MILOS’ $20.11 Lunch Marks Vegas’ Return to Civilization

Restaurants are the last refuge of civilization on the planet – Guy Savoy

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“Ahhh civilization, ” is the first thing ELV utters whenever he finds himself on the streets of New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Hong Kong, London, Rome (Italy, not Georgia) or Paris (France, not Tennessee). Civilized folks in big cities take time for a proper lunch. Not a sandwich standing up or a shitty salad bar or a cattle call buffet. A proper lunch. In  a res-taur-ant if you have the time and money, or a cafe, bistro, trattoria, noodle or dim sum shop if you don’t.

A proper lunch, in a restaurant restores you — that’s where the word restaurant comes from after all — and makes the rest of the day seem that much more pleasant. A stuff-your-pie-hole feeding frenzy just reminds us of the low-bred animals we really are. (Something ELV needs no reminders of.)

Unfortunately, because of these reminders all over Vegas, we are we continually depressed by Vegas’ paucity of decent lunch restaurants. Outside of Chinatown, there’s but a handful of them worth going to, and the number of decent, white tablecloth joints open for the midday meal is even rarer.

ELV has heard all the excuses: A small, cheap, geographically diverse white-collar community, a downtown devoted to the nickel beer crowd, conventioneers who are too busy and all other tourists too hung over to pay much attention to food until late-afternoon. Circo held out against this tide for several years, but 9-11 did its lunch service in, and among our hotels (even the fancy ones) you’re hard pressed to find a gastronomic restaurant with the slightest interest in serving food before 5 o’clock (steakhouses don’t count, although we’ll make an exception for Carnevino and P. J. Clarke’s). Until two days ago, the best lunches (meaning: the great food in swanky surroundings) were at Eiffel Tower Restaurant, Carnevino, Spago, Vintner Grill, P. J. Clarke’s, and MOzen. A few are served on a white tablecloth, NOT another Sandy Chilewich grody placemat holding the crumbs, dirt, refuse and precious bodily fluids of who knows how many prior diners.

These germ magnets are irresistible to restaurateurs for the savings and hip/casual vibe they represent, but at a certain level of gastronomy — meaning anyplace charging more than $40 an entree — they should be deep-sixed faster than a Gary Busey/David Carradine vehicle.

Which brings us back to Estiatorios Milos. Calling it the best Greek restaurant in town is the ultimate understatement. It’s like calling Celine Dion the best singer in town. Each is so good* it doesn’t matter who’s in second place.

Milos’ lunch started this past Wednesday and might be the best deal in fine food, in Las Vegas…ever. For a paltry twenty bucks, you get the whole white tablecloth treatment, top shelf service, a beautiful setting, our town’s prettiest patio, AND a choice of nine apps, six mains, and three, non-fattening desserts.

Since we generally hate salmon anywhere but the Pacific Northwest, we decided on an all-salmon lunch. (“That’s what professionals do,” we reminded The Food Gal®, “eat things they don’t like to see how if/how a restaurant can handle them.”) Adorning our beluga (large) lentil salad with bits of feta and red onions was the sweetest, freshest, richest smoked salmon we’ve ever experienced this side of Seattle. Thick and fat, those orange pink slices were a marvel alongside bites of the tender, earthy lentils (something else ELV generally deplores). All in all, a flat out winner with a taste we can still recall and can’t wait to try again. Just as stunning: Hortopita — house-made phyllo stuffed with wild greens tasting as if they were picked that morning — with a big dollop of herb-flecked, thick Greek yogurt and artisanal salumi, all equally fork-dropping in their intensity.

Our mains were none less impressive. Honjake (farm raised) salmon was a revelation. Thick, fat, bursting with flavor, we would’ve sworn it was wild. The lamb chop is the best in town (don’t argue with me Mancini), period, and just the right portion for the middle of the day. Most of the other dishes we’ve had as part of several dinners here, and are definitive versions of whatever is being served: be it a Greek meze platter, tomato salad, grilled octopi, shrimp saganaki or a Maryland crab cake that has no equal.

On second thought, forget the Greek thing. Milos is one of our town’s best restaurants, period. This lunch is so good, and so reasonable, it would be a bargain at twice the price. You ought to feel guilty for getting such a deal, but wethinks Costas Spiliadis would rather you sit back, order a nice glass from the all-Greek wines-by-the-glass list, and enjoy a little slice of civilization in our humble burg.

Because, as he will tell you, civilization is something Greeks invented.

And we’re sure a proper lunch wasn’t far behind.

Milos’ patio lunch is served Mon.-Fri.

ESTIATORIO MILOS

In The Cosmopolitan Hotel and Casino

3708 Las Vegas Blvd. South

Las Vegas, NV 89109

702.698.7930

www.estiatoriomilos.com

* ELV is no fan of Celine’s breathy, overblown,  melisma-infused, soccer-mom schmaltz-fests, but there’s no denying the gal’s got major chops.

4 thoughts on “MILOS’ $20.11 Lunch Marks Vegas’ Return to Civilization

  1. As one of Sandy Chilewich’s largest independent accounts and someone who has worked closely with her for 15+ years you can’t be more wrong, John. In a perfect Curtasian world perhaps everyone would only eat on white tablecloths- but Sandy is a designer and weaver, and her product has allowed table decor to interact with interior design seamlessly, increasing the dining experience when presented and used properly. Furthermore, her grody placemats are easily cleaned and a decent restaurant should do so after each meal. They are durable and last far longer than a traditional white cloth- therefore reducing each table setting cost (as you stated). I would suggest if you find a grody Chilewich product you leave the restaurant. I don’t eat in filth. Pigs do.
    Yes, I sell Chilewich, but I have not sold to the hotels in Vegas. Conflict be damned, I personally feel this is a good product.
    That being said I seriously doubt Milos is making a dime on lunch unless packed to capacity- and the cost of tablecloth cleaning is a significant expense. I think perhaps a better target would be the fact the Milos is privately owned and therefore implementing measures to increase business versus the subsidized partnerships. How about a story on free market dining in Vegas?
    I am, however, extremely happy that Milos is doing this lunch and I hope that many other locals will pack that place to capacity every lunch hour. And I do agree with you about the $40 idea. For $40 the place had better be A-1. Just don’t pick on Sandy. Pick on those $40 dudes where you choose to dine and glorify on a regular basis. They could (and should) do better.

  2. John you hit this one on the nose, we also had a great experience at Milos. As you said we almost(ALMOST) felt guilty about the 20 dollar lunch. We did upgrade and ordered the 15.00 add-on 1lb lobster tail pasta and added a few nice Greek wines by the glass so our total lunch Tab for 2 was 129.00 plus tip..We loved it, service was great, food was excellent and the view was fantastic..Thanks for the heads up…Cooper & Lis

  3. I’m starting to believe that their oyster selection rivals or surpasses Bouchon. My wife goes through oysters like a whale shark goes through krill and she has the highest regard for their raw bar and so do I. Also, the Grecian Bottarga they serve at Milos is a nicotine substitute I think too, because I’m addicted to it and have consumed the Sardinian variety for years without the same enthusiasm. Further, if you are lucky enough to try the black spotted snapper they get from Portugal, you wont be disappointed. I wish I had more time to take advantage of their lunch.

  4. I had the lunch special yesterday. What a deal…even with the ten dollar upgrade to the grilled octopus app. Great food, polished service, a nice atmosphere, and a hot hostess. Thanks for letting us know about this, John.

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