[orca17]

Yes, a lot of the show is about people who have no business owning a restaurant. It's also frustrating to see them go back to their old ways after Gordon leaves, when what they were doing before obviously wasnt working or they wouldn't have been on the show in the first place.

I watched one about a restaurant that was family run. The place was going in the dumper, and fast. The show even arranged for some of the customers to come out and give their honest opinions of the restaurant, the food and the service. The father was so convinced that he was doing everything right that he stormed out and accused the show producers of setting him up.

[delgadobb]

Originally Posted by cdaq

"8-oz. steak, jumbo shrimp, salad, garlic mashed potatoes all for $7.77

Available for your dining pleasure 24 hours a day!"

ALL for $7.77? lol, just read too much like an advertisement.

That's a good deal, how about going one better?

10 oz filet-cut sirloin steak, soup or salad, vegetable (usually garlic-buttered green beans & lots of them), choice of potato (mashed are awesome) & 23 oz (BIG) Microbrew beer for $7.99.

It's another special not on the menu, so you have to ask for it ... but it's also available 24/7. Where? Ellis Island, a kitschy little locals casino near Koval & Flamingo (go East from Ballys then the Westin Casaurina, south on Koval then it's next to the 7-Eleven & Super 8).

I've gone several times & every time it's been an awesome meal. I get my steak medium-rare with the mashed potatoes - BTW, their Microbrewery's fairly decent. If you're visiting Las Vegas on a budget & don't want to do the buffet thing (or dont' want to pay for an expensive buffet), it's a great way to go.

[clutchcargo777]

Originally Posted by delgadobb

That's a good deal, how about going one better?

10 oz filet-cut sirloin steak, soup or salad, vegetable (usually garlic-buttered green beans & lots of them), choice of potato (mashed are awesome) & 23 oz (BIG) Microbrew beer for $7.99.

It's another special not on the menu, so you have to ask for it ... but it's also available 24/7. Where? Ellis Island, a kitschy little locals casino near Koval & Flamingo (go East from Ballys then the Westin Casaurina, south on Koval then it's next to the 7-Eleven & Super 8).

I've gone several times & every time it's been an awesome meal. I get my steak medium-rare with the mashed potatoes - BTW, their Microbrewery's fairly decent. If you're visiting Las Vegas on a budget & don't want to do the buffet thing (or dont' want to pay for an expensive buffet), it's a great way to go.

They seem to use a different cut depending on how you order it. I went a few weeks ago with a co-worker, I ordered it medium rare and he ordered medium well. Mine came out about 2 inches thick, perfectly cooked and really delicious. His came 1/2" thick and looked like a completely different cut. I raved about mine, he just said meh...

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by clutchcargo777

They seem to use a different cut depending on how you order it. I went a few weeks ago with a co-worker, I ordered it medium rare and he ordered medium well. Mine came out about 2 inches thick, perfectly cooked and really delicious. His came 1/2" thick and looked like a completely different cut. I raved about mine, he just said meh...

That's because it's very hard to cook a good 2" thick steak medium well. May as well throw it in the microwave.

Many steakhouses save the best cuts for the people who order it rare and the worst for the well and medium-well crowd.

[clutchcargo777]

Originally Posted by ScoopLV

That's because it's very hard to cook a good 2" thick steak medium well. May as well throw it in the microwave.

Many steakhouses save the best cuts for the people who order it rare and the worst for the well and medium-well crowd.

Good to know, thanks for the tip. I prefer rare but usually order medium rare at cheap places because they seem to think rare means ice cold.

[Cyborgt800]

For me, being a single guy whom does not cook (Not well anyway.) The buffets are a good deal for me...I only buy basic groceries. Mostly since I work in casinos, I'll eat my main meal at the EDR and buffets on my days off. I save a bunch on groceries doing that as it would be difficult to eat such a variety for the cost if I cooked at home. To buy that variety I'd have to buy bulk to match the price and most would go bad before I could consume it so not a good deal for me...not to mention the time spent preparing the food.
When I eat at home it tends to be a single item such as a chicken breast on the Foreman grill. Or fish fillets...I rarely cook veggies. The EDR and buffets are a better choice for me than cooking and I'm not a fan of burgers so...

I do like Chipotle though, but that's not quite fast food in my book. I rarely go there though as for the same price I could get a variety of food at a buffet.

If I feel like a steak I like Outback for a mid range steak, I'm not too familiar with what other places are in LV but in Denver if I wanted a real nice steak I'd go to Morton's, Ruth's Christ or Flagstaff House in Boulder...but that's $200.00 for two when all said and done. ...A bit out of my current range at the moment.

FWIW most restaurants all get their food from Sysco, Shamrock and a few others...it's all the same stuff except for the higher end places that will get certain items from specialty suppliers.
The only real difference is the seasoning, if any and the preparation...which does count but still the base food is then same from most places. Mom & Pop shops tend to buy at Sam's or Costco though so still basically the same...

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by eventusstultorummagister

If you're looking for value...

Mr. Lucky's Cafe @Hard Rock

Ask the waitress for the "Gambler's Special" (it's not on the menu)

8-oz. steak, jumbo shrimp, salad, garlic mashed potatoes all for $7.77

Available for your dining pleasure 24 hours a day!

That is a good deal and a pretty good steak.

However, a BETTER DEAL at the Hard Rock Hotel is the $20 AYCE small plates deal. It is very well prepared food for an excellent price.

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by delgadobb

That's a good deal, how about going one better?

10 oz filet-cut sirloin steak, soup or salad, vegetable (usually garlic-buttered green beans & lots of them), choice of potato (mashed are awesome) & 23 oz (BIG) Microbrew beer for $7.99.

It's another special not on the menu, so you have to ask for it ... but it's also available 24/7. Where? Ellis Island, a kitschy little locals casino near Koval & Flamingo (go East from Ballys then the Westin Casaurina, south on Koval then it's next to the 7-Eleven & Super 8).

.

I have been there three times. Twice, the meat was pretty good. However, on my last trip. the steak was so tough that quite frankly, it was nearly inedible. And it was ordered medium rare.

[mojavedxer]

Originally Posted by ScoopLV

I don't watch food television. I find it annoying and out-of-touch with reality.

If you speak of "Kitchen Nightmares," I have seen a few episodes of that show. Those restaurants he "saves" aren't expensive. They're always run by idiots who know nothing about how a restaurant works.

Gordon makes a big deal about changing his shirt. Then he swoops in and saves the day by showing the restaurateurs how to make meatballs.

Kitchen Nightmares US follows that formula for drama and ratings. Kitchen Nightmares UK that can be seen on BBC America has had some fine dining establishments staff with Michelon * exec chefs that consult with Ramsey why they are not receiving the Rosettes on the new venture. Other episodes seem to be Pub owners that expanded and never learned the food side of the biz.

[dmbfan41cn]

Originally Posted by jlawrence01

That is a good deal and a pretty good steak.

However, a BETTER DEAL at the Hard Rock Hotel is the $20 AYCE small plates deal. It is very well prepared food for an excellent price.

+1... Johnny Smalls.

Although the menu has been scaled back since they first started this promo (sea bass skewers and a couple other of my favorites are still available but at an up-charge) this is still a phenomenal deal.

Getting back to the main point of the thread... Rio Carnival buffet is nothing to call home about but I can easily justify the $14 in crab legs with no complaints. The rest of the food is pretty meh and similar to the quality you'll find at Stations' Feast buffets (including RR and GVR).