[A Pig at Large by Wilfrid: November 16, 2015]
Altogether now, "On the road again..." Yes, Vegas this time, second time this year, and back to the Cosmo.
Where the Bamboo Pool...well, you'd never know there had been a fire last summer.
I did manage some after hours R&R, though--for example, at Inside the Chandelier, where several drinks feature artisanal, I suppose, ice balls.
This was an 8 spice syrup ice ball, intended to be stirred slowly into cinnamon and walnut-infused bourbon (plus bitters, orange zest). It's called a Fall Fashion.
Grabbing a couple of quick meals, I was pleasantly surprised by burger options, especially after a year of being tortured by novelty for its own sake in New York. Oh sure, you can get weird stuff here too. In the Cosmopolitan, Holsteins will sell you a spicy lamb burger with feta cream, or a bulgogi quesadilla, or a "Billionare Burger" with kobe, foie and marmalade, and serves you right.
The simpler "Nom Nom," with real cheddar and a few potato chips did the job. Good beef, excellent cheese, and an unfussy bun.
The bun at Gordon Ramsey's stupidly spelled Burgr, across the Strip in the Miracle Mile mall, was a show-off with black and white sesame seeds. But again, the patty was good and generous, if a little undercooked. Arugula and Maytag blue on this one.
I was invited to dinner at Estiatorio Milos (not by the restaurant). I've eaten at the New York outpost a couple of times--and significantly, always on my own or someone else's expense account. The Vegas version is no more of a value proposition, although some of the food is very good.
Apart from anything else, the menu is designed to pick your pockets. What look like appetizers are really sharing plates. The fish is pretty much auctioned off to you at the raw bar, where you see only prices by the pound. The per-head price of dining here outstrips the quality by quite a margin.
I can't tell you what the fresh fish ended up costing, but I do know that sixteen mouthfuls of raw fish will set you back $82. Sure, two can share it. But four? Not without ordering some other dishes for the table, of which the best by far were an outstanding lump crab cake and--unexpectedly--the "signature" tower of crispy zucchini and eggplant with cheese and tzatziki.
Three big fish were elected for the table, and prepared simply.
Sea bream, bass, and something with a Greek name I've been unable to locate. The latter was outstanding, fresh and moist. The other two were a little overcooked. Not really a good thing at these prices.
Further disquisition on private parties and buffets? I think not. But again, resolutions to leave the Strip and try some real Vegas restaurants.
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