The Chocolate Bar Las Vegas!

Have you ever dreamed of indulging in liquor mixed with your favorite chocolate or sweets? Well, that is exactly what The Chocolate Bar does. Located inside the New York, New York hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, The Chocolate Bar is sure to deliver your sweet cravings. The bar is located on the casino floor right outside of the Hershey’s Chocolate World store.

I’ve been to this sweet bar a few years back for my sister’s 21st birthday, and now that my brother was turning 21, I had to take him as well! Before sitting down, one of the bartenders sanitized the seats and set a timer for drying before we were able to sit down. Once the sanitizer was dry my brother Kieran and I sat down to order. The bartender was very friendly as he handed out our menus and even handed us a free piece of chocolate as well.

The last time I came to The Chocolate Bar I had ordered their ‘Hershey’s Chocolate Caramel Martini’ and it was chocolate and caramel heaven. The drink contains Smirnoff Kissed Caramel Vodka, Marie Brizard Chocolate Liqueur, White Chocolate Liqueor, and Cream.

This time I decided to try their signature Martini also known as the ‘Hershey’s KISSES Chocolate Signature Martini’ which consists of 360 Chocolate Vodka, Absolut Vanilla Vokda, and White Creme de Cacao. My brother also ordered one as well. The drink ended up a little too strong and the chocolate flavor didn’t stand out as well as the previous drink. It was still enjoyable though and I ended up finishing mine. It was pretty powerful for my brother and so I ended up finishing his and ordering him a different drink on the menu.

The next drink my brother tried was the jolly-rancher Martini. He originally wanted the Apple Jolly-Tini however the bartender informed us that the apple flavored candy had run out. He recommended the blue raspberry one instead. The Blue Raspberry Jolly-tini was good and it tasted exactly like the blue Jolly-Rancher. If you’re not fond of the blue rolly-rancher then I wouldn’t recommend this drink because it is an enhanced flavor in this cocktail.

A close up of the Blue Raspberry Jolly-Tini

The overall vibe and atmosphere of The Chocolate Bar is fun and unique. I would love to come back and try their “Death by Chocolate” drink sometime along with their assortment of chocolate beers. If you would like to see more info on the directions to The Chocolate Bar and see hours of operation, I’ve attached the link down below.

https://newyorknewyork.mgmresorts.com/en/nightlife/the-chocolate-bar.html

El Segundo Sol (Tacos & Margaritas) -Las Vegas

The origin of this review begins when my family was on vacation in Las Vegas, Nevada. We were looking for a restaurant that served good quality Mexican food. Not only were we looking for something different, we were on search for cheese enchiladas. Why you may ask? My sister Madison has a rare metabolic disorder that doesn’t allow her to have meat, so we wanted to find her some GOOD alternative food. Although the rest of my family are meat eaters, my sister doesn’t have the luxury of having a wide assortment of foods like the rest of us. We researched for quite some time and were having a difficult time because every Mexican style restaurant we called did not offer cheese enchiladas. When I called El Segundo Sol, the manager answered and told me that they could make the cheese enchiladas! From there we made a reservation through Open Table (the reservation system they use), and set forth to lunch.

El Segundo Sol is located on the corner of the Fashion Show Mall on the Las Vegas Strip across from the Wynn Hotel and Casino. When we arrived we were informed that there had been a technical error on their reservation site and that all reservations had been filled. The manager came over to us and told us not to worry and that since we had made a reservation that he would find some way to get us inside. Within a matter of minutes the manager came back outside and told us that he had made a special table for us and to follow him inside. He led us to a room that he had set up for of our family. We found out that the room was not normally used except for very busy times or special occasions, but he wanted to make sure we were taken care of. It was the nicest act of kindness any manager had ever done for us. We immediately ordered the bottomless chips and salsa which were brought out almost instantaneously.

THESE CHIPS WERE FRESH! One bite into a chip and you could taste how fresh and real they tasted. No one in my family had ever tasted a chip that was that good. Although I am not a fan of guacamole, my father and 25 year old sister are, so they ordered a side of guacamole. Both of them stated that it was the BEST guacamole they had EVER tasted. They said it was both fresh and delicious. We were already impressed with our appetizers. Our waiter took our orders and brought out our drinks. I ordered their “Sol Margarita” which consisted of El Jimador Reposado, Bauchant Orange Liqueur, and Lime Juice. VERY GOOD. If you’re looking for a delicious margarita on the Las Vegas strip, then El Segundo Sol should be your go-to place.

Our food came out of the kitchen in a pretty good time span and the dishes were visually stunning. My sister really enjoyed her cheese enchiladas. Unfortunately I was unable to get a photo of her food but I was able to snag a photo of my youngest brother Kellan and his “Achiote Mahi Mahi Fajitas” which he said were “delicious!” This was a very healthy and delicious option for this aspiring dancer. (Sorry for the lighting, the floor to ceiling window was directly behind him).

As for me, I ordered the Carne Asada Tacos which came with: grilled marinated steaks; served with cilantro rice, black beans, pico de gallo, and sour cream. I opted out for the beans and instead had a double serving of rice. The carne asada meat was juicy and flavorful while the rice was bursting with cilantro goodness (the rice was my sister’s favorite pick of the day).

My final thoughts on this restaurant are WOW. Not only was the food amazing, they catered to my sister’s dietary needs, and both the server and manager made our dining experience special. Who knew that this gem of a restaurant would turn out to be one of our favorite spots on the Las Vegas strip? If you’re curious to learn more about El Segundo Sol or take a glance at their menu, you can click on the link below. Until the next delicious review, Adios!

https://www.elsegundosol.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ESS-GBiz

The Wynn Buffet!

Can buffets really work after the Pandemic?

Standing in front of the Wynn Buffet in Las Vegas, NV.

On June 27th, 2020, my family and I headed to the only open buffet in Las Vegas, Nevada. For years, buffets have become an iconic part of the Las Vegas experience. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic that began a few months ago, many restaurants were forced to close down including buffets. Although promised to reopen eventually, the future of buffets left people wondering if buffets could truly survive. So we wanted to find out!

Before heading to the buffet we did our research and discovered that you needed a reservation in order to eat at the buffet and that’s exactly what we did! We arrived to our reservation about 15 minutes early because we read online that even with a reservation, guests often stood around waiting for a table to open. We checked in and waited for about 20 minutes before we were seated.

On the table there were QR codes meant to be scanned from your cell phone that brings up an online menu. If you don’t want to use your phone or would rather hold a physical menu, those were offered as well if you ask. The menu listed every menu item that is available to eat during your dining experience. Although you can no longer stand up and pick up your food on your own, you can still order as many menu items that you want within a two-hour span. We had an excellent waiter who took our various rounds of orders (he recommended ordering 3-4 dishes at a time). Our server even asked us if there were any special dietary restrictions so that they could make sure that everyone had a special experience. This meant a lot especially since my youngest sister has a metabolic disorder that does include dietary restrictions. After he took the first order we expected to be waiting for some time to receive our dishes however that was NOT the case! Within a matter of minutes, food runners brought out all 21 of our dishes (there were 7 of us who each ordered 3 dishes to begin with) had arrived.

Alaskan Opilio Crab Legs – Drawn Butter, Lemon

The first couple of dishes that I had ordered were absolutely delicious! The chilled crab legs with butter were fresh and bursting with flavor. The beef rib was a lot larger than I expected (not complaining at all) and was covered in tangy and mouthwatering barbecue sauce. I had also ordered chicken pot stickers which were yummy as well. Our server, along with the various food runners, constantly checked in on us and cleared our empty dishes. We were able to order as many times that we wanted (like how you can normally get up and get as much food as you like), and everyone was really helpful.

I loved the variety of foods that the Wynn offered. We came during the gourmet brunch so we got the best of both worlds. There were amazing breakfast dishes such as the s’mores pancakes and equally amazing lunch/dinner items.

After we were pretty stuffed from our various dishes of delicious food, we made sure to save room for dessert. There were A LOT of desserts to choose from and we all ordered at least two rounds of desserts (4-6 desserts per person). Not only were the desserts pleasing to the eye, they were absolutely delectable! My favorite dessert of the night was the strawberry shortcake. The photo of this dessert was featured on the menu and upon seeing it, I knew I needed to try it. I would go back to this buffet just to order this dessert again.

Chocolate Lava Cake, Strawberry Shortcake, and Oreo Chocolate Tart

So, the can buffets work after the pandemic? YES! This new and innovated way of providing a buffet experience in a safe and clean manner was perfect! I would one-thousand perfect revisit the Wynn Buffet and any other buffet with this setup. I really hope more buffets in Las Vegas and around the world will follow the Wynn’s example and reopen up! Below is the link to The buffet at the Wynn along with their menus, prices, and reservation system if you want to take a more in depth look. I can’t wait to experience this buffet and show the world that BUFFETS CAN WORK!

Link to The Buffet at the Wynn: https://www.wynnlasvegas.com/dining/casual-dining/the-buffet

-Amanda

The Sugar Factory!

Have you ever wanted to eat in an atmosphere of color and fun? Then ‘The Sugar Factory’ is the place for you! On June 26th, 2020, I, along with my family ate at the iconic ‘Sugar Factory’ in Las Vegas, Nevada. Located on the Las Vegas Strip at the Fashion Show mall, The Sugar Factory is an eatery that is all about picture worthy food. Outside of the restaurant stands a giant rubber duck (the mascot of the restaurant).

Upon walking into this restaurant I expected to see a colorful and vibrant atmosphere. Instead, the lights were dimmed and the place looked like a classy high-end eatery. What I liked most about this place was that it caters to all ages. I came with my parents and four younger siblings (age range of 51-13). There were menu items for all of us to enjoy. Not only that, every beautiful, colorful, and delicious drink had a non-alcoholic version so that the youngest of the crop can have a part of the fun.

I ordered a drink that was shared, called the, “Diamond Rose” which came in a giant goblet glass. The drink according to their website is: ” Vanderpump Rosé, peach schnapps, raspberry vodka and a splash of lemon-lime soda, all topped with sour watermelon gummy bears, candy ring pops and a light-up bling souvenir ring.”

Now, although the drink was delicious, ours was missing the candy pop rings, the light up ring and the sparklers that were said to come with it. Our drink also looked like a very dim pink versus the vibrant pink on their menu (Link to the menu is listed down below). I partly blame that on our server who was very distracted whenever at our table, often looking around the dining room while we ordered our food or checking himself out in the mirror. For $40 it would have been nice to at least have the rings in our drink. My brother, who had just turned 21, ordered the ‘Ocean Blue’ cocktail made with Hpnotiq. As for the two youngest in the group, my 13 year old brother and my 19 year old sister (who also just celebrated her birthday), ordered mocktail chocolate martinis. As I mentioned before, I love the fact that they offer non-alcoholic versions of every drink (even the goblet drinks).

Next up for us was food! I was originally eyeing the shrimp Alfredo however I saw their signature Rainbow sliders and knew I had to get them! The rainbow sliders entree comes with five sliders, each with a vibrant colored bun, meat patty, cheese, onion crisps, sauce, and a pickle. I opted out on the sauce and pickle but I was really looking forward to these picture worthy burgers. When they arrived I did as anyone else would, and took a handful of photos.

These burgers were too cute! Not only that, but they came with a souvenir rubber ducky! As for the taste, they were pretty average. Nothing special taste wise, but I am glad I got them once for these photo memories and for the duck! I took a few bites of my mom’s shrimp pasta and WOW! The shrimp Alfredo was the highlight of all the dishes. The pasta had an explosion of flavor that my family agreed was the best dish of the night. The only thing I would change about it would I wish they would take the tails off of the shrimp because it becomes a little hassle to take them off when all you want to do is eat it. Besides that I would definitely order this dish again.

In conclusion, the Sugar Factory was a fun restaurant to eat at and I really enjoyed the overall presentation of the food and drink. I would definitely eat here again. The food and drinks are pretty pricey so make sure to bring an empty stomach and a full wallet. If you’re looking for that picture perfect post for your social media account, then take a trip to ‘The Sugar Factory!’

-Amanda

Link to the Sugar Factory Las Vegas Menu: https://sugarfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/LV_Menu_062220.pdf