Non-casino restaurants

When I lived in Vegas, I ate at the casinos a lot (of course), but I also tried many local non-casino restaurants. It seems like I never had a mediocre meal, let alone a bad one. The restaurant scene in Vegas seems like the bar has been raised, maybe because of all the cheap eats available in the casinos--especially the locals' casinos. A restaurant in Vegas has to be pretty damn good just to survive.

I was wondering if others who have had a chance to sample the local cuisine (as in: not in the casinos) would agree. Also: do you have a favorite LOCAL Vegas restaurant? (Mine is easy: Komol Kitchen. Best Thai food in the galaxy.)

In and Out Burger

Just as there is an entire world of Non-Mega-Casino gambling, so too is there a non-casino culinary world. Apparently people like to go unwind away from "the buzz" from time to time. I've not really understood how non-casinos can survive financially when casinos offer such bargains in price and atmosphere and location, but there does seem to be a whole world out there where you can park without greasing someone's palm, walk inside without feeling you've just hiked a million miles, get waited on promptly, etc.

It would be an interesting study to determine how many local regular casino-goers actually do go out to eat at non-casino restaurants for a change every once in a while. My guess would be, other than for lunch and maybe the occasional breakfast, not very many based on what I read on the vp forums. It's amazing to read how people have thousands of dollars in food comps stacked up and this and that casinos, and how they brag about "never having to pay for a meal". Of course that's laughable because probably every one of them loses regularly and some lose big, but I guess a "free meal" after getting pounded into the ground provides an escape for the player.

I've always liked Lotus of Siam, but I haven't been there in about a year.

Quote: FleaStiff

Just as there is an entire world of Non-Mega-Casino gambling, so too is there a non-casino culinary world. Apparently people like to go unwind away from "the buzz" from time to time. I've not really understood how non-casinos can survive financially when casinos offer such bargains in price and atmosphere and location, but there does seem to be a whole world out there where you can park without greasing someone's palm, walk inside without feeling you've just hiked a million miles, get waited on promptly, etc.

The non-casino restaurants have to compete with subsidized dining in the casinos. In addition it is hard to understand how the
non-casino hotels can compete against subsidized rooms.

The gaming abstract says that there were 43,208,075 rooms available in fiscal year 2009 in Clark County, which corresponds to about 118,378 physical rooms (dividing by 365). Judging from the numbers put out by the las Vegas Convention Center Association, that means there are 25K-30K rooms in the county that are not in a casino of some sort. These hotels have to survive without having casino money to subsidize the rooms.

Choice Hotels, Holiday Inn, Motel 6, Super 8, and some Marriots all have sizeable investments in the city usually without a casino.
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I've noticed that "all you can eat" buffet style restaurants are popular in Vegas to compete with the casinos.

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The food departments in the casinos in Clark County collectively had a profit of +8.0% in fiscal year 2009. That is before they give their complimentary food.
In 1990 the food departments lost 20% (on top of losing 20% they gave away another 20% in food comps).
It shows how dramatically food has gone from a major loss leader to a big part of the profit picture.

Quote: pacomartin

It shows how dramatically food has gone from a major loss leader to a big part of the profit picture.

Polo Towers is a resort without a casino and one that provides complete kitchen facilities, so it seems that some visitors to Las Vegas intend to avoid over-reliance on restaurant dining entirely.

I can't quite envision myself going to a grocery store while on vacation or going to a fast-food joint on a Vegas vacation either.

Just as some locals seem to brag that they never go to the strip, perhaps some locals never go to even non-strip casinos or casino-related restaurants.

There's a lot of non-gaming related restaurants in LV.
Sergio's on Tropicana near Spencer/Burnham is VERY fine.
Chinese and Thai rule big, and the last mini-WOV meeting was at the Hash House by Rainbow.

There are counless Sizzler's, IHOPs, Marie Calendar's, Putters, Village Pub's, etc.
Locals eat out big time, and often not at Casinos.
I will say the offerings at most casinos, especially the Bellagio, Winn, Red Rock, and other upscale casinos are tough to beat.
We locals often do hit the strip and downtown, even when not socializing with visiting family & friends, as they have a lot of offer.

I am surprised as to how infrenquently I eat at home: casino workers eat meals at the employee dining or mess halls, and eat comped meals from the casinos we play at.

Quote: FleaStiff

I can't quite envision myself going to a grocery store while on vacation or going to a fast-food joint on a Vegas vacation either.

Fast food? There are plenty on the Strip, as well as IN the casinos. Sometimes, 'fast' is the priority.

And grocery stores? I know where you're going, but consider that grocery stores offer a lot more than ingredients to make full meals. Although I didn't go grocery shopping on my trip last month, I DID get groceries last year. Stuff like bananas, apples, yogurt, granola bars, individual servings of Jello. These were all items I threw in my bag that I took to the convention with me, so I didn't have to purchase overpriced convention food, as well as afternoon snacks on my non-convention days.

This year and last, I brought an immersion heater, oatmeal, bowls and spoons, so I could have breakfast in my hotel room.

Again, it's all a matter of priorities.

>Fast food? There are plenty on the Strip, as well as IN the casinos. Sometimes, 'fast' is the priority.
Yes. I occasionally will do "the food court" option in a sort of "eat it and beat it" mode. Its rare for me, however. I will usually do a breakfast buffet and then gamble. Or do an afternoon lunch buffet, take a brief nap in the room and then head back to the tables. I would never trek to a Burger King or something since this would be, for me at least, too "anti-vacation".

>These were all items I threw in my bag that I took to the convention with me,
>so I didn't have to purchase overpriced convention food.
Excellent. Snacks for convenience and Rip-Off Avoidance sure makes sense to me!!
I hate it when they charge for the coffee at some event and particularly hate it when they charge a fortune for it!

>I brought an immersion heater, oatmeal, bowls and spoons, so I could have breakfast in my hotel room.
Good idea. First it sure is convenient and Second we all know that the breakfast buffets are probably their highest profit margins. Also if you "get your money's worth" at the buffet, its possible to feel too stuffed to think clearly at the tables. So zapping a bowl of water in the in-room microwave or carrying an immersion heater is sensible in many respects. I know one gambling couple to whom a great big pot of coffee right there in the room is obligatory and if the hotel doesn't offer it, they simply will not stay there! They are not going to go down to the lobby and bring up half a dozen cups of coffee. They are not going to stagger around the room trying to function without having had coffee.

Its certainly cheaper and easier and quicker to have a "light snack" in the room than to go to the coffee shop for a Breakfast Special of some sort. Even at Terribles, which lives up to its name, they offer a door knob hanger that shows the TIME you want your breakfast tray and offers you a checklist of their limited menu items. Fast, simple and sensible.

I sometimes take an intermediate option: The Venetian's breakfast buffet: One small room, a dozen or so of the most commonly desired items, fairly low price, no waiting.... and only 22 steps to the nearest craps table.

We all know that most rooms do not have coffee makers in them since for some reason major strip casinos want you to trek down to the lobby's Starbucks for your morning coffee and then stagger back up to the room. Why? Perhaps they think you will mistakenly stagger into the casino instead before being fully awake. Often that is what happens.

I assume that locals do more non-casino restaurants than vacationers. Locals probably are more familiar with non-casino restaurants.



>Again, it's all a matter of priorities.
Agreed.

Quote: FleaStiff

I know one gambling couple to whom a great big pot of coffee right there in the room is obligatory and if the hotel doesn't offer it, they simply will not stay there!

There ya go. Priorities!

I would have suggested instant coffee, if I thought of it. I don't even drink brewed coffee...

Quote: FleaStiff

The Venetian's breakfast buffet .... and only 22 steps to the nearest craps table.

LOL! I jokingly count steps from the edge of the plane to the first slot machine at McCarren, but you've taken it to a new level! :)