Rice & Co.
Luxor
With the motto Eat Rice, Drink Tea, Slurp Noodles, Stay Healthy, Rice & Co. is one of the newest restaurants in the Luxor and an amazing combination of tropically influenced variations of sushi and sashimi, hibachi, teriyaki and Chinese food classics. We dined at Rice & Co. on Friday evening and were taken care of by our incredibly knowledgeable and gracious waiter Jimmy. He presented us with a selection of amazing sushi, a crab mango salad that he accurately described as ‘like having a picnic under a waterfall’ and some of the most unique and interesting drinks we’ve ever tasted (think a martini made with jalapenos and a refreshing, unique drink consisting of cucumbers and sake). Dinner was delicious orange peel chicken, Mongolian beef and some stir-fried veggies. After lingering over our drinks (and trying to convince ourselves that we weren’t too full for dessert—which we were) and basking in the gorgeous atmosphere, the manager came over and presented us with an amazing gift bag filled with Asian-inspired goodies like wasabi sesame oil, green tea and rice wine vinegar. We were so impressed with Rice & Co. and definitely recommend it for a romantic date night or a relaxed evening with the girls.
Thunder from Down Under
Excalibur
What’s a girl’s weekend in Las Vegas without attending a racy show? We were excited to see what all the hype was about surrounding the Thunder from Down Under: Australia’s Hottest Hunks. Voted the Best Male Strip Show in Las Vegas for 2011, Thunder from Down Under is a fun mix of dance routines, comedy and, of course, hot Australian men taking off their clothes. Think of firemen, business executives in suits and all the other stereotypes you can think of when it comes to hunky men along with amusing audience involvement, raunchy jokes and some really good dancing and you’ve got Thunder from Down Under. This is a perfect show for a bachelorette party, a girl’s night out or even to go with your significant other (if he’s got a good sense of humor and doesn’t embarrass easily—there were some couples in the crowd!).
Ri Ra
Mandalay Place
You don’t have to go to Ireland to get authentic Irish food and entertainment—you need look no further than Ri Ra in Mandalay Place. Crafted in the warm pub style of 19th century Ireland, Ri Ra immerses you in its atmosphere as soon you walk through the door. The furnishings and décor were shipped from Ireland and the majority of the staff is from Ireland as well. Our waiter, Brian, was from Dublin and was not only fun, but also incredibly knowledgeable about the restaurant background, the menu and the activities that go on each night (live music flown in from Ireland!). Although we didn’t get to experience the music as we went to Ri Ra for lunch, we did get to experience the amazing food. Irish potato cakes, phyllo wrapped salmon, chicken lightly sautéed with white wine lemon caper butter sauce…our meal was fantastic. It was hard to resist some of the other selections, including a Guinness burger, the ever popular fish and chips and, of course, corned beef and cabbage, but the portions were quite large and we were stuffed. We were sad that we couldn’t visit Ri Ra for dinner and experience the nightlife that we heard so much about, but we encourage you to do so! Ri Ra is a wonderful choice for an exciting night out or just some amazing Irish atmosphere and food. Amazing!
Martini and Wine Tasting Tour
www.nitetours.com
If you’re looking to explore Las Vegas a little bit with someone who knows what they’re doing, consider booking a tour with Nite Tours! In Vegas, Nite Tours offers a club crawl, a show tour and a Sip Happens (martini and wine tasting) tour as well as customized tours. We chose the Sip Happens tour for our trip, which took place in the Venetian/Palazzo. Our group consisted of about 50 people and was hosted by the wonderful Brandon. His enthusiasm, knowledge and infectious personality were perfect for this tour as he kept us all in line and entertained throughout the four plus hours of the tour. We visited Laguna for a champagne toast, Fusion for wonderful watermelon drinks, La Scena for live music and dancing, Salute for dueling pianos and then finally Lavo dance club for those who wanted to party the night away. The Martini and Wine Tasting Tour includes tastings at each location, cover charge and some fun information about Vegas throughout the tour. Perfect for those who are unfamiliar with Vegas and want to hang out with someone who knows what they’re doing or for groups who want a variety of activities and locations in one night. We can’t wait to try one of Nite Tours’ other tours when we come back!
The Beatles LOVE
by Cirque du Soleil
Mirage
If you’ve been reading our Vegas series, you know that we have an obsession with Cirque du Soleil shows! We’re getting close to having seen all of them that Vegas features and were very excited to add LOVE to our list. The show is an amazing blend of music, acrobatics and, of course, the nostalgia that comes along with the Beatles. There’s not a bad seat in the house as action is going on at all levels in the theater and the beat of the music channels through the speakers in the chair, keeping you involved and immersed in the atmosphere. The show not only showcases the Beatles’ unforgettable music, but also tells some emotionally intense stories. You’ll feel, in turn, sad and nostalgic as well as energized and enthused and you can’t help but be fascinated the spectacular costumes and athleticism that Cirque du Soleil is known for. This is no doubt a show that you will never forget and high on our list of Cirque favorites.
VooDoo Steak
Rio
At the very top of the Rio All Suites Casino and Hotel, you will find the VooDoo Steak, an amazing steak and seafood restaurant that we had the pleasure of dining at. With rich, dark hallways lit by the soft glow of candles, and eclectic décor including chairs wrapped in animal prints and walls graced with custom pieces of show-stopping art, VooDoo is certainly a unique experience. Not only is the inside atmosphere fabulous, but with the restaurant on the 50th floor, you can look out the windows and see amazing sights of the Las Vegas strip. Our service was impeccable and we were treated like royalty with custom blended Mojitos, a ‘Witch Doctor’ (an oversized bubbling, smoking drink that is out of this world) and an amazing Bayou Seafood Platter that included lobster, shrimp, crab legs, oyster shooters and more. Dinner continued with lobster bisque, a VooDoo “Menage A Trios” (petite filet, lobster tail and grilled shrimp), truffle mac and cheese and more! With the meal winding down and our leftovers packed up and ready to go for us, we were surprised by Adrian, our server, with a huge smile holding our very own Trio Mini Desserts. This included Black and White Mousse Verine, Strawberry Tiramisu, and a Coconut Fried Tart…the perfect size of each guaranteed to please everyone at your table. VooDoo is recommended as much for atmosphere as it is for the food and we promise you won’t be disappointed!
Penn & Teller
Rio
Considered the most eccentric and off-beat magicians in Las Vegas as well as the world, Penn and Teller have been performing together since 1975 and we got the chance to see them during this trip. Their constantly creative, innovative shows are an absolute delight to watch and by the end of the performance, we almost felt like they were good friends of ours. This is a crowd pleaser for all ages with the perfect mix of comedy and amazing magic. They certainly put their own spin on magic by showing you the tricks of the trade for some parts, but then astonishing you with other tricks that you’ll never be able to figure out. A true Vegas classic and perfect for any occasion or group!
Nove Italiano
Palms Casino Resort
We were excited to visit the elegant Nove Italiano in Palms Casino Resort for our last meal of the trip. Located in The Palms, Nove Italiano features classic Italian fare with contemporary accents, including a selection of seafood crudos, freshly made pastas, bistecca florentina and fresh fish prepared by Executive Chef Geno Bernardo. The dazzling atmosphere is anchored by dramatic handcrafted LED Swarovski chandeliers and again, the view of Las Vegas from the windows is breathtaking. We dined on selections like the Shrimp Francaise (jumbo shrimp in a light egg batter drizzled in a butter emulsion infused with lemon and basil), baby kona kampichi (a delicious fresh fish), and the Nove Spaghetti (featuring lobster, shrimp, crab, scallops and calamari in a light basic red sauce). All ingredients are custom selected fresh from local farmers markets and you can taste the freshness in each mouth-watering dish. Our meal concluded with a strawberry cannoli, the perfect end to a perfect meal. Recommended for a quiet, impressive dinner with your significant other or, in our case, a good friend!