DLV dining?

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This posting is from: annie
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This talk about Carluccio's got me thinking, about food. :)

I went back through the schedules of past years and came up with
a list of all of the group dining venues we've used.

Since we're now in the "slow season", let's start a conversation
about our DLV dining venues, like those you like, those you did
not like, those you would like to see us visit again, things
like that.

First of all, am I missing anything?

Teahouse Coffee Shop (1997)
Harrahs Coffee Shop (1998)
Keys Lounge (1998) (morphed into Zingers, now defunct)
Sahara Buffet (1998)
Milano's (1999)
Tony Roma's (1999)
Palace Station Buffet (1999)
Hamburger Mary's (2002) (morphed into Toucans, now defunct)
Sasha's (2002) (morphed into Tramps then into Suede)
Hard Rock Cafe (2003)
A-Le-Inn (2003) *
Carluccio's (2003)
San Remo Cafe/Buffet (2003 defunct, now Hooters)
Pahrump Nugget (2004)
Sonic (2004) *
Quark Bar, LV Hilton (2004) *
Bellagio Buffet (2004)
Bahama Breeze (2005)
Bertolini's (2005) (morphed into Trevi)
Nathan's (2005) *
Paco's (2005)
Steven David's (2005) (defunct, now Elvis') *
Suede (2006)
Lucky Cheng's (2006) (maybe defunct?)
Harrahs Buffet (2006)
Marie Callender (2006)
Blue Ox (2006)
Hilton Buffet (2006) *
Elvis' (2007) *
Paris Buffet (2007) *
Trevi (2007) *
Prime Rib Loft (2007) *

(Date is the first year that I show we used them. Asterisk denotes
using a venue only once for whatever reason.)

Second, are there any dining venues we've never used which you
would like to see us use? Are there maybe some we haven't used for
a while that you would like to see us use again?

Let me also ask, for those who generally don't do group meals with
the DLV group, what would you like to see that would make you more
likely to join us for dining?

I'll make some comments in a subsequent message.


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(This posting was entered by annie, an external user of MyDLV.)

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This posting is from: annie
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In looking over this list, the one thing that I'm reminded of is
that during the early days of DLV, we didn't really do that many
group meals. For the most part, back then, everybody ate on their
own. There were a few exceptions, but we really didn't see any
group meals of any significant size until 2001-2002.

In fact, we didn't appear to add any group dining venues in 2000
or 2001. I checked the schedules twice. I was sure I missed a
few, but apparently not.

>Sahara Buffet (1998)

This is really the first place we ever used for any kind of a group
meal. Prior to 2002 this was our defacto pre-DLV dinner, before we
adjourned to whatever bar for our opening drink-out. :)

We've used this every year except for 1997. The thing is, nobody
ever raves about it. It's consistently "ok" at best. Since 2003 we
have used it regularly for Brunch/Lunch With/Without Tina/Ginger.

>Milano's (1999)

This has to be the most consistently liked place we've ever used.

We stumbled on it by accident. IIRC, we were planning to eat at
Freezone (they served food back then) and it turned out that their
kitchen did not open until (some hour) so we wandered across the
street. For the next several years it was a running joke between
us and their staff as to how many of our people would crowd in
there at any one time. :)

It's nothing fancy at all, but consistently good.

>Palace Station Buffet (1999)

Back in 1999 they had a prime rib buffet on Saturday and it was
very inexpensive and very good. I remember taking the gang that
went on the Saturday afternoon walking tours there at the end.

Then it seemed to slip, badly.

Some are saying that it has improved again recently and that we
should give it another go.

>Hard Rock Cafe (2003)

In a way we can say we first used this in 1997. Margeth and I stopped
there for a few drinks one afternoon.

The first time we had any kind of a group meal there was our pre-DLV
thing for 2003. (We almost booked them for an emergency replacement
of another venue, but that's a story for a slow night.) :)

We did do a group meal there in 2004, but there were complaints,
mostly having to do with the limited "party" menu and the prices
on said party menu. There was also a restroom issue, nothing major.

We did a final night thing there in 2006, but used available tables
and ordered off the regular menu, and it was rated much higher.

I think this is worth looking into for doing again.

>Carluccio's (2003)

I think this is worth doing again. (Said running and hiding.) :)

>Steven David's (2005) (defunct, now Elvis') *

>Suede (2006)

Looking back over the survey comments, it appears that we had more
complaints about Suede this year than about any other dining venue
in any year.

Is this recoverable? Worth pursuing?

>Harrahs Buffet (2006)

Overall, this has to be one of the best buffets as far as quality
and value combined!

>Blue Ox (2006)

The only reason I question Blue Ox working for a group meal is the
capacity of their kitchen and wait staff.

Comments on any of this, gang?


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This posting is from: Nora
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>Lucky Cheng's (2006) (maybe defunct?)

Nope - Not defunct. They have recently moved to Kraves night club.

Since moving they have raised their prices to 69 dollars for the meal
and show.

Nora

http://las-vegas.nightclubs.com/lucky-chengs-las-vegas.html


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This posting is from: Diana
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Annie might have the stats on this but I am reasonably sure we averaged
60 or so both years at Carluccio's. Not bad for a later in the week
event and it was with less overall attendance. I'm sorry a few might
have had a bad experience with the staff but there's a good chance they
aren't there anymore with restaurant turnaround the way it is.

Also, I did witness (from my perch at the bar) one of the incidents and
I have to say the wait staff was not entirely at fault. Our attendee
became very demanding and condescending and I remember thinking at the
time that it was a little overboard but enough about that.

The room is nice and more than big enough for 60-70. I thought service
both years was good for a large group sitting all at once and for the
latecomers as well. To tell the truth, I was very surprised when a
couple of complaints came in because it seemed everyone seemed to enjoy
the place. No short change on the food either, every plate is filled to
capacity and the price was right...... $25 including tax and tip.

I may not be able to run it again but it's an easy go for someone to
take over and I can help out a bit I'm sure. I would like to see it on
the schedule again for two reasons...... first, it's good food at a
reasonable price and nice ambiance and it could easily morph over to
Goodtimes for drinks afterwards as we've done in the past.

I forget what the rap on Goodtimes is and why they were removed but if
it was lack of bartenders for the group I think we can overcome that
once we have some concrete numbers. This could re-vitalize the old
Friday mixer from years past.


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This posting is from: Mary Beth
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I liked the food and the ambience at the Hard Rock Cafe.

I've not eaten at the Vegas Lucky Cheng's but I've eaten at the one
in New Orleans and it was overpriced and pretty awful. I've also had
a bad report from a friend on the Lucky Cheng's in Manhattan, also
overpriced with lousy food.


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This posting is from: Joan
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>>Lucky Cheng's (2006) (maybe defunct?)

>Nope - Not defunct. They have recently moved to Kraves night club.

>Since moving they have raised their prices to 69 dollars for the meal
>and show.

69 dollars? Let's go to Okada at Wynn. $200 gets you dinner at Okada
and the Le Reve show.

Sincerely, Joan here in very hot LV, and in girlmode today.


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This posting is from: Joan
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>>Sahara Buffet (1998)

It's OK, but knid of boring.

>>Milano's (1999)

Decent, but i think the food has slipped a bit. But the people are great.

>>Palace Station Buffet (1999)

>Then it seemed to slip, badly.

>Some are saying that it has improved again recently and that we
>should give it another go.

It was remodeled and reopened in December 2006. I know a great server
in the lunch time. But for a little more money, Texas Station is the
way to go. It's worth the drive.

>>Hard Rock Cafe (2003)

>I think this is worth looking into for doing again.

I like Hard Rock cafe. Only complaint I have is surrounding music
is often too loud.

>>Carluccio's (2003)

>I think this is worth doing again. (Said running and hiding.) :)

I liked Carluccio's. We should go back.

>>Steven David's (2005) (defunct, now Elvis') *

I've said plenty. Don't beat a dead horse. I'll stay home. We can
do much better.

>>Suede (2006)

>Is this recoverable? Worth pursuing?

Let's look for a place with a real good track record for food and service.
Suede was OK for me, but we can do better.

>>Harrahs Buffet (2006)

>Overall, this has to be one of the best buffets as far as quality
>and value combined!

It is, but why not do the Rio.

>>Blue Ox (2006)

>The only reason I question Blue Ox working for a group meal is the
>capacity of their kitchen and wait staff.

They're OK, but just OK. I didn't find their service to be too
timely. I think we can do better, maybe a little more upscale.

And so it goes, Joan in hot LV burning incense before bedtime.


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This posting is from: annie
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>Annie might have the stats on this but I am reasonably sure we
>averaged 60 or so both years at Carluccio's.

I show that we used Carluccio's three times, on Friday in 2003 and
2004, and on Saturday in 2005.

IIRC the turnout was right around 50, 60, 70 respectively.

>Not bad for a later
>in the week event and it was with less overall attendance.

Gatherings like this seem to pull in between 60 and 70% of our
people who happen to (still) be in town. Over the past few years
we've always seen a mini-exodus on Friday, presumably due to the
higher room rates on Friday and Saturday.

>I forget what the rap on Goodtimes is and why they were removed but
>if it was lack of bartenders for the group I think we can overcome
>that once we have some concrete numbers. This could re-vitalize the
>old Friday mixer from years past.

It was never really dropped. We used it this year as a stop on the
bar crawl and as one option for Friday after dinner.

Although we had fair crowds in 2003 and 2004 at Goodtimes right
after Carluccio's, we did see 20% or so who were at Carluccio's
skip it and go off and do other things. Reasons I heard were
that it was "not mainstream enough", "too much smoke", and that
people were just tired.

Yes, I would like to see 1-2 maximum attendance "mixers" at each
DLV, but we can't force people to attend.


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This posting is from: Nora
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>I've not eaten at the Vegas Lucky Cheng's but I've eaten at the one
>in New Orleans and it was overpriced and pretty awful. I've also had
>a bad report from a friend on the Lucky Cheng's in Manhattan, also
>overpriced with lousy food.

I have eaten at both the Lucky Cheng's in NYC and in Las Vegas. both
are quite different. The food in NYC served traditional Chinese food
and was a bit high. The quality was adequate at best.

In Las Vegas the cuisine is quite good but way to expensive for what
you get.

Nora


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This posting is from: kumiko yvonne watanabe
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Has anyone noticed we have used a lot of 'italian-american' resturants -
Milano, Elivs' Steven Davids, Trevi...?

I think Elvis' is a good venue to use. We used that venue several times
this past DLV.

Its also frequently used by the local cds and tgs.

On the evening of NSD and dance night at Studio 54, I ended up at Elvis'
and had a very nice dinner from the menu. The kitchen was closed due to
the time of the evening, so some items weren't available which was
understandable. BUT the staff and owner Elvis was willing to serve us
whatever they had available, in other words was willing to go out of
their way as much as they could to serve us.

The food was very good, and worth the cost, which may differ in opinion
from others. I would enjoy going back there for dinner or for dlv
events.

Seems that there are always some complaints no matter what venue we use
as a group dinner. Bahama Breeze was one. BUT as they learned from
their mistakes, at this last DLV, Bahama Breeze gave excellent food and
service.

I think it could be the same for Elvis'. We have to give them some
slack and some benefit with dealing with us for the first time. Though
they struggled with our group size, and had a incident with their
staff, on that last dlv night, I found what I ordered was very good,
and served at a understandable time period. The service was as best as
they could manage considering the number of staff they had at that time.
I'm sure if we use them again, they will be better prepared for us. We
should work with them to prevent that incident from happening again, and
improve their service.

Considering the size of our group, and who we are, finding venues to
have us for large group dinner isn't very easy to find. The ones that
are willing to open the doors to us, and willing to work with us, we
need to work with them to do better and correct the problems that were
encountered. Also, we cannot please everyone, and with a group our
size, there always seems to have something go wrong. Again, Bahama
Breeze is a very good example, AND thank you Nora for the good work
working with that venue!!

I think Lorraine's review of the incident at Carrluccio's gives some
light that both sides may have been wrong. Also considering that we had
60-70 people there, it will take time for food to get out and the
service not as attentive. Again, this venue had some sort if incidence.
Have we given the venue a chance to change it?

Can we give Suede some feedback from the problems we encountered in a
constructive way to hear their side of the story, or work with them to
see if its still possible to use them and not repeat the problems that
were encountered this past dlv?

Annie has addressed another problem. The percentage that signs up, but
never shows or doesn't dine at that event - for whatever reasons - they
go off on their own to do their own thing. Some don't like the
resturant for its food or service, has had bad memories of that venue
or whatever. Their solution is NOT to go. DLV organizers cannot stop
or prevent this from happening.

This gives the dlv organizer a problem, esp if a number of people is
expected and the number that show is alot less than promised. This can
affect the venue from being willing to be open to us in the future, if
they are faced with a financial loss.

Also we cannot please everyone everytime with one single venue.

Though the food and dining is part of the event, it seems some forget a
reason for the large group gatherings, the socializing part. These
are the only events that try to bring everyone in the same location.
Most other days everyone is doing their own thing, attending events on
different 'tracks' and may not be able to connect with people they met
at the last dlv or several dlvs. This also has been commented - no time
to see and socialize with others. Hello! - these are the 'events' to do
so. Maybe we need to push or emphasize this point so most will attend,
putting aside their own opinions and motives of the venue and the food
they provide. If anything, it will help the organizer with the numbers
count, and help make dlv a desirable customer to venues that serve us.


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