Carson Kitchen — Restaurant in Las Vegas

Went for a bday party. They accommodated a fairly large party on the back patio. We were originally going to be on the rooftop but had a few people in our party who have difficulty with the stairs so they allowed us to set up on the downstairs patio. It's a nice patio area, spacious. There's a fire pit there as well. There were approximately 26 of us, that's including five kids under the age of 12. Our server, whom sadly, i forget his name- was actually great. He was hustling and trying his best to take care of everyone. That is where the good part of the experience ends. A couple of us have dietary restrictions. Arrangements were made several weeks before arrival. The manager who worked with my sister-in-law to arrange things, said we could order off the regular menu and could pay out of our own pocket outside of the prefix menu that was set for the party guests. When we went to order the salmon we were initially told no that we couldn't. And then we were told that we could order the salmon but we couldn't order any thing else off of the menu so no sides even though we couldn't eat what was being served. So we had a small piece of salmon for dinner with nothing else . I can't speak to the flavor of the food that was served for the party guests, only the salmon that I had, which was okay. I can however speak to the portion size versus the cost. This is not a sit down dinner place what we had seemed more along the lines of tapas. The steak served was a small piece of steak that was already sliced in pieces, small dishes of macaroni and cheese that were to be shared. The consensus was the food was just okay. The mac and cheese was rated the best of everything served. I did try a bite of the mushroom flatbread. It was just okay. I also had a bite of the donut bread pudding. They brought out 1 bowl with a small ice cream scoop sized portion of this, to share with 10 people at our table. REALLY? And it was unremarkable. Completely mushy. Bread pudding should be custardlike in the middle. This was mushy as if it hadn't been cooked all the way through. We had arranged the dinner with the prefix menu to be paid by my sister-in-law, my dinner and my aunts was to be paid by us, and any drinks from the bar were to be paid by the guests themselves. All of our guests were informed before the party that the bar drinks would be completely separate from dinner, each individual would pay for their own. The bartender was adding drinks to the food bill, even though several guests told her them no, they were paying out of pocket, that was their arrangement. The bartender argued with them. The food was just okay. I felt it was overpriced for what it was. We grew up on the Monterey Peninsula, and . The majority of our guests have worked in food and beverage in many different capacities. Several have been or currently are FOH/BOH/and Bar managers in some of the most well known, well loved, and highly regarded restaurants. The food was passable for what it was, I suppose. However, the lack of communication from whomever coordinated the event with my sister-in-law, and the rest of the staff was unacceptable. The mishap over being able to order the salmon, expected to eat only salmon with no sides, and then having it charged to the dinner bill. The bartender refusing to allow people to pay for their own drinks and adding them to the food bill is also unacceptable and inexcusable. The place was still open to and serving the public while we were there. I could see one bill if we had shut the place down to the public. Completely unimpressed. Unforgettable for all the wrong reasons. I would not recommend Carson's Kitchen. Maybe for a drink but definitely not to eat, and most certainly not for a...

We made a reservation through OpenTable app on 4/29/24 for 7 people, 7:45 pm, with a note of the occasion being a birthday. Our table was a 4 to 5 person table they added a couple stools to. No biggie, we're adaptable and we were there to have a fun birthday dinner. Our waitress, unfortunately, was the worst part. At first we thought she was having a bad night, because she was "trying" to act nice but it was not genuine in the least. I wish I remembered her name because the Owner needs to release her for the sake of the business. Customer service is not her strong suit and she acts like she is superior to her customers. She initially came to our table in a timely manner but the rest was a train wreck. After we got our drinks and she eventually took our orders, we didn't see her until we got her attention after waiting 25+ minutes for her to show up. She did bring water to our table but never asked if we wanted soft drink refills or more drinks from the bar and we waited long periods between anyone coming to our table. Also, it was 45 minutes between the first and last people to get their meals. When we pointed out that people didn't have their food while others were almost done she replied "it's coming" in a very dismissive, snotty tone without checking or apologizing for all the extended wait times thus far. People were finished eating before the last two got their food. Also, we asked for separate checks when she was taking our orders and she said "OK, I've got it" but brought one check at the end. At this point she disappeared again so I took it to the manager, she said their system cannot do that. I asked why did the waitress tell us she'd do it then. The manager just repeated herself and never apologized or said she would follow up with the waitress so she wouldn't mislead another customer. The food itself ranged from ok to good though we had to send back some tater tots that came with a burger. They were overcooked and old. We don't necessarily hold the waitress accountable for the long wait between our dinners but when her and the manager showed indifference towards our concerns and poor experience we were over it. For great service we overtip ~25%. We don't tip for bad service, so we left a $5 tip for the bus person. The waitress was so upset she came out of the restaurant seething and yelled, in the same snotty tone, "Are sure you don't want your change?!" We ignored her, she was not our problem anymore, but she persisted and yelled "Are you sure?!" Staring at us intensely like she wanted to fight or something. We continued to ignore, then she yelled "Thank you!" This is the thing, we were polite and positive towards her but she acted like we were bothering her and then she thought she was entitled to a tip. Tips are earned and she would do well to learn that. This place gives the service industry a bad name and is not at all like the service we've had at pretty much everywhere else in Las Vegas. I encourage the owner to reach out to me if they would like...

An Absolute Must-Try: Carson's Kitchen Delivers (And Chelsea is a Cocktail Genius!) ​Let me preface this by saying that Carson's Kitchen isn't just a meal—it's an experience. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is electric, blending upscale dining with a relaxed, welcoming vibe. But while the ambiance is fantastic, the real stars here are the food and the cocktails. ​Cocktails That Steal the Show ​First and foremost, we have to talk about the bar. Our bartender, Chelsea, is nothing short of a mixology superstar! She didn't just pour drinks; she crafted liquid art. Her precision, speed, and knowledge were incredible, but the results were even better. ​While every drink she made was stellar, there were two standouts. The absolute favorite—and our new favorite classic—was The Last Word. Chelsea's take on this gin-based classic was perfectly balanced: bright, complex, and bracingly refreshing. ​For a post-meal lift, the Espresso Martini she crafted was perfection. It was rich, velvety smooth, and had that perfect foamy crema top with a deep, bitter coffee kick—not too sweet, just incredibly balanced and exactly what you want to close out the night. Seriously, if you go, ask Chelsea for either of these drinks; you won't be disappointed! Her cocktails elevated the entire dining experience from great to unforgettable. ​Southern Comfort, Elevated ​The culinary side of Carson's Kitchen holds up just as well. The kitchen manages to take comfort food concepts and execute them with a refined, sophisticated flair. ​The Chicken with Alabama White Sauce was magnificent. The chicken was cooked to juicy perfection with a crispy skin, and the tangy, peppery Alabama white sauce was the perfect creamy counterpoint. It’s a dish that proves simple ingredients can sing when handled by talented hands. ​And then there's the dessert. The Glazed Donut Bread Pudding is something dreams are made of. This isn't just a dessert; it's a decadent masterpiece. Warm, rich, and featuring pieces of actual glazed donuts, it’s the ultimate indulgence and the perfect sweet ending to an incredible meal. ​The Final Verdict ​Carson's Kitchen is more than worth a visit. It’s a flawless combination of exceptional food, a dynamic atmosphere, and—thanks to phenomenal bartenders like Chelsea—world-class cocktails. It’s the kind of place you immediately start planning your return trip to. Go for the chicken, stay for the bread pudding, and definitely, definitely have Chelsea make you The Last Word and an Espresso Martini! ​Five out...