New York & LA & Vegas Suggestions

randomshenans

randomshenans

randomshenans

Soldato
Joined
11 Sep 2009
Posts
14,064
Location
France, Alsace
Hey guys,

I'm taking my beautiful wife away at the end of Feb with work (she's so lucky) but we have tagged on a weekend each side of it.

Our movements are as follows:

Arrive Fri 28 Feb 2014 22:50 John F Kennedy (NY) (New York)

Depart Sun 02 Mar 2014 17:00

This is the first leg of the trip in NYC and as it's a brief spell I want to try and cram in what we can. Where would you suggest I go lunch wise? I should be able to cram in 2 lunches and we'd love to do some of the better dinners drive ins / man vs food decent stuff there special to NY. Similarly, with just the Sat night there for dinner where would you go out to eat somewhere nice?
For reference and location we are in the Conrad.

We're then in Vegas for 5 days Sunday - Friday night, and I am not sure how much I'll do on my own accord (will be with work folk who will no doubt cart us about to their suggestions) but any suggestions welcomed here.

Finally, we arrive in LA: Fri 07 Mar 2014 20:05 Los Angeles International (CA)

Departing: Sun 09 Mar 2014 18:00 Los Angeles International (CA)

Staying at this place for locational reference. Again, trying to cram as much in as we can and would love to get to try the stuff that's special about those places so any recommendations are great.

I'm quite sadly making a custom Google Map so we can plan our time as best we can. And as well, any general must sees or do's in the places would be top too. Mrs has never been outside Europe! (I don't take her with me when I bugger off :p so want to make it as special as I can for her):D
 
Can't speak for NY/LA but I went to Vegas in 2010. You're in for a treat!

Things to do:
- Gamble your life away
- Firing range
- Grand Canyon tour (we did it in a chopper with a night flight down the strip, but there are bus trips too)
- Give the Bellagio fountains a visit
- TAO nightclub
- See a show! Honestly, I thought it would be lame as but was really impressed, we saw Phantom of the Opera at the Venetian.
- Shark Reef aquarium at the Mandalay bay.
- Downtown/Old Vegas. You can get on organised tours down to the older part of the strip which is class.

I'm sure you've heard it before but when you're in any casino playing the slots or whatever, when the lovely lady comes round asking if you'd like a drink, you don't pay - just tip them. Maybe a $5 first time and they will definitely come back again and again, I just tip them $1s at a time after the first.

Jealous of your trip!
 
I'll keep an eye on this thread! Going to the states for about 6 weeks this summer. Haven't completely planned it yet but definitely hitting California, Las Vegas, NYC and Florida, so if anyone has suggestion for Florida as well that'd be great!
 
I'm off to NYC at the end of the month so watching this thread too

So far just planning on some typical Chain type places, hard rock , TGI , etc

Wouldn't mind a classy grill style place to visit though
 
The chain places are reasonable priced and they do some decent simple food which me and the mrs like , I'd love to eat at luxurious places or chomp on huge steaks each evening but I doubt my wallet would take it lol, so we like to just grab some fries, onion rings,burger, fajita ,pizza or whatever for most evenings and have one special night to push the boat out

Of course if I stumbled upon somewhere doing amazing food for cheap prices then I'm in lol
 
Likewise though, I can't be fine dining every step but want to try and see some treats I can only get there. Little Italy is supposed to be nice and that. I'm a sucker for a tasty bargain. Just seems a waste to go somewhere and eat what you can in any city.

The serious eats link has some good ideas which aren't costly at all.
 
Vegas was quite a blur. I will recommend two 'MUST DO' activities:

i) An afternoon playing Pai Gow at The Wynn and getting absolutely hammered for 'free'. [Over 4hrs we came out $50 up and very, very drunk and had a brilliant time)
ii) Tacos El Gordo for lunch
 
 
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Pretty much all I have to say on vegas and NYC are in those two threads I did (linked above) To summarise:

NYC- best BBQ was blue smoke, best steak was quality meats, best burger probably shake shack, best wings Bonchon, best pizza Lombardis

Vegas- best BBQ was rolling smoke (car needed), best steak Botero, best burger Holsteins. Best wings Blondies, best pizza 550 degrees

Haven't done a lot of eating in LA but Barney's Beanery in Santa Monica is a classic Man v Food style place. Umami burger and In and Out burger both worth a trip too.

Enjoy!
 
thanks youstolemyname totally add those to the map! Poifecto!

TheDean, I'm staying at the Encore so that could well happen :p

J-FRO I would, but Mrs is preggers, so doubt I could swing that one! ha
 
randomshenans said:
TheDean, I'm staying at the Encore so that could well happen :p
Click to expand...

Good - It's your DUTY to make it happen.

If you do like Tacos though, you have to go to Taco's El Gordo. Absolutely sublime, and often touted as the best in the US. It's just past Encore on the right hand side. You won't regret it, trust me!

We missed all our other dinner reservations due to alcohol, gambling or tiredness.
 
Fuggan said:
Can't speak for NY/LA but I went to Vegas in 2010. You're in for a treat!

Things to do:
- Gamble your life away
- Firing range
- Grand Canyon tour (we did it in a chopper with a night flight down the strip, but there are bus trips too)
- Give the Bellagio fountains a visit
- TAO nightclub
- See a show! Honestly, I thought it would be lame as but was really impressed, we saw Phantom of the Opera at the Venetian.
- Shark Reef aquarium at the Mandalay bay.
- Downtown/Old Vegas. You can get on organised tours down to the older part of the strip which is class.

I'm sure you've heard it before but when you're in any casino playing the slots or whatever, when the lovely lady comes round asking if you'd like a drink, you don't pay - just tip them. Maybe a $5 first time and they will definitely come back again and again, I just tip them $1s at a time after the first.

Jealous of your trip!
Click to expand...

Totally not food related but you can't do a real grand canyon tour from vegas by chopper it is to far the chopper flights from vegas take you to a near by side canyon, if you want to fly a helicopter over the real grand canyon you have to go there either by bus or plane first and then transfer to a chopper locally. You also can't fly a helicopter below the rim of the real grand canyon it's banned so any landings or flights below the rim will be in side canyons.
 
Vegas lunch = hot and juicy crawfish

you can thank me when you get back :p

YSMN will back me up on this and I will add a vote to his suggestion of Holsteins for best burger
 
Rotty said:
Vegas lunch = hot and juicy crawfish

you can thank me when you get back :p

YSMN will back me up on this and I will add a vote to his suggestion of Holsteins for best burger
Click to expand...

Indeed I will back you up on it! Hot n Juicy crawfish is amazingly good. Definitely worth a trip off strip to! Go for the shrimp instead of crawfish though. I always get both because I am greedy but the shrimp are just better. Go to American Shooters gun range on the way back for a quieter and cheaper gun range than the famous 'Gun Store'

The Gold Standard at holsteins is simply the best burger I have ever tasted in the world. And believe me, I have eaten a lot of burgers! Strip Burger is pretty good too and opposite your hotel. Almost Famous in the UK is a damn tasty burger, as is Byron, but these are on another level.

Since you are staying at the Encore I can totally recommend Botero for a truly special meal and dining experience. You will be treated like a king, the meal will be faultless and your bill will reflect that but if you like steak, then go. Society Cafe is also a good shout for a nice casual dinner- we had our wedding reception meal in there. Wynn/Encore is the nicest property on the strip in my opinion.

If you are looking for something a bit different, Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars gets my vote for best buffet in Vegas these days. It's worth the money for a pig out with lots of choice and crazy desserts.

Blue Ribbon Sushi is also very good- get the fried chicken though! I am not mad on sushi but theirs was excellent. American Fish at **** is also good for seafood.

Tacos El Gordo, well, it's damn good taco but I dunno...I can never really get excited about chicken/pork and veg in a wrap. Was nice, don't get me wrong, but I guess Tacos just aren't my thing.

Also, do not touch Gordon Ramsey's steakhouse with someone else's bargepole. We walked out as the waiter was so rude and then went and proceeded to spend a few hundred in Botero. Their loss.
 
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