Downtown Virgin

Staying downtown for the first time at El Cortez. Have three nights (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) but not a lot of money. Where should we eat within walking distance?
Thanks!

From what I'm understanding, if you want to eat pretty inexpensively, check out the $1 Value Menu at the Restaurant in Western Casino (they have a website, so check it out). They also have some daily food special deal that comes with a (non-alcoholic beverage -- such as Ribs). They also have some inexpensive drinks as well.

Another place with some I think not bad prices (although I don't really know what's what with this because I keep Kosher) is the Courtyard Cafe in Fitzgerald's (I have seen signs out on Fremont Street listing some specials there).

RecVPPlayer

Edited To Add: Sorry that I got waylaid for a while right after I initially posted, but I wanted to also ad that I have visited the casino and it is low-end. But maybe you can ask Marko62 who very recently paid a visit to Western (it's in his most recent Trip Report).

I wouldn't recommend the Western for anything. Nothing at all. Don't go there. The hotel portion of the place was condemned and closed several years ago. If you want to see where Vegas panhandlers spend their money, it is high on the list.

There are inexpensive places to eat in the ElCo, and a bunch more in just about every casino on Fremont Street.

1.99 breakfast at Fitzgeralds. Eggs, toast (home made rye) , Real potatoes with peppers and onions. . Great value , fresh, hot nice portions.
Get the Fremontstreet experience coupons on line. Lots of 241 deals.
Buy the American Casino Guide at Walmart and it will pay for itself with DT coupons and free slot play.

The Gold Spike Hotel coffee shop has a good coffee shop menu, it's an easy walk from El Cortez and the prices are very reasonable. I would not recommend the Western. It's extremely rundown and judging from the grime on the floors and bar top, I can only imagine what the behind-the-scene food storage area looks like.

There are plenty of places to eat inexpensively, but still reasonably well, downtown:
Lunch at the Chicago Brewing Company (4Q) - a large slice of pizza and a beer for $4.95
Happy hour at 777 Brew Pub (MSS) - huge portions of several appetizers for under $5 and reduced beer prices. Even outside of happy hours, prices there are very reasonable.
The snack bar at both the Cal and Fremont have low prices, although as a snack bar, you're talking about hot dogs/hamburgers/fries, etc.
The deli at the Golden Gate
The Cafe Cortez at the El Cortez
Magnolia's at the 4Q - if you're not already a slot club member there, you usually get a 2-for-1 coupon when you sign up.

None of these places will be confused with gourmet food - just basic comfort food and generally large portions. If your room at the EC has a fridge, there's almost always enough to take a box back to the room.

Use the coupons in the MRB and/or the ACG and get a nice meal at the Flame for a very reasonable price.

Print off the Fremont Street Experience coupons before you go and you can eat 2/1 at MMStation and Fremont buffets. Magnolia's at 4Q is often offering 2/1 coupons at their giant spin wheel or they are in the ACG and MRB. Lots of good deals on Fremont.

if you wanna live on dollar food, mcdonalds in fitzgerald's (farthest end from the el co) will keep you on your feet. The ham steak at the golden gate diner (not deli-but they are worth trying, too) is more than one person should try to eat, as i recall, making it a fine candidate to go back in a box for future meals. Foodstuffs in grocery form are not easy to find. But walgreens on fremont (cant miss it) is one source for chips, crackers, milk, etc to make a leftover a meal. I may be understating their grocery. !!!!Beans and cornbread at binions counter. I'm already dreaming....

If you want to treat yourself for a little more money (but without breaking the bank), go to the Triple George Grill opposite the Lady Luck. They have an excellent lunch menu with $10 meals. Otherwise, deals are plentiful anywhere on Fremont...just about every casino has coffee shops, snack bars, or eat-in restaurants. Another of my favorites is the 777 brewpub in Main Street Station.

Don't forget the Binion's burger, and in the evenings, Binion's Bullpen has for $4.95 a 20oz beer, bag of chips, and a hot dog (which you load up with items from the condiment bar such as bacon, olives, peppers, feta cheese, etc).

If you're in a small group, Chicago Brewing Company in the Four Queens has excellent pizzas. Several places have full prime rib dinners for $8 or so.

Splurge a bit if you get a chance and try "Top of Binion's" steakhouse one night....they have nightly specials for $20 , with great views of Vegas in an old-style-Vegas steakhouse. My wife ordered the special last time, which was a NY strip with crab legs. Great deal!

You're going to be downtown....there's still great deals everywhere. Not so much on the strip.

(Edited to add - the places I listed above are not the cheapest on Fremont - there's cheaper - but these are among the best IMO.)

Although I don't know what price Wallmart will charge for the ACG, a place that will give it to you for 20% off of list price automatically is the American Auto Club (AAA) if you are a member.

That book has some good coupons for LV (and other casino locations across the U.S. as well). To check out the coupons that are offered, go to the American Casino Guide's website at: www.americancasinoguide.com

RecVPPlayer