Las Vegas. Over the top at LOS

I've eaten at several of the great Chicago Thai places--Siam's House, Thai Ave and TAC--and perhaps a dozen or so times at LOS in Las Vegas. Chicago chow folk have asked more than once "Was this meal better than Lotus Of Siam"? It was always a difficult question to answer.

Two nights ago at LOS, I had a simple dinner: Northern Tom Kai (clear chicken lemongrass soup with roasted hot peppers), Mussel Omelet and Chilean sea bass with a chili-garlic sauce. This followed by 36 hours a 'light' LOS arrival lunch consisting of Tom Kai and a char-grilled steak salad.

Right up until the sea bass arrived, I would have answered the Second City's question equivocally "Hard to say, they are both good--certainly in the same league".

But LOS' sea bass in chili-garlic sauce was Over The Top. Off The Chart. And its not something I usually order--but for some reason, maybe because I was alone, not famished, I threw caution to the winds and placed my trust in the chef at the top end of the menu at a moderately priced restaurant.

Cooked perfectly (i.e. just barely cooked). Symphony of chili, garlic, cilantro afloat in a chili tinged clear jus. A tart yet flowery Austrian Riesling (by the glass) selected from among several that LOS manager Bang offered up for tasting did not hurt either.

So its a lay down hand. Few dishes anywhere ever have set me aquiver like the sea bass dish at LOS. But it took me a dozen visits to get there. In any event, its reason in and of itself to grab a cheap Southwest fare and hop out to Las Vegas.

It didn't hurt that Luv-It Custard is two minutes away--a quick ice cream stop on a shadowy side street on the way back to the hotel.

Sorry, no pictures. My wife has custody of the digital camera, and was unsure about whether she should be more pissed about missing LOS or Luv-It.

Other.
Inka Si Senor.
Very good ceviche de pescado made with fresh mahi-mahi garnished with vg sweet potato--would return just for this. Barely ok, dry, not too much flavor Peruvian roast chicken a la Brasa--could have been reflective of it being near the end of the day.

Bellagio Buffet for dinner.
Need to try once. Hype. Would not return, nor will I waste the effort to type further.

Green Valley Ranch Buffet for weekday breakfast.
Absolue favorite based on price, quality, selection, ambience. Need a car to get here from strip. VG bagels, chopped liver, schmaltz herring, ham from the bone, eggs to order, the usual suspects etc $7.99.

Caesars Buffet for weekday b'fast.
Twice (sigh)--trade show was located here. Pricey, ordinary to a fault, burnt out Strip type servers, good smoked salmon marred by frozen bagels, good fruit. Avoid if at all possible.

Steve Drucker wrote:Bellagio Buffet for dinner.
Need to try once. Hype. Would not return, nor will I waste the effort to type further.

Steve,

Great line, there are just so many restaurants that don't deserve one to "type further"

Sounds like LOS is almost worth me breaking my self-imposed moratorium on LV. Though it's been 25-years since I've been, so there doesn't seem to be much rush.

Enjoy,
Gary

G Wiv wrote:Sounds like LOS is almost worth me breaking my self-imposed moratorium on LV.

Its not all roses.

I eat at LOS every day (sometimes twice if I'm traveling alone)--ask Steve Z, he seemed to have fallen under a like spell. No place else comes close on the chow esteem meter. Although capable of gourmand heights, LOS is essentially world class top notch home cooking.

Come to think of it, that's the highest complement I will pay any chef, working within any cuisine.

Steve,

Glad to hear that LOS is still hitting on all cylinders. Bang was also very helpful to me when I visited and turned me on to my favorite off-menu dish, Garlic Koong. Your post made me hungry...very hungry.

Steve Drucker wrote:Caesars Buffet for weekday b'fast...burnt out Strip type servers

See, for me, those servers could be enough.

Thanks for the excellent review my friend.

Hammond