Gordon Ramsay Steak — Restaurant in Paradise

I think when you brand a restaurant around someone who famously goes apoplectic over minute details, you have an expectation that everything will be perfect. At its best, the hamachi crudo was one of the most incredible flavor experiences I’ve ever had. At worst, it felt like TV Show Applebees.

I did the 5 course tasting menu with the wine pairing. With tip, my total was $370. For my money, at that price point, you don’t get the benefit of the doubt on anything that isn’t great to excellent.

Course 1: Scotch Egg. It was delicious, but I think there is a ceiling on a scotch egg. The distance between the Gordon Ramsay version and the best tavern I’ve been to is pretty short. Yes, this egg wins, but it feels like the difference between a Totino’s pizza roll and a hand made pizza roll. There’s only so good it can be, and even if it’s better, it doesn’t come with the nostalgia of your mom bringing a big pyrex bowl of them down to you and your friends at 10pm during a basement sleepover.

Course 2: Hamachi Crudo. Incredible. Little flavor explosions in every bite. It’s a journey and an experience, and I’ll probably be talking about it for the rest of my life.

Course 3: Diver Scallop and Carrot Risotto. Scallop was cooked perfectly, which made me giggle a little thinking about all of the under or overcooked scallops I’ve watched Gordon destroy over the years. It was over salted, and this is where the veil of excellence started to lift for me. I realized that as I had been sitting there, something had felt wrong, but I was trapped in the euphoric straight jacket of that hamachi.

Course 4: Beef Wellington and Lobster Tail. Here’s where the wheels didn’t just fall off, they flew into the grandstand and killed several spectators. The best thing on the plate was the cold potato puree, and that’s okay when it’s next to your grandmother’s dehydrated turkey on Thanksgiving, but it’s tragic when there’s tenderloin and lobster on the plate. The lobster was tougher than the steak and it wasn’t close. It was also advertised as Maine lobster tail, but it was the size of a large shrimp, so unless there’s a Maine, Louisiana, I believe that to be a specious claim. And maybe it’s my fault for expecting good lobster in the middle of the desert, but if Amazon can get me the most obscure things I can imagine to my door in 2 days or less, I’d imagine a restaurant charging $200 for a tasting menu can get a decently fresh lobster tail. The Wellington was probably in the bottom 2 I’ve had. Puff pastry was mushy, steak was slightly overcooked and had an unacceptable amount of stringy bits for the price. If I weren’t traumatized by my multiple tours in the service industry I would have sent it back. But even if I had, the litany of issues with the dish gave me no confidence that a second chance would have improved the experience enough to overcome the amputation of my soul and spirit. You know, I’m reading that back wondering if I’m being dramatic, but then I remember, $370.

Course 5: Sticky Toffee Pudding. It’s not a great sign when the server tells you as they’re dropping the dish at your table, “saved the best for last.” Before I even looked at the dish, that utterance sent me through a wormhole to where I’m one of those people from the commercials who thought they were dining at Terrizano’s, a new authentic Italian restaurant, but it turns out the pasta was from Pizza Hut. The dish itself wasn’t bad, but it also wasn’t a game changer. I will not remember it tomorrow. I think by that point I was so distraught by the main course my sympathetic nervous system kicked in to protect me by playing “Baby Elephant Walk” on repeat in my head.

My server was very nice, but the service is structured like a casual chain, not an expensive restaurant. I got several fly by check ins, which is fine at TGI Friday’s, but not at this price. Pretty underwhelming, probably...

I have been eating here for 8-9 years or so at about 2-5 times per year. Almost all of the meals were "free" since I get comped from Caesars Rewards as a 7star and with my accumulated points. The food has always been good and the Foie Gras, Ribcap and Sticky Toffee Pudding have been my favorites.

That being said I have noticed things that could use immediate improvement and it pertains to the casual lounge seating area wall side couch with pillows. It may be the worst seating in the world and it sits so low you won't have proper typical arm and hand placement on the dining table. The cushion sinks too much so you will probably experience moderate to extreme lower back discomfort. Secondly, I have noticed that the overall hostesses outside have become somewhat cold/rude (in apathetic and robotic-like ways) and generally give a vibe that they do not want to be there. In the past, the outside employees were just as engaged, friendly and polite as the inside staff, but that has changed a bit, possibly since Covid. This demeanor is not absolute of course and I could be observing random small sample sizing. I usually have a reservation too so the unwelcoming vibe is further dissatisfying.

Lastly, it was just a month ago in which I dined in by myself and although the wait time for food was extra long for a slow evening, it was otherwise a great experience. I dined on a skirt steak, 5oz of A5 with salad and dessert. Although requesting medium rare and immediately forking over the Wagyu (I didn't let it sit on the hot plate for more than a minute before doing so), they seem to be more medium and bit overcooked and for A5 Wagyu at $50/oz I would expect more attention to detail (or even attention to perfection?). That being said, I'm not a food snob and it hardly made a difference to me aside from the aesthetics of the slices being not red enough. Other diners and foodies may raise a fuss but that's definitely not something I'd complain about.

My waitress was pleasant/friendly and I asked to pay with my casino comps. She swiped my card for the $377 total at which point I asked her to also separately charge my AMEX $.01 so that I could have a way to write in a tip since I did not have adequate cash. She obliged and knew what wanted. I signed the bill with $75 as tip onto my AMEX. A few weeks ago by and I am going over my credit card bills and I noticed what initially showed as pending $75 never charged. It was no where to be found. I am a reasonable honorable person so upon discovering this mistake, I called Gordon Ramsay Steak directly and asked to speak to the manager about a billing issue. The receptionist or hostesses outside answered and told me one could help. I called again later and left a message with my name and contact and was told that a manager would call me back. I never got a call back.

I don't know if this rests on the hostesses or the manager(s) for never returning a call from a customer regarding a billing issue but their lack of action cost the waitress a $75 that she was rightfully due and earned. I shouldn't have to go out of my way to try to PAY after discovering their mistake and still get ignored. If you are a manager reading this, my server's name is Miana for 7/12/23 L-110 on check 2847099. I only know this because I happened to take a photo including the receipt. I don't mind giving the tip in person next...

I’ve watched Gordan Ramsay for over 20 years on television. Spanning from my high school years on the couch with my father and now deep into my thirties with my partner. His television has been ingrained in our family for years as a fun activity with always a bit of hope we’d end up in a city he had an establishment.

I’ve waited to experience any of his establishments my whole life. And what a truly heartbreaking disappointment.

The service: Pretentious and condescending - Not the hosts, but a blonde who walks you back after you checked in with the hosts walked past my partner and I at least 5 times, not asking for anyone’s names. When I asked if she was looking for us, she said the hosts description of us wasn’t good enough. A “plaid shirt with a hat with the word creek on it”. That was a literal exact definition of what he was wearing and this blonde kept strolling by us, we almost lost our reservation. It felt very “maybe they don’t look like they can afford the place”. Remember not to judge a book by its cover.

On to our waiter, Oliver - he was 10x more kind and informative to literally every table he had beside ours. Again, it felt very “they just walked off the strip so I’ll give them inferior service” to us. But we had reservations, and were gleaming with excitement. He was cold, short, and downright condescending. I always find it funny when waiters at fancy restaurants are condescending when, let’s say, they are still in their 50’s working for tips up until 10 PM maybe? Don’t let Gordan’s success make you think you’re more than you are, Oliver. You’re just a waiter at a fancy restaurant, no different than a waiter at Applebees, so be kind.

The food: Look at the picture. 90$ for the Wellington and it came with two carrots and two parsnips. The veggies were so undercooked my fork almost popped them off my plate trying to stab them. Also, my partner who is a cook said it’s clear they are just boiling the veggies and there was absolutely no seasoning to them. Think hard, flavorless carrots.

The Demi glaze, look how little is on the picture. On TV you get a gravy boat full. At this place you get a spritz. When I asked for a side of sauce, he neglected to mention 9$! for two tablespoons of sauce, my partner and I divided it so we could both at least experience it.

I gave the review two stars for the food because the Wellington was to die for, even with its small size and sans Demi glaze. No sides with your meal unless you drop another 21$, and we did. The brussels were just as bland and undercooked as the carrots. The executive chef needs to double check his team’s cooking times/flavors on veggies.

Skip this snobby establishment and go to Gordan Ramsay fish and chips off the Linq Promenade if you want a taste of his experiences. You’ll save hundreds of dollars and get a taste of his cuisine there, without the snobbish, condescending, small portion hoidy toidy vibe this place emits. 300$ for crap - spend it on another show you’ll remember with your family for...