Celebrity Chef Restaurants, World Famous Magicians & More.
3355 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV, USA.
This time Im going to Las Vegas solo, so i drove to Toronto Pearson and parked overnight area, the early bird checks in with my airline and went through US Customs.
US CUSTOMS AGENT: “Where are you headed?”
LOU: “Las Vegas”
US CUSTOMS AGENT: “How long are you staying there for?”
LOU: “I will be returning here on the 28th evening flight around 7pm ish”
US CUSTOMS AGENT: “Are you going by yourself?”
LOU: “Yes”
US CUSTOMS AGENT: “How many bags are you bringing with you?”
LOU: “Just one bag, no carry on”
US CUTOMS: ( hands back my passport). “Your free to go.”
The Venetian Hotel & Casino Resort is a luxurious 5-Star hotel featuring spacious suites, state of the art casino, a 1.2 acre pool deck. The Venetian Resort is a Italian theme based Hotel and all their rooms are suites. Beautiful Decor from the moment you walk in to the front lobby. Large spacious Hotel.
My first time solo in Las Vegas. I was not planning on going to any nightclubs so didn’t bring the clothes or shoes for it. I arrived in Las Vegas and it was the same cab driver when i first arrived in Vegas. I recognized him. Checked into the front desk and was given a free breakfast voucher from the very nice kind petite female employee working the front desk. If you thought Caesars palace is big, this is even bigger. Beautiful italian art work on the ceiling.
DAY 1: I was starving from the flight so i walked towards the LINQ Promenade pathway. First stop on the celebrity Chef restaurant was Gordon Ramsay Fish N Chips,
Gordon Ramsay Fish N Chips:
Small line up and bit of a wait to get my food, ordered the standard Fish N Chips. It was decent but as usual overpriced. Its pub food basically, Like when Curtis Stone was asked on the Celebrity Apprentice, which Pizza Slice was the best in New York City by Mr. Donald Trump. Curtis Stone response: “Do you realize its is just a pizza slice right Mr. Trump??” What the Chef is trying to say is, its standard pub, bar comfort food. This is not fine dinning at a restaurant meal to anayize how something was been cook, or over cooked, under cooked etc..
While at the LINQ Promenade I headed to the High Roller Observation Wheel, Paid my ticket $23.50. Its the largest observation wheel in North America Its constantly moving so i entered the cabins which has white seats and some Cabins have a mini bar with their own bartender. I was in the cabin with no alcohol. The high roller is 550 feet tall and offers 360 degree views. 1 complete revolution takes 30 minutes to complete and i hopped on, and 30 minutes later i hopped skip jumped off to the main platform. There was some nice views as i went in the afternoon.
After that i headed across the street to Hells Kitchen located outside Caesars palace. Got there as soon as it opened in the afternoon. I sat at the bar and all the staff are super freindly and nice. The bartender asked me if i wanted a set price tasting menu and i said no because i already had it at the Paris before this restaurant location was ever built. so i asked for regular menu. The Bar staff asked if i was a fan of the show i said yes and told them i watch it regularly season after season. I ordered the Pan Seared Scallops- cauliflower puree, golden raisins, crispy prosciutto, vadouvan for $30.95 USA. Next i ordered: Lobster Risotto- butter poached lobster tail, truffle risotto, crispy onions. $33.95 USA. Had desert and I a saw the contestant chef that won the most recent season of Hells Kitchen. I Paid my bill and left.
I stopped at the BEER PARK Roof top bar which is located next to The Paris Hotel and right across the Bellagio and you can get some great views of the fountain show. Its located in the heart of the strip. A 9,000 sq foot outdoor deck to watch your favourite sports games. A 10,000 sq ft indoor dinning space featuring indoor living room styles. Just be aware there is a hidden tourist tax added on to your bill.
Next stop was Morimoto Las Vegas, A Japanese themed Restaurant at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino Resort. It was anther hot day as i walked the strip to burn off the Fish and Chips and Scallops and lobster risotto, None of those meals filled me up and i knew Morimoto Las Vegas wasn’t going to either, but your their for the experience. Now Im in the Largest Hotel in the USA, The MGM GRAND. I find the restaurant and check in with the host, get a table in the fine dinning area and take a look at the menu. I decided to go with Morimoto’s Specailty Rolls: Salmon Jalapeño roll, yamagobo, spiced mayo, ginger aioli, chives. The food was good but over priced for the portion you are being served. but just like Wasabi burns on the way down so did my wallet burned a hole through it and its not even dinner time yet.
That night i checked out a Magic show by world famous Illustionist Criss Angel MINDFREAK performing at the Luxor Hotel & Casino. My tickets were bought in advance. Criss Angel has some very very nice looking female assistants and promoting a new up and coming female magicians. Yes he did talk a lot and a lot of the tricks are levitation magic tricks. Shows you a card trick with the final joke of giving the crowd the middle finger.Before i tried to figure how the illusion was done yet anther illusions was performed in front of me and at some point throughout the show i stoped trying to figure out “How did he do that”. I enjoyed the show because i enjoy watching world famous magicians/Illusionist. The Luxor hotel in general just gives me the creeps as i walked through it. He is now performing at Planet Hollywood. Cabbed it to my hotel called it a night.
Day 2: Woke up in the morning and headed to The Tropicana Hotel & Casino to try anther celebrity chef restaurant, Robert Irvines Public House. I arrived just after it opened at 11am a few people were their before me waiting for the place to open up. Sat down by the window across from the escalators from which i entered the hotel from. I order the F+ K Found Burger- Creekstone Farms Black Angus Camembert, mushrooms, onions ,crispy smoked bacon, lettuce, tomatoes on Brioche Roll. $18. My food arrives and no complaints.
The Tropicana Hotel Casino & Resort is now closed and has been demolished to make way for a new Hotel/ Baseball stadium. Just like the Oakland Raiders relocated and moved to Las Vegas, so are MLB Oakland A’s are also coming to Las Vegas. My personal opinion spring summer sport located in high climate temperature cities need a DOME type /covered shaded roof to bring some relief to the players on the field and fans from sitting in the heat all game dealing with extreme heat temperatures.
After walked to the Park and T-Mobile Arena home of the 2023 Stanley Cup Champions Las Vegas Golden Knights.
Day 3: Scheduled Massage day Canyon Ranch Spa + Fitness. It was my Swedish massage appointment, it’s actually located in the Palazzo hotel which is connected next door to the Venetian. I had re-aggravated my shoulder so it was good timing. Its a very long walk with a very long corridor that twist and turns, with paintings on the walls before you finally arrive. I check in and wait in the waiting area. Your name is called and they take you in to the slipper desk ask for your shoe size and give a key and a brown robe and show you the locker room area where to get changed. Then you walk into a very large room, very dark dim light room with armchairs spread out with TV’s on the wall to sit down and watch TV while you wait for your appointment and name to be called. TV had A&E playing show called Dog The Bouncer Hunter. Your taken to the room sit in the chair and wait for your attendant to arrive and a knock on the door you open and their she is holding a complimentary cup of water with a big smile on her face. Your advised to lay down on your front under the sheets and she will be back in 5 minutes. I knock on the door and you verbally tell her to come it. Small talk is made throughout the massage and its timed down to the exact minute. I choose the basic Canyon Ranch Massage for 50 minutes. She suggested to use and apply a Tension Balm ointment, to which i agreed to. The massage ends. The attendant waits outside for you while you get dress then escorts you back to the dark room waiting area. Asks me im interested in going to the ranch shop to purchase any oil, scents and ointments for home use. I politely declined and changed brought my slippers and robe back to the Slipper Desk guy. The Slipper Desk Attendant ask how everything went i said it was fine/good. He then advised me that they are open until 9pm at night if you want to come back later on today with a big smile on his face. I just sat their with a WWE stone cold steve austin facial less expression on my face, “thanks for that info.” Went outside to the lobby to pay my bill and boy did i get a big Monday Morning surprise. CR Massage 50minutes: $179.00 + Add on Tension Balm $30.00 + They automatically add 15% gratuity charge $26.85 + a 3% service charge of $4.50 a Grand Las Vegas Total of =$247.00. Then give you a little cell phone pouch as a gift. I paid my bill walked back to the Venetian Hotel.
The Venetian Hotel Pool. So now im back at my room after getting my massage, turn on the TV in my room and put it on AMC, Goodfellas is playing. (Mob Movie Mondays on AMC). No time to watch as im going to the pool. I take shower to wash off all the oil, put on sunscreen lotion 110 SPF rated from Wallgreens up the street. Walked out the pool deck, walked around to find a chair sat down and relaxed by the pool. Got up went to get some shade at the Tiki Bar grab drink sat in the chair in the shade to recover from the sun.
After the pool back to my room to shower and change. I decided to explore the massive property, went up a set of escalators to a food court and then further down there is a retail shops, nothing i could afford walking around i did get lost and lost my surroundings, doubling back, confused from where i came from. I eventually found. Buddy V’s Ristorante. Its right across from his Cake Boss desert store called Carlos Bakery. I ordered the Chicken Parmesan: oven baked, fresh mozzarella, spaghetti marinara. $34.00USA. The Restaurant was not that busy, sat by the window so i can see what’s going outside on the strip. Very generous portions comfort food hit the spot and stuffed. Then i walked across the hallway and grabbed some deserts cupcakes and muffins for the next 2 days and ate some of them in my room. Made up for yesterdays meal plan.
That Night is yet anther Magic show, This time its Legendary Penn & Teller at the Rio Hotel & Casino off the strip. I arrived early took my seat close to the stage. The show starts and am enjoying it and one in particular trick was the ‘cellphone inside a fish, inside a styrofoam box under an actual fans seat’. When you call the cell phone it rings and he opens the box to get his cell phone back. That was a pretty good trick. You hand Pen or teller your cell phone and it ends up in a box wrapped in fish under your seat and to prove its your cell phone they call it, it rings and you open the box while its ringing to get your cell phone back. They do a good show, there is meet and great afters with pictures. Too crowded didn’t stick around headed back to my hotel called it a night.
I went to The Worlds Greatest Wax Museum-Madame Tussauds located at my hotel. General Admission is $40.99 USA. Never been to a wax museum before, you walk up the ramp and are greeted by wax figure of Robert Di Nero dress up in his grey Goodfellas suit. Walked around checked out all the wax figure but at $40.00. It’s not worth the price.
Did some retail shopping, checked out the hotel gift shop and walked the Casino floor and watched people gamble their money away win or lose, Went by the Roulette tables some guy was on a hot streak kept winning and screaming each time his numbers hit, some women in light blue dress playing low limit Roulette at a different table. Walked around the slot machines and BlackJack tables.
Later that night was exploring the hotel and walked by TAO Night Club but i was not dressed for it, didn’t bring the clothes for it I doubt they would let me in wearing James Hardens kicks and a T-shirt and Khaki shorts. it was very warm breezy night in august perfect weather for outdoor walk. I stopped by White Castle Burgers which is next to the hotel and it was a packed with a bunch of drunkin after-hours club goers who are trying to sober up before they go back to their hotel and sleep. A Post-it sticky note pad is thicker than the actual burgers i ordered. I don’t know how this company is still in business. I sat down to eat where a seat was available and this very drunk couple, One was a flight attendant for a airline so she said, i never of heard of this airline, kept asking “what is your name again??” and the husband said they were from North Virgina looked at me and did a Tom Selick double eyebrow raise like on the 80ies TV show Magnum P. I. I finished by food and left to go back to the hotel.
Next day Got up checked out of my Hotel boarded my fight headed home.
Home sweet home. 🙂
THE GOOD: Enjoyed my Hotel suite, the hotel amenities, The LINQ, High Roller, the magic shows, my massage, the pool. The entire trip in general.
THE BAD: Expensive Spa treatment, Celebrity Restaurants are expensive.
THE UGLY: $41 USA dollars for general admission to a wax museum. That’s just unbelievable.
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For more information about the Venetian Hotel & Resort Casino, visit: https://www.venetianlasvegas.com
