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| - This restaurant is the first one that's made me stand up and say: DAMN. I seriously have to write about this place. It's the first restaurant in Vegas that I've been to where I honestly believe they've matched the quality of some of the best contemporaries out there.
I historically don't like to write reviews of places that are mediocre or bad because... well, I think it's a waste of my time, not to mention it's sort of bad karma and being that most places in Vegas just aren't that outstanding save for about 4-5 restaurants and shows, that means very few reviews are worth writing - at least for me.
But Envy definitely passes that "reviewability" filter.
WARNINGS ABOUT ENVY:
- It doesn't have the decor of Prime.
- It lacks the "beautiful people" and "see-and-be-seen bar" of CUT.
- It doesn't have a big name chef in it's name like Mario Batali's Carnevino.
- It doesn't have the busy, electric atmosphere of Stripsteak.
No, this review is all about service, food, and "would I go back?".
1) TASTE
The 19oz bone-in Rib Eye was truly one of the best steaks I've had. And in Vegas of all places I don't say this often but eating this steak actually makes me cringe with delight. Y'know how when something tastes so soft, so moist, so perfectly charred, so evenly flavorful throughout, the back of your mouth actually aches? Yeah - that's the Rib Eye. Only in Texas and in New Orleans have I had a steak this good.
...And then they had a grilled Yellowtail on a bed of crab & avocado salsa with a light mustard sauce that was a very good accompaniment as a sort of 'surf & turf'. The fish was lightly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside bursting with that light yellowtail flavor people enjoy.
...I had a delicious crab bisque as well that was bowl licking good. I actually came with two lightly flavored tempura-fried crab legs as well, that were sort of unnecessary but quite nice to have to compliment the saltiness of the bisque.
Haven Syrah: 4/5
Crab Bisque: 4/5
Ribeye Bone-in: 5/5
Yellowtail over Crab/Avocado: 5/5
Wild Mushrooms: 4/5
2) VALUE
I walked out with a $100 bill (discounted using the RESTAURANT.COM $25-for-$10 coupon available for purchase) and found myself surprised at this. I mean seriously: This meal would have been at least $50 more anywhere else. The whole "under $60" benchmark really doesn't hold on average when it comes to Vegas steakhouses for the most part.
3) SERVICE
My waiter, what can I say... he wore me down and I could help but like & respect the guy. He knew every dish very well (and he was accurate which I verified through my 3 items), he could target specific dishes to different preferences based on simple questions, he was Johnny-on-the-spot with everything - the dishes were SMOKIN' hot off the grill - as were the bus boys, and he was friendly as all heck.
...And of course the manager stopped by as with all good restaurants to ensure he's getting accurate feedback on the experience.
4) MENU
This is probably more of a personal preference but I really liked the menu. Lord if I could only remember everything on there, but I just recall really liking everything I saw on there and wishing that I could sample a little of everything. (Props to the girl that recommended the wild mushrooms in a prior review. They are quite good.)
...This is in contrast to some other menus that I've seen of steakhouses in Vegas. The names shall remain hidden but there's some steakhouses in Vegas where you really have to wonder, "Why the hell are they serving THAT here? Who'd go to a steakhouse and eat that?"
A note on the atmosphere:
I walked into the hotel lobby and found myself asking, "Uh... where is the restaurant?" and then later looking into the place and asking, "Uh... is it open?" because no one was there. Don't be surprised if you find yourself asking the same questions. I think another reviewer even said something similar. It's not very busy and certainly isn't very high profile next to some of the other Vegas steakhouses.
SUMMARY:
Envy gets a very solid 5-stars. It's worth taking the side trip to the Renaissance Hotel for this place. From here on out, I can confidently say Envy will be a must-visit for me in Vegas.
(And to the people who reviewed Envy, admitted they went to a steakhouse and then ordered something other than beef: Uh... seriously, WTF? That's like going to an aquarium and asking where the zebras and giraffes are at.)
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