Review: Mesa Grill Las Vegas

On a recent visit to Las Vegas I was fortunate enough to eat lunch at celebrity chef Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill. Located among the superbly lavish surroundings of Caesar’s Palace casino, just a short walk from the Forum Shoppes, and placed directly behind the sportsbook (a location not lost on this author). Mesa Grill did not disappoint.

Unlike many of the other more upscale restaurants in Vegas Mesa Grill embraces the bright lights and in your face attitude of the city, along with the spicy and always varied cuisine of the American Southwest. A marvelous wood sculpture adorns the ceiling and the entire restaurant is bordered in multi-colored stained glass that adds a flair of style while also separating diners from the casino. As soon as we were seated at our table an incredibly attentive (though not overly so) and extremely helpful waiter was beside us. Our glasses were filled and a basket with several different styles of bread and muffins was delivered, all with very informative descriptions from the waiter. Our orders were taken and lunch was underway.

As an appetizer we ordered the Steak Tartar, perhaps a rather unusual choice for a Southwestern dining establishment. We were not disappointed. The first bite hit me in the mouth with a thousand different flavors and every one of them was delicious. The tartar was fresh and perfectly seasoned to give just the right amount of kick while still retaining the delicious integrity of the steak. Needless to say we devoured this and were eagerly awaiting our entrees.

For lunch I ordered the Mesa Burger (pictured above). I chose the burger primarily because it bore the Mesa Grill name in the title and I was curious to see how Chef Flay could have improved upon such a classic. The burger was massive. It was nearly impossible for me to get my mouth around it, and I consider myself a fairly accomplished eater. The burger itself was huge, and it was topped with cheese and onions on a delicious and very thick bun. Every bite oozed grease and juice onto my plate. The burger eventually devolved into somewhat of an oozy mess, but there was no way I could finish it anyway. As a side the Mesa Burger came with fries and some sort of horseradish mustard that was incredibly spicy. The fries were disappointing and soggy. The mustard was intensely spicy; I loved it but some diners might find it too aggressive.

All things considered the meal was good, not amazing and not bad, but very satisfactory. The steak tartar had easily stolen the day and would be worth another trip by itself. The burger was well prepared but was simply just too much and it didn’t “wow” me. The fries were the most disappointing part of the meal as they were soggy, limp, and not well cooked. The service was flawless and truly amazing. We still talk about the excellent service to this day. The price tag for the entire meal was perhaps the most amazing part as I left a $20 bill to cover lunch and the tip.

Despite certain shortcomings Mesa Grill was a great experience. While some of the food did not blow me away the atmosphere and service at Mesa Grill were both extraordinary. It is also very nice to see mega-celebrity chefs like Bobby Flay packaging their wares in a way that is affordable for a wide range of people. Mesa Grill is definitely worth a visit.

Get more information at their website: Mesa Grill Las Vegas

It’s Almost Baseball Season

When I stepped outside today I noticed a strange phenomenon I’d almost forgot existed: melting snow. Winter is receding and I can taste spring in the air and you know what that means: slowly but surely it will soon be baseball season.

Baseball season for me tends to be bittersweet as I am a Chicago Cubs fan. As many of you undoubtedly have heard the Cubs aren’t exactly the Yankees, having not won a World Series in more than a century. My grandfather recently passed away at 82 years old, watched the Cubs his entire life, and never saw them win a WS. Now that, my friends, is a true fan.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom, after all this will be “next year” so its a fresh start. So I would like to focus not so much on the game but on all of its incredible trappings. Baseball parks, hot dogs, nachos, spring weather, roaring fans, good beer, the national anthem and the seventh inning stretch (at Wrigley anyway) all combine to make baseball America’s sport. Whether or not you even enjoy the game get out to the ballpark this year and I promise you will enjoy your time there.

It’s coming up soon, spring training starts April 1. Go Cubs Go!

Travel as Far as the Eye Can See

As school winds down and the future looks more and more wide open (since – as many of us know to well – job opportunities aren’t exactly flooding my inbox) I have been thinking more and more about traveling. Many people will tell you, “Go to school now, save up, raise a family – then you can travel.” First off, I don’t want to wait fifty years to see things I’m not positive will exist by then, and second my idea of the perfect trip probably doesn’t appeal to many seniors.

I want to get down and dirty everywhere I go. I want to eat street food, sleep in hostels, ride in cramped buses, and generally just experience all the things I can. Like Tony Bourdain, but without all the leather and television crew.

But Tony has certain benefits I lack. The most important of these is, of course, money. So how can I travel as much as possible on the least coin possible? I’m sure people out there have amazing stories and travel “hacks” so share ‘em with the community. While you wait check out some interesting travel oddities from around the net.

Take a Cruise Around the World

My Travel Backpack is a great little travel blog

The always classic Where the Hell is Matt?