Louisville Restaurants Forum

"Well I've been around the world
And I've been in the Washington Zoo
And in all my travels
As the facts unravel
I've found this to be true"

Transitioning through Las Vegas to a family function in the high desert of the California Sierra Nevada soon and needed a recommendation on a single dinner for one night in Vegas. Not interested in a buffet on the strip, no high end white tablecloth, just looking for someplace with great food and passable atmosphere for a decent meal by myself. I will be coming back from a memorial service for a dearly departed aunt so bonus points for someplace that really is comfortable. Thanks for your help.

Ed, the one place that I really want to visit if I ever get back to Lost Wages is Lotus of Siam. It's off the strip in a neighborhood shopping center, and it's supposed to be one of the best Thai eateries in the US, with a remarkably good wine list to go along.

They got so popular that they opened a NYC branch that didn't work out, but that doesn't take anything away from the original.

http://www.saipinchutima.com/#/HOME-01-00/

Absolutely what Robin said!

My take of Lotus from about a year ago.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=6000&hilit=LAS+VEGAS&start=15#p117702

Lotus of Siam
http://www.saipinchutima.com/#/HOME-01-00/

7/10
EGG ROLL (Meatless)- Mixed vegetables and bean thread
noodle wrapped in a rice paper crepe then deep fried, served
with homemade sweet and sour sauce.


8/10
SPICY CHICKEN WINGS-Chicken wings deep fried until
crispy then sautéed with chili, garlic sauce, and topped with
crispy mint leaves.

9/10
PORK GREEN PEPPER (Pad Prik Sod)-Sautéed with bell pepper,
fresh chili, carrot & onion


5/10
PAD THAI-Could have been the most popular stir fried
classic Thai small rice noodle of all time. This dish stir fried
with egg, green onion, bean sprouts and chopped peanut.

Major disappointment. The Pad Thai was almost inedible and the service was bordering on bad.

JustinHammond wrote:5/10
PAD THAI-Could have been the most popular stir fried
classic Thai small rice noodle of all time. This dish stir fried
with egg, green onion, bean sprouts and chopped peanut.

Major disappointment. The Pad Thai was almost inedible and the service was bordering on bad.

Well, that's not reassuring! I apologize for forgetting your earlier report, Justin. I wonder if they jumped the shark after the NYC venture ... or you hit a bad night?

Robin Garr wrote:

JustinHammond wrote:5/10
PAD THAI-Could have been the most popular stir fried
classic Thai small rice noodle of all time. This dish stir fried
with egg, green onion, bean sprouts and chopped peanut.

Major disappointment. The Pad Thai was almost inedible and the service was bordering on bad.

Well, that's not reassuring! I apologize for forgetting your earlier report, Justin. I wonder if they jumped the shark after the NYC venture ... or you hit a bad night?

I don't know what the deal was/is. I'm a pad-thai addict and we left over half of this flavorless stuff on the plate. Hopefully it was just an off day or just a bad batch of Pad Thai, but the other food was pretty good, so who knows. The poor service didn't help the situation.


Lotus was featured on an episode of Top Chef Masters a few weeks back and all the chefs praised every dish.

We hit Lotus of Siam about 4 years and loved it. The crispy duck with the red curry/Cognac cream sauce was one of the better things I've ever eaten.

On our recent trip in June we went to:
* Scarpetta at The Cosmopolitian - good, but the original in Miami Beach at the Fontainebleau Hotel is far suprior.

* Bouchon at The Venetian - this was probably our best meal, and definitely the most affordable. Prices are very reasonable, even for Vegas. We preferred it to the original in Yountville, CA. Get a table in the courtyard if possible and weather permits.

* Botero at Encore - the food was pretty good, it was just extremely expensive and we decided to eat outside and it was just too hot. It was a cool restaurant, but I just didn't have a great time for a variety of reasons. I would recommend getting a drink at Parasol Down - perhaps the best drink prices in Vegas (a HUGE pour of Pappy 15 for $9).

* Mix at THEhotel at Mandalay Bay - it was fine. Probably not worth the price, but we had a gift certificate. The views are outstanding.

Back to the OP, out of these choices, I'd say Bouchon would be a great, comfortable place to eat by yourself.

Brad Keeton wrote: I would recommend getting a drink at Parasol Down - perhaps the best drink prices in Vegas (a HUGE pour of Pappy 15 for $9).

In fact, I took at picture of it I was so surpised.

Do yourself a favor and go to Aburiya Raku, which is a little out of the way.

http://www.raku-grill.com/

Nice blog review: http://endoedibles.com/?p=174

Really enjoyed the Lotus of Siam, thank you for that tip. Reminded me of the VK strip mall where good things lay just beyond the door. Service was O.K. but the food was outstanding! Mee Krob to start and then some sublime curried duck. I'll tuck that one away in the memorable meal file.