I had some friends visiting and were able to go to two top French
restaurants in Vegas over the weekend. First was Alize, top of Palms, which I consider
one of very top restaurants in city. Everyone we take there raves about it
and no one complains. Figure about $100 per person for food if you include
appetizers, salad, main course, and desert. More if you choose wine etc.
Less if you just go for main course and appetizer. The appetizers are really
fabulous here. Entrees are very good, especially things like duck and lamb,
which are often prepared 2 ways. Soups and salads are excellent. Souffle is
excellent too - requiring ordering at start of meal. Rest of deserts are only
so-so, weakest part of meal. The chef will also give you a small appetizer.
We used to get a palate cleansing sorbet in between courses, but didn't this
time, so perhaps it is gone??
The restaurant has an excellent wine menu and a great selection of all
sorts of alcohol (which is on display in cases around the room). You also get a
fantastic view of the city.
I advise reserving in advance, though often on weekdays it isn't very
crowded, especially early. Meals can be leisurely here - 2-3 hours, depending on
size of your party. You can ask the waiter to speed up if you need to spend
more time. By arriving early, you can watch the sun go down (actually you
can't see sunset since the West is obscured), but you get the change to night and
the nighttime lights.
View is a major part of the ambience. Service is excellent. Also, if you
visit a few times they may well remember you and your preferences.
You can use Palms comps, but cannot use comps to pay for tip. Except -
sometimes you can for large parties. This is an oddity of the Palms. I can use
comps to tip the Spa/Hairdresser, but not restaurants. But sometimes you can
tip for large parties via comp credit. All very odd!
You can also try asking a host for a discretionary comp. Sometimes I've
gotten one, sometimes they won't give you one if you already have enough comps
(they wouldn't give me any this time). The Palms is generally weird on its
comp policies (and everything else).
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Another great "splurge" French restaurant is the Eiffel Tower Restaurant.
Be sure to book a reservation in advance here - busier than Alize because of
prominent strip location. You can run into some weird Harrah's comp policies
here too. If you have a room at Paris/Bally's, you can charge restaurant to
your room, and then use your comp points to pay for it. If you are RFB and
run out of comps, a host can comp you only if you have that room and charge to
room. But you cannot get a host or total reward club to issue you a comp
since they don't own the restaurant. Oddity #2 - if you are 7 Stars you can
use this for your birthday meal (highly recommended). Host must be contacted
in advance and issue you (or take to restaurant) a "hard comp" for $400 -- and
you don't need to have a room.
Food is pricier than at Alize - with some of the entrees that Alize charges
about $35 for more like $48 here. Strangely - no French onion soup! Hey
guys - this is Paris?! Appetizer selection not as good as Alize. Due to higher
prices, we cut out 1 appetizer or salad to squeeze in $100 per person price.
Veggies all seemed to be ala carte, and waiter didn't advise us of extra
costs when he pushed us to order potatoes, etc. Service not nearly as good as
Alize.
The one thing that was better was the deserts - they were really great.
They have the usual souffles too (didn't try one).
View here is of the Bellagio fountain. As with Alize, try to reserve early
or ask for a window table. Sun sets in West, the view you are looking at, so
shades are partially drawn if you arrive in the daytime, until sun goes
down. At that point the shades are pulled up (thankfully). Eiffel Tower is also
open for lunch, which might be a cheaper alternative, but the Bellagio
Fountain show doesn't start til 3pm. Even with shades, the view is good, though
not as good overall as Alize view.
Overall I'd say Alize is better, but Eiffel Tower did have its good points.
It was nice to be able to go to both within a few days - a double splurge we
don't usually have a chance to do. Fortunately I had a lot of Palms points
and 7 Star birthday dinner and friends to take.
For holidays, Alize has a holiday menu, so if you are looking to go out on a
holiday to a splurge restaurant, it can be a nice choice.
Only thing missing from both restaurants - a great piano player with live
music.
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