrimp cocktail over there.

The LINQ Promenade Summer 2014

Las Vegas’ continuing success is its ability to reinvent itself when the market needs it to.  Unlike urban developments in established cities, Vegas doesn’t venerate the old, the past or history in general.  Nothing is so sacred that it can’t be imploded to make way for the next thing. While it can be sad to lose that history, it is unarguable that for Vegas, it works. 

As much as I’ve fallen in love with the cities history, it was it’s current incarnation that drew me to it for the first time.  Properties like Luxor, Excalibur, NYNY and Paris are what caught my attention and cultivated the desire to experience Las Vegas.  In a very short period of time, I’ve learned about her history and enjoyed her evolution.

That brings us to now and Vegas’ current incarnation, retail.  It started with shopping malls and have transformed into outdoor dining and shopping experiences.  The Linq promenade was a brand new experience to the market and has already been mimicked by Bally’s Grand Bazaar and MGM’s The Park.  Vegas properties are finally understanding that the guests of today aren’t trying to get out of the desert heat; they want to spend lots of time in it. 

Rating - (Scale of 1-5)

Mark - 4/5

Keren & Alistair - 3/5

Jean Georges Steakhouse @Aria Summer 2014

Is there anything more rewarding that a great steak dinner?  Of course I can't speak for the whole world but there is something very American about steak. It seems to embody what it feels like to be successful.  Like a beer at the end of hard days work, steak is how you cap off a special occasion and steak makes an occasion special.

So you agree, steak is great; but have you ever had a steak in Vegas?  Vegas steaks make the exceptional ordinary and boring, actually disappointing.  We’ve actually described a steak as “good I wasn’t eating it in Vegas”.  Vegas offers steaks like you didn’t know it could taste in dining environments that actually somehow compliment the dining and elevate the experience.  If you can only do it once in your life, do your homework, pick wisely and treat yourself.

Rating (1-5)

Keren - 2.5/5

Mark - 2/5

Yard House @Linq Promenade Spring 2014

Vegas is all about unique experiences and YardHouse is no exception. Great food, an epic beer selection and a choice location to take in the majesty of the High Roller observation wheel in LINQ's promenade. At first glance you may think this is just another gastropub and you'd be right but this is one of the good ones. 

Two stories with a 2nd floor, outdoor patio, located at the eastern most part of the promenade at LINQ, YardHouse has, what is known as, a prime location. If you only experience one dining establishment in the LINQ promenade, it needs to be YardHouse.  In fact we felt so highly about it, that we feature it as the kick off even to 360 Vegas Vacation 2.

Rating

Mark & Keren - 4/5

Alistair - 3.5/5