Las Vegas is one of the top foodie cities in the nation — or the world, depending whose list you like to use. When Top Chef did a season here, we thought “it’s about time!” We’ve got our own copy of the latest Michelin guide. There won’t be a 2010 edition for economic reasons, but a fresh version will be out in 2011.
Last Saturday, we had the occasion to visit 2 restaurants mentioned (but not starred) by Michelin. We had been both places several times before, but this was more of an adventure than it needed to be.
Saturday afternoon, we made a dinner reservation through OpenTable at Vintner Grill, a restaurant in the city’s West Side planned community of Summerlin. It is known for its extensive wine list, cheese list, and fine dining. Oh, and it does have something of a local reputation as a Cougar hangout. We arrived a few minutes early and were seated fairly promptly. Then things began to go wrong.
Someone had already long since taken care of water for our table by the time the waitress arrived. For some reason, she decided not to bother asking for our drink order. Perhaps she assumed that we wouldn’t be having any beverages; perhaps she assumed that a couple with a pre-teen child wouldn’t be tipping very well anyhow (and perhaps she should have asked her co-workers about those assumptions!). Either way, we almost had to beg to put in a drink order. She never did ask if we wanted any appetizers.
In the long wait that ensued, I overheard the hostess remind her about the table that had been seated right before us, I watched her stand at a table for about 5 minutes giving a dissertation on one of the menu items, and saw her go to another table to give what I can only assume was a similar lecture on a menu item. By this time, we were very hungry and there was no sign of our drinks. The server in charge of water came and left again, the server in charge of dinner rolls and butter had been to visit our table, but even though we had a view of the bar, not a sign of our cocktail orders.
A half hour after we had been seated, there were still no cocktails — if they had been shaken but not poured they would certainly be unpalatable by this time — our waitress had not taken any of our food orders, and we had enough. We left some money on the table for the sparkling water and left. Notably, the host did not make any attempt to stop us or placate us in any way. No manager appeared. Since I have gotten no follow up email from OpenTable, I suspect they falsely listed us as “no-shows”.
So, still hungry, we went just down the street to Red Rock Casino Resort to one of our favorite restaurants, Terra Rossa (sister restaurant to Terra Verde at Green Valley Ranch, where one of the Hell’s Kitchen winners is working). We were immediately recognized as regulars and seated. Within 5 minutes we had a plate of cheese and veggies, dinner rolls, and a pair of martinis. The service was impeccable, the food great, and we had the kind of quality dining experience that one expects from a restaurant mentioned in the Michelin guide.
Guess which restaurant we will be visiting again?
By the way, if Italian isn’t your thing and you happen to be out at Red Rock, Hachi is good too.
I don’t know what it is with customers… if its not one thing its another: ya get them a table and the next thing you know they’re clamoring for food.
Sheeesh.