Last time I went there was 2007! I bought the plastic football- i didn't know they were still honoring the refills- I may make room and bring it with me when I go back next month.
Two years ago a couple of friends and I stopped in to play some video poker and enjoy some free cocktails. For the first round (three drinks) we tipped five bucks (just a buck a drink on subsequent rounds). The waitresses started competing for us, bringing us drinks before we were even empty. One waitress told us to tell another that she was serving us now..... another asked us to allow her daughter (who was just beginning her shift) to be our waitress.... I've never seen anything like it.
They were also having a cash drawing every hour. You were supposed to get a drawing ticket for each drink you ordered, but the waitresses started handing us wads of tickets whenever they passed by. My friend's number got called and he staggered up to the front for the spinning of the wheel. He won the grand prize of.....two bucks! We finally had to get out of there after about 90 minutes while we were still ambulatory.
Dang. They really cleaned up Mermaids. It's like, there's room to walk between slot rows, a huge decent looking bar/counter, clean floors, etc. It was strange, and kind of scary.
I also agree about not getting the extra shot at Le Bayou. Several years ago, a friend of mine was my crutch to get back to my hotel from Fremont Street(I was staying at the Plaza). I had to plop down in a seat at a slot machine and wait a while before I felt I could even get on the elevator and to the room. I never get that wasted, but that was definitely an exception!
LaBayou is the best way to start a night. The mixed drinks are strong and come often. I can easily have 4 of them while gambling $20-30. I drink rum and coke or spiced rum and coke and am sure it is bottom shelf cheapest possible but for the cost(free) one can't complain.
I am no liquor snob for sure, but to me the difference between decent liquor and the rot-gut crap is how you will feel the next day. for me it is not worth it to drink that crap if it means I will be in misery all of the next day.
