Mad Greek in the Desert - DJ

Mad Greek
72112 Baker Blvd
Baker, CA 92309

The world’s largest thermometer across the street was reading 109. I didn't even blame the flies for coming inside this oasis in the desert. There are signs for miles along I-15 for Mad Greeks in Baker California between Las Vegas and Las Angeles, so we had to stop to see what it was all about. I had also seen a feature on the Food Network: Guy's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives Episode DV0101.

The first thing I spotted was the big barrel of picked cucumbers, onions, carrots, cabbage, and other goodies. I scooped out a few and they were just as I expected, vinegary still with that crunch of freshly made pickles.


We stepped up to the counter to place our order there were 5 us we ordered a fairly wide selection of items.


Chicken Gyro
Gyro
Vegburger x 2
Turkey Breast grilled sandwich
Greek Salad

They were all good and before long everything was gone except for the salad which was much larger than we expected. The Chicken Gyro was very moist and tender and the accompanying yellow rice was perfect.




Rating: ***
Service:***
Value: Excellent

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On the Food Network: Guy's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives Episode DV0101

Border Grill

Border Grill
Mandalay Bay
Las Vegas, Nevada

The dish I had as described in the daily special menu.

Chicken Enchilada – Smoked Chicken & Oaxacan string cheese in a chipotle cream sauce, with an Ancho chile corn salad.

The dish was preceded with homemade corn chips and 3 salsas. There was a tomtailo, red chile, and a smoked chipolte. All 3 were good. The chips were a little greasy but were still good. They were made from thick homemade tortillas and were crispy.

The enchilada dish arrived promptly, and the presentation was very well executed. The plate had a base of the chipotle sauce with streaks of cream streaked through the sauce. The three chicken enchiladas were topped with a corn salas which consisted of asparagus that had been thinly sliced and cooked just till tender. There were also slices of Ancho chiles, corn and onion in the salad. This was topped with the string cheese.

The Chicken Enchilada’s were made of homemade corn tortillas, rolled around the chicken and cheese mixture. This dish might have been the best enchilada dish I’ve every had, except for at Orlando's in Taos, New Mexico. The thick tortilla and the chicken mixture had just the right texture and flavor.

The restaurant advertises themselves as Real Mexican, it is not the standard Tex-Mex fair. The restaurant was created by Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger. They had a Food Network show called The Two Hot Tamales when the network was still new. I still have some of their recipes. I would give this restaurant a must visit while in Las Vegas.


Rating: *****
Service: *****
Meal/Water/Tip: $30.00

The Two Hot Tamales

Gonzalez y Gonzales

Gonzalez y Gonzales
3790 S Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, Nv

I should have known when I called and ask where the restaurant was located. The answer was inside New York New York next to the ESPN Zone. The restaurant was billed on the out side as Tex-Mex. They ask if I wanted to sit at the bar, I preferred a table. There was one open near the front door.

The chips were crisp, but the salsa was not that good. No heat and not that much taste. I ordered Chicken Enchiladas with beans and rice on the side. It arrived in a timely manner. The dish was presented nicely. The chicken was tender and the sauce was good, but the dish lacked something. The rice was nice the accompanying beans were as to be expected. The meals was just not as good as I would have liked.

Women’s boxing was on the TV. The view out the door was faux New York, a deli and an Italian restaurant, with “outdoor” seating. The whole experience was lacking authenticity from a local restaurant that one might visit more than once.

Service: Good
Quantity: Plenty
Meal (Supper)/Drink/Tip: $15.00

Trattoria del Lupo

Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
Las Vegas, Nv

I went to Wolf Gang Pucks Italian Restaurant for supper with a group of people.

Several appetizers were ordered I had some of the Caprese - Heirloom Tomatoes, Buffalo Mozzarella, Aged Balsamic. They were very good tomatoes but 19.00 worth! Maybe they were shipped over from Harrods in London. There were yellow, red, and a ruby red tomato; as well as a variety of cherry tomatoes.

I ordered the Grilled Atlantic Salmon grilled over Hard Wood with Spinach, Potatoes and Salsa Verde $29.00. The presentation was not up to the price. The potatoes were greasy. The salmon was nothing special. The restaurant was too dark for a photos.

If I were to compare it to Mesa Grill I would have to give Puck 2 stars and Flay 5 stars.

Rating: **
Service: ***
Meal (Supper)/Drink/Tip: ~$50.00

Mesa Grill

Caesars Palace
3570 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
702.650.5962

Mesa Grill is buried in the back of Caesars Palace, near the sports bet area. When I arrived I was told there would be a 10 minute wait for a table. Even though there were many empty tables. It was a pleasant wait, it was cool inside. The temperature outside is a blistering 102 degrees, which must make the temperature on the street 110 at least. The high for today is suppose to be 104.

I was seated with a view of the open kitchen, which was interesting. I ordered the Roasted Corn Soup with smoked tomato salsa, and the Ancho Chile-Honey Glazed Salmon with Spicy Black Bean Sauce + Roasted Jalapeno Crema.

The table next to me received their soup before I did, so I had a commentary on the taste before mine arrived. The 12 year old described the soup as tasting like creamed corn only spicier. Mine arrived a few minutes later. I would have to agree that it did taste like creamed corn; only the corn had a roasted taste. It had a decorative sprinkling of red chili oil with the smoked tomato salsa on top of that. The tomato salsa must have had some jalapeno peppers chopped up in it as well.



The Salmon was plated attractively. It was sitting on top of a black bean sauce which was cold. I think it would have been better if it had been at least room temperature. The salmon was cooked to perfection. The honey glaze had a crunchy feel and was very good. The salmon was propped up on a pile of cooked spinach. The sauces around the edge were very colorful. There was a bright green chili oil, an ancho chile sauce, and a creamy white sauce that had smoky taste. The salmon was topped with a tomatilo salsa. The dish was very good I would give it a 5 star.

The bread basket contained a corn bread muffin that was half yellow meal and the other half was blue corn meal. It was excellent.



Rating: *****
Service: ****
Water/ Soup/Lunch: 40.00