It first showed up in the Las Vegas Advisor Top Ten in November 2000.
The steak dinner -- a thick 10-ounce sirloin, served with tossed salad, choice of potato, garlic green beans, and dinner rolls -- was introduced a few months earlier, but we didn't get around to trying it till then. As soon as we did, of course, we knew we were onto something great.
And the amazing thing about this deal is that Ellis Island has strictly held the line on price and quality for nearly five and a half years. We can't begin to tell you how many times over the decades we've found a great deal, promoted it in the Top Ten, sent hordes of value seekers to try it -- only to see the price go up or the quality go down or the whole deal disappear entirely.
EI, on the other hand, revels in its month-in month-out placement in the Top Ten. They know they couldn't possibly buy publicity like it. So, like the Golden Gate with its 99-cent shrimp cocktail, they fade the loss leader to attract players and customers and it works well for them. That's what Las Vegas has always been about -- though we're seeing less and less of it as time goes along.
