04.21.08
Review of Tableau, Las Vegas, Sunday brunch February 2008
in the Wynn Hotel, 888-320-7110
Great for: spoiling your purse, giant parties in the back room, wonderful food
The six of us (Boyfriend, me, S and Y, L and K) met for brunch after Saturday’s birthday celebration. My friends were staying at other hotels, while the Boyfriend and I were at our favorite Wynn. So the others thought they’d come check it out. The Boyfriend also remembered how amazing the food was at Tableau from previous trips and how difficult it was to get a table, so we tried to show up early at 11. We still had to wait an hour, though.
The food was well worth the wait. My lobster salad with black lentils, pancetta, a crispy panko-breaded-and-poached egg and frisée was delicious. The egg, with its contrast of flavors and textures, was probably my favorite part. I also shared a scrumptious, subtly flavored bowl of clam chowder with S. L and K got the Kobe short ribs with poached instead of scrambled eggs and two potato cakes (like fancy hash browns) in béarnaise sauce, which were fantastic. I almost wished I’d ordered them myself. The homemade ketchup was also great, as were the mango ricotta pancakes. The only thing that was just good and not great was the Boyfriend’s rib eye panini with aged provolone and Chinese broccoli (!) on ciabatta with potato chips and salad.
Unfortunately, I can’t say good things about the service. S specifically and clearly asked for her burger not to have cheese. When the waiter brought it with cheese, it took an additional two waiters to argue about it with her. Finally they took it away, and then one waitress came back a few minutes later to ask if maybe she’d like the cheese just scraped off, which would be faster than having another burger altogether. It was a reasonable question, since S didn’t say she was allergic, but should have been asked as soon as S reminded them she’d asked for no cheese. By the time they asked, the burger was cold and they ended up having to make it again anyway. That was the most egregious lapse of service; it also annoyed us that they didn’t offer pepper, or sugar for our coffee.
The ridiculously loud bachelorette brunch (we guessed) in the back room, cackling like witches, was also annoying, but not the restaurant’s fault. I hope they flustered our waiters, and that’s why the service wasn’t good. I’d hate to think such a beautifully decorated, luxurious place with lovely food and even little chairs for our purses didn’t also have their service sorted out.
Rating: 7 / 10
Our cost: $235 for 6 people (lousy service)
Noise level: loud when there’s a party in the back
Chance of walking in: very low.
