 January 18th, 2011
05:30 PM ET
Las Vegas, long known as a city of excess, might be getting a little less flush. According to a Zagat survey released earlier this month, even though Vegas is still the nation's most expensive dining city - the average bill is approximately $47.53 - Las Vegas diners are eating out less. The average number of meals eaten out dropped from 3.8 per week in 2005 to 3.3 in 2010. Combine those figures with a few notable restaurant closings, and it makes you wonder – are the city’s restaurateurs starting to hedge their bets? It hit the jackpot – sparking a haute dining revolution in Sin City. "Then, in 1998, the Vegas hotelier Steven Wynn opened the $1.7 billion, 3,000-room Bellagio Hotel on the former site of the legendary Dunes Hotel and Golf Course, and everything changed,” Jay Rayner, the Observer food critic wrote in his novel, The Man Who Ate the World. Since, the likes of superstar chefs like Mario Batali, Charlie Trotter, Emeril Lagasse and Thomas Keller have packed their knives and lined The Strip. Rayner continued:
Frenchmen like “chef of the century” Joël Robuchon at the MGM in 2006; legendary French chef Pierre Gagnaire followed suit in 2009 in the Mandarin Oriental. But over the course of 2010, something changed. Alex, the two Michelin-starred restaurant in the Wynn, most recently shut its doors on January 15. Hubert Keller closed Fleur de Lys to reopen as a small plate, more budget-friendly Fleur. The Daniel Boulud Brasserie closed in July to become the Lakeside Grill in November. And the newly opened, $3.9 billion Cosmopolitan resort opened with 14 restaurants - most of which headline with notable chefs like José Andrés and Scott Conant, and none of which are comparable to the high pricing of predecessors. “The old three course dining meal (apps, mains, desserts) may be fading, but you can still run up quite a tab with a bevy of small bites - and the restaurants know how to get you to do it,” said John Curtas, author of the popular blog and book, Eating Las Vegas. "The newly opened Cosmopolitan seems to getting the zeitgeist right - excellent food plus groovy vibe plus 'name' restaurants (Jaleo, Milos, STK, Comme Ça, Scarpetta) that represent quality, but also perceived value and uber-coolness.” “The restaurant scene in Las Vegas hasn't completely deviated from fine dining, though there has been renewed interest in more casual places,” said Ken Langdon, co-founder of Langdon Flynn Communications, a public relations firm with many clients in the food and beverage realm. “Five years ago the resorts battled for the huge French names like Robuchon and Savoy with $300-plus tasting menus and equally expensive wine lists. As expense accounts have been scaled back, the days of thousand dollar dinners have also been severely reduced. People still want amazing food but at much softer prices.” “It could very well be a blending together of the very fine cuisine and the casual setting. It’s easier for the consumer,” agreed Frank Pellegrino, Jr., co-owner of Rao’s in Caesars Palace. “Hey, I want to go to Guy Savoy but I can get the same chef, similar cuisine at a price point that I’m much more comfortable at.” As for the $285 prix fixe menus of yore - “I don’t think it’ll ever lose its place,” Pellegrino added. “[The] Vegas dining scene isn’t undergoing a sea change as much as it is growing up, with lots of confident/successful restaurants at all levels of pricing and decorum ... in other words, just like a real city,” concluded Curtas. A city based on excess will always have just that. It may just take a little longer for the chips to stack up. |
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Damn the pants.
My last trip to Vegas in 2009, Spago offered a 25% off discount for lunch. I don't eat fine dining due to the cost, however I took advantage of the offer and had a great lunch for $25.00 including drinks. Most of the entres were running about $25.00 or less, which puts them in line with most of the expensive buffets. Overall a great value for the money.
Remember the days of the $1.49 steak dinner? (and it wasn't the 1940's). Vegas will always have their loyal high rollers but they are constantly changing their image from sin city to Disneyland. Families are not going to spend big $ on food when you have kids that eat one chicken finger and they're done.
The latest Vegas restaurant craze has been due for a correction. The quality does not meet the price in many of these "high priced" places. I see their main purpose as keeping the riff raff out.
I go to Vegas for cheap nights out playing penny slots and free drinks while gambling, not expensive cuisine. You can get a high quality buffet at Gold Coast or Orleans for less than $10. For a quck cheap bite, go to O'Shea's Subway and get a true $5 footlong. And try getting the American Casino Guide 2011, has coupons for famous Rio buffet and others that make up for the $12-$20 price.
Go there every year. Stay away from the fancy places except for a special night before a Cirque show or something. Otherwise, the $6 prime rib and egg specials piled with endless amounts of the best hash browns you've ever had is a feast. The cheaper routes always taste better anyways, especially when you can't walk straight.
LOL!
I live in LV and casinos have been having a rough time like everyone else because of the economy. They brought a lot of their problems also on themselves because they don't give a dang about the locals. Locals don't go out and gamble much anymore because we all know that they have become nothing more than tourist traps. If we can't 'win' once in awhile we certainly aren't going to patronize their expensive restaurants.
It is so funny how people rave about the "cheap" buy-one-get-one-free [coupon] meals in Vegas, but in the end, your dinner cost you hundreds of dollars if you factor in the losses at the games on the way to the restaurant.
LOL, we always order an Entertainment coupon book on-line before we go. Makes Vegas on a budget manageable if you avoid high-stakes gambling.
True, Julia, but we were going to spend that money on the casinos anyway. That's why we go to Vegas in the 1st place. If "cheap" people like me can save a few bucks on food, that gives us more to gamble with, or go to another show or two. Our approaches are obviously different, but to each his own...
If you join the Las Vegas Advisor newsletter, you get a huge book of coupons with all kind of "buy one buffet, get one free" deals. and these are great buffets like Rio, Green Valley Ranhc, Red Rock, and Mirage. also discounts for Paris and Plant Hollywood's buffets. All of these are great and will cost you no more than $20 for the 2 of you. The newspapers also have deals, and if you sign up for the casino emails, they send you offers for food as well. Just gotta look around a little bit...
As i have read some of the comments above. It's true, going off the strip is the way too go. My wife and i where there last november for our second anniversery. We had a great meal at [Rao's] in ceasers! The service was good, as well as the food! But be prepared, alacart is the way they roll! After that pricey meal, i sniffed out a few cheap eats on the strip.There are some places to eat for cheap. You will only know this if you are willing too walk around and look a little bit! And check on line before you leaving home is a plus for your wallet!
Been going to Vegas twice a year for 30 years or more and a lot has changed in the last two years concerning the food and service. The days of the cheap food are long gone. Buffets used to run around $10 or less to get you into the casino. Now they run $35 to $50 and the service and food quality is way down. You can plan on spending three to four times what you used to pay for the food on your next trip, so plan ahead for that. A hamburger averages about $16. I agree with getting off the strip though for cheaper food...some great local places still available.
What can I say about Vegas, I love it..
Vegas is the biggest food rip off around. Back in the day it was the gambling they cared about and the food was the draw. Made it a great vacation spot. Now that they have big heads, are even more greedy and think everyone are suckers...they stick you for the food now too.
40 bucks for a buffet at the MGM? Riiight....
Is there a decent, reasonably priced asian place on the strip anymore? They got rid of my Ah Sin at Paris and turned it into a Sugar Factory restaurant.
If you want reasonably Asian cooking places in Vegas , you have to keep off the Strip and go west on Spring Mountain Rd to Chinatown and you can find bunch of good Viet's restaurant too. Good luck..
Whether in Vegas to gamble or eat, it is still the best place to pig out at a reasonable price (buffets). As for fiine dining the prices are still not too bad.
If you're into cheapstakes, theres always Denny's and a good hamburger joint In n Out where the burgers are fresh ground, their fries are great and the shakes are super.
As long as people go to Vegas to play and the casino makes good money then we're safe to be able to munch on "cheap" buffets.
Nice grammar.
Plenty of places left that are good and won't break the bank. Just get off the strip.
There's still one fine dining location on the Strip that won't be going anywhere and is open 24/7... Denny's!
Gourmet 'Eggs Over My Hammy' does sound tasty.
Las Vegas = the armpit of America. Visit, but don't move there unless you like a lower class of people.
That is nonsense pal. It's about the same as any other city. If you don't like the people there, then don't go there.
You clearly have never been to Alabama, Mississippi or Arkansas.
I've been to Alabama. A state like any other, some good, some bad. Like Illinois, Wisconsin, NY etc. Perhaps you'd like to tell us where _you_ hang out.
I have taken a whole new approach to dining in Las Vegas. My wife and I go to the CostCo near downtown. We buy rib eye, Filet Mignon, Lobster tails, jumbo shrimp and 1 or 2 bottles of Glen Livets. We bring soda, oil, seasoning and a few utensiles from home. After a day at the movies, visiting friends and just a little gaming, we come back to our room, have a few drinks, play dominoes or black jack (no money lost to the casino), make a wonderful meal and then...you know the rest. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas baby!!!. Maybe not a super fancy 5 star prepped meal but the value is incredible. I love my food!!! There is one catch. We have to spend more money to get a room with a decent kitchen. It's a trade off. This is not for everyone but it works very well for us.
AHHH! I like your philosophy! I'm from North Carolina and this is the take I have when going to the beach each Summer! ;)
Seems to me you traded your time in Vegas to save a few dollars. I mean, cooking in your hotel room? You could've done that at home. Playing cards and dominos in your room instead of spending more time in Casinos or go to a show? You might as well cut your trip short and go home where you're probably are more comfortable, and save yourself hotel expenses.
We go to get away from home, take a break from our hectic lives. Turn off the cellphones and just relax for a few days. Dropping out of the rat race even if just for a day or two is refreshing. Recharge the batteries then back to the salt mines. We don't go to there for the food or to break the bank. Losing hundreds of dollars in the casino is not our idea of 'fun'. Limiting our time in the casino saves us the cost of our hotel room plus more. Be honest. Who goes to Vegas, does any fair amount of gambling and doesn't lose at least...$50 – $100 a day per person? Let me guess, you always win, or you play penny slots, right?. Vegas was built by everyone else. Our steak, lobster dinners plus a few drinks cost us way less than half of what we'd pay for a comparable meal at any decent restaurant. Why pay the extra? For the ambiance? To tip someone 10% – 20% to walk my meal 20 feet from the kitchen? I'm not knocking those that do. Dining out can be cool and fun. It can be a wonderful experience or a poor one.
Have tried several of the fine establishments on the strip but the best we have found is off the strip called "Elements". Huge martini menu, local atmosphere and food the rivals the big names!
I remember when Vegas used to be the cheapest dining experience in the nation... and it wasn't even that long ago. Good times.
Where did you say the Burger King was ? There are enough good to excellent restaurants off the strip, to make everyone happy. The Las Vegas newspaper (Review/Sun) has a section on their website of the best places to eat off the strip in Vegas.., take a look. You will amazed, how people voted and what restaurants to go to and enjoy the food, service, at a great price. Who says.., when in Vegas, you have to eat at a hotel, casino or mall. Venture out, beyond the strip and you will find some great places to eat and dine at a reasonable price with very good service and parking. Mike in Montana
I go to restaurants with excellent service, unfortunately, service doesn't seem to go hand in hand with expensive food, so I don't spend my money at places that don't care how they treat their customers and are only in business to make a profit. I also avoid places that are environmetnally friendly, no styrofoam or plastic for leftovers and takeout. A lot has changed, but what will always be the same is people will pay for great food and service, if it isn't great they won't go. Profit seems to have taken precedence over quality food and service overall.
meant, I avoid places that are not environmentally friendly
are the $15 all you can eat buffets gone. the one at the mirage had prime rib.
Most of the buffet's are in the 25-35$ range now, but some of them have an all day fee for around $39.99 and you can eat at different buffets at different casinos.
We have a lot of great restaurants on and off the strip. I'm from Iowa though, and Iowa has better steak in the grocery store than they do here at the top restaurants. Not a comment about a chef's ability...the quality is better in the midwest.
I am sure the 5 star restaurants are very good. But in my 25 years of living here the corner bar/restaurants have the best food and the best deals. Get off the strip and enjoy.
I'll grant you, there are some good off strip local joints, but if you've never indulged at one of the finer establishments you don't know what you're missing. On our last visit we ate at Fiamma's at the MGM Grand. Probably the best meal I've ever had, but it had an extra special twist because we were a group of 7 all in street clothes, and most of us still quite drunk. I was wearing a pair of torn jeans. We were sat center table right in amongst much more finer dressed diners. I ordered the seafood risotto and Caesar salad. It was a good laugh as well as an incredible meal. Our bill totaled not quite $1000, but was well worth it. This is of course not something we do every night in Vegas, it's much too expensive and ultimately a waste of money. But once per visit? Go for it! Chances are you will not regret it. LIVE A LITTLE. ;-)
such is the lazy reporting of CNN: jay rayner wrote 'the man who ate the world', whereas jeffrey steingarten wrote 'the man who ate everything'
"...But Jimmy has fancy plans, and pants to match." Once again, NewsRadio provides the best retro commentary (from the episode, Super Karate Monkey Death Car".
If your gonna be in Vegas... eat like Vegas, baby! You lose money at black jack and don't care. Why should a crappy dinner entre for $60 phase you?
I always liked the quality of food served in a Steve Wynn casino in the early '90's. Hope he is still maintaining this quality and not cutting costs by buying food from the cesspools of China.
That obsessed with China, huh?
I can tell you, based on the fact I live here in Vegas, and a good friend of mine works at The Encore in the warehouse where the food items are delivered and stored, he is not. Everything is still high quality, fresh food from US farms and producers.
ahhh dining in vegas.....makes me hungy thinking about it.
There is a $19.99 2 nights deal on social deal map include a $100 restaurant GC
What is this website exactly that you speak of? I'm going in March and would love to take advantage of an awesome deal like that.
And Scottie puts them on.... :)