. "1"^^ . . "8"^^ . . "1"^^ . "2016-03-19T00:00:00"^^ . "2"^^ . "A few years back, Vintner Grill set the standard for elegance and sophistication in off-strip dining in Las Vegas. What happened?\n\nWhat was probably my 20th dinner there, last week the Consul of Chile and I met a friend from Spain, whom we felt confident would appreciate the introduction. We were mistaken.\n\nApart from the 'open during construction' idea which would seem to think you dine out for food alone, the tables in the bar area were no longer clothed. We immediately noticed that the surface of the table was thick with grease build-up, a sign of lax practices in cleanliness. This is not the old Vintner! \n\nTwo salads ordered were quite good, if unimaginative. Vintner was always had great risotto, but no longer, at least not according to my shrimp risotto. The shrimp was of a 99-cent shrimp cocktail quality, with tails left on, just laying on top of the risotto, which itself was so salty as to be inedible. \n\nAdd to this the fact that the two gin and tonics I sent back were both flat. When the waiter told me that was impossible the second time around, I asked for a chardonnay instead. He asked \"what kind?\" I replied to ask what they had, to which he said, \"French or Californian.\" So much for that whole \"vintner\" theme, huh? His attitude told me I'd better choose one, shut up and return to my salt lick. We had to flag the waiter several times, or have other waiters go find him. Not pleasant. \n\nI hope they pull it together. It was a nice place before. It won't be back until someone credible insists it has successfully risen again!"^^ .