My friends and I knew that we wanted to have one special evening while is Las Vegas where we could enjoy a fabulous gourmet meal and see a spectacular show. We only allow ourselves a few splurges throughout the year and we wanted to make this one special. When we reviewed the dining options in the hotel we were staying at, Wynn Las Vegas, we agreed on the steakhouse that bares Steve Wynn’s initials.
We did our research, read the reviews and even downloaded the menu prior to leaving for our trip. We all knew exactly what to expect in terms of ambiance, pricing, menu choices and dress code. We did not, however, know what to expect in the quality of food or the quality of the staff at SW. I must say one was pleasantly surprising while the other didn’t exactly live up to my expectations.
The atmosphere is very elegant without being over-stated. The dining room has deep, rich hues of browns, coppers and hints of red and boasts a lovely glass wall that allows the patrons to overlook the lake of dreams and watch a very interesting show that takes place hourly. They also have a patio where you can dine outdoors which would have been great. The patio was closed, unfortunately, as it was a bit chilly being the beginning of January. The tables were covered with white linens and the place settings were perfectly situated.
Reservations are required and we arrived exactly at our 5:30 time slot. We waited less than 5 seconds before we were seated at our table by a very professional and pleasant hostess. We were immediately greeted by one of our servers to offer drinks. My friends and I are in our early 30’s, all mothers of young children and $100 dollar bottles of wine are something we laugh at. So when I asked for the waiter to suggest a good wine to accompany our meal, he suggested a bottle for “one fifty”. My friend laughed and said, “Do you mean a dollar fifty?” We all laughed, to which he replied, “No, ma’am, I believe I would have to run to the store for that. While we were not going to indulge in an expensive bottle of wine, he did make some suggestions for some of their most budget-friendly prices by the glass, which was nice. We said thanks but no thanks on that $7 per glass of Pinot Noir.
We glanced over the menu once more and I decided on the 9 ounce fillet cooked medium rare and asked for more on the rare side. The side items were all ala carte and $10 per each selection. My two friends decided to split a steak to save money and not waste any food since we were leaving to go straight to a show after dinner. The decided to split the 12 ounce fillet and they had no problems accommodating. The side items we had decided on were Au gratin potatoes, asparagus and truffled cream corn.
We were served a bowl of French rolls and cheese and bacon dinner bread that was heavenly. The salted butter that accompanied the bread had a basil pesto olive oil drenching it that lent a very nice flavor addition to your average dinner roll.
We waited approximately 40 minutes for our dinner to arrive which was just the right amount of time. Our wait staff was the perfect blend of non-meddling and attentive assuring that our water glasses never dipped below ¾ full and that we were all comfortable. Our dinner arrived and it was a lovely sight. My steak looked like a little piece of heaven and had a nice little blue cheese puff to accompany the lonely little steak on such a large plate. They served my two friends’ steak already divided in half which was very nice, ensuring they each got an equal portion. Our steaks came with three dipping sauces: a sweet jalapeño sauce, a chili sauce and a creamy white sauce. Each lent a different addition to the great flavor of the steak, though in the end I preferred my steak just the way it was.
The asparagus was a bit disappointing for $10. It was on the soggy side and cooled very fast. The tips were delicious, and the selection was very fresh, I just prefer my asparagus very crispy. The Au gratin potatoes were perhaps some of the best I have had outside of home and served in a small copper pot which added an elegant flare. The trifled cream corn was interesting to say the least. We all wanted to try it because none of us had tasted a dish prepared with truffles so this was a first. It was delicious but so rich that we were all limited to a few bites each. I would recommend the truffled cream corn for those who enjoy deep richness or for parties of 4 or more to share.
The steaks were all cooked to exact perfection. My steak was medium rare but on the rarer side just as I had requested. My friends both commented that their steaks were prepared perfectly as well. I must say that I am a bit of a steak connoisseur. My family farms and we butcher cattle every year. I always have a deep freezer full of beef and I appreciate a great cut of beef that is prepared just right. For the price of $52 for a 9 ounce fillet and $60 for a 12 ounce fillet, I was expecting to stand up out of my chair to declare complete steak victory for SW Steakhouse. However, while my steak was indeed delicious, it didn’t supersede a fillet at Ruth’s Chris, Eddie Merlot’s, and just beat out the Victoria Fillet at Outback. Again, our meal was delicious, the ambiance was just lovely, the show was a treat and the wait staff was 10 out of 10 for sure. For the final price of our meal to be $180.00 (we drank water, ordered no appetizers and ordered no dessert or drinks) I would expect one of the best meals of my life.
My conclusion of SW Steakhouse is that we had a wonderful experience there. I do not regret choosing SW for our dining choice that evening as everything was delicious and I had no complaints. I am just more of a practical restaurant patron. Why spend $180.00 for 2 steaks, 3 sides, 3 rolls and 3 glasses of water when I can enjoy 3 steaks, 3 sides, 3 salads, 2 loaves of bread, an appetizer, 6 drinks with dinner, and a dessert for $100.00? It was a once in a life-time experience but my next trip to Vegas I may pass on the fancy schmancy restaurants and say “hellllloooo” to a terrific, upscale buffet instead.
To view the SW Steakhouse menu in it’s entirety you may download the pdf file at http://www.wynnlasvegas.com/pdf/SW082708.pdf
For more information on the SW Steakhouse, to make reservations and to view photos you may visit http://www.wynnlasvegas.com/#dining/sw/ or call their reservation hotline at 888-352-DINE.
