Will be in St Louis next week driving from Chicago to see the sights.
We are staying at Harrah`s for 3 days. Recommended restaurants,
sights, other casinos will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Carol M
restaurants and gaming
Will be in St Louis next week driving from Chicago to see the
sights.
Welcome to St. Louis; I hope you have a winning time at Harrah's.
Across the Missouri river on I-70 west from Harrah's (5-10 minute
drive, stay in the right lane), you will find the city of St. Charles
and the Ameristar casino. Main Street St. Charles has cobblestone
streets and quaint shops. It was the starting point of the Lewis and
Clark Corps of Discovery exploration in 1804, so there is a lot of
history here.
And, it has the spectacular Ameristar Casino. The Ameristar BUFFET is
top-notch, as good as any in Las Vegas. Avoid Tuesday and Friday
nights unless you want to wait an hour in line for crab legs ($19.99
per person). Other buffet nights are in the $16-$18 range. This
buffet is the best restaurant in this part of town (far west of St
Louis, beyond the airport, on the Missouri River). The evening
buffet has excellent planked salmon every night, as well as other
carving station items and a Mongolian Grill (soon to be remodeled by
their new corporate Japanese chef).
If you make significant play at Ameristar (more than 100 points on
your player card), go to the slot club at the end of your play and
ask if you have any comps or cashback. There are discretionary comps
(not available at Harrah's), and they can be quite generous ($9 -
$60+ for EACH of you, depending on your play). Additionally, the
points you put on are available for comps also, OR for cashback (but
not both). If you don't want to use your discretionary comps for a
restaurant, stop at the Falcon Diner and pick up a couple of pies or
cakes to take home.You can even buy bottled Pepsis or candy with
comps. Discretionary comps are good for 7 days, so you can come back
at the end of your visit to load up on food. I highly recommed the
plain cheescake, which is far from "plain." A piece is $5 and a
whole cake is about $30-$40.
The sit-down restaurant at Ameristar, 47 Port Street, is also very
good. The crab cakes are superb, but the steaks are nearly always
cooked wrong. Be careful there. Decor is nice.
I do not recommend the seafood restaurant at either Harrah's or
Ameristar.
Harrah's restaurants, in order of good to less good:
Charlie Gitto's is a representative of St Louis Italian
community, "The Hill." It is very good, and they even have Prime
steaks that are better than Harrah's own steak house, the Range.
Beware of "Provel" cheese; if you are not familiar with this strange
St. Louis goo, ask that they substitute mozzarella instead. Avoid
the "before 6 specials." They are smaller portions and are
uninteresting. Portions generally do not include sides. Prices are
somewhat high.
The Range Steak house is good because the prices are relatively low.
Otherwise it is very ordinary. The Jumbo shrimp available on several
appetizers and entrees are HUGE. The Salmon entree is very good.
Salad and sides are included.
I have never eaten at the Voodoo lounge since it first opened (by
invitation), and don't recommend it. It may be better now. The
sandwich and pastry shop, Club Aroma, is just okay.
The Harrah's buffet is just okay too. Ameristar's is light years
better. However, Harrah's buffet has a Satuday night special this
month (September) with up to 2 live lobsters per person for $26 each.
I do NOT recommend the seafood restaurant.
One food specialty of St. Louis is Toasted Ravioli. You can get this
at the Harrah's buffet or at Charlie Gitto's. Nothing special, but if
you want an authentic food, that's it.
Drinks on the casino floor are not free. There are self-serve
Pepsi/Coffee stands everywhere in the casino.
If you are from Chicago you may be familiar with Missouri laws which
requires each of you to have your OWN player card, which is swiped as
you enter the casino. There is a $500 loss limit per two hours (even-
numbered hours), so be careful feeding hundred dollar bills. Feed
tickets wherever possible rather than cashing them in.
Good luck; comments are welcome about my opinions.
- bcc
>Carol asked: Will be in St Louis next week driving from Chicago to
see the
sights.
You didnt specify how many in your group, but StL has lots of
activities besides gambling, and they are mostly free or very low
cost. Of course there is the Arch with a nice view from the top and a
interesting museum about the westward expansion below (inside). Our
Zoo is really great and has a new elephant/ other animal area call the
River walk that is really nice. Also near Forest park (where the zoo
is) there are many older homes and the central west end, that has lots
of resturants and shops to visit. I agree with the previous responder
mostly, and will throw in a few additional comments below.
Welcome to St. Louis; I hope you have a winning time at Harrah's.
Across the Missouri river on I-70 west from Harrah's (5-10 minute
drive, stay in the right lane), you will find the city of St. Charles
and the Ameristar casino. Main Street St. Charles has cobblestone
streets and quaint shops. It was the starting point of the Lewis and
Clark Corps of Discovery exploration in 1804, so there is a lot of
history here.And, it has the spectacular Ameristar Casino. The Ameristar BUFFET is
top-notch, as good as any in Las Vegas. Avoid Tuesday and Friday
nights unless you want to wait an hour in line for crab legs ($19.99
per person). Other buffet nights are in the $16-$18 range. This
buffet is the best restaurant in this part of town (far west of St
Louis, beyond the airport, on the Missouri River). The evening
buffet has excellent planked salmon every night, as well as other
carving station items and a Mongolian Grill (soon to be remodeled by
their new corporate Japanese chef).If you make significant play at Ameristar (more than 100 points on
your player card), go to the slot club at the end of your play and
ask if you have any comps or cashback. There are discretionary comps
(not available at Harrah's), and they can be quite generous ($9 -
$60+ for EACH of you, depending on your play). Additionally, the
points you put on are available for comps also, OR for cashback (but
not both). If you don't want to use your discretionary comps for a
restaurant, stop at the Falcon Diner and pick up a couple of pies or
cakes to take home.You can even buy bottled Pepsis or candy with
comps. Discretionary comps are good for 7 days, so you can come back
at the end of your visit to load up on food. I highly recommed the
plain cheescake, which is far from "plain." A piece is $5 and a
whole cake is about $30-$40.The sit-down restaurant at Ameristar, 47 Port Street, is also very
good. The crab cakes are superb, but the steaks are nearly always
cooked wrong. Be careful there. Decor is nice.
Correct on the steaks, never know if they will be overcooked, better
to order a little less done then you normally would, also many other
fine dishes to order beside red meat. prices are fair about $25 to 50
per person depending on drinks and item ordered
I do not recommend the seafood restaurant at either Harrah's or
Ameristar.
I love seafood, but have eaten at Pearls only once, about a year ago,
it was fine, but my wife hated the 'seafood smell' in the whole area.
Harrahs has Mobys, it is acceptable, but somewhat hit or miss. If you
are in the mood for seafood you may be happy. Fairly priced, $15 to
$30 per person
Harrah's restaurants, in order of good to less good:
Charlie Gitto's is a representative of St Louis Italian
community, "The Hill." It is very good, and they even have Prime
steaks that are better than Harrah's own steak house, the Range.
Beware of "Provel" cheese; if you are not familiar with this strange
St. Louis goo, ask that they substitute mozzarella instead. Avoid
the "before 6 specials." They are smaller portions and are
uninteresting. Portions generally do not include sides. Prices are
somewhat high.
Wife and I dont care for Gittos, overpriced and stuffy atmosphere.
Food is usually good if you dont mind the other comments.
The Range Steak house is good because the prices are relatively low.
Otherwise it is very ordinary. The Jumbo shrimp available on several
appetizers and entrees are HUGE. The Salmon entree is very good.
Salad and sides are included.
Again, not great, but not bad, and prices are fair.
I have never eaten at the Voodoo lounge since it first opened (by
invitation), and don't recommend it. It may be better now. The
sandwich and pastry shop, Club Aroma, is just okay.
The menu has changed several times, foof is usually better than 'bar
food' and prices are reasonable. $8 to $15. the burgers are huge and
inexpensive. Right now they have thier 1/2 lb. burgers on football
days for only $2 (crazy).
The Harrah's buffet is just okay too. Ameristar's is light years
better. However, Harrah's buffet has a Satuday night special this
month (September) with up to 2 live lobsters per person for $26 each.I do NOT recommend the seafood restaurant.
One food specialty of St. Louis is Toasted Ravioli. You can get this
at the Harrah's buffet or at Charlie Gitto's. Nothing special, but if
you want an authentic food, that's it.
The toasted ravioli at Gittos is a specialty item and very good.
Everywhere else it is frozen and OK, not nearly the same.
Drinks on the casino floor are not free. There are self-serve
Pepsi/Coffee stands everywhere in the casino.If you are from Chicago you may be familiar with Missouri laws which
requires each of you to have your OWN player card, which is swiped as
you enter the casino. There is a $500 loss limit per two hours (even-
numbered hours), so be careful feeding hundred dollar bills. Feed
tickets wherever possible rather than cashing them in.Good luck; comments are welcome about my opinions.
- bcc
Gambling at either location is not great. Harrahs has the bank of 12
machines on the island side with 'full pay' games at .25 thru $2
single line. Ameristar prefers if you just mail a check, so you dont
have to waste any time actually gambling. Also, Ameristar just reduced
thier slot cash back from .25% to about .21% and thier VP cash back
from .25% to about .1%
Jim
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