Have you ever wondered what’s on the roof of Mandalay Bay, and why people crowd outside in the summer time? Or have you pondered where all the beautifully dressed ultra chic people emerge from en masse, descending upon the House of Blues? Welcome to the Foundation Room. Originally a ‘members only’ secret, accessible only via a private elevator in Mandalay Bay, the Foundation Room began last summer opening up to the public and is now open every night of the week. Distinguished, with tasteful vintage décor, the food mirrors the appointments inside, combining Asian and Indian influences with European flair and some luxurious versions of American comfort classics.
Read More ...Foundation Room at Mandalay Bay opened eleven years ago, and has adapted their food and their accessibility to meet today’s challenging economic climate. The restaurant is helmed by Executive Chef Jason Damato, and owned by Live Nation, as is House of Blues. Chef Damato has quietly fused a menu, delivering unique items with Asian and Indian flair, and Mediterranean favorites.
My husband and I dine at Foundation Room on a Friday evening, with an early reservation. Guiding the way to join the privileged diners inside the restaurant, there’s a velvet rope and podium in the bank of elevators, where a staff member guides diners into a private elevator with only one destination – dining Heaven in the form of Foundation Room. The swift and silent elevator deposits us in the dimly lit, perfumed and cozy entrance. To the right lies the dining room. Turn left, and the bar and lounge reside. Between are private entertaining and dining rooms. External doors from both the dining room and the bar lead to the outdoor patio. The view from the roomy patio overlooks the entire Strip from Mandalay Bay northward. The patio has more than adequate seating, appointed with tapestry-clad sofas, heaters, oriental rugs, and an accommodating staff member to open the door for those entering and exiting the patio area. The view is impressive at any time but, once the sun goes down, it is breathtaking.
Our table is window-side. The windows are framed with long, teal, tapered, heavy velvet curtains. Foundation Room is conservative, and plush, with many stories to tell, if one has a moment to hear its fascinating history. The colors are deep and vivid, and the carpeting is a complex creation of Oriental rugs – hundreds of them, cut and pieced together, to help illustrate diversity. The rugs mirror the rich tapestry of our culture, and our history. The tablecloths are sparkling white linen, and the plates are all stark white. There is a simple votive candle in an amber hued cube in the center of the table. The table settings are formal – down to the gleaming silverware (replaced between each course) and crystal clear stemware. The setting was quiet and intimate. Foundation Room heats up and gets quite busy later in the night, and remains that way into the wee hours. The atmosphere is relaxed but the room feels and looks luxurious, like every glass of wine, every menu item, every glance and every conversation is special.
Restaurants and dining experiences depend heavily upon the service staff, and Foundation Room doesn’t have simply competent staff – they are stellar. Our server, Ryan, is well versed in all dishes. The servers at Foundation Room also taste all specials, thus they can speak confidently about the food, as well as ingredients that go into it. The service staff is more than professional – each staff member is friendly and has knowledge to share. They also take clear pride in performing well, and to Foundation Room’s credit, many of their staff members have been with the restaurant for several years.
The management staff is equally impressive. Ben Luna, Foundation Room Operations Manager, tours us and offers a running commentary on the restaurant, including fixtures (the chandelier in the Shangri La Room was salvaged after a fire ravaged the MGM in 1978), and notable features. The Gothic Room, a private dining room, boasts 18th century paintings on glass – the glass is the actual painted media that. The Shangri La Room has a hand-painted ceiling and the walls have affixed to them, well, confessionals. These are confessionals from a church in Ireland and they are prominently displayed elsewhere in the Foundation Room décor as well. These details are not just trivia; they are points of pride, and help define Foundation Room. There is so much to see; history saved, lovingly restored and displayed. History, diversity, and trueness to both – it's not just lip service at Foundation Room.
After our beverages arrive, service begins with bread. The bread basket contains sliced ciabatta bread and French baguette. This is not merely bread and butter. Each pat of butter is a large, thick triangle. Two accompanying ramekins begin our journey into contrasts. One contains Kalamata olive tapenade – salty and assertive. The other holds roasted garlic spread – sweet and mild. The two complement one another beautifully.
While noshing, we order our appetizers. I also order a glass of Irony’s Pinot Noir to accompany dinner. Foundation Room offers a number of wines by the glass, and many more by the bottle. They also spare no expense on top shelf liquors. Should the discriminating drinker want to choose from a dozen different types of scotch, Foundation Room has them.
We begin our meal with the Sherry Braised Mushrooms. The mushrooms are served whole and presented in a small casserole dish on a plate, accompanied by pita triangles. The portion is generous, and the crimini mushrooms are sautéed, then braised in dry sherry with herbs. The whole mushrooms maintain their meaty texture and absorb the rich sherry. The pita helps to absorb some of the delectable liquid. Our other starter is the Chicken Satay. We are brought a long, narrow plate. There are four skewers of grilled chicken, atop lettuce leaves, accompanied by two sauces; one thick and spicy, the other silky and light. This dish is quite simple, yet so memorable. Our chicken skewers are tender, succulent, and conservatively seasoned. The sauces elevate the chicken into something different. One sauce is a thick, creamy peanut sauce, and it delivers a powerful punch of flavor. The other, a light sweet chili sauce brings contrast to the table. The grilled chicken, paired with the two sauces, has two distinct flavors – one is savory, like an entrée, and the other is light as if it could be topping a salad.
Our salads arrive next. My husband orders the Heirloom Salad; a cherry tomato salad, combined with tender baby beets, watercress and thick pieces of goat cheese. The visual appeal of this salad is as strong as the flavors. It’s beautiful, colorful, with fresh ingredients. A great salad simply cannot be faked. My only personal food dislike is raw tomatoes, and I share this, thus our server recommends and brings the salad of my dreams. It is comprised of red oak lettuce with a simple, light honey Dijon dressing. The elements that make it sing are the halved dates, the thick cubes of applewood-smoked bacon, and the chunks of gorgonzola cheese. The dates are big, sweet and chewy, the bacon salty and the cheese soft and tangy. It is a symphony of contrast and complement.
Already quite satisfied, our entrées arrive. First, Grilled Lamb Chops are placed in front of me. Eight dainty, rare lamb chops are crossed, served with whipped potatoes and fresh asparagus spears. They’re served with a balsamic reduction sauce. There’s no garnish to speak of –This perfectly simple dish speaks for itself. The lamb chops are rubbed with a savory seasoning, grilled exactly to order, succulent and juicy. Served with seasonal vegetables, my asparagus is both crisp and buttery. The potatoes are creamy, and have texture and flavor, well seasoned. The lamb is the star but this dish has such balance, all components complement one another. It is so flawless it can stand strong alone, even without the rich balsamic reduction.
Our final entrée is the T-bone steak, one of today’s specials. We eat first with our eyes and our nose before our mouth. The perfectly white plate is delivered with a large, trimmed T-Bone grilled as ordered. Garnished with fried onion strings and micro greens, and sided with garlic whipped potatoes, this is a very fragrant plate. It is served with a homemade ‘house recipe’ Worcestershire sauce. The steak is grilled as perfectly as if I’d grilled it myself. The house Worcestershire sauce is addicting, but sadly, Foundation Room is disinclined to share the recipe. It is the only complement that could add to this great ‘meat and potatoes’ meal.
Foundation Room does emphasize their desserts in their menu offerings, though they are quite enjoyable. That said, our desserts were simple; one very light and the other quite sinful. Our first dessert is a port wine poached pear. The firm pear sits upright, sliced into wedges, on a pool of vanilla whipped cream in a large bowl on a bright white plate. It is garnished with mint leaves and candied walnuts. A menu staple is their molten chocolate cake, topped with vanilla bean gelato. It is served in the center of a large white plate, garnished with mint leaves. The dessert and the whole plate are dusted with powdered sugar. It is warm and the inside gooey, thus the ‘molten’ moniker. This is a decadent, sweet dessert is sized to be lovingly shared, and the cake is generous even for the ‘loving cup’ method of dining.
My guest and I entered Foundation Room without preconceived notions, but knowing what we like. The food was prepared with care and an obvious respect for the ingredients. The restaurant was created with the same attention to detail and concern for surroundings. These two forces meet to create a stunning atmosphere for something truly memorable. Foundation Room welcomes locals right now – don’t miss out.
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The food was excellent and I received some of the best service ever. To top it all off, dinner was enjoyed with the best views from the top of the Mandalay Bay. What a pleasant experience. I will be back.
There is nothing bad to say about the Foundation Room at the top of the Manadalay Bay hotel. The decore is fabulous, the view is breathtaking and the food was amazing! Well worth the price! The service was also PERFECT!! It was my birthday and the wait staff was so attentive and made the experience that much better! In particular Rich Gallen, he is truly the best waiter I have ever had anywhere!!!
What can I say the Foundation Room was amazing, the service was impecable from the busboy to our waiter,the food outstanding and the decor beautiful with an amazing view of the strip! You will not be dissappointed!:-)
This was a fantastic restaurant and were treated exceptionally. The waiter gave us a more expensive bottle of wine than what we ordered because the other wasn't available. And they kindly gave us a complimentary dessert for our anniversary with a private, window table. The food was delicious with surprisingly generous portions. This was one of the best restaurants my husband and I have ever been to.
The service was great, the food excellent and the view outstanding. One of the best restaurants in town. Will make it a point to dine here each trip to Vegas.
After having read other (excellent) reviews about The Foundation Room, I had decided to surprise my wife with a meal there to celebrate our anniversary. We were not disappointed in any way! From the time we walked through the (amazing) entrance to the time we left, we had an evening to remember. It started with the great view from the balcony and just got better from there. Everyone from the hostess to the server were all very courteous and professional and the meal itself was phenomenal! We can't say enough good things about it and definitely will be back!
The view from the Foundation Room was spectacular, the best in Vegas. The service was outstanding, timing on service was perfect. The ambiance was seductive and beautifully dark, exactly the right setting for a romantic evening. I will always find my way back to the Foundation Room when I am in Vegas.
Service was outstanding, food was excellent, atmosphere and decor elegant and interesting and the view from the outdoor balcony was great. This will always be on our list of restaurants each time we go to Vegas.
My wife and i ate here recently...wow! Step off of the private elevator and Vegas disappears. Impeccable service. Great wine list. My aged NY strip was perfect and my wife's scallops with an incredible citric sauce melted in the mouth. A totally class act at a reasonable price. Only open to public 2 nights a week..but the operations manager Mr. Dixon gave us his card and said call anytime you want to dine here. Fun!
a great experience.
We came to the Foundation Room for a celebration and the team there did a great job at ensuring we were treated with great care. The greeter even asked our guests what the award celebration was for. The server was knowledgeable, gave great suggestions and the food was all fantastic. Everyone loved it! So... the view, WOW. Our guests were from Canada and we had to drag them back inside - made the whole night. Would definetly encourage reservations and make sure to spend some time on the balcony - to die for!
I took my wife out on Mother's Day in which I made a reservation through this site (a huge thank you to Renee for helping me with everything). My wife was so surprised of not only where I was taking her but that we could actually get in so that setup the whole experience from the beginning. Once we arrived, we were greeted and shown to the private elevator that would take us to the restaurant itself. Once we arrived, we were blown away. Everything in The Foundation Room was immaculate. From what I would call "Mediterranean Fusion" decor to the very professional and friendly service not forgetting the amazing food of course, we felt like a million dollars. We started off with the Sausage Arugula Pizza and a glass of Monchhof Riesling Wine. For the main courses, I got the Horseradish Crusted Beef Tenderloin and my wife got the Sage Rubbed Domestic Lamb Rack. Both meals were cooked to perfection and the only knife we needed was a butter knife. Our server Rich was very informative and helped make the experience a great one along with another server Brian who makes a great cup of cappuccino. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone especially if it's a special occasion.
I love the food and the view! The wait staff was quick, efficient and really fun. We had a wonderful time. We will definately be back.
After seeing your reviews I decided to bring my wife here for her 50th birthday. Our whole experience was memorable. We got a bit lost trying to find the elevator and asked one of the security personal for directions. He went one better and escorted us straight to the entrance then presented us with a coupon for complimentary glasses of champagne! Now that's how you start a celebratory dinner! The whole evening was exactly what we wished for; relaxed, awesome food and wine and attentive staff. Our waiter Ryan had a way of describing the dishes that made them sound so good you had no choice but to order them. And then be blown away by the flavor combinations as they hit your palette. As to cost we've spent more on dinners that could not measure up to the total sensory experience the Foundation Room offered so the bill was a pleasant surprise. Let's say we received our moneys worth and then some. Thanks for a wonderful experience!
The Foundation Room was the best pick for our 10th Anniversary. We were treated like exclusive guests, the ambiance of the rooms were warm and inviting with and exotic touch. The Food was AMAZING! We went all out for our anniversary. Appetizer, salad, main entree, side, a bottle of wine, dessert, and coffee and still our bill was way under what I expected for a dinning experiance such as this one. The Beef Tenderloin ecrusted with Horseradish was amazing every bite was consistant and so tender. Every dish we had was full of flavor and every bite was savored and enjoyed. We left very satisfied. And the View from the balcony of the vegas strip is by far the best in all of vegas. We have already recommeded a visit to friends and Family and plan on going back again when we go. Also our server Davie was terrific!
My husband and I spent our first anniversary at the Foundation Room and it wont be our last. The decor and service is outstanding not to mention the food was absolutly wonderful. We did not want to leave it was the best dinner we have had as husband and wife. We will be back.
My wife and I had dinner at the Foundation Room for her birthday get-away. We had an exceptional dinner as the food and atmosphere were top notch. The restaurant maitre d' and wait staff took the time to read my reservation comments from LasVegasRestaurants and made us feel welcome. The food was top notch and the wine was excellent. We drank a whole bottle with dinner, which may have been over doing it for two, but we were in Las Vegas. I had the rack of lamb and my wife had the filet mignon. Appetizers were cheese and crackers because my wife didn't want to overeat. The salad was delicious, but I always order a ceasar. We had asparagus and mac and cheese with truffles as our sides, but I'll never understand why the "in" thing is to have mac and cheese at a fine steakhouse. We have decided to dine at this restaurant for ever visit to Las Vegas.
We loved it. My husband and I went for my 36th birthday, the service and food were incredible. And, the portions were surprizingly big. We shared the beef tenderloin, scallops and white truffle mac and cheese, all excellent (the tenderloin you could cut with a butter knife). Overall, we were very happy with the experience.
We had a group of 10 family members that traveled from the mid-west to Vegas to celebrate my daughters 21st birthday. This restaurant with it's excellent meal and service was definately the highlight and a great way to enjoy our last evening in Las Vegas. The ambiance was perfect. Food delicious. And the service...Let me just say "Thank-You" Davy & "Scooch" for your flair of serving, knowledge of the food, great wine & champagne choices...all the while all of us having a blast!!! After dinner, cigars out on the patio with that wonderful view of the Las Vegas strip at night----WOW!!!!! Thanks so much!!!!
In my Top Five out of some world class establishments where I have been privileged to dine. Decor, ambiance, view....all stunning, but the food is sublime! Oh my heart (and taste buds) miss you already. Save me a table in the back, by the windows!
Foundation Room did not disappoint, ambiance and service was unheld to it's finest. Incredible view, amazing food, portions were not over or under exaggerated and the price was on par as well. After dinner we went next door for a drink at their lounge that was very chic. Highly recommend!
We were a group of 4 ladies in town for a work conference and first time dining at the Foundation room. Scott and co were very accommodating to us. He was extremely knowledgeable about the menu items (wine especially), made great suggestions and picked out an AMAZING wine for us. We had filet, short ribs, amazing apps and all were cooked to perfection. Foundation Room is at the top of the Mandalay Bay which offers a fantastic view of the city in addition to a fun atmosphere; they had great music playing. After dinner, we headed back over to the bar area and had drinks; place was packed on a Tuesday night. Would definitely go back and ask for Scott!
My husband and I ate at this restaurant for our anniversary. It had a great view, great service, and the meal was tasty. I'd recommend it for any special occasion as it is pricey.
Like the title says, I haven't been to a finer restaurant in Las Vegas. Everything was great. I will definitely come here again for business or pleasure.
Beautifull views of Vegas go there during sunset for the best efect. Will defenattly reserve next time I'm in town
Dinner in Las Vegas isn't cheap, but this restaurant actually was a little cheaper than the rest, almost resonable in price. But what I really liked about the Foundation Room was the food and service. I had the lamb chops and found myself eating them with my hands. My wife had chiicken and raved about that too. And we weren't even hungry when we arrived. Todd, our waiter, was very congenial and offered up advice on recommendations, etc. Jacob Kaufman, the manager, introduced himself and was fairly concerned we enjoyed the experience - and that's what we called it, an experience - from the private elevator, to the cocktail room prior to dinner, to dinner itself. Very highly recommended.
Great restaurant and wonderful food!
As soon as you walk in : what a great atmosphere To match a great menu , even better was the food Friendly and helpful employees Number one choice in vegas
My experience at this restaurant is absolutely incredible. The food, atmosphere, staff, drinks, ambiance were incredible. There's nothing this restaurant can do to improve. I rate this restaurant as #1 in my book.
Enjoyed the great food. The great view. Our waiter went over and beyound, even bringing our drinks and menus outside so we could watch the sunset out on the balconey. Will definitley go back!
When you are meeting clients for the first time and you want to impress them and take them to a really great restaurant, this is the place to go. Great Atmosphere, great prices, great food and drinks, friendly staff, etc.
This was a great place. It was just openned to the public a few months ago, previous a privit club. There is a ropped off elevator on the ground floor of Mandalay Bay. You give the guy your name, and he lets you past to an elevator. You don't need to know the floor, there is only one button, Foundation Room. The elevator opens up on the top floor and you are met by someone who will escort you too your seat. The place is decent size but not too big. It is decorated in dark hand carved would with plush furniture and great views out both sides. Service and the food were great and the pricing very reasonable. After diner, you can hang out on the balcony with what might be the best view of the strip in Vegas. You can sit out and enjoy the view with an after diner drink, or go into the lounge area which is liking sitting in the mansion living room of a millionaire. This place is highly reccomended.
This place lives up to the hype. Food is excellent - great variety, ambiance is really hip and the view is outstanding. A must see if you're in Vegas!
Expensive but worth it...great food served quickly in a posh setting with a view.
The atmosphere, view and service you get at this restaurant is amazing. You actually forget that you are in an eating establishment because of the way you are treated and the ambiance that surrounds you. I would reccomend this place to any one. Andy from Dallas, Tx.
Amazing service from Rich and his wine suggestion was the best. Every detail was thought out. Every chef out there has a restaurant in vegas now, but stuck in the bottom of a casino. The foundation room's ambience and view is the best in the city. Thanks for a great night.
Well worth it! The food, I had a NY Strip, was AMAZING! Todd, our server, was very kind and always there to take care of us. The view is just wonderful! It removes you from the fast pace of Vegas to a nice relaxing dinner. The prices were not too crazy (I did alot of reserch). Well worth the money! Our first anniversery dinner amazing!
Everything about this resturant was beyond my expectations. Great price, beautiful view, unique decor, all the servers were very kind and helpful and the price was unbeatable!
Had a wonderful dining experience at the Foundation Room. Staff was friendly, funny, and helpful. Food was excellent! The chef came to the table to talk about his specials, which weren't on the menu. He even offered to make a custom meal for us. I would definitely go back!
Outstanding
Had a party of 7 at the foundation room and was taken to a back room with art work, chandelier, and beautiful table. Service was tremendous and the food was amazing. I have had my fair share of filet and this was one of if not the best filets I have ever had. Shared most of everyones meal and you really can not go wrong with anything that you order. The decor is sophisticated and unique. After dinner, go out for a drink on the balcony, one of the best views in vegas if not the best.
Wow!! That's all I can say.... If you want to feel like your on top of the world, you need to eat here. Second best meal I have ever had and by far the best service we have ever received anywhere.
Wonderful dining experience and an incredible view!!
View, food, ambiance the best!!!!!
Fantastic ambiance...quiet and romantic. A nice change from so many of the Vegas restaurants. The food and service were exceptional.
Loved the ambiance of this place, it was romantic and pleasant. The views are incredible, the service was great and so was the food. It was also very reasonably priced for an upscale restaurant. I would highly recommend and definitely go back!
Great food, great service, and a nice wine list. Best of all it comes with a view second to none. With all of the restaurants in Las Vegas I would still come here every visit.
We were a party of six visiting Las Vegas. Our reservation was honored on time and the service was great. All six agreed that the food & view was so good that we plan on coming to the Foundation Room on our next visit to Las Vegas.
We were a party of six visiting Las Vegas. Our reservation was honored on time and the service was great! We all agreed the the food and view was so good that we will plan on coming back the next time we are in Las Vegas.
The view is breathtaking and the meal was sumptious. The ONLY complaint is the fact that the outdoor bar turns into a club after 10PM (maybe it was 11PM?). It wasn't a big deal, but since we were seated by the window, our placid, calm, quiet dinner was blown out by dance music towards the end. All in all we had a great time. Next time we'll know to ask for a seat a little further from the action.
Highly rocommended. Geeat decor and sumptious surroundings along with a great city scape view welcome you to the reataurant. Service was great and the whole experience was superb, looking dorward to next time.
Fantastic night. Something you just have to experience. The views are outstanding but the staff make the night awesome!
A great place to enjoy for any visit that one wishes for a higher class meal. The food selection was amazing. The venue itself was astounding, literally at the top of the Mandalay Bay, the view of the strip is one of a kind. The interior decoration was very well done. The only downsides to the foundation room would be how early one should make there reservations, if you make it for the night of, on a weekend, you most likely will not be seated for dinner until 10 or 11. Also, the seating in their waiting lounge is nonexistent and besides the bar everything is reserved for VIP's, which was annoying but understandable.
This is a spectacular view of the strip mountains and airport inside is very elegant we had our post wedding dinner there overall a good resteraunt a little pricy and limited menu choices other than that it was great!
The food wasn't great for the price. The view is amazing and it was interesting just being up there. I would go just for the access upstairs. I've have had better food though.
The Foundation Room at Mandalay Bay's House of Blues is a perfect setting for a romantic meal. It's a lush setting with thick velvet curtains, dark stained wood trim, intricate oriental looking carpet, and it is beautifully decorated and just the right amount of dim light and candles. The food was exceptional the service was good but they must have been training because they bought out the same appetizer twice and the two servers confused my drink order. They were attentive, however. The nightclub is next to the restaurant and has a fantastic view of the strip. Excellent place to mingle lots of couches and even a little eye candy for the guys with gogo dancers.
We loved every bit of the experience. From the elevator behind the velvet rope, to the decor and ambiance of the bar and restaurant. We enjoyed a cocktail on the patio and were never rushed. Took some amazing photos. Will definitly go back again when we make it back to Vegas!!
Very expensive (for a dinner for two, expect to spend about $100 without tip) but the food was incredible. If you're a young couple, expect the waiters to be somewhat rude...this place seems to be used to serving older, wealthier people that can afford bigger dishes.
In 5 points scale, I will give foods 4.25 pts, service 3.7 pts, 3.5 for ambiance. Overall for 4 pts
We had a nice dinner! everything was super!
Had a wonderful time last Sunday night...the dishes offered were unique and delicious. The view is tough to beat. My only suggestion would be to update the furnishings a bit as they seemed somewhat weathered. Other than that, we had an amazing time and would definitely recommend this restaurants to visitors as well as locals like us!
The food is amazing and this restaurant has one of the best views of the Las Vegas strip.
The view is one of the best in Vegas, the ambience incredibly unique. The menu selections were extremely limited but the food we did order was outstanding!
The Foundation room was beautiful, with a great ambiance. However, I guess I was expecting a better view from the restaurant. The decor was very nice, but the view out the window was lacking. Once you walk over to the bar, the view from there is spectacular. As for the food, it was pretty generic steakhouse food. I expected it to wow me, but the rack of lamb I had was nothing special. My boyfriend got the short ribs and they were more impressive, but overall, the best thing we got was the meat and cheese plate at the beginning of the meal.
The food and the atmoshere was great. Having a private room was really enjoyed by the group I was entertaining. We will be back when we are in Las Vegas again.
Food was so so, a little pricey for what you got. Staff was spectacular, made us feel very special on our anniversary.
You can't beat the ambience or the view. The decor is unusual and posh. The balcony view is pure Las Vegas magic. I'm glad we had the chance to experience both. The food is good but not spectacular. I didn't have a single menu item that made me say, "Wow! This is the best example of X that I've ever had." Neither did I have anything that was disappointing or bad. The menu is a nice mix of American steakhouse comfort food and European bistro food. You are definitely paying for the ambience and the service. The service was professional, friendly, and prompt.
bar girls could be better on sevice
This was my first time dining here. The food was very good, but what made the night was the wait staff. They encouraged us to step outside for a minute to enjoy the view while they got drinks. They continued being very quick and receptive, as well as funny. There are many great restaurants now in vegas, but this was the best service I've had in years.
The restaurant was nice and the view from the Hotel where the restaurant was located was oustanding. The Hostess did forget about us and we were seated after our reservation time. We had arrived 30 minutes early and were told we would be seated before our reservation time.
Wonderful ambience and setting atop Mandalay Bay with a beautiful view of the Las Vegas lights. Really enjoyed having a glass of wine on the Lounge side pre-dinner, was a perfect combination. Comfortable and perfect for a date and great conversation. Food was delicious. Would definitely recommend this restaurant.
I tried to setup a nice date night for my girlfriend and myself where we dress up nice in business casual attire. As we arrive to the restaurant it seems very nice and exclusive with a special elevator and "elevator man" to greet you to the reataurant which was all very nice. We had an early reservation made a week in advance, however, they went about to seat us somewhere in the corner away from the famous and talked about view of vegas. I was a little bummed out that we had to sit away from the view, but there was a balcony we can go out to to enjoy the view so that was alright I suppose. And then the waitor, can't recall his name, however, he was an older waitor and right off the bat he gives us an awkward greeting and a certain suspicious look, then right after the awkward greeting he says. "I'm gonna need to see some id." That's fine, we are a younger looking couple and I'm used to the id request, but I expected a bit more professionalism that that. Then the whole night he just provided us with half..."effort" service. Maybe he figured a young couple would not tip well or whatever the reason. We actually preferred the service of the busboy. He was a lot more friendly and helpful. Other than the disappointing service from the waitor and seating, the food was great. I had the steak and my girlfriend the lamb and both were perfectly cooked and very delicious.
The dinner would have been a lot more enjoyable if our waitor was more polite. The first thing he gave us was an awkward greeting and this comment: "I'm gonna need to see some id." I expect that talk from a rude, ill-mannered police officer, not from a fine dining waitor to a paying customer. The rest of the night he gave us with less than professional service. We actually preferred the service of the busboy as he was a lot more friendly and helpful. Also as a couple with a reservation, I expected a nice table with the famous view from the Foundation room. Instead we were stuck in the corner of the dining room with nothing to look at. Otherwise, the rest of the staff there was very friendly and attentive, and the food was perfectly prepared and delicious.
I hate it when people complain about the price. If you're going to a four or five star restaurant, expect to pay more. Unfortunately I'm going to have to say that the food, service and view (or lack thereof from most tables due to the outside balcony and wall) didn't justify the expense. Not sure if it was because it was "public monday" but the Foundation Room just didn't live up to expectations.
This restaurant is supposed to have an old style club feeling. Had decent, understated decorations, but food was just OK. Apparently they are noted for their steaks, but none were available. Menu was old fashioned country club style food with a few modest modern updates. Food was well prepared but uninspiring. Bar had flat screen TV's with sports on. Wasn't really wanting to sit in a fancy sports bar. Was over air conditioned, so freezing. A wedding on the pation outside the dining room made for a lot of noise and traffic through the room. Would not recommend it.
The ambience is really cool and the view is incredible. After that, the rest is just good. The menu is lost and does not have anything memorable. Portions are small but that is OK if the food is outstanding. Unfortuately, they are missing something as I can only call it good.
Great view, food pretty not too bad
Resteraunt is pleasing to the eye a d has a comfortable feel to it. Service only average. Mini ice cream cone sampler is very good.
Sadly this was a restaurant that was highly sought, which now is only the place people come to Vegas to say they had a "good meal". I need to question this as there was nothing particularly good or inspiring about the place.. It used to be a place of mystery as it was a memebers only restaurant open to members and whispered, their mistresses. Regardless, the food was very uninspired and when I researched the venue on Zagat, they sold it as a fusion restaurant. To us it was just another steak house or American restaurant. Nothing special. So many places to explore, please go elsewhere to do so...
The Foundation Room needs help
I've had better cuts of beef at Outback. Wonderful view, but not worth the price. Go for a cocktail, then drive over to In/Out Burger for a better cut of beef.
Party of 5. We had reservations for 8:00 pm and arrived at 7:50pm. At 8:30 I asked how much longer and was told they were clearing a table, they apologized for the wait and bought us a round of drinks. At 9:00pm we again asked about our table and were finally seated at 9:15. The waiter then informed us that they were out of most of the specials.
The decor was dark and dreary, the music was top 40 music, the food was undercooked ( rare instead of medium ) the table was too small to place two plates of food on, they were out of two of the bottles of wine we ordered. The food was way over priced and the waiter simply didn't care about us, it must have been the end of his shift or he had rought night. Food was bad, ambiance was weird and we really just laughed it was so bad, we had a better meal in the mall the next day.
The inside of the place was very nice and it ended there. If there was anymore mint leaves in the my drink; I would have choked. You had to ask for just about everything while dining. It was almost like the experience was turned upside down. Bread came after the entree as well as a simple glass of water. Had to almost twist there arm to get anything; if it was not for my wife, they would have got nothing. All I can do is make sure my friends and family do not make the same mistake, what a joke.
The fillet mignon was dry and overcooked (it was ordered medium well) and the chicken was very ordinary. For the amount of money we paid ($144 for 2 entre's)which included 1 glass of wine,I feel we should have gotten gourmet food.
Either this restaurant doesn't think much of this site's reservations, or they don't care about the public at all (being a private club certain days) . We had a 7:30 reservation, which they acknowledged, and were told it would be "just a few minutes" and to wait at the bar. Twenty minutes later when we inquired how much longer it would be, they said "they were very busy" and it would be a few minutes more. This was repeated until at 55 minutes (8:25 pm) we were shown to a "special room" to make up for the wait. The reason for booking there in the first place was for the view from 43 floors above the Strip. The "special room" was a 10' x 12' (at most!) WINDOWLESS den with a cocktail height table set with cutlery and two loveseats. The maitre'd tried to sell us that it was "very serene" since there was a large Buddha on one wall, although rock music was blasting in on a speaker! At this point we let them know how very NOT serene we were feeling and left, forcing us to scramble for a late dinner somewhere else. I would STRONGLY discourage anyone from booking a meal at this pretentious, obnoxious place!