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Ramsey - thy name is irony!
May. 21st, 2013 03:45 pmSo last night I thought I'd check out Ramsey's 'Pub and Grill' in Cesar's Palace. I hear so many good things about his cooking and restaurants in general that I thought it would be a nice treat.
Um. Well. Yes indeed.
So, I have watched my fair share of Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares. Mostly his formula is pretty generic. Source fresh local ingredients, cook them well, have a simple menu and have well trained staff who know their shit.
I was prepared to give him a pass on the actual ingredients as I assume there isn't a lot of option around Vegas itself. But the rest? Well...
Firstly it took half an hour to get a table. This wasn't such a problem as they had a fairly decent mobile alert system, so I got an SMS when my table was ready and I wandered back over and was seated. First problem, the menu was a little odd. A giant book with a preamble explaining how this experience was just like a London Pub. Sadly, it was not like any London pub I've ever been to. Second, there was no drinks list. Third. there was not waiter.
Eventually one turned up and asked what I'd like to drink. I asked if they had such a thing as a wine list... she vanished for another 5 minutes returning with an iPad... yes folks, the wine list was on the iPad. And a weird selection it was too... at least that much was in line with a London pub. Except, when she finally came back they didn't have the wines I wanted, and apparently hadn't for a while. I was hankering for a nice Malbec. Her suggestion was to have a Pinot Noir. Now, I'm no particular expert, but I know the difference between a light fruity table wine and a heavy robust one.
I say I'll think about it, and off she goes. For another 5 minutes. So at this stage I've been sitting there about 15-20 minutes, and haven't even been able to order a drink. Eventually I attract the attention of the manager who apologises and asks what I'd like. I look down the beer list and ask for a pint of bitter.
Guess what.
They don't have that either.
I got up and left at that point.
Um. Well. Yes indeed.
So, I have watched my fair share of Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares. Mostly his formula is pretty generic. Source fresh local ingredients, cook them well, have a simple menu and have well trained staff who know their shit.
I was prepared to give him a pass on the actual ingredients as I assume there isn't a lot of option around Vegas itself. But the rest? Well...
Firstly it took half an hour to get a table. This wasn't such a problem as they had a fairly decent mobile alert system, so I got an SMS when my table was ready and I wandered back over and was seated. First problem, the menu was a little odd. A giant book with a preamble explaining how this experience was just like a London Pub. Sadly, it was not like any London pub I've ever been to. Second, there was no drinks list. Third. there was not waiter.
Eventually one turned up and asked what I'd like to drink. I asked if they had such a thing as a wine list... she vanished for another 5 minutes returning with an iPad... yes folks, the wine list was on the iPad. And a weird selection it was too... at least that much was in line with a London pub. Except, when she finally came back they didn't have the wines I wanted, and apparently hadn't for a while. I was hankering for a nice Malbec. Her suggestion was to have a Pinot Noir. Now, I'm no particular expert, but I know the difference between a light fruity table wine and a heavy robust one.
I say I'll think about it, and off she goes. For another 5 minutes. So at this stage I've been sitting there about 15-20 minutes, and haven't even been able to order a drink. Eventually I attract the attention of the manager who apologises and asks what I'd like. I look down the beer list and ask for a pint of bitter.
Guess what.
They don't have that either.
I got up and left at that point.
