Le Café Central has opened in Chinatown (3616 Spring Mountain Rd), specializing in “authentic French and European offerings.” It’s the third in the group, joining Le Café du Val in Henderson and Le Café du Sud in Summerlin. It’s interesting that Chinatown is adding a European flair, with Central joining the recent expansion of Partage across the street from Le Café Central that added the Champagne bar, Le Club by Partage. Central is a breakfast and lunch spot open from 7 am to 3 pm seven days a week. Order at the counter and seat yourself; your food is brought out to you. Serve yourself for water.
The Food
Breakfast selections include granola bowls, croissant sandwiches, French toast (sweet and savory), galettes of all sorts (artichoke, florentine, lobster), lox dishes, crepes (caramel, berries, Nutella banana), and Benedicts. Interestingly, no quiche or omelets. Everything is $8.99 to $18.99. Lunch choices are varied, but mostly awesome sandwiches and salads. There were three of us and we all had baguette sandwiches—Paris ham with Swiss and prosciutto with Brie (both $15.99) and the French dip ($18.99). Fabuleux!
Prosciutto French Dip
Coffees(and more)
Espresso, café au lait, red eye, fresh brew, cold brew, Americano, cappuccino, latte ($3.99-$5.99)—would you expect anything less in the coffee department? There’s also an impressive dessert selection if you want to pair the two.
The Verdict
This place is outstanding. You could go back 20 times and want to try something different on each visit. It was busy when we went, but there wasn’t a line. The bare-bones seating and service actually add to the charm and probably help keep prices down. We’ll be back, maybe 19 times.
Pisces is the latest super-fancy restaurant at the Wynn. It’s in the spot that was formerly Lakeside, which was supposed to be taken over by Fiola Mare out of Washington D.C., but that didn’t happen.
The Food
The cuisine is primarily seafood with fish flown in daily from the Mediterranean. Good. Expensive. Loup de mer (wolffish) is $180 and Dover sole is $120. Seafood platters are $225-$1,000. On the lower end, king salmon and halibut are $60. The seafood paella for two comes with a lobster tail for $155. Our party of four had the paella, the halibut, and a selection of appetizers.
Paella with appetizers and a less-expensive fish is probably the way to go to get out for $100-$125 per person. Our food was excellent, though nothing really stood out. One thing that might have is a dessert called If Wishes Were Fishes that’s described as a “fish skeleton” in all the Pisces reviews. We didn’t try it, but it sure looks cool.
Dinner and a Show
An added bonus here is the “show” that comes with dinner. The dining room looks onto Wynn’s Lake of Dreams, which lights up with a different presentation every 30 minutes. During dinner, you’ll get to see three or four of them.
The Verdict
This is a classic Wynn Las Vegas dining experience, with the emphasis on the “experience.” If you have three bills to spend on dinner for two, you won’t be disappointed (especially if you get that fish dessert). Everyone gets three hours free parking, which is enough time to get out without the extra tariff.
Circus Circus – Circus Buffet: This week breakfast is Sat & Sun, 7 a.m.-10 a.m. for $29.95 and dinner’s Fri-Sun, 4:30 p.m.-10 p.m. for $39.95.
Main Street Station – Garden Court Buffet: All buffet prices went up $1. Weekday Brunch is Mon-Fri, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. for $24.99, Weekend Brunch is 8 a.m.-2 p.m. for $27.99, and Dinner’s Fri & Sat, 4 p.m.-9 p.m. for $33.99.
MGM Grand – MGM Grand Buffet: Weekday Brunch is now Mon & Tues instead of Mon-Thurs. Price and time remain the same (8 a.m.-2 p.m. for $32.99).
The pool complex at the Flamingo, which opened in the mid-’90s after the original four-story Oregon Building was demolished, has reopened following a $20 million overhaul. Given the status of the work in May, we made the over/under June 20 for completion, but credit to CET for getting it done well before that date. The following report comes from Conrad Stanley.
The adults-only Go Pool added two new pools to bring the total to five, with a “wet deck” (shallow pool where sunbathers can lounge on chaises in the water), a cenote-like cave area with a small infinity pool and skylight, plenty of mature palm trees, a wraparound bar, a swim-up bar, and a DJ spinning tunes nonstop. The Family (all ages) Pool remains pretty much the same.
Food is available from the poolside restaurant: granola and yogurt bowl $15, breakfast croissant or burrito $20, chicken Caesar $20, loaded fries or nachos $23, burger $24, and family platters (nachos, tenders, or sliders) $90.
Beers $12.99 each or a bucket of six for $76.99. Most are 16-ounce cans or aluminum bottles, though Corona, Modelo, Pacifica, and a handful of craft beers and seltzers don’t produce 16 ouncers, so the 12 ouncers go for the same price. The best play is Heineken 16-ounce aluminum bottles. Cocktails are $23.99 for a small and $39.99 for a large.
You can reserve daybeds (basically, double chaise lounges under umbrellas) and cabanas at both the Go and Family pools, starting at $65 for a weekday-morning daybed (9-11:30 a.m., four guests) at the Family Pool and going up to $750 for a weekend full-day super cabana (11 a.m.-6 p.m., 10 guests) at VIP pools #2 and #3.
GO Pool joins the Palms pool as the two at major resorts that are free and open to the public; you don’t have to be a Flamingo guest to get in. But definitely show up as early as you can (it opens at 9 a.m.) to secure a free lounge chair, but don’t expect a relaxing afternoon. It’s more of a pool party than a quiet swim. And don’t forget that unless you walk in (or take public or private transportation), you’ll have to pay for parking.
We suspect that these pools will be busier than ever this summer, hitting the maximum according to the fire code very early, then hotel guests at the Flamingo and other Caesars properties will have priority. We’ll keep you posted on those details when or if they develop.
Mediterranean food, particularly Middle Eastern, is one of the “in” culinary trends of late, but all the new restaurants have some work to do to catch up to Khoury’s, which has been operating since 1966 (not to be confused with Khoury’s Fine Win & Spirits, a wine shop on the east side). What sets Khoury’s apart from other Mediterranean restaurants in Las Vegas is that it’s Lebanese, which is a different style from Greek, Iranian, or any of the others that serve Mediterranean cuisine.
Off the Strip
Khoury’s is located at 9340 W. Sahara, which is a bit of a drive, about 11 miles from the Strip. The easiest route is to go straight up Sahara and it’s in a shopping mall at the corner of Sahara and Ft. Apache. We’ve eaten here with Lebanese friends who confirm that this is the real deal, so you’ll find it worth the trip. Khoury’s is open seven days a week from 11 am to 9 pm (10 pm weekends).
The Food
All the Lebanese favorites are here: hummus; baba ghanoush; loubieh (green beens); bamieh (okra); olives; pickles; grape leaves; falafel; six different kabobs; schwarma and gyro sandwiches; lentil or beef and rice tomato soup; and salads of all kinds made with tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, spinach, onions, mint, lemon juice, even some with lettuce, and we rate the tabbouleh as the best in town. Chicken livers are $17.95, Farooj (whole baked chicken in spices) $23.95, and lamb chops $32.95. Good stuff, but we go for the kibbi-naya ($34.95), ground raw lamb mixed with cracked wheat and spices. Scoop it with the pita that’s baked fresh in brick ovens and brought to the table hot and risen.
The Mediterranean Feast
You want to get a taste of lots of things here, so you can go for the house mezza ($35.95) or mini-house mezza ($21.95). There’s also a “dinner for two” option ($54.95) that gives you a choice of several options. If you want to go nuts, the Mediterranean Feast is available for parties of six or more for $32.95 per person. It’s a whole lotta grub. We did it, but probably wouldn’t again, as some of the meat dishes were dry and there are just too many other good things on the menu to go for rather than the MF that’s bound to have some things you don’t necessarily want.
The Verdict
Khoury’s is our top pick of all of Las Vegas’ Middle Eastern options. Our play is the kibbi-naya and tabbouleh, which is easily enough for two, for $50. If raw lamb isn’t your thing, there are the options listed here and more. Top it off with an Almaza Lebanese beer.
More good things from Station Casinos? We can hardly stand it, but we also can’t ignore it. It doesn’t get anywhere the buzz that the Oyster Bar at Palace Station gets, but we’ll take the Oyster Bar at Red Rock Resort anytime. It runs specials Mon.-Fri.; we tried the Tuesday Buck A Shuck and Thursday lobster rolls.
Buck A Shuck
Strange as it may sound, there are people who don’t like raw oysters but do like raw clams. No problem, both are available for $1 per on Tuesdays (there actually is a discernable difference). This is the only place we know of in town that does the clams. Two of us ordered a dozen of each and split, both favoring the oysters. You can order in any quantity. Hard to beat.
oystersclams
Lobster Rolls
Really, two lobster rolls for $10? Yes, and two different kinds at that (you can’t mix the two in the same order). The difference is typically that Maine is served cold and Connecticut hot. We tried the Connecticut and it’s good, but we’ll go Maine on future visits. It looks spectacular, but it’s more roll than lobster. To illustrate, this is what ours looked like before and after (from a waiter: “I see a lot of plates that look like that.”). Still, for ten bucks, no complaints.
Chowders
The RR Oyster Bar has both Boston (white) and Manhattan (red) clam chowder. We tried both over our two visits. They’re big servings that are loaded with clams for $11.99. Pictured here is the Manhattan, but we preferred the Boston.
Cool Place
Whereas you’ll almost certainly have to wait in line at the Palace Station Oyster Bar (we still don’t understand its popularity), there were plenty of seats available on both of our visits. The bar is sparkling clean. TVs are tuned to sports. The cooks, who work in the open kitchen behind the bar talk with the customers. The customers talk with the customers. It’s open-air onto the casino floor. Excellent setting.
Check the Jackpots
If you park in the garage, check out the scrolling jackpots screen when you get off the elevator. You see versions of this on chalkboards in bars, but not in casinos. We discuss it at length on our YouTube “Jackpots” show.
The Verdict
If you haven’t figured it out by now, we really like this place. It’s a trek from the Strip, but well worth it if you’re hankerin’ for any of these specials. And by all means, combine it with a bowl of chowder. We rate this the best oyster bar in Vegas. Look for us on a Tuesday coming soon.
Caesars Palace – Bacchanal Buffet: All buffet prices went up by $7. Weekday Dinner is Mon – Thur, 3:30 p.m.-10 p.m. is now $86.99. Friday Dinner is 3:30 p.m.-10 p.m. is now $91.99. Weekend Dinner is Sat & Sun, 3 p.m.-10 p.m. is now $91.99. Weekend Crab Brunch is Sat & Sun, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. is now $86.99.
Circus Circus – Circus Buffet: This week’s breakfast buffet is Fri-Sun, 8 a.m.-12 p.m. is $32.95. Then their dinner buffet is Fri&Sat, 4:30 p.m.-10 p.m. is $41.95.
Luxor – The Buffet at Luxor: Officially closed March 30.
One of the many unusual sights in Las Vegas is the 26-foot-tall chocolate fountain at the Patisserie, located at Bellagio just beyond the Conservatory.
Three different kinds and colors (white, dark, and milk) of chocolate flow from oyster-shell-type tier to tier through the fountain. Enclosed in a temperature-controlled glass case, 4,000 pounds of liquid chocolate ooze along at a rate of 30 gallons per minute, facilitated by six pumps and 500 feet of stainless-steel pipe.
Once the largest chocolate fountain in the world, it was surpassed only in 2020 by a 30-foot-tall display at a Lindt factory, museum, and shop in Zurich, Switzerland, so now the Patisserie fountain is “merely” the largest in the U.S.
As tempting as it looks, the chocolate is for decoration only; it’s never converted into anything edible. But that doesn’t stop the Patisserie from selling shelves upon shelves of candy in canisters, such as peanut M&Ms ($20 for the large), chocolate-covered hazelnuts ($10), pistachio white-chocolate green glass ($11.50), and blueberry-pearl mint chocolate ($19.85), plus bags of Remill coffee and cakes turning round and round on motorized lazy susans.
The line for the Patisserie’s menu items goes all the way around the half-circular counter and often extends out into the hall, but service is very fast. You order, pay at the cashier, and watch your food being made at the glassed-in front counter.
You can get your order to go in a bag, eat standing up at one of the small tables, or carry it over to the comfortable seating area in a rotunda-like alcove down the hall.
Breakfasts include yogurt-berry parfaits, muesli, and fruit bowls ($12), egg-cheese-bacon croissant ($17), smoked salmon plate ($23), four kinds of omelets ($17), sweet and savory crepes ($15-$17), sandwiches and salads ($19), along with all the hot and iced coffee drinks you’d expect from a French café ($5.50-$7.25).
We tried the strawberry and whipped-cream crepe and an almond croissant and the bill came to $23.79 with tax — anything but bargain prices, but this is Bellagio, after all, and the Patisserie offerings are fancy, fast, and plentiful. Good play for something light and quick and a great reason to see the record-setting fountain, especially if you’re checking out the latest display at the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.
Of the five buffets operated by MGM Resorts, this one, at the Cosmoplitan, offers by far the best experience for the price. Those at MGM Grand, Excalibur, and Luxor are pretty mediocre and Luxor’s will be closing soon. Bellagio has gone downhill since it opened again after COVID, with no more king crab and caviar and snow crab legs only for dinner, not at the brunch. The servers don’t serve anything, they just collect used plates. You have to get your own beverages at a drink station or buy at the bar.
The servers at the Wicked Spoon are friendly and attentive. They bring a bottle of cold water to every table without even asking for it and take orders for soda, coffee, beer, wine, and cocktails. A beverage menu on the table shows the available drinks with prices. Bottled beer is around $11, wine $15, cocktails $18, and bottomless pours of wine, mimosas, and Bud Light $30 with a 90-minute limit.
At the Wicked Spoon, they’re also focused on keeping food waste to a minimum. Many items are presented in individual dishes rather than in bulk and that includes sauces and melted butter, discouraging guests to load up more on their plate or bowl than they’ll consume. Personally, I like to sample, picking up little bites, knowing that I can always go back and get more of something I like. Of course, you can’t do this in a regular restaurant.
There’s too much to list every item separately. Here’s a summary with some highlights.
The salad bar is on a separate island that includes the charcuterie section with cut cheese, salami, etc. The shrimp cocktails are also there. You get two large peeled prawns in a little dish with just enough cocktail sauce and a piece of lemon. There’s a good selection of fruit, several types of bread with a toaster next to it, and soups. Also smoked salmon with cream cheese, capers, onion, and tomatoes. And small dishes with tuna crudo and beef carpaccio. Little bags with corn tortilla chips and guacamole for dipping. Individual portions of salad, including Caesars.
appetizers with shrimp cocktail, smoked salmon with capers, beef carpaccio, and some sushi
In the main buffet, there’s an egg station where you can order an omelet with a selection of additions, such as bacon bits, cheese, ham, shrimp, onions, peppers, spinach, tomatoes, and mushrooms. They also have eggs Benedict, scrambled eggs, bacon, and breakfast sausages. Around the corner are individual dishes with what they call “angry” mac and cheese.
egg Benedict, bacon, large spicy prawn
At the Carvery are chicken, turkey, ham, several types of sausage, pork shoulder, tri tip, New York strip, and leg of lamb with a choice of sauces and gravy. Don’t fill yourself up on potatoes, pasta, and pizza; there’s more good stuff coming.
The next section starts with the crab legs, clarified butter, and some Asian dishes including a selection of sushi. Also fried rice, roasted bok choy, spicy shrimp, and cute little take-out boxes with steamed white rice. Finally, there’s a stack of bamboo steamers with dumplings and some more dim sum items.
The separate dessert island features a large variety of pies, cookies, cakes, and ice cream if you still have room left.
When I visited, they had a special offer for Nevada locals on Wednesday: $38 instead of $47 with a state ID. On top of that, there was also a half-price or 2-for-1 promotion for MGM Rewards members, valid until Memorial Day, so I paid only $19 plus tax — best deal in Las Vegas for any brunch buffet, even without crab legs. Club members can still get the 2-for-1 deal until May 26, the $38 price for locals on Wednesdays is ongoing, regular prices are listed on our buffet page. You can barely get a single lunch item and a soda for $19 anywhere on the Strip since Ocean One closed.
Directions: The Cosmopolitan has two towers. The Wicked Spoon Buffet is located in the western one, known as the Chelsea tower. Take the entrance to the parking garage at West Harmon Ave. I prefer to park at level B4 or B5. There’s a loading dock for delivery trucks at B1, AVIS uses part of B2 for their rental cars, and the Jockey Club has reserved spots at B3. Try to park as close as you can to the Chelsea elevators. Once up at the casino level take the nearby escalator to level 2. The buffet is at the end of the hallway.
MGM Rewards members Pearl and up get free unlimited self parking. Nevada locals get 3 hours. To get upgraded to Pearl tier get the First Bank MGM no annual fee MasterCard. You can fill out an application at any MGM Rewards desk. Insert your Pearl or higher card into the slot when you enter the garage. The gate will open and you don’t get a ticket. Do the same to exit. All others have to push the button for a ticket.
