Another Ellis Island report FWIW......

It took a free play coupon to get my wife to step foot in EI again. Years ago, we had a nasty experience there. Got seated later in the evening next to some incredibly ignorant trash. We are talking bib overalls, undershirts with straw hats and very foul mouthed, overserved individuals. Not a pleasant evening and my better half refused to go back.
We landed early in the morning from Chicago, picked up a cooler and our essentials and wanted to eat breakfast. I suggested EI and the wife OKd it only because she thought no one would be overserved that early in the day......luckily, she was correct on this visit. Breakfast was good, and even Betty had to agree that the steak and eggs was tasty and a great value. Visit one a success.

Visit two, was not as pleasant. Betty had returned to Chicago I stayed on for business. Got tied up until around 10 and left Paris for EI. Played the JoB (you have to watch those pay tables!) and won about $60. Cashed out and went over to the hostess. I was alone and there were tables available but when I asked about the wait, all she said was what's your name and handed me a number. I waited 10 minutes and still didn't get seated. Took my winnings and went elsewhere to eat. No problem, but pretty dumb on their part.

Next night......went back, put my name in and then sat down to win again on the same machine. Went up to the hostess and she seated me fairly quickly. But after sitting at a table again for 10 minutes, no one had come over to wait on me. So once again I'm out there with their money to eat somewhere else.

OBVIOUSLY, patience is not my strong suit. I suffer fools poorly. But there are thousands of places to eat where they actually try to attend to their customers. This is not a strong suit for the good people at Ellis Island. I certainly appreciated winning there and it would have been nice to actually eat there, but it isn't like I haven't eaten there before.

The food is GOOD.
The games, chosen wisely, are GOOD.
The place can be a very GOOD value.
The service BLOWS.
And the clientele later in the evening also BLOWS.

This is what I expect when I go to EI, and it is what I would tell anyone who asks and (or in this case) even those who don't ask.

Good luck but be forewarned.

If you can't get consistent Blue Chip service at Ellis Island, is there any hope that we can be treated like royalty anywhere?

We ate at Ellis Island for the first time and I was not impressed. The clientelle that this place attracts is really scary. The food was good but you really have a hard time getting waited on. Never came back to refill glasses or to check on us to see if we needed anything. You really get alot of food though. Just my opinion. Dont know if I would go back. Just a strange experience.

Ellis Island attracts the huddled masses. Could it be any other way?

The one good tip I've learned when I eat at Ellis Island is to NOT finish my beverage before the end of the meal. Its not gonna get refilled. I've also learned that breakfast is a better meal as the wait is less and there is no obnoxious karaoke in the morning hours =)

Following those rules I tend to have a good experience there.... especially since I've hit 4 Aces on Bonus Poker each of the last 2 years at the bar.

If you drink enough >>>>>the karaoke can be a good time! lol...it's called liquid courage.

A few years back I won a free steak meal at Ellis Island. The server was very outgoing and very pleasant. I was sent the business card of the owner/manager of the Ellis Island. I won the free meal from www.insidervlv.com free slotplay machine. Many times before after I was sent free pizzaslice/free soda coupons for the month of April. Plus free play on slot machines. And I never played more than a twenty dollar bill inside the casino.

I have got 2 of those free steak meal cards here at home, won them couple years ago, misplaced them, now recently found them, wondering if they are any good but doubt it.

I went to the El for the first time the end of last month. However, I was there early afternoon (around 1:30 p.m. or so) each day on Wednesday and Thursday. I ate during the middle of the day so there was no wait. The first time I waited a bit for a server but once the order was in everything came out quickly. I wasn't expecting great service but it was good. The second day I ordered the pork chops and requested applesauce. The waitress went out of her way to find it but then only brought a tiny little plastic container full where I would have preferred a side dish. However, she was attentive and no problem with the service. I went back Thursday night and was surprised at how busy the place was. There was the constant calling of numbers for tables in the restaurant. So, I can imagine it is quite a different scene in the restaurant during the actual meal hours rather then going on off hours. I did use the half price coupon from LVA for the chops and with dessert, beverage and tax the meal was just $10.78. Also, during the day it wasn't as busy as later at night and there were more seniors in the crowd.

It's always a good idea to keep expectations at a reality level when going to EI. We go at least once every time we are in town. #1 reason....superb beer at great prices. Cold drafts. Even better with free drink coupons from ACG and LVA. #2...Pretty good food at great prices, made even better with the coupons. We went on Sunday eve for dinner. Knowing there would be a wait and there was one.....but it went fast. Once seated, service was very good and very fast. Everyone was hustling their butts off, as it was very crowded and an hour wait for a table. Dinner was shrimp scampi and Hubby had chicken friend steak, which he raved over. 4 beers, two dinners cost $2.50 with our half off coupon and my points.

Of course there is always the mix of different peoples there. Part of the entertainment, I guess you could say. Our dinner neighbors were not as colorful as the ones described in an earlier post here. But there was a toothless Elvis impersonator seated at a table not far from us. Now, where else can you go and get all of that???