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| - I'm torn here... There were some things about this place that I really liked (the wine and cheese), and others that I disliked enough that I will never return (the atmosphere)...
Upon first descending we thought "this place does look like a napa cellar, how cool"! A couple of cowboys warned us that the service was slow as molasses, so after a while of waiting at our table we decided what we want and approached the sommelier. We ordered two flights, and he helped us pick out some cheese to accompany.
During this process, "it" started... The reason for which I will never return... The show. The Rio show where gals and guys in skimpy outfits ride around on a float on the main floor with blaring overplayed pop music. It was loud - REALLY LOUD - down in the "wine cellar". The engineers/architects/managers/designers that came up with the concept of a wine cellar in the Rio missed a CRUCIAL aspect that absolutely ruins the atmosphere. They should have installed sound proof doors at the entrance.
Imagine standing in a winery and all of a sudden they start blaring cheesy pop music so loudly you can't talk. Yeah. You would leave. ASAP. We were out for a birthday celebration so we stayed, but this turned a pleasant evening where we were willing to drop some dough into an "if it weren't for this, we would like this place" kind of evening. Maybe they only do the show certain nights, then it would be worth going on off nights.
We switched tables to another part of the area where it was a bit more shielded from chaos above, and giggled at the absurdity and discomfort. After our wine and cheese was delivered (along with a very nice bread basket), the wait staff was relatively attentive, and friendly when we did talk with them (although remarkably absent for only one other table present on a Saturday night). The wines were wonderful, the cheese accompaniment was delightful and exactly what we were hoping for... But, I will not return. If I wanted to yell at my friend while drinking, I'd just hop up to Voodoo instead of the Cellar.
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