perhaps past it's prime?

I have eaten at some of the best restaurants in the world and I and my 2 NYC restauranteur friends spent Valentine's Day evening at Aureole. I made a reservation for us and was told that there would be a Valentine's Day menu, but we could also pick from a regular memu. She never mentioned that the entire table had to order the Valentines menu..and the menu on their website also doesn't indicate this. The "tasting" menu does say the entire table must order that menu.

There wouldn't be a problem with the entire table ordering the VDay menu, except for the fact that one in the party is a vegetarian. He would have had the 7 course VD menu also but apparently either noone communicated to the chef beforehand that one in our party was a vegetarian. I clearly indicated his likes/dislikes when I made the reservation and thought that a fine restaurant like this would be able to accomodate him. Well the waiter was oblivious to any call ahead order and therefore we all had to order from the regular menu. After some prodding, my friend was assured that the chef would come up with something special. What he received was a selection of 3 of the vegetables that were served with the regular dinners...absolutely no thought behind this, just scoop and place on the plate.

The rest of us had medicore dinners. The amuse bouche was a small sampling of lobster bisque, which was perfect in every respect except for the fact that it was barely warm. The waiter never did describe the fois gras special, and what was received was tasty but pretty plan. The onion soup was worse..a bland broth that purportedly had fois gras and truffles, but other than a small sliver of black truffle, the fois gras was nowhere to be found. It was covered in a gruyere puff pastry crust that was instantly soggy.

Both the rack of lamb and filets were fine, although nothing extraordinary. The filet was paired with a truyly uninspired beef pastrami. The vegetables were also nothing special. Desserts were above average and we have had better elsewhere..although they might be onto something with the unintentionally frozen creme brulee.

As reported by some others, the bathrooms are small and have a trough as a sink. On our night, there were no paper towels. We were all looking forward to this but this place soon will become a distant memory.

We were pretty excited about our New Years eve dinner at Aureole as it also happens to be our anniversary. Set menu with wine pairings and gratuity was $750 for the two of us. We reserved a table in the Swan Room and pay extra to get it for New Years. Upon arrival, they seat us at a lousy table no where near the Swan room. We ask to be moved, they seem put out that we ask for what we already committed to pay for. First strike.

I proceed to make a trip to the men's washroom. There are exactly two toilets. One for men, one for women, for a dining room that seats I'd guess 200. Men's line-up is three deep. Curiously no line-up for the ladies. Younger guy at the back of the line notices this, sneaks into ladies room. How classy. Second strike.

First couple courses are average at best. We're hoping to be wowed with our mains. Strangely the wine pairings were the same for the Buffalo Wellington main and the Sea Bass main.
Sea bass was not great, buffalo was worse...cold in the middle, as if it hadn't been 're-heated' properly. Neither of us are inclined to eat more than half. Third strike.

By now, we were laughing at how ridiculous this place was. It seemed to be trying very hard to be something it was not, at least not that night. But it was New Years and our anniversary and we weren't going to sweat it much. Dessert and coffee's were swell and although our waiter was a little embarassed, he was actually the best part of the experience.

We finally think our night has mercifully come to an end. Oh well, chalk it up to another bad restaurant pick. It happens (although not usually to the tune of $750). But alas, we don't get off that easy. My wife heads to the washroom before we head out. Remember there's only one toilet for the ladies and seemingly no attendants. As she approaches, another 'gentleman' patron exits the ladies room (what are the odds that we each encounter this on our only trips?). She reluctantly enters.

Upon her return to our table she advises that we have to leave NOW. The 'gentleman' has urinated all over the seat and floor and the bathroom 'looks worse than I've seen in any McDonalds' she proclaims. She's disgusted and so am I. As we leave she points out the guy she followed into the bathroom. I've had more than enough of this at a supposedly 'high-end' restaurant so I approach this guy and ask him if he indeed did his business (poorly I might add) in the ladies room. He admits to it, we trade words (loudly) and then he wants me to follow him to the scene of the crime. Why? Because he wants to show me that there's only one toilet each, and how bad the men's room looked. Yeah, I know, and although he did have a point, I ensured he was well embarassed in front of his friends and the rest of the place for pulling a stunt like that.

By now the manager has come upon the scene. I express, in no uncertain terms, my complete and utter disgust that my wife has had to close out her anniversary dinner like that in this 'fine establishment'. He offers a glass of complimentary champagne. "Are you kidding me!?". "No" was his reply, "I'm sorry for your experience, have a Happy New Years, here's my card". I laughed out loud. It was that funny. We turned and left.

Here's just one suggestion Aureole...hire a bathroom attendant.

All in all, a memorable evening, one we will never forget...for all the wrong reasons.

We just got back from Vegas and had a truly unforgettable dinner at Aureole. We got a special tasting menu - 9 courses, paired with wine - and each and every one was nothing short of superb. Highlights were the seared scallop with potato gnocchi and champagne foam; the braised pork belly with creamy polenta; the seared foie gras, and the duo of beef. Desserts were amazing and all our wines were paired perfectly with the tasting courses. Waitstaff was attentive without being solicitous and all in all, we had an amazing time. We have eaten in Michelin-star restaurants in Europe and similar-standard restaurants in Japan and the Caribbean and this was easily the best experience we have ever had. I can't say enough about Aureole.

Now, a couple of things about this restaurant. One, yes, it is a "fancy" place. You need to be somewhat knowledgeable about food to really enjoy the experience of eating here. Don't know much about food? Don't enjoy trying new things? Don't like "pretentious" restaurants where people actually dress in something other than jeans and a t-shirt? There's a very mediocre American bistro and a Wolfgang Puck place that serves pizza down the way in the Mandalay Bay; you'd probably enjoy that better. We saw people dining with us who were dressed inappropriately, had terrible table manners, were rude and insulting to sommeliers and waiters, etc. and they were not having a good time. And actually having people there impacted our good time as well. If you don't know how to attire yourself for and behave in an upscale restaurant - do yourself and everyone else a favor and pick a different restaurant.

As for the "wine angels." This restaurant has received a Michelin star FOR ITS FOOD. If you're eating at Aureole to see the angels retrieve wine from the cabinet, I suggest you skip the dining experience entirely and just go see the pirate show at Treasure Island, that should amuse you. This restaurant is not about some juvenile whiz-bang standard of entertainment common to so much of Vegas; it's about the food. If all you get out of dining at Aureole is a "wow, look at that" from seeing a wine angel in the cabinet, I'm sorry to say you've missed the point.

We loved this restaurant and dined with a lot of other people who loved it too. As I said, there were several people in the restaurant with us who didn't seem to get it. Being in Vegas and wandering into a restaurant doesn't give you the right to act like a jackass and expect the waitstaff and restaurant managers to jump when you say "jump." Like I said - if you don't feel comfortable in "fancy" or "pretentious" places because you don't know how to behave, skip this place and go somewhere else. Really, that's in everyone's best interest.