Now, where was I?

Oh, that's right. We've just polished off a silly amount of Mexican food and drink at Diablo's (the nachos are so delicious, and ridiculously huge too) so we wander through the casino. On the other side of the floor is the hotels' cafe, mainly an American style, sit down restaurant, that seems to have its busiest time during breakfast. If I recall correctly its the only place in the hotel for a plate of bacon and eggs, or a corned beef hash. There is a McDonalds in the food court but for the time it takes to line up there and get your food at 930 am you're better off going to the Cafe. I have a few small gripes about it, the ketchup is pre-portioned for you (which makes be believe its not Heinz, and the glass sizes are tiny. For the amount of milk I like to drink in the morning I'd need 4 or 5 refills). Maybe that's just me though.   There is a steakhouse in the Monte Carlo, called Brand, and although I've never been I've been told that it was very good. I'm sure we will attempt it one day, there's just so many others to try first!  Monte Carlo faces the Strip and has recently undergone a huge face lift. They've added a giant pub right on the sidewalk and a pizza place tucked in beside that. We had planned on going to the pub the last time we were there but seeing how is was right across the path from Diablo's, it was a hard sell for me. Chupacabra's won.

Moving along down the Strip we come up to the Mandarin Oriental. To be totally fair we've never even set foot inside this hotel. There doesn't seem to be anything there luring us in, not food or beer, not gambling.  Bobby Flay just opened a new burger joint out front (facing the sidewalk- strip view of course) and I'm sure we'll get there one day. But for now I'm still loyal to my true love, GR.

Next hotel over is Aria, and one we have walked through but not eaten at. Some of the more high end hotels serve a different array of food, which is great for all the people in town who have a bottomless wallet.   For us simple folk it's more that I either don't like the type of food (...japanese for example) or that I don't want to pay for (hoity-toity French Bistro stuff.  That's crazy talk to me, $85 dollars for one tomato with sauce on it). They have two celebrity chefs in residence here so one day I'm sure we will get there. I seem to be drawn to those!

Across the promenade is Cosmopolitan.  This is probably the most impressive hotel, in my opinion.  The casino floor is not enormous like others, and the lobby is dazzling.   Crystal chandeliers and sparkly, shiny things all around, it has all of the high-end shopping that you'd expect from Las vegas and a ton of restaurants.   We've been to a few of them, the Todd English P.U.B. being the first one we tried.  We actually ended up here because we had a gift card and time to kill.     He's a James Beard award winning chef and has brought a cool new place to the Cosmo.  With menu items like mini corn dogs, and chicken pot pie I was sold!  We visited during its first few weeks of being open, and on a Sunday at brunch on top of that.   The service we fairly slow to be honest, and I was pretty irritated, but I will give them that it was opening jitters.  Once the drinks came over and our order was taken I chilled out a bit.  It has a young crowd, and even at 11 am on a Sunday the beers and Bloody Mary's were flowing.  What definitely could be a great time is the 7 second challenge.  The beer of your choosing versus the 7 second hour glass.   You drink when they flip it and if you can down your beer before time runs out, its on the house.   Rumour has it that its much more difficult than you think.   I know M wanted to try it when we were there and he didn't get to.  Maybe this next trip he'll give it a shot.  

Another stop in the Cosmopolitan is what is known to be the best buffet on the strip.  Wicked Spoon is hiding way back in the Cosmo building, up like 3 or 33 escalators.  From ground level it really does seem to take forever to get there.   When you finally round the corner and you see the massive line up it gives you a good indication of two things.  A) how good it must be based on how busy it is and B) how long you're going to have to be in line for until you get to eat said brunch.   So you wind your way through the cattle chutes and pay the lady.  When we were there it was about 36 bucks per person, for the daytime buffet.  At night I believe it goes up to 40, and they add things like lobster and roast beef (don't quote me on that though).   I tried to look online to give you readers the most accurate pricing, but they don't have any prices listed on the website.  How convenient.  It's like they are tricking you.   Sort of like how after you've lined up to pay your entrance fee you look to your left and see a whole other line up that you have to wait in to get sat!   What a crock of shit.   By this point you've probably waited an hour or more just in line ups, and that's only during the day.  I couldn't imagine how long they are at dinner time.   Once you're in its all standard buffet style set ups.   Fruits, salads, buns; eggs, sausages, house cured bacon etc.  Further down the line you get the Asian influence of Korean ribs, a random sushi selection and then over towards the desserts.   I know I'm not really doing the food selection justice, but to me it's just a buffet.  A way over priced-I waited-too-long-to-get-in-here buffet.  Sure it is probably 100% tastier than your local hotel's Sunday morning spread but for me nothing about it justified an 80 dollar breakfast (+ tip, +any alcoholic beverages).  In a city like Las Vegas I have got to be able to find someplace better.  And find it I did.


If you have good timing you can leave the Cosmo just as the Bellagio fountains are about to start up.  Grab a spot along the water and cuddle up to your breakfast date and watch in awe the famous water feature.  Insider tip, walk up the path towards the entrance to the hotel and you'll get a great view with less people crowding around.    Once the show is over wander towards the Bellagio and imagine you're starring in Ocean's 11 when you are approaching the front entrance.  It's actually one of the only hotels to allow the filming of a movie on site.  Sorry, I got side tracked, back to the food!   If chocolate is your thing you should stop by Jean Philippe which is to the right of the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical gardens.  A huge chocolate fountain is on display and if you can fight your way through the crowds the selection of treats and pastries and all things sugar awaits you.   To be fair we also haven't eaten in this hotel, truly because nothing has really caught our eye.  When the time comes I'll be sure to update you.

Caesar's Palace is next on our journey and there is a lot to talk about in this hotel.  I'm going to save that for my next entry, but just to keep you wanting more it involves Gordon Ramsay, a Christmas turkey dinner and a too spicy steak!