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There was a time when this was my favorite restaurant in Las Vegas. That has changed, and I will no longer suggest this steakhouse. Every single hotel in Las Vegas has a steakhouse in it, and the quality of this place is not nearly good enough to explain it's exorbitant prices. About the only person I could see really benefiting from staying here is a businessman on an expense account. Your client will be impressed when he sees you pick up a $300 tab I guess. For the rest of us, visit the Steakhouse At Circus Circus (no, I'm not kidding.) Delmonico's is owned by Emeril Lagasse, but if nobody told you, you'd never know it. Nobody in the kitchen screams "BAM!" as they cook or tosses spice mixes into the air, and the food is not overly spiced or drowing in garlic as he might suggest on his TV shows. The decor is sedate and tasteful. Cream colored walls, leather-covered chairs, servers in white and black and porters in black. The music can be a little loud, but never so much that you can't hold a conversation. One of my biggest complaints about Delmonico's is in the area of table settings. When this place opened they would set each place with a knife made by Laguiole of France. (www.laguiole.com) To a knife-person (which I am) this is a very big deal. These knives are hand-made pieces of artwork, costing up near $100 each (maybe more, my also-a-knife-freak brother and I disagree over which exact knife it was). They didn't make the food taste any better, but they added a definite air of elegance and beauty to the table. At my most recent visit they had replaced all the knives with ones from Emeril's "signature" line. Basically Emeril found someone who makes those cheap stamp-bladed knives you get at a Denny's and had them laser-engrave his name on them. They went from a piece of functional art to something you could buy at a supermarket. I also find the seats uncomfortable. I am unusually tall (6'6"), but these chairs are about the height of a toilet seat, and I ended up having to straddle the seat like a motorcycle to remain comfortable. The food is very good for the most part. The steaks are cooked properly, and this is one of the few places I've seen that doesn't blink when you ask for your steak "blue" (the French answer to "rare", crusty outside and inside still rather cool and nearly raw). The side dishes are tasty, and the appetizers have some unusual choices you dont' find at most places. Unfortunatly, quality control might be an issue. On my last visit I saw three lobsters (each huge and costing around $100) returned uneaten because they were heavily overcooked. This included my wife's lobster, so I know for a fact that you could have insulated the Space Shuttle with these things. I realize the kitchen staff is only human, but at $100 for a lobster those humans had damn well better learn to work a kitchen timer. I recently found out that as long as you are in the Venetian, you can room-service yourself a lobster for less then Delmonico's charges. I'm not sure what that means, but I'm sure it's not good. The drinks are good, and full of liquid woozy. If you are in the mood for a very expensive tequila in your margarita they will be happy to put it in for you, and charge you for it. Service at the bar is often slow of late, but they will tack your bar bill onto your table bill, so at least you don't have to hunt for the waitress to pay for your drinks. The service is very good, and they really work to make you feel like royalty. For instance, when you get up from your table someone will come along behind you and refold your napkin. If you look like you want something someone will magically appear and ask what they can do for you. It's almost like they employ psychic ninja waiters. The biggest problem with this place is the relative cost. I'm not afraid of expensive food, and will happily pay for it, but when a $120 meal at Circus Circus is better then a $250 meal at Delmonicos, that's wasted money in my book.
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