Possibly one of the worst meals I've had in Las Vegas (in a fine-dining restaurant, yet) was at Gallagher's Steakhouse in the New York New York Casino/Hotel at the intersection of Tropicana and Las Vegas Blvd. The interior is modeled after the original Gallagher's in midtown Manhattan, with the exposed brickwork, autographed pictures of stars-long-gone, waiters in white coats, and thick steaks dry-aging right before your eyes in a glass-enclosed room at the entrance. That's where the similarity ends between the New York and the Las Vegas locations. Though the steaks were passable (none arrived at the table cooked as ordered) the sides were a disgrace. The Broccoli au Gratin was shriveled and dry, the onion rings were soggy and the Creamed Spinach was devoid of any taste whatsoever. Sadly, it didn't get any better from there.
I am constantly defending Las Vegas to people who call it a “rip off” and all that. I have had some wonderful steakhouse meals there (Emeril's Delmonico in the Venetian, for example) that were worth every penny. Meals like the one I had at Gallagher's simply add fuel to the naysayers' fire. Want a steak in a high-quality (albeit pricey) venue? Go to Emeril's in the MGM Grand, Delmonico in the Venetian, or Mario Batali's CarneVino in the Palazzo. They put Gallagher's to shame. Click here to see the menu. (L., D., Bar) Price range: Expensive +.
