‘WICHCRAFT
“My problem with ‘wichcraft,” says the Burger Maven of Las Vegas, “is that it’s okay, but it isn’t that great…even though he (owner/Top Chef star/judge/über-chef Tom Colicchio) loves to tear Top Chef cheftestants a new asshole over the sandwiches they make.”
Sheepishly, we have to admit to him that we’ve never been, even though Colicchio’s casual counter has been here for years. So, we defer to the BMOLV for a bit, as we take the long, annoying hike through the always-aggravating MGM to grab a “sammie” as Rachel (“I’m not a chef”) Ray would say.
Total walking time from valet to front of sandwich shop: 10 minutes.
So we order. One chicken salad and one roasted pork panini with coppa, pepper relish and fontina cheese. Plus two sodas.
And a cookie.
Total wait time for food: 10 minutes.
Level of satisfaction: High for the chicken salad on beautifully fresh multi-grain bread, dressed with pickled red onions and roasted tomatoes — in all well-seasoned and cooked, with the ingredients in perfect proportion to their palate profile.
Level of satisfaction: Extremely low for the panini — skimpy pork, crudely place coppa, and barely there relish and cheese — no better or worse than at any number of chain sandwich shops.
Overall opinion of whether Colicchio’s judicial, sliced bread imperiousness is justified: Our burger-loving, sandwich-judgin’ friend was right. He needs to go back to sandwich school before he submarines any creations on his TV show.
Total elapsed time from finish of sandwiches, walk through the MGM, handing ticket to valet, and getting automobile for departure: 22 minutes.
Total bill: $40.
Yeah, forty bucks for sandwiches, sodas and a cookie. And the cookie was stale. Seriously stale. As in: dry and crumbly and obviously 2-3 days old.
Total overall opinion whether anyone who isn’t standing directly in front of ‘wichcraft should ever walk even a minute out of their way to grab a bite there: You make the call!
‘WICHCRAFT
In the MGM Hotel and Casino
3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702.891.1111
Restaurant reviews, quips, picks and pans-with some seriously salivating history-from the man who eats his way through Sin City every day.
October 29th, 2011 at 9:33 am
Agreed. Wolfgang Puck sandwiches at the airport are better. Colicchio’s a sellout here.
October 29th, 2011 at 10:34 am
How would you compare it to Earl of Sandwich, or Capriottis, as a n experience or value?
October 29th, 2011 at 12:13 pm
Never been to this one, but I can confirm that the San Francisco location is more of the same. The MGM location forces you to walk past so much food to find it, that I would never have bothered.
October 30th, 2011 at 6:45 am
I’ve eaten at Wichcraft three times and aside from a dill pickle I remember, (which probably wasn’t brined inhouse), it’s been a disappointment each time. To me it’s the age-old Celebrity Chef problem yet on a “sandwich” level. Colicchio lends his name and maybe, maybe, comes up with some trendy sounding “sammies.” Yet in a rush to shovel a $40 lunch for two down the throats of the throngs, he, (Colicchio), fails to follow-through and doesn’t keep watch over the minimum-wage MGM kids slathering mayo on his bread.
November 11th, 2011 at 9:07 am
Capriotti’s sells a great sandwich. I am not a fan of the very vanilla Earl of Sandwich. Wichcraft was OK in my book, not warranting a special return trip though.
There is a new place in town, well I think they’ve been around for a year or so. Which Wich Superior Sandwiches on North Rainbow and Lake Mead sells some awesome eats. A Dallas born concept with over 50 choices, 3 sizes and more ingredients to assemble you’re “Wich” with than I can name.
The bread here is awesome. Better than the likes of Subway, Firehouse, Jimmy Johns and Port O Subs.
My new favorite joint for affordable (under $6.00), tasty, filling and deeeelicious sandwiches…….