Las Vegas Weekly

April 16, 2009 · 8:46 AM

Restaurant Roundup: Serendipity 3’s a real treat; Wynn chefs’ meal deals

By Robin Leach

Alison Michele Cronin, Miss Massachusetts USA 2009; Carrie Prejean, Miss California USA 2009; Aureana Tseu, Miss Hawaii USA 2009; and Nicole White, Miss District Of Columbia USA 2009, at Serendipity 3 in Caesars Palace on April 7.

Photo: Patrick Prather

For more than 50 years, Serendipity, one of New York City’s most beloved eateries, has catered to celebrities, industry leaders and Wall Street wizards. All because of a one-of-a-kind dining experience, big portions of home-style food and the world’s largest ice cream desserts!

Now in just one week of its first outlet here at Caesars Palace, Serendipity 3 has set off the same fervor: People line up around the corner and wait for as long as an hour to attack the massive menu. The visiting Miss USA 2009 Pageant contestants were there recently for a video segment that will be included in Sunday’s NBC telecast.

Everybody from Barbra Streisand to Cher to Cameron Diaz to Anderson Cooper are seen there frequently. John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale’s film Serendipity filmed there, and the girls from Sex and the City shot there, as well -- and returned to eat as regulars. Andy Warhol often exchanged drawings for his meals rather than pay the check!

Photo: Patrick Prather

Aureana Tseu, Miss Hawaii USA 2009; Maria Elizabeth Montgomery, Miss Kentucky USA 2009; and Carrie Prejean, Miss California USA 2009, at Serendipity 3 in Caesars Palace on April 7.

What began as a $300 investment in a four table, 16-chair ice cream shop grew to a two-story townhouse highlighted with colorful Tiffany-style lamps and 19th century vintage furniture. Now it’s authentically been re-created at Caesars complete with the eccentric meals, sprawling menu and giant desserts -- and it’s located right on the Strip outside the Caesars fountains.

I popped in to see if the move to Sin City from the Big Apple had gone well, and I can tell you that they haven’t missed a trick! The atmosphere is duplicated perfectly right down to the pink canopies and heart-shaped chairs. I spotted the heads of four resort casinos attacking giant ice cream sundaes. Expect to see Caesars Palace regulars Cher and Bette Midler there enjoying the transplanted Manhattan landmark.

This is comfort food priced right, with most menu items priced at $15 at the top end, with a few costing $20. Check out the 15-inch-long hot dog or Cher’s favorite Young Chicken sandwich. Drinks are $12 and three times the size of a regular bar glass.

The highest-priced item is the staggering Golden Opulence Sundae at $1,000, but you can bring every resident on your block to enjoy it with you! Do not miss the ‘frrrrrrozen hot chocolate,” but ask for the new Robin special because I added Frangelica in the centerpiece, and as it all melted, everybody loved the new creation!

Photo: TVT

Switch chef Marc Poidevin and the not-to-be-missed chilled seafood tower.

Wynn and Encore restaurants

The star chefs at Wynn and Encore have come up with a unique tasting concept as their contribution to the economic stimulus needed here in Las Vegas. Kitchen kings including Alex Stratta, Daniel Boulud, Paul Bartolotta and Marc Poidevin have created prix-fixed menus to showcase their culinary skills for before or after primetime dining hours.

At Switch before 7:30 p.m. nightly, there’s a new $59 three-course meal with each highlighting two of the chef’s specialties. At Stratta from 5 to 7 p.m. and again from 9:30 to 10:30 p.m., another three-course meal at $45 has four choices for each course. At Daniel Boulud, it’s three courses with four selections each for $36 to $42. Paul Bartolotta offers amazing selections midweek from 5 to 10 p.m., and only up until 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, at $75 per person while at the gourmet heaven known as Alex. Two choices for each of the three courses are served before 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays at $95 per person.

Photo: The Wynn

Wynn chef Paul Bartolotta.

“We wanted to give a new audience an opportunity to enjoy a restaurant experience that they may have thought way beyond their reach,” one of the Wynn/Encore food and beverage executives told me. “These Taste of Wynn menus were created to make a great restaurant experience accessible at a great price point.

“In planning these menus with great variety, the clear direction was to stay true to the chef’s concept and continue to use the finest ingredients possible so that the dining experience is never compromised.”

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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