The Flame---really?

After seeing nonstop good reviews on the LVA message boards about the Flame restaurant at the El Cortez Casino, I thought I would give it a try. Here are my thoughts

#1 There is a dress code sign as you walk in----but was obviously not being enforced
#2 The room is darkened with burnt orange paint. Yeah I get it...burnt orange paint in a restaurant called "the flame", I just didn’t like it. It has three flat screen TV's --2 playing endless loops of a plane flying over vineyards in France,The white cliffs of Dover, Castles in england, etc and one TV is on the sports channel (how does that fit?). Piano music was piped in from the piano bar next to the restaurant (very good)......nothing else in the room to give it any character.
#3 We were offered a roll (one) and butter by a young guy more interested in the 4 girls in the next booth. He promtly spilled water all over our table while trying to fill our glasses and flirt with the girls at the same time (I will excuse this as he was young and they were really good looking!)
#4 The booths were back to back, so when the girls behind me leaned foreward and then fell back into there seat laughing you felt it on your back....kind of like having a kid kick your seat for an hour while your seat belted into an airplane seat!
#5 Asked for a well done steaks, got medium rare to rare ($24). My wife doesn’t mind pink in the middle but doesn’t want any blood on her plate and I want my well done to the point it insults most Chefs! We both got blood!($24)…..side note; I hate sending food back to be re cooked because of the horror stories about what could be done to food sent back by disgruntled chefs!Side note#2; I wonder what I would have received had I asked for a rare steak?
#6 The steak comes all by itself ($24), nothing else just a white dinner plate with a slab of steak on it. The steak itself was good, nothing special mind you, not particularly tender or tasty ($24) No A-1 sauce offered
#7 The side order of garlic mashed potatoes ($5) was small (1 large potato) and I could not taste any garlic.
#8 The side order of creamed corn ($5)....WAS TO DIE FOR!......Wow was it good!
#9 Had I not had a $30 off coupon thru this web site I would have left feeling hungry and screwed.
#10 I will try this restaurant one more time "if" I have another coupon next year, just to see if I was having a bad night or if this place is just not up to standards.

The Flame restaurant--2 out of 5 forks Binions Burgers- 3 out of 5 forks (you do the math!)

weggie

#5 - try having them "butterfly" the steak. You may end up with a med rare/med well mix but the cow will be well killed.

#6 - if you don't see it, ask for it. I asked for extra butter for the baked potato and they brought it fairly quickly.

If something is not up to your standards, it's up to you to say something as they make food for the masses, however they will make adjustments for your needs.

I asked for a steak well done and they had no problems cooking the steak a bit longer. I was just real nice about it and listened to the waitress suggestion about butterflying the steak.

Note: today's rare steaks are close to being "blue" as those damn French are liking the meats even more on the bloody side than ever before. In 30 years or so, your likely to have the steak cut right from the cow in front of you and put on your plate.

I ate at Flame last Thursday night.
Here's my response to some of your comments;

#2 The piano music we heard was from a live piano player in the far corner.

#3 We were each given one roll choice. Later I asked for more and was brought 2.

#4 We sat at a table, so no booth problem.
Seems like it was more the rude patron's fault than Flame's.
It would be like blaming the airline for the kid kicking your seat.

#5 Asked for "medium" Filet Mignon, ..... got "medium". Requested A-1, ...... it brought to the table promptly.

#6 The Filet Mignon did come with 3 halves of baby potatoes.

#7 We ordered a one baked potato, and it was large enough to split.

#9 Also used the LVA Coupon, and thought we had a very good meal at a very reasonable price

2 Filet Mignon
1 Chicago Garbage Salad (spilt, and was large and excellent .... plenty for two)
1 Baked Potato (split, and was huge)
1 Side of Asparagus (split)
I Iced Tea
2 Glasses of Wine
----------------------
$51.35 (after using the LVA Coupon)


Rick

Rockinrick

#2 The piano music we heard was from a live piano player in the far corner.
The piano player that "I" saw was just outside the enterance in the new pino bar and yes he was "LIVE" and very good. The music went well with the flat screen loops of the vinyard fly overs. Could there have been another piano player that I did not see?....yup (I have been wrong before)

#4 We sat at a table, so no booth problem. Seems like it was more the rude patron's fault than Flame's. It would be like blaming the airline for the kid kicking your seat.
I wasnt blaming anyone...just pointing out an issue that "could' happen to you and reduce your experiance there

#7 We ordered a one baked potato, and it was large enough to split.
The bowl of mashed potatoes that I was served was "not' big enough to serve to me, never mind both my wife and I, the same sized bowl of creamed style corn was though. Note; I am a fairly big boy (6-1 / 270Lbs)

Chefantwon
#6 - if you don't see it, ask for it. I asked for extra butter for the baked potato and they brought it fairly quickly.
What I meant was, when the plate showed up with a plain steak on it (and NOTHING else) I was disappointed, I think I had my hopes up of getting something like you would see from the "Hells Kitchen" TV show for $24. Hell, throw something on it to dress it up! I could have grilled the same steak at home for way less..... Just my humble opinion

#5 - try having them "butterfly" the steak. You may end up with a med rare/med well mix but the cow will be well killed.
Sounds like a plan, I will try it!

Like I said, I "will" try The Flame again next year (with a coupon) and with slightly less expectations.

Weggie

Last Thursday night there were TWO piano players.

One in the lounge, and one in Flame.


Rick

Ate there last Thrusaday aswell. Shrimp Scampi my Fav!, BF had the Prime Rib with onion Rings and mushroom glass of wine. Under $45 bucks with 20% tip.

My pasta has been better same with the Prime Rib. Mushrooms and Onion Rings were great as I sampled a few! We had one warm roll each, which I think is better than wasting a basket of rolls that they toss out. The warm bun was pretty yummy.

I was FULL!! thank god for yoga pants! Which I wear to the Flame ....everytime. I dress the upper half up

weggie,

My suggestion is to next time try Pasta Pirate at the California. There is a $10 off coupon that runs in the FSE coupon sheet. Their dinners include soup or salad, sides, a glass of house wine, and they bring a mini loaf of warm bread to the table. With the $10 coupon, you can eat there for $30 for 2.

Order the apple dumpling for dessert ($7) and you likely will be heading back there on future trips.

My experience is that they tend to undercook the steak, so I would emphasize the well done part.

https://static.boydgaming.net/california/media/downloads/PP_menu_05_2011_web.pdf

Note, they have daily specials on the board outside and there are quite a few, including usually a filet mignon special.

You likely will need a reservation. It is popular, and is not a large place, and fills up quickly.

Weggie, I agree with you re those videos. I think it's weird to see them and with live music the videos are just a distraction.

Never figured those videos out, either, especially with the sound down.

I like having the piano player in the restaurant. The last time I was there, he was playing a duo gig in the Parlour lounge with a bass player when I got there, then that gig ended (probably to bring in the rap DJ to the Parlour), so he played a solo gig in the restaurant. I'm guessing he takes requests, since he played Stella by Starlight three times while I was there having dinner.

Sorry you didn't enjoy the Flame. Sometimes its a hit sometimes a miss, but it is always OLD VEGAS!

What is the smell emanating from the carpets when you walk into the Cortez? Is it disinfectant, bad soap,
never can figure it out????