Miss Irene Goes to Vegas Part Deux: Payard, "Bargain" Dining at Guy Savoy

Payard at Caesars Palace

Every now and again, the Los Angeles Times sends S. Irene Virbila to wine and dine at the resorts in Vegas because, you know, there aren't enough places to cover in LA. She doesn't write reviews, per se, but she definitely doles it out, Miss Irene-style. Yesterday, it was all about the Palazzo restaurants---Batali's Carnevino, Wolfgang Puck's new Cut, Restaurant Charlie from Charlie Trotter, and Emeril Lagasse's Table 10. Today, we have Miss Ireneisms from the rest, and in truth, she picks some winners: breakfast at Payard, oysters at Bouchon, and bargain dining at Lotus of Siam and Guy Savoy, if a $75 glass of Champagne at Guy Savoy is a bargain to you. "Budget" dining is in the eye of the wallet-holder, that's for sure.

Payard Patisserie and Bistro at Caesars Palace:
"Breakfast here is sheer poetry. For a mere $16, you get good, strong coffee, fresh-squeezed orange juice and as many of Payard's exquisite morning pastries as you can devour in one sitting. That means a croissant so buttery and flaky, you and the table are covered in crumbs at the first bite. You'd be hard-pressed to find one anywhere in Paris (I mean the real Paris) of this caliber."

Bargains:
Lotus of Siam: "For the price of a bowl of soup at some of the Strip's top restaurants, you can feast on Thai dishes from the tremendously talented chef and owner, Saipin Chutima....The wine list is remarkable too: heavy on Austrian Rieslings and German Gewürztraminers, and put together by the sommeliers in town who love this place."

Espressamente Illy at Palazzo: "The vibe is smart and urban (that's why so many vacationing Europeans make this their morning coffee spot). The morning pastries could be better, but if you require the jump-start of a truly ferocious latte, an extra shot of espresso is just a buck."

Bouchon at Venetian: "Sit down at the zinc bar with a loved one, order a glass of Sancerre and a petit plateau with pristinely fresh oysters, clams, mussels, half a lobster and shrimp. It's the best seafood platter this side of the Seine."

Bubble Bar at Guy Savoy: "Taste Monsieur Savoy's famous artichoke and black truffle soup or his oysters in ice gelée. The Champagne will set you back a bit, though. The least expensive bubbly by the glass is a private label blanc de blancs at $29 a glass. The most expensive? That's $75 a glass for Krug Grande Cuvée, naturellement."
· Miss Irene Goes to Vegas: The Palazzo Restaurants [~ELA~]
· Payard Pâtisserie & Bistro -- the best deal in Vegas [~ELA~]
· Las Vegas Hot Spots for Diners on a Budget [~ELA~]