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Review of Delmonico Steakhouse – Venetian, Las Vegas

January 26, 2019 By karin Leave a Comment

Delmonico Steakhouse is a longtime fixture of the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, and just a short and pleasant walk away from the Wynn where we stayed this time. While other restaurants in the Venetian have come and gone, this classic steakhouse owned by celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse endures.

We’ve had the pleasure of dining here several times over the years and enjoyed our latest experience this past December, although some of its past magic seemed missing. It could be that we’ve been here a few too many times, have experienced better steakhouses, and that some of the novelty has worn off.

There is a slightly tired look to the decor, a spareness that may have been more fitting about fifteen years ago. Compared with the fresh, open and even whimsical decor characterizing most of the restaurants at the Wynn, Delmonico felt a bit drab and buttoned up – could use a bit of re-imagining. Note that we were not seated in the larger section of the dining room, whose low vaulted ceilings have always intrigued us and made us think of a Tuscan wine cellar. We were seated in a room that was rather square and dimly lit, but maybe also quieter than the main area where large groups seemed to have been assembled.

We started with Emeril’s New Orleans Barbecue Shrimp, apparently the most popular appetizer on the menu which we have never tried. Unfortunately, it didn’t set the best tone. Somewhat overcooked and the promised ‘New Orleans flavors’ a little lacking, even dated maybe? The rosemary biscuit was tasty.

Having said all this, the steak, wine, bourbon selection and overall service was excellent. And let’s get to the wine. Apparently boasting over 2,300 selections, the wine list at Delmonico was indeed impressive and studded with rare finds. We wanted something big – make that huge – to go with our steak. With some guidance from the knowledgeable sommelier, we selected the 2008 Schrder Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon (one of their last bottles, apparently).

The wine had a dark, velvety red-black color, with deep dark fruit flavors, like cherry and blackberry. It opened up in the decanter as the evening wore on, and we sipped it slowly, savoring and enjoying. It may well be the first and last time we will ever have this rare, elegant, and bold wine. A perfect match for the rich beef and hearty steakhouse sides.

For him – the 20 oz. bone-in ribeye, and for me the 9oz. filet mignon, both topped with a generous pat of herbed butter. Beautifully cooked, but oh so much food. (Speaking of fifteen years ago, our appetites are not perhaps what they once were…)

Classic sides, served family style, included buttered fresh asparagus and sauteed garlic mushrooms (very good and garlicky.)

Lovely sides, buttered fresh asparagus and sauteed garlic mushrooms

No, we didn’t finish every morsel of our meal but we did enjoy it. And the bourbon list that came out afterward was more than impressive, listing page after page of different bourbons…

Have not seen the likes of this before! I was content to finish the last sips of the Schrader cab, but for my partner – a glass of Pappy Van Winkle – Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B. The smell, deep color, and full-bodied taste was exactly what he was looking for. His theory is you need to grab this whenever you see it, and those occasions have been few and far between. An impressive bourbon menu for the whiskey lover!

Pappy Van Winkle - Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B — Pappy Van Winkle – Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B

Last but not least, we move on to dessert. Emeril’s Banana Cream Pie has been something of a legend in our fond recollections of past Delmonico experiences. The mounds of chocolate shavings and generous drizzle of rich caramel sauce have loomed large in our minds over the years. It’s funny, it was certainly tasty, but not as unique and wonderful as we remembered – of course, it could be a matter of letting good things grow better in your mind.

Emeril’s Banana Cream Pie

Though it didn’t quite match the past experiences of our memories, Delmonico Steakhouse has much for you to enjoy – excellent steak, stellar wine selection, great service and an amazing selection of bourbons.

For more information about Delmonico Steakhouse at the Venetian, Las Vegas, visit www.venetian.com

Keens Steakhouse – New York, NY

May 14, 2018 By karin Leave a Comment

An impressive rib eye at Keens Steakhouse

I think this photo of the Prime Rib of Beef (King’s Cut) says just about everything you need to know about Keens Steakhouse. This place is seriously old school, with honest, generous fare. You also get the feeling that little has changed over the 100+ years since its establishment – from the menu to the decor to the quality service – and that’s a very good thing.

In fact, a reminder of Keens’ traditions hangs right above your head as you dine. Apparently the largest of its kind, there is a collection of tens of thousands of churchwarden pipes adorning the ceiling. Keens kept the pipes ‘checked in’ for patrons at the restaurant for use when they came to dine. Pipes belonged to such illustrious gentlemen as Teddy Roosevelt and Albert Einstein, and other notable members.

Churchwarden pipes – a fascinating tradition

Here’s a peek at the menu, more evidence that Keens does a few things, and does them very well:

The wine list is similarly to-the-point – hardly the phone book of some places – but we also found it to be expertly curated with great wines to pair with beef. (Terrific selection of after-dinner liquors as well):

Wine list curated for an old school steakhouse

But before getting to after dinner, let’s begin at the beginning, which for us (fittingly) was with a Manhattan – very nice!

As this was our final evening in NYC, we decided to take our time, enjoy and not hold back in any way. So, knowing beef was still to come, we began by sharing the generous chilled seafood tray complete with lobster tail, jumbo shrimp and a selection of oysters and clams with the expected mignonette, cocktail sauce and accompaniments. It was fresh, cold and tasty and we enjoyed everything thoroughly but for the clams (just personal preference there…)

A simple assortment of crunchy crudites and salty olives with creamy dipping sauce, homemade pickles, and invitingly warm rolls were also brought to the table to enjoy. – it was really just what we wanted in its simplicity. A nice touch!

As mentioned, the wine list is short but beautifully on point. To accompany my companion’s King’s Cut of Prime Rib and my Prime Filet Mignon, we ordered the Peter Michael 2008 “Les Pavots”. It was elegant and deep both flavour and colour. A great accompaniment to the hearty flavours of our beef entrees, the accompanying rich sauce and the earthy wild mushrooms.

A gorgeous – and perfectly complementary – wine from Peter Michael Winery

I should make mention at this point of the great, attentive (but not at all instrusive) service. A perfect blend of care, conversation, and privacy. The general atmosphere was warm, pleasant and jovial. A family sat next to us, and elsewhere couples and groups of friends met for a great meal and great time.

Now, shall I show the beef again? Yes, yes I will:

I mean, this is why you go to Keens, for the beef they’ve been doing forever, dry-aged right there on their premises. It was perfectly seasoned and prepared, and each bite was decadent and delicious. You can taste it, can’t you?

Now, we’d read about the (even more?) famous mutton chop, listed first and called ‘Legendary’ on the menu. Someone at the adjacent table ordered it and it did look impressive to say the least, but we don’t regret having the amazing prime beef. (Next time, right?)

Well…we were more than satisfied, but we weren’t going to wander back to our hotel (and the next day ultimately all the way home) without one last taste of dessert. So, we shared a massive Butterscotch Sundae – yes, ice cream and a hot, beautiful butterscotch sauce are buried somewhere under all the beautiful whipped cream! Paired with glasses of cognac recommended by our server, it was a masterful finish to a delicious meal.

If you go to New York and love a traditional steakhouse experience – or want to try the ultimate one for the first time – do go to Keens.

Keens Steakhouse is located at 72 West 36 Street New York, NY
Call (212) 947 363 for reservations.

Visit www.keens.com to view the menu, read about the restaurant’s intriguing history, and for more information.

Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse – New York, NY

May 1, 2018 By karin Leave a Comment

We arrived in New York City for a whirlwind vacation at around 1:30pm. After checking in at the Kimpton Muse, we hit the streets to soak in the city and to find some lunch.

We seemed to stumble upon iconic location after iconic location in just a few blocks…

New York Public Library (Ghostbusters, anyone?)

…And eventually, we arrived at one of the ultimate sites – Rockefeller Center. At this point, we couldn’t wait any longer to eat after travel with an early start – so we were glad to find Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse right there.

It was almost pleasant enough to eat outside on this last day of March, but we opted for an inside table. It was bustling and energetic in there, but not overly busy. Soon, we were seated, and with beverage in hand.

The menu offered the classic steakhouse choices as you’d expect, from shrimp cocktail to a blue cheese lettuce wedge, and even a ‘business lunch’ section including starter and entree for $32.50. Prices are not low, but portions are fairly generous and the food was certainly good.

Though you could opt for a 16 oz. steak and stuffed baked potato including shaved truffle, we both went with more “lunchy” options. For him, the Wagyu Beef French Dip, a generous sandwich served on a crusty baguette with au jus and horseradish sauce ($23). With a choice of fries, chips, or salad he went with the side-salad to freshen things up. Washed down with a beer, lunch was good.

I chose the Prime Steak Salad (and somehow neglected to take a picture to show it off, although you can see it if you look carefully in the background of the Wagyu French Dip shot). It was very yummy and rich with its blue cheese crumbles and avocado, and a really zippy horseradish dressing ($25 – generous portion and satisfying).

All in all, a nice find for an upscale, relaxing lunch.

Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse is located at 1221 Ave of the Americas, New York, NY. To view the menu and information on other locations, visit www.delfriscos.com

Delmonicos (Las Vegas, Nevada)

March 15, 2004 By karin Leave a Comment

Delmonicos, owned by celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, is located in the Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information or to make reservations, call (702) 414- 3737.

Food: Delmonicos steakhouse certainly delivers what it promises – incredible beef entrees. There are other selections, to be sure, with a daily changing menu to accompany the standard beef and lamb offerings, featuring interesting fare. We did try the beef, the buttery tender filet mignon ($38) and the famous and huge bone in prime rib steak ($44 and perfect!) with absolutely no regrets.

To start, we sampled the foie gras ($18), a more pleasant variation than that experienced at Bradley Ogden’s on a previous night, but less heavenly than that offered at Picasso (still our pick for best foie gras and best restaurant in Las Vegas). Our waiter suggested a pleasant Sauterne to accompany it, and it certainly fit the bill!

We had Caesar Salad for two ($22), prepared tableside, with a “Bam!” thrown in along with generous amounts of garlic and parmesan. The salad was particularly good, traditional and perfectly powerful.

Along with our beef entrees, we ordered sides to share: Country Smashed Potatoes ($7.50) and green beans (also $7.50). The potatoes were wonderful, sticky,creamy, and garlicky, and the portion was huge, even for sharing. The beans, sauteed in butter and garlic, were a bit on the undercooked and crunchy side, constituting the only (slight) disappointment in the meal.

For the highly unnecessary but scrumptious dessert, we tried the homey apple pie a la mode ($8.50).

Wine: David Arthur Cabernet Sauvignon, 2001 ($395). Probably too soon to drink, but then again, it was a pretty rare find! Incredibly big and bold, this deep red wine was over the top and wonderful for it.

Exceptional Features: Excellent service, attentive, friendly and very professional.

Service: Our server was attentive and offered good food and beverage pairing suggestions. When asked what he hears probably all too frequently, “So how much is Emeril actually involved in Delmonico’s?”, he patiently explained that Emeril visits Delmonicos at least once a year, and keeps abreast of major changes to the menu. He then supplied us with written information and small Delmonicos keepsakes. He even invoked Emeril Lagasse to some extent with a subtle “Bam!” as he added freshly ground pepper to the Caesar Salad he prepared tableside. Besides our main server, other wait staff insured that our bread basket was perpetually filled with warm rolls, and that our water and wine glasses were constantly replenished.

Décor: We were somewhat surprised by the décor of Delmonicos, our perceptions perhaps being prejudiced by the image of Emeril Lagasse’s brightly lit, rustic cooking show set. Delmonicos, by way of contrast, is dimly lit with low, vaulted ceilings designed to look like a wine cellar. The bone color of the ceiling keeps the room from feeling totally cavernous, however. Extremely comfortable brown leather chairs grace the tables. The overall effect is quite contemporary.

Dress Code: Business or resort casual is appropriate here. You may encounter the range in dress typical of Vegas, but most opt for this attire.

Price: Beef entrees hover around $40, and this is without accompaniment. Food is certainly worth it, but it does not come cheap.

Reservations: We would certainly recommend reservations for Delmonicos. Even with reservations, we waited for our table, albeit briefly, in the lounge. For reservations, call (702) 414- 3737.

Overall Dining Experience: 5 barrels (outstanding)