Category: Reviews

NOODLE EXCHANGE

Kevin and Carrie Wu’s eateries in the Gold Coast are about the only things that can get us into that hotel. But get us there they do, with not only the best dim sum in town (Ping Pang Pong), but now with Noodle Exchange, his open-kitchen riff on the stuff that Marco Polo made famous.

NE is small — around 65 seats — but even in peak times the made-to-order noodle dishes come out fast and furious, so you won’t wait long. The menu covers most of Asia (excepting Vietnamese pho) with classic renditions of Chinese recipes like Peking Duck, Dan Dan noodles and seafood in lettuce cups, as well as variations on Japanese ramen and even Singapore-inspired noodles. But Asian pasta is only half of the story here. Its hot and sour soup is both (something rarer than you’d think), and The Food Gal was ecstatic over the fresh fruit infused green tea and the superior sorbets that ended the meal.

Prices are amazingly low — the duck is 1/4 what you’d pay on the Strip — and the freshness and snap of the stir-fries, and the treasures within the bento boxes, explains why you’re the only gaijin in the joint.

NOODLE EXCHANGE

In the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino

4000 W. Flamingo Road

702.367.7111

open 3 p.m. to midnight daily

http://www.goldcoastcasino.com/dining/noodle-exchange

APPLEBEE’S

ELV usually doesn’t eat at possessive restaurants (Applebee’s, Chili’s, T.G.I. Friday’s, et al), but occasionally his staff does. To us, they symbolize all that is wrong with eating and eating out in America. The faux homey-ness, prepackaged protein, mass-marketed fat, carbs and sugar are revolting to anyone who cares about what they put in their bodies. And that preternatural cheeriness and forced fun is cheesy beyond belief. But as we all know, cheesiness (in all its forms) is what sells food to A-mur-i-cans.

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FLEUR DE LYS

Fleur de Lys is the most under-the-radar fine dining spot in Vegas. It’s beautiful, romantic, sophisticated, vegetarian-friendly, easy to get to, and a wino and cocktail lovers delight. The service is also top notch, and they even have a $5,000 hamburger on the menu,* for those who insist. Oh yeah, and it employs mega babes both out front: and to serve you the staff of life: Other than that, ELV hates the place.**

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* The burger is actually free. It’s the bottle of Chateau Petrus that costs 5k.

** ELV is being ironic. Fleur de Lys was ELV’s Restaurant of the Year in 2005.

Here are a few of Chef Steven Wolf’s creations (both vegetarian and non-) from a recent meal there.

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