Why do we tolerate lousy food in Las Vegas?

Each to his own, Fremont.
But none of your four strategies will effect change.

Larry, I agree that it seems chintzy to complain when the meal is comped, or when it is cheap price wise. True enough, if the meal is mostly satisfactory I'm not likely to gripe about one imperfect thing. But folks who've been totally turned off by poor quality at a meal should speak up.

Our wonderful little Chinese restaurant, two times I noticed a definite drop in quality of a dish I order almost every week. I was really reluctant to say anything because we are like family there. The third time I casually mentioned it to one of the servers. Next thing I knew, the owner/manager was at my table tasting the dish herself! Then she made a bee line to the kitchen, and I think she clouded up and rained all over somebody. That dish has been back to its stellar quality since. She takes her business very seriously and wants to know when a dish isn't pleasing.

jjjj21, you keep after those Mikey D's kids.
Who knows, one day you might get an extra Happy Meal LOL.

Comment cards are another way to lodge a concern.

Scott once filled out a comment card at Silverton's Sundance Grill. They had changed the gravy on the country fried steak and it was really bad. That comment card got him an email and a phone call guaranteeing it would be changed back. The next time we went in it had indeed been changed back and has stayed the same ever since.

It was Dawn LaGuardia (the ex GVR food & beverage manager when they had the American Casino show there) and she said they had some new chef that changed it to his foo foo recipe. She said she is from the South and wanted it back to the old good way, too. She's not at Silverton anymore, either. Last I heard she got out of the business altogether.

Good story, Mare.
I rest my case....LOL

We just need to do it more often when there is a problem! It really would keep the places on their toes a bit more.

I asked for the manager at the Silverton Steak house about the third time they brought out a basket of hot bread with a dish containing butter that was around twelve degrees below zero, Faranheit!

I can think of two reasons many reviews in TRs are negative on food. The first is that majority of reports I read talk about breakfast, lunch and dinner at various buffets. Understand that I'm not a buffet person, not a buffet snob. On vacation, I want to be served, not go and get it myself. I think it's near impossible to get consistantly decent food eating at buffets. The other reason I don't like buffets is you tend to eat too much. I already do that too much, so that's another reason for me to skip buffets!

The second reason for bad reviews comes down to the eye of the beholder. I've read many negative reviews where the writer is obviously just being too picky. Cold food is one thing. Overcooked food is another legit complaint. Many times though it sounds more like the plate didn't come out just the way you wanted. Having spent 30 years in the food&bev biz, I understand the concept of getting what you want, but, understand that most every joint is going to have slightly different takes on the same dish. If you want it a particular way, it's a good idea to ask how it's made and presented. Just because it's not just how you want it, doesn't mean it's bad food. My favorite pasta dish is made with a white sauce that contains no cream, but probably 75% of the places that serve it, do so with a white cream sauce. If the description isn't on the menu, I always ask. It's not bad with the cream sauce, it's just not the way I want it.

If you do get a bad meal, be sure to let the manager on duty know. Many times diners will simply reflect their dismay in a poor tip. This does nothing to solve the problem. It'll only mark you as a stiff. A follow up letter or e-mail is also a good idea as problem doesn't always make it to the top.

Good Luck!
Ric at Joes

I avoid lousy food in vegas primarily by not going to buffets. Get seated, order off the menu, if it's cooked right, send it back. crisis averted.

I let the server know if somethings wrong with my meal and see if they get it corrected. If they don't then I go to the manager. I don't take it out on the server unless its because of bad service.

I'm picky about the buffets I go to. I tend to drive out to Red Rock or GVR for the breakfast buffets as I think they are really good and I use the LVA cpn so I get a good deal also.

I'm sure there are some consistantly good buffets in town and I enjoy one now and again. Another reason I don't get excited about buffets is that it's near impossible to replicate the food quality of table service unless they are changing out dishes every ten minutes are so. Some foods will hold decently, but not that many. This is one reason you see few complaints about breakfast buffets. Breakfast foods will hold far better than lunch or dinner.

Good Luck!
Ric at Joes

I'm with Ric and Karen. I very rarely eat at a buffet for the same reasons Ric doesn't. I've been to Vegas many times and have never had a bad meal at the better restaurants. However, I have had two terrible meals at coffee shops. One was a late night lobster tail special at Harrah's coffee shop. Lesson learned: dont order lobster tail from a coffee shop.

The very worst meal I've ever had at any restaurant anywhere, was a t-bone steak dinner special at Careful Kitty's at the El Cortez. I ordered the steak medium and it was cooked beyond well done. So hard and dry I couldn't hardly cut it. The mashed potatoes were instant, cold, and runny. The bowl of corn was cold like it went from a can into my bowl. When I complained to the waitress she got really nasty with me. The food was not edible and I didn't eat any of it. Rather than take it further, I paid the check, which was only like 6 or 7 dollars. I didn't leave any tip. And I would never, ever, step foot in there again.