HELP!!! GROUP DINNER FOR 24 MEN!!!
Dear Chowhound,
Every year, a large group of friends and I take a trip to a random destination across the country. I pick a location, decide how much it will cost per each group member, and they cut me a check. No questions asked. It makes for an awesome adventure because they have no idea where we are staying, what the plans are, where we will be dining, etc. until they arrive. Long story short - our trip this year is in Vegas.
I chose Vegas because several of the guys are engaged, getting married, already married, etc. so this is probably our last chance to do this together. Out of the 24 of us who will be coming to Vegas for a long weekend in May, 18 of us have NEVER been including myself. There are several surprise activities that I have already planned for my large group including a special pre-paid, pre-ordered group dinner for Saturday, May 22nd... Here is my diliemma: The restaurant backed out and cancelled the contract at the last minute...
I don't want to call them out because they were a real pleasure to work with in setting everything up and they have already gone out of their way to apologize and help me out in some other ways, but I am extremely stressed out with trying to find another location that fits with what we already had set up.
At the previous restaurant, I was able to customize a prix-fix menu with included 3 courses (salad, appetizers, filet with veggies) plus dessert for $55 a person... Add tax and 20% tip and my total cost was just over $1,700...
I have looked into/emailed/called several other establishments that I read about on here, but none were in the price range that I am now tied into because the rest of the budget has been spent on lodging, airfare, etc.
I want this is to be fun last night in Vegas and the group dinner is the prelude to an evening on the town... I want us to be able to go to a nice place with great food, but it doesn't have to be stuffy or overly fancy... Somewhere along the strip is preferred and within the budget is a must...
Any ideas?? I would love a great steakhouse, but concerned about the price... I have also heard good things about T&T (Tacos and Tequlia)... This is obviously a bit different than the venue I already had set up, but our trip is in the middle of May which only gives me about 6 weeks to set everything up...
Any suggestions or advice would be great... Sorry for the long post...
I appreciate it...
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BubblyOne
Apr 14, 2010 11:09 AM
Just saw your post and don't know if you have plans yet, but have you checked Bradley Ogden? It's one of my favorite spots, for the food and clientele-I've seen George Clooney and Tiger Woods (ha!). They have a couple different fixed-price menus, and it's in your hotel.
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Bradley Ogden
3570 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109 -
Defintely check out the steak house at Circus Circus. As funky as that casino is, the steak house is a great locals secret. Top notch dry-aged steak at more reasonable prices. My sister wrote the Best of Las Vegas for Gault Millau and this was the biggest surprise for me when I helped her review places.
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re: vegaspizzakid
If Stripsteak can't accommodate you at that price point you might want to think about Bordergrill. They have met my pricepoint in the past and I believe I was able to swing some pitchers of Sangria with that. They have seperate rooms and a great patio. We sat 20 on the patio in May and it was great. And then you are at Mandalay Bay which is always fun.
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Taqueria Cannonita is a solid place in the venetian and not cost prohibitive. Burger Bar in Mandalay is supposed to be excellent.
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re: jf123
Guys... Y'all are helping me out a bunch with all of these suggestions... I am following up with just about every single restaurant... At least to check them out...
Stripsteak would be ideal, but I don't know if they are going to be able to help me out on pricing and to be honest, I feel a little guilty pushing them around trying to get them to go lower because they have been extremely pleasant so far...
I have yet to hear back from Tacos & Tequila, but need to find something on the Strip... A fellow guest suggested Dick's Last Resort due to cost and atmosphere, but that is the last place I want to DINE... Please continue to assis! Thanks!
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Dick's Last Resort
3850 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109-
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re: stallion1
invinotheresverde
Apr 1, 2010 12:13 PM
Is Tacos and Tequila big enough for your group? I was there a coupe months ago and it seemed tiny. Granted, I was just at the bar.
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re: stallion1
invinotheresverde
Apr 1, 2010 03:19 PM
I think it's pretty small. It's not even a closed in restaurant- more like part of the atrium at Luxor.
Awesome tequila selection!
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I'll second the Stripsteak recommendation. Somewhat trendy, fun environment, very good food. I loved some of the sides and apps, and the steaks were good. It's a very Vegas-y, non-traditional steakhouse and there's plenty of eye candy around which a group of guys should appreciate. As the evening goes on, the music gets louder to give it a bit of a club atmosphere. Downside is you're a ways from center Strip down at Mandalay Bay, so if that's the area you want to hit afterwards, you'll probably need to take cabs.
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re: MidTexHorn
Something center-strip would be great, as we are staying at Caesar's... I am still going to look into Stripsteak...
Anyone have any ideas for something casual and fun and alot cheaper? Since the situation occured, I may just pick a fun, cheap spot and spend the savings on something else special for the group... Maybe a trendy Mexican place? A great Burger spot/bar?
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re: stallion1
Cookiefiend
Mar 30, 2010 11:50 AM
Right in Caesar's is Mesa Grill - Bobby Flay's take on Mexican - it's a fun place and the food is great too. Great margaritas and appeitzers. We didn't have dinner (had lunch) but it was a big hit for our group.
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Mesa Grill
3570 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109 -
re: stallion1
If you are still looking at Stripsteak then you should also check out the gift certificates at restaurant.com. You can find coupon codes for the gift certificates if you search on google. I bought a $50 certificate from there for $4 and had no problem using it. Just mention that you have it before you order. You are also allowed only one coupon per 2 entrees/prix fixes. I don't know if this will work but since you are 24 you could buy 12 of these and cut your costs in half. I would call Stripsteak to see if they would allow this but I don't see why they wouldn't.
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Try Canal Street at the Orleans. The Orleans is on West Tropicana about a mile west of the Strip. Never had a bad meal there and might be in your price range.
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Canaletto at the Venetian.....the Il Moro room sounds right for your group.
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I don't know if they can accomodate you given your group size and the Saturday night, but Stripsteak at the Mandaly Bay has a 55$ prix fixe that comes with complimentary fries, foccacia bread, choice of appetizer, choice of main course, sides, and dessert. I ate there just last week (see my review) and was not expecting such a great meal. Right behind us was a wedding party of probably around 20-30 people.
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re: stallion1
First, you are much more forgiving than I would be to Restaurant #1. I think that that is simply inexcusable. I hope that your party has a great time in LAS, and that that is the only bump in the road.
Here's a few thoughts: I would check Mon Ami Gabi, which might be able to do this at your price point. I'd also check on the new Mexican restaurant that just opened at the Fashion Show mall (I don't know the name, but it replaced Cafe ba ba reeba, and should have good spaces for a group your size). I'd also look at Cili, which is a restaurant at a golf course on the south end of the strip;they have some really nice private rooms and do a nice job with the food.
A couple of near -Strip options that you might look at, which I think would do a nice job: ENVY, which is a steakhouse in the Renaissance Hotel on Paradise; very hip place, good food and a bit more reasonable than the Strip steakplaces (my usual recommendation for a large group of guys is N9ne, but I just don't know that it can be done in budget), and the Triple George. The Triple George is downtown, and has a very nice bar (Sidebar) as well as a traditional but quite tasty menu at pretty good prices.
Good luck!
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Mon Ami Gabi
3655 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109Cili Restaurant
5160 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89119
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