These are all of the Travel Reviews on CarriesClassics.com
May 13, 2008
A Manager restaurant review
A'Manger
Charcas 4001
at Malabia
Reservations: not necessary
Subte: Scallabrini Ortiz
Price: US $ 5-8
Rating: 4
A'Manger is a fun little cafe where everything is homemade - including the cheese and meats. There is a wide selection of sandwiches (close to 40), and you also get your choice of four different kinds of bread. There are main dishes, plently of appetizers, and tasty desserts as well.
When you walk into A'Manger, you first see their market where they sell their homemade cheeses, meats, breads, olives, etc. There are a few tables in the adjoining room.
The food at A'Manger is great. Everything we tried we loved. In fact, we liked it so much, we went back there three times. Be sure to try the apple and onion chutney. It's fantastic.
A'Manger also offers catering. Keep that in mind for your next party.
Uru Recoleta
Vicente Lopez 2132
Across the street from the Recoleta Cemetary
(5411) 4804-9844 www.us-cueros.com.ar
If you are looking to bring home a souvenir of your time in Argentina, a leather jacket is a must. At Uru Recoleta you can choose from over 200 styles and over 30 colors and types of leathers. But that's not even the best part about Uru Recoleta. Uru will custom make your jacket to your measurements. Normal service for a custom made jacket is 24 hours, but if you're in a rush, they can do it in as little as 5 hours. And with prices starting at US $100, it's difficult to find something better.
When you arrive at Uru, you are greeted by one of the customer service representatives. Odds are, there will be at least one who speaks English as well. Then he or she will ask you what type of jacket you're looking for. You can get everything from fir, fir lined, suede, or leather. They offer so many styles that it will take you a long time to browse through them if you go in without an idea of what you're looking for.
I knew exactly what I was looking for. I wanted a ¾ length nice leather jacket. I was shown the 4 styles they offer in that length, tried them on to see which I liked best. When the one I wanted had a back detail I didn't really care for, I asked if that could be changed. I was told that it would be no problem to make that change.
Once I had made my decision for type of jacket, they took my measurements. Next, they asked what changes I would like (both in style and in fit). Then I got to choose my leather. They offer calf, antelope, and lamb leather, all of which are a completely different look and feel.
The next day I went back to pick up my jacket. It fit perfectly. It was exactly what I wanted. And for about US $200, I am bringing home a custom made leather jacket.
Uru makes more than just leather jackets as well. You can get leather anything...purse, wallet, pants, skirt, vest, shoes, scarf, belt, and more. So whatever leather (or fur) your heart desires, it can be found at Uru Recoleta.
El Quincho del Tio querido
Bompland 110
Puerto Iguazu
54.3757.420151 www.eltioquerido.com
Rating: 3
At El Quincho del Tio querido you'll find the biggest restaurant in the small town of Puerto Iguazu, Argentina. Out front is the grill where all the meats are cooked and you get a quick glimpse as you walk in. They also have a live band who serenades you while you eat. The atmosphere is open and welcoming and the servers are very nice and friendly.
When we were looking for a place to eat dinner, and asked locals for recommendations, they all suggested El Quincho del Tio querido. One night, we decided to go with a few of our friends. There were five of us, and we decided to order the complete Parrilla for four, and a few salads as well. When the meal came, we were served a mini table grill filled with all kinds of meat and organs as well. (This is part of the Parrilla completa. You will be served organs. In this case it was kidneys, intestine, and some other unknowns.) The vegetarian options at El Quincho were limited to spaghetti with pesto. (And, I don't really recommend it. The noodles were very overcooked, and the pesto was more olive oil than pesto.)
In all honesty, the food was good. But it wasn't exceptional. The music was ok, but it wasn't exceptional. Unfortunately while we were there it was all covers of 80s tunes, and no real traditional Argentine music. However, this did offer us the change to sing along. One person in our group even got asked to sing on stage.
We had a great time while eating at El Quincho, even though the food wasn't the best. If we go back, it would be to remember our experience, not because the food was that good.
Gurruchaga 1493
Corner Gorriti
(multiple locations)
4511-4444 www.romario.com.ar
Large pizza price: US$ 10-15
All major credit cards accepted
Reservations: not necessary, but the place does fill up
Rating: 3
Romario is a fun pizza place that offers diners a choice between 40 different kinds of pizza (most of which are only 1-3 toppings), and one choice of beer (but you can choose between three different sizes). The pizza (and calzones and empanadas which they also offer) are all cooked in a brick oven. The pizza is great! One large pizza is definitely enough for two people to share.
Romario is very bright. I mean that literally. Everything is orange (both inside and out). The atmosphere is a little bit loud, the music is very loud, and the staff is fun and boisterous.
I rate Romario a 3 because it was a bit loud for my liking. The food is good, but it isn't the best pizza I've ever had. Romario does have several locations, and odds are you'll run into at least one of them during your time in Buenos Aires. So, if you do, stop in and grab a pizza and a beer.
Gorriti 5092
At Thames
Phone: 4833-7832
www.restaurantrave.com.ar
Credit cards: accepted
Reservations: recommended
Price: US $8-15
Rating: 4
Two important tips when visiting Rave restaurant in Buenos Aires:
1. There is a minimum of 20 pesos per person (so you must order at least 60 pesos worth of food / drink if there are three people going).
2. If you so desire it, you can have dinner in bed. They have a bed set up in the restaurant with privacy curtains where you can take your dinner.
Rave has a super fun atmosphere. All the lighting is red and subdued. The lights that hang from the ceiling are covered in red paper, and the candles on the tables are red oil candles.
The menu at Rave offers several options for everything from: chicken, beef, pork, fish, pasta, and vegetarian. Three of us went to Rave: one person ordered chicken, and two of us ordered pasta. Everything was amazing. The pumpkin ravioli (pumpkin and mozzarella filling inside spinach pasta, and covered in pesto) was amazing.
But, the best part of the meal was dessert. Be sure to save room for the tiramisu! Definitely visit Rave for a meal, but if for some reason you can't make it for a whole meal definitely go out of your way for their dessert!
Honduras 4999
At Serrano
Phone: 48310743
www.malasartes.com.ar
Reservations: not necessary
Price: US $3 -10
Transportation: Plaza Italia
Credit cards NOT accepted
Rating: 4
Malasartes is a fun find in the middle of Plaza Serrano. We went on a busy Sunday afternoon during the bazaar. The cafe / restaurant was packed (as was everything else around).
At Malasartes you'll find everything from great sandwiches (Argentina style) to full plates of food, and even tapas. But one of the best things you'll taste at Malasartes is the frutilla (strawberry) liquado. A liquado is similar to a smoothie, but it's made with water instead of milk, and no sugar is added.
The atmosphere at Malasartes is fun as well. The inside is almost all exposed brick, and there are a few different levels of seating. One level has couches and recliners for you to relax in while sipping a drink or munching on a sandwich. The tables are very close together though due to the large number of people who flock to Plaza Serrano both for its nightlife and its Sunday bazaars.
When you visit Malasartes, be sure to order the frutilla liquado; your taste buds will thank you for it.
Bar Uriarte gets rave reviews in the Lonely Planet guide for Argentina (hence the reason that we went). We had a great time at Bar Uriarte, and we happened to hit happy hour (from 8.30 - 10.30 pm) where you can get 2 martinis for US $10.
The atmosphere at Bar Uriarte is very posh, but still fun. There are two dining rooms (one with couches where you can sit and eat, one that is a regular type seating), as well as a beautiful outdoor courtyard lined with trees and vines, and a large fireplace. Definitely sit outside if there's a table open. And, there's also a separate kids' table outside if you brought the kiddos along, but don't want they to sit with you all through dinner.
Our meals were all good. Try the pork ribs - they're excellent. Vegetarian options are limited so be aware of that. Bar Uriate does get bonus points for their atmosphere and desserts. Try the molten chocolate cake; it's fantastic!
Sudestada (located in Palermo) is supposed to be one of the best restaurants in all of Buenos Aires. However, I don't really know why. Maybe we went in expecting too much. We had tried to get in to Sudestada without reservations twice. We were not successful either time. But, when we finally made it to Sudestada, we were disappointed.
Sudestada boasts a fusion of Thai and Vietnamese food. Their food was ok, but it wasn't outstanding. There was only one vegetarian option on the menu - the vegetable wok stir fry. It was good, but it had no spice at all (even though the menu said it was of "medium spice"). Also the grilled chicken with tropical fruits was not quite as expected. It was served in a hollowed out pineapple (so it earned major points for presentation), but it lacked flavor. Also, the only tropical fruit it had was pineapple. And to add a tiny twinge of disappointment, not only was there no Thai iced tea on the menu, but the server didn't even know what it was.
The atmosphere in Sudestada is what I imagine a diner in the 1960s to look like. It left much to be desired. We won't be returning to Sudestada. Even though we love Thai food, and we haven't run across any other Thai restaurants in Buenos Aires, we'll refrain from Sudestada. With so many amazing restaurants in Buenos Aires, why return to one that was only mediocre?
Viejo Agump is an Armenian restaurant in the heart of Palermo Viejo. It is a really fun place that is quiet and "happening" at the same time. The walls are decorated with Armenian art and books, and the little cutouts in the wall are filled with fun finds from Armenia as well. At night, this restaurant turns into a bit of a club with a small dance floor and a bar, but they still serve their great food.
We visited Viejo Agump for lunch one day. We ordered the small sampler platter and suplimented it with an order of falafel. We had several plates of Armenian goodness served to us. All of it was excellent. But best of all, was the fresh home-made pita bread. Fantastic.
If you like middle-eastern cuisine, then make a trip to Viejo Agump in Palermo Viejo. Order some extra grilled eggplant for me.
www.cafetortoni.com.ar
all major credit cards accepted
Reservations: necessary for shows
Rating: 3
Cafe Tortoni is the most famous cafe in all of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and as such it has a huge draw of tourists. Cafe Tortoni is fully aware of this. I do recommend going, but go for a cup of bad coffee rather than going to see the shows and eat bad food.
I'm very happy to have experienced Cafe Tortoni while we're here. I was fortunate enough to go twice.
The Cafe Tortoni offers two shows nightly, one at 9pm and one at 11pm. The shows vary depending on time and day of the week. Check the website for details. We went one night to the Retango show, and had dinner before the show. The Retango show was more of a survey of music with a few musicians and a singer, and they threw a couple of tango dances into the mix every 3 or 4 songs. The cost of the show was 50 Pesos per person, and that did not include dinner. So, we all ordered dinner, and none of us were particularly thrilled about the food we got. I recommend just ordering a drink if you go to one of the shows at Cafe Tortoni. Skip the meal.
I chose to go again, so that I could experience the atmosphere. Cafe Tortoni does have a great atmosphere. It feels very old-world style, and you know that famous people from all over the word have flocked to where you're sitting now. This time, I just ordered cafe con leche (similar to a latte in the US). Honestly, it was the worst cafe con leche I've had in all of Argentina. But, nevertheless, I'm still happy to have gone.
When visiting Buenos Aires, you have to take time to visit Cafe Tortoni...if for no other reason than everyone will ask you about it when you get home.
Here's our video from the tango show at Cafe Tortoni:
Los Maestros is yet another pizza place in Buenos Aires. On every corner you will find either a parrilla or a pizza place. Nothing really stood out about Los Maestros pizza for us, except for the fact that it's served on a hot cast iron pizza tray to keep the pizza hot and the crust crispy.
We tried the Choclo (sweet corn) and the mushroom pizzas. I would absolutely recommend the mushroom pizza, but I caution you against the corn pizza. They say that it has a white sauce...but it's not. It still has your basic red sauce, but then it's piled high with creamed corn. Not the tastiest pizza I've ever had.
So, give Los Maestros a try, since they have a quite a few choices. But, I wouldn't make it my pizza place of choice.
Charcas & Thames
Pizza, Pasta, Salads, Empanadas
Transportation: Plaza Italiz
Entrees: $5-8 USD
reservations: not necessary
Rating: 4.5
Tonno is a wonderful neighborhood pizza place. Their pizza is excellent, their empanadas amazing, and their salads yummy. You get to choose which ingredients you want in your salad (which is fun and a nice change). After trying the empanadas at numerous other places, we learned that Tonno is definitely the place to go for the best empanadas. Why go somewhere else when you know that a pizza place knows their way around cheese and dough?
The pizzas (and empanadas) are all wood fired in an open oven. They also serve garlic breadsticks with your meal. Tasty tasty tasty. And the atmosphere is fun and relaxed. Check out their lunch specials where you can get a pizza, a drink, and a coffee for $5 USD!
We love Tonno. We've been there more than once already, and we'll definitely be going back for more!
Address Peru
Location Peru & San Telmo
Subway stop San Juan
Reservations not necessary
Phone 1143627979
Prices: entree price: $5-10 (USD)
Rating: 4
Origen was a fun find close to the antique market in San Telmo square. We stopped here for a "quick" lunch before heading to the market. Our quick lunch wasn't so quick, but the food was great. Their selection is rather small, but it is all organic, and very fresh.
The food at Origen was great. We all ordered salads, but others around us ordered everything from pasta, pizza, and dessert. It all looked really tasty. We'll have to return to Origen for their organic coffee, food, and carrot cake.
Bio was a fantastic find by our friends Kevin and Annmarie. Even though we went without a reservation, we were still able to be seated rather quickly. All four of us ordered something different, and we all agree that all four entrees were excellent. The bread that they brought out before the meal was great as well. They also bring out little cups of gazpacho with the bread which was a fun, and refreshing change.
We would definitely return here, and in fact, I'm looking forward to our next trip "across the tracks" and into Palermo Hollywood.
Address Costa Rica 4901
Location At Thames, Palermo
Transportation Metro: Plaza Italia
Reservations Reservations recommended
Phone 11/4832-2726
Prices Main courses US$5-US$12 (£4.20-£6.35)
Rating: 4.5
LeLe de Troya is a really fun restaurant. There is an outside patio and 4 inside rooms to choose from. Each room has a different color theme. Everything in the room is in that color: the walls, chairs, napkins, tables, candles, and chargers. They have a really good menu with lots of selections. You can even choose your own sauce with their pasta selections.
I had the chickpea and goat cheese tart, and Jonathan had the black ravioli (this time stuffed with salmon with a pistachio cream sauce). I thought mine was excellent (not quite a tart as in pastry, more a tart in shape). Jonathan's was a bit fishy, but still very good.
The best part about LeLe de Troya is the bread. They bring you a basket with four different types of bread, and this spread to put on it. The spread is pumpkin with spices and it is absolutely fantastic! One of their breads tastes a bit like stuffing (and it has mushrooms, onions, and peppers in it) and it was a fun, unique flavor.
We will definitely go back to LeLe de Troya. The service was great, the food was excellent, and we had a really fun time.
Hours Mon-Sat 12:30-3:30pm, 4-7:30pm for teatime, and 8:30pm-2am
Address El Salvador 4618
Location At Malabia, Palermo
Transportation Metro: Plaza Italia
Reservations Reservations highly recommended
Phone 11/4831-7176
Prices Main courses US$8-US$12 (£4.20-£6.35)
Credit Cards AE, MC, V
Rating: 3.5
"Cluny" is supposed to be one of the best restaurants in all of Buenos Aires. And, it just happens to be a few blocks from where we are staying. We went there one night with friends, and all of us were pleased with our dinner. There are not very many vegetarian options (but I have yet to find a restaurant in BA that has a large selection - besides the all vegetarian restaurant I haven't been to yet). I ordered the pumpkin ravioli, it was great, with large amount of filling, a light sauce that didn't overpower the delicate pumpkin. Another person ordered the ravioli negras (black ravioli). It was stuffed with lamb. The whole filling was lamb - they didn't skimp here either. Jonathan ordered the duck, and it was good: not greasy. The sauce could have been a little more fruity, but it was good.
Overall, we all enjoyed our experience at "Cluny". Unfortunately it wasn't so great that we're aching to return. In fact, I don't know that we will, because there are so many restaurants to choose from. We are happy to have gone there, and probably would go back if there weren't so many more options in BA for us to try.
I've been fortunate enough to eat at Rioja twice now. Both times I ordered something different, and everythign I've tried has been absolutely exquisite. Rioja is quite possibly my favorite restaurant in all of Denver. The food is fresh, unique, and absolutely divine on the palate.
We went one time during the Taste of Denver 5280. This meant that for two people we were able to try two appetizers, two entrees, and share a dessert. We thought everything was fantastic. We would most definitely return, and try some new things, and return to our old favorites.
Don't wait to go to Rioja, go as soon as you possibly can. You'll become a regular customer. Trust me.
I wish that I could give P. F. Chang's a better rating. But as far as this experience goes, I can't.
We ate lunch at the P. F. Chang's located at E-470 and Smokey Hill in Aurora, Colorado at 2:00 pm on Thursday, January 3, 2008.
In the beginning, everything went great. We were seated immediately, and our server came and took our drink order fairly quickly as well. However, after that the service went downhill dramatically.
We had to wait 30 minutes for our appetizer to arrive. There were only a few tables occupied, so I don't know why it took so long for 2 spring rolls to arrive. Then, we had to wait another 20 minutes for our food to arrive after they'd cleared the appetizer plates. When we were finished eating, it took our server 10 minutes to arrive with a box to box up leftovers, and then another 15 minutes after that to return with the bill.
The food was really good. I would order the same thing again (vegetarian lettuce wraps, and double pan fried noodles with chicken and shrimp). However, the service was extremely disappointing. We were seated at 2:00 pm and did not leave until almost 4:00 pm.
I would recommend the food at P. F. Chang's absolutely, but I cannot recommend the service (at least at this particular location). If their service were better, they would have been sure to receive a higher rating.
When I was in London in January 2003, we found a flyer for a Jack the Ripper walking tour. We decided to go, as it was only £3 and we only had to pay if we really liked the tour. Since none of us had any money at the time, we thought that that sounded like a good idea. Our guide then was an amazing storyteller. It was what he did for a living being one of the Yeoman at the Tower of London. He guided us through the places where Jack the Ripper walked, stalked, and killed his victims (in sequential order). As we walked, he told us little tidbits about London itself, about the area of town we were in at the time, and about Jack the Ripper himself of course. After a 3 hour walk that ended sometime after 10:30pm, I paid the £3 because I'd had a great time. I learned a lot; I was very entertained, and felt like I had seen a lot. I had also been given the guide's guess as to who Jack really was, backed up by his "facts" and was completely convinced. It was a wonderful time. It was so wonderful in fact, that I wanted Jonathan to experience it as well.
While searching online for a Jack the Ripper walking tour in London, I came across the London Walks website (and a few others of course). I couldn't find one from the tour I'd taken before, so I thought we'd go on the London Walks version. We met Judith at the designated area (along with about 60 other people), paid our £5, and were ready to go. Thankfully, they split the mass of people into two groups. I knew right away that Judith was more academically oriented than my previous beefeater guide, but I was hopeful that she would be a good storyteller as well. After the first stop, Jonathan mentioned that he felt our guide wasn't really telling us a story. We hoped it would get better. Unfortunately, it didn't. Judith took us to only two of the actual locations, and didn't tell us stories. She talked. She talked as though reading a text book to us out of order. The very last stop of the tour lasted for 20 minutes where she told us who might and who wasn't actually Jack the Ripper. The problem was that she was just giving facts without having a way for her audience to relate the facts to what we'd just been told on our walk.
If you go to London, I highly recommend taking a Jack the Ripper walking tour. However, I am afraid that I cannot recommend that you take the one lead by Judith with London Walks. While she is a very nice person, and full of information, she wasn't able to capture the audience's undivided attention.
Café Milan is a great little lunch stop. They make excellent panini (made to order) and available as dine in and take away. I haven't yet tried their espresso, as they didn't have decaf and we were there in the afternoon. But we've been back there twice, so you know they were good. The first time I had the tricolore panini (tomato, mozzarella, basil, avocado) and the second time I had the Roma (mozzarella cheese, parma ham, olives). Both were good, but I would recommend the Roma over the tricolore. Café Milan is an excellent place to visit when grabbing a quick lunch. Go check them out.
I was excited to try The Zetland Arms (South Kensington, London), but was rather disappointed when we were finished. This is a British Pub, and I wanted to try some fish n chips or something else rather British. When we walked in, we found an empty table (not cleaned off, but empty). The dining room upstairs was closed. We sat there for about twenty minutes. Then I started wondering if we should leave since no one had been to our table yet (except to wipe it down). Then the people sitting next to us told us that we had to go to the bar to order.
I ordered the mushroom melt, and Jonathan ordered the roast chicken. My food was very greasy, and made me feel a bit sick to my stomach. Jonathan said his was good, but nothing exceptional. Neither of us tried the fish n chips though. As we were finishing up, two people next to us got their food. Their order was messed up, not once, but twice. (They were nice about it, and The Zetland Arms did try to fix it, they just weren't successful).
If you're looking for a good British pub, I would keep looking.
Cous Cous was the first place we ate when we arrived in London. We went out for dinner, and were a little shocked at the prices. But, because this was the first place we went, we hadn't yet realized that the prices in London are the same as they are in the US, but with the exchange rate right now, everything becomes more than two times as expensive.
Also, Cous Cous was our first Moroccan food experience. Because of this, we decided to go for the sampler choices. We were served the Moroccan version of hummus, an eggplant puree, a puree of peppers and cheese, and little pastries stuffed with shrimp. Everything was excellent, especially the Moroccan bread that was served. My favorite of the samples was definitely the pepper puree. It was so good, very sweet, but still a little tangy and spicy. But the one thing that is a definite try is the mint tea. Have a pot or two of the best tea that I think I've ever had.
I would recommend Cous Cous in the South Kensington neighborhood of London. I can't wait to try more Moroccan food.
I love Thai food. I absolutely love it. Patara is some of the best Thai food I have ever eaten (not having been to Thailand yet).
Some prawn crackers were served as a small appetizer. These tasted to me a bit like pork rind. I didn't keep eating them because I'm allergic to shellfish. But, they were something I'd have avoided even if I could eat them. The Ton Ka Gai soup was absolutely amazing. It was thick, not watery like some restaurants, and one serving is definitely a meal's worth. The Pad Thai was great, though I would have preferred a bit more sauce as the noodles tended to stick together a bit. Because of my shellfish allergy, mine was served with vegetables, mostly mushrooms. The main entrée that Jonathan had was also fantastic. The curry sauce was absolutely amazing. It was the perfect balance of about a hundred spices. For dessert, we had mango and sticky coconut rice. Dessert was also good, but (obviously) doesn't compare to the home-made version we had a few months ago.
I would highly recommend that if you're ever near a Patara, that you stop in for a bite. It is definitely worth your time. We will probably be going back while we're here.
We reserved a non-smoking pyramid room. Our flight arrived late in the evening, so we called the Luxor to tell them that we'd be arriving very late. They said that it wouldn't be a problem, we could check in any time. However, when we checked in, we'd been moved to a smoking tower room. They said we'd been "upgraded" and I can neither agree nor disagree with that. Our room was really nice, but I've never seen a pyramid room. We were very disappointed though that our smoking room definitely smelled like smoke. However, the biggest disappointment was the hard mattress - but I guess that can be a good thing for those of you who have to have a firm sleeping plank.
The best thing about the room was the bathroom. It was very nice, and very large. It even had a separate shower and bath. The whole room was tiled with granite tile (be careful, it can be slippery).
Stay at the Luxor if you're on this end of the strip. It's a good hotel, and the staff is all very nice.
Jonathan took me here to celebrate my earning my Masters Degree. Old Stone Church in Castle Rock, Colorado is a fabulous restaurant. I'd love to give it a 5. The only reason I'm choosing not to is because they offer no vegetarian dinner options. The food is fantastic. One of the highlights is actually the flatbread with chimichurri dipping sauce that they bring out. We'd love to buy a gallon of that sauce. We also liked the grilled brie appetizer so much that we attempted to make it ourselves at home. Jonathan ordered the special that night (a tuna steak over rice and shrimp and avocado with an excellent sauce). And I had the New York Strip with poblano potatoes, and covered in a bit of gorgonzola and a few fried onions. The steak was perfectly cooked to my request.
The absolute best part of the entire meal was dessert. We ordered the "flourless chocolate mousse oblivion cake". This cake was so good that it actually did obliviate my mind. I've never tasted something so good before. I can't wait to go back.
Please, definitely go to Old Stone Church as soon as you possibly can. It's well worth whatever drive you have to make to get there.
What makes this a 2.5 instead of a 2? The fact that everything on the menu is available at any time. I went with a friend who was hungry, not because I was. This friend ordered a steak salad. The waiter asked how he wanted his steak cooked. However, the steak was definitely overcooked. No where near how my friend ordered it. Also, my friend requested olive oil, but what was brought out was actually vegetable oil. Another friend and I split the quesadillas. I would certainly avoid those. It was a tortilla with cheese - that's it. Nothing else was inside. They did come with three ramekins - one for sour cream, one for jarred (not great) salsa, and one for pre-made semi-artificial guacamole.
I would go back - if I was hungry in the Luxor after 11:00pm when everything else closes.
Rating: 3.5 - 4
When: Friday breakfast, Saturday champagne brunch
Time: 8:00 am
12.99 per person + tax and tip
I'm not a buffet person in general. To me, the biggest benefit is that they're faster than waiting. I just prefer to order what I want to eat rather than load a plate so full of stuff (that I might not even like normally) just because it's there. I will say though that I did enjoy the made to order omelet station. (Michael, the omelet chef is great - super fun and friendly.) They also offer egg beaters and egg white choices. It's a good buffe for those who really like buffets.
The champagne brunch though is very nice. They have everything from omelets to pizza and Chinese food. Pizza is always a great breakfast.
Seated: immediately
Day: Thursday
Time: 10:30 pm
Ate: Roasted Tomato Soup ($5.95), Champagne Chicken Salad ($13.95)
Server: nice, not exceptional, but very nice
Ambiance: nice, casual, feel comfortable at any "level" of fanciness
Food:
I would absolutely recommend that you order the soup. It was thick, smooth, hearty, and definitely home made. The rolls that were served with dinner were amazing (especially dipped in the soup). They were light and fluffy on the inside, and crackely and crusty on the outside.
The salad was ok. It wasn't anything spectacular. In fact, I wouldn't order it again. I wasn't sorry that I ordered it, I just wouldn't get it a second time. Instead, go for something else that would have some pizzaz.
I would go back, but had I ordered the salad only without the soup, I probably wouldn't. Go here if you're in the area, but don't go out of your way.
When Jonathan and I decided to travel to Las Vegas, again, we decided that since there are so many different options for places to stay, we would try someplace new. We decided on the Stratosphere. We knew going into it that it was pretty far away from everything else on the strip, but we weren't afraid of walking. The Stratosphere is also really close to the Sahara Monorail stop, so we knew we could always use that if our feet got tired. Our room was on the third floor, and we overlooked the employee entrance. Right outside our window were some of the lights that illuminate the building at night, and it was kind of hard to shut those out at night. The bed was nothing spectacular, but it wasn't horrible either. It was pretty middle of the road. The bathroom, however, was super tiny. To close the door, we had to stand between the bathtub and the toilet. Also, the way the toilet flushed was pretty scary. You had to close the lid and step back before flushing for fear of being sucked down with it. While, the room itself was not so great, it was pretty good for the money we spent. We probably won't stay here again, but that's because it's always nice to stay someplace new. We would recommend the hotel to those who are not traveling with young kids, and aren't afraid of a bit of a walk everyday.
Overall Rating: 68 out of 135
Click here to see pictures of our room at the Stratosphere.
There are a plethora of choices when looking for a place to stay in wine country California. Choices range from several bed and breakfast places, traditional hotels, and even condos. When we were traveling there, my sister and I decided to opt for the condo option, after much debate. We decided to give Vino Bello Resort a try. Boy, are we glad we did. We stayed in a studio, because that is what they had available at the time. They also offer one bedroom and two bedroom condos. Each condo included it's own washer and dryer, fridge, microwave, toaster oven, and stovetop. The room also came with a complementary bottle of wine, and we received daily replenishments of soda and bottled water. The room had a plasma TV offering several channels to choose from, including the Food Network, and several movie channels. But, one of the best parts of all, was the bathroom. It had a giant soaking tub and shower. It was beautiful. The bed had feather pillows (a major plus!), and was super comfortable. To be honest, this is probably my all time favorite hotel I've ever stayed in!
Overall Rating: 117 out of 135
click here to see pictures! Vino Bello Resort, Napa, California.
