Group Dinner/show recommendations

I will be in Las Vegas with 30 work colleagues. 40-60 years, 80% male, mid week, staying at the north end of the strip.

I need to come up with some ideas for an evening out - here is my list so far, but I am looking for something better:

1. Olives for dinner then “O” Cirque Du Soleil show (both at Bellagio). not sure if Olives will take 30--and my guess is that none of us will see the fountains

2. Maggiano's or Capital Grille plus “Mystere” though I have heard this is not a top Cirque show, and the restaurants are chains.

3. Old Homestead Steakhouse or Rao's and the show Absinthe at Caesars Palace

4. Jean Georges Steakhouse and Zarkana Cirque Du Soleil show at the Aria Casino. don't know if the restaurant will take a party of 30.

5. the Lakeside restaurant at Encore/Wynn has a private room with big window that you can view the “Lake of Dreams” show from, but the meal pricing might be too high there. But LeReve is dark that night.

6. wrong end of strip, but Beacher’s Madhouse - I have never been, but may be too weird for our crew. Sort of a vaudeville show. All the waiters are “little people.” plus dinner at one of their restaurants

7. the High roller should be open any day now...

Mystere was one of, if not, the original Cirque shows in Vegas and it still is highly acclaimed by people that like that sort of thing.

Absinthe is a great show but quite a bit for adults only. If you all are cool with that, it's a fun time. If some of you are not into that, it might be embarrassing. That might be even more reason to go.

What month/day? What's your budget?

1. Olives is dark inside, small tables crammed together, noisy, not my idea for your group of 30. BUT, there is patio seating if they would reserve it for your group, in which case you would be practically IN the fountains, spray included. Food is good, price in the middle. It would be neat to combine that with "O".

2. Mystere is the classic Cirque show, the best in my opinion. LOVE is the other cirque show I'd recommend. Your age group would like LOVE.

4. I haven't seen Zarkana. Some have been disappointed, some have liked it. But, that's a cirque show for you...different tastes.

5. Any restaurant at Wynn/Encore will be high priced, but the private room with window over a lake sounds good. For 30 people, I would be looking for a private dining room. Forget the expensive shows and take in the Mack King show or the Improv at Harrahs, or Jubilee or Legends in concert. Those are classic Vegas and won't break anyone's budget. You could even pay a little more for the "back stage tour" tickets. Those are usually matinees, I think. But for your group, show first might be good...I fall asleep after dinner myself. LOL.

Good luck!

Anthony Cools is a fun show...dirty hypnotist. His show is at Paris. I thought the show was hysterical.
Tickets are pretty reasonable.

LOVE and Cravings Buffet (both at the Mirage).

Rick

thanks for the great replies. time frame is mid April. Wynn told us $200/nose minimum, so we were hoping to do better than that.

I know Maggiano's is a chain, but it’s a small chain and they are set up for functions with many function rooms of various sizes. And other than a few food/chain snobs, the vast majority of people find the food quality, quantity, ambiance and service to be very good to excellent (including myself and my wife). It's easy to walk to from the Mirage, TI, Venetian, Pallazo, Wynn, or the Encore (the north strip).

For entertainment, I would think LOVE at the Mirage would be impressive (I’ve seen it three times), but there is nothing wrong with Mystere either (it’s a timeless all around very good Cirque show that keeps on ticking). Another show in the north strip area that most people seem to like is Human Nature. This musical quartet put on a quality highly energetic performance of classic Motown hits. In fact it is sanctioned by Smokey Robinson, Motown vice president and a musical legend.

Check out www.AllVegasReviews.com or download Vegas Baby (The App). This site and/or app can be your guide for Las Vegas. Dining, shows, deals, coupons all in the palm of your hand. I believe this will be very helpful.

If you want to travel to North LV, there is Bob's Ranch house off of Ann Road. They serve food "family" style and you can watch them grill your steaks. Haven't been there for a while, but I first went there in 1978. great food!