THE MOST PICTUREQUE PLACE FOR BRUNCH ON THE VEGAS STRIP!!!
Among the hustle and bustle of the Vegas Strip lies The Country Club whose quaint atmosphere overlooks a lush green golf course with a breath-taking waterfall which sets the stage for the perfect brunch.
On Friday, 12.10.10, my friend and I came to The Country Club for lunch at about 12:30 PM. We didn't have reservations but were promptly seated.
As I mentioned in my previous review, I'm just now catching up to some of my Vegas reviews since I'm at home sick (still recovering from my most recent Vegas trip last week). People often ask me how I manage to write detailed reviews. While I would like to say, I have a good memory, I heavily rely on my notes. Yes, you will often find me typing away on my BB at a restaurant.
F O O D:
*AUSTRALIAN KOBE BEEF CARPACCIO ($19): MEH!
The copious toppings of sundried tomatoes, mushrooms, arugula, pine nuts and shaved reggiano ruined the integrity of the thinly sliced melt-in-your-mouth kobe. The carpaccio was also drenched in olive oil and was missing a citrus component to balance out the richness.
*OPEN FACED COUNTRY CLUB FRENCH DIP w/ Parmesan Truffle Potato Chips ($22): OMFG, A MUST ORDER!!!
A thick toasted brioche was slathered with mustard cream and piled high with shaved prime rib, melted gruyere cheese and crowned with fried crispy onions. The French dip was served with side of au jus and parmesan truffle potato chips.
As I cut into the sandwich, I could hear the crunch of the onions and feel the softness from the prime rib and melted cheese. The first bite, I thought I had died and gone to heaven! The brioche was crunchy, soft, and buttery and was the perfect canvas to the tender and soft prime rib. The gruyere added a creamy and nutty richness, the fried onions a crunchy texture contrast while the tang from the mustard cream help cut through some of the richness. Each bite was packed with bold flavors and a combo of textures so there was really no need for the au jus. It did help to soften each bite and add a layer of beefy goodness though.
Ohh the Parmesan Truffle Chips...
Fresh out of the fryer, the chips were like warm kettle chips; thin, crisp and crunchy with a subtle woodiness from the truffle oil and salty savoryness from the cheese. I wanted to devour the entire basket in one setting, but I knew I had to exercise some sort of self-control.
S E R V I C E:
DISAPPOINTING!
With all the reviews praising the excellent service at The Country Club, I had much higher expectations especially for a restaurant of this caliber. Upon seating, it took 5 minutes before even being acknowledged and another 5 minutes to get water. When we were ready to order, we had to hunt down our waiter and once we ordered he went MIA.
To make matters worse, we watched table after table who got seated AFTER us get their food and bill before we ever got our entrees. Fyi, the restaurant was probably at 25-30% capacity at most with several wait staff lingering around.
My friend became frustrated and informed the Manager on duty who offered her sincere apologies and offered to comp our appetizer which was a nice gesture. You would think this would give our waiter a "reality check" to up his game, but after he served our entrees (took 40 minutes after ordering), he was nowhere to be found again when we wanted to pay our bill.
A M B I A N C E / D E C O R:
Quaint, Classy and Breath-taking! If it weren't for the beautiful ambiance/décor, I would not have been so generous with my rating.
The main dining room of The Country Club is reminiscent of someone's living room with plush furnishings, a fireplace, wine shelves and huge pane windows that overlook a lush green gold course with a stunning waterfall. I highly recommend requesting to be seated outside on a warm sunny day so you can take advantage of the gorgeous views.
In most cases, if the food is good, I can be forgiving on the service (like in this case).
If you're looking for a quaint and intimate place for brunch where the food is scrumptious and the ambiance is stellar, look no further, go FORE The Country Club!