Payard Patisserie

Ok I have a “thing”.  Noooo not THAT kind of thing!  I have a “lounge-in-the-hotel-in-the-morning-with-a-great-cup-of-coffee-and-a-pastry” kind of thing.  In Las Vegas, we’ve stayed twice at the Venetian and had the joy of sending down some hapless man (my Dad) to acquire a few fancy lattes, muffins and croissants so we can lounge around in our pajamas and talk gossip for hours.

But now I have found Payard Patisserie.  I hate to say it because I love them so much but move over Bouchon, a new gorgeous, delicious, scrumptious kid has moved on to the block - at least in Vegas anyways.  

Words can not describe how flakey, moist, flavorful and delicious their pastries are.  We had plain croissants, chocolate croissants, an orange topped muffin-y thing…it was all amazing.  The coffee was pretty good too.  My only regrets are that we didn’t find it sooner and we didn’t go down to try their lunch and dinner food.  

Payard is reason enough to go back to Las Vegas.

Heather’s Review: Worth Going Back Over and Over 

Serendipity 3

I love ice cream and I love ice cream sundaes.  What is better than frozen, sweet milk topped with some sort of chocolate or caramel and whipped cream?  It doesn’t get much better.  

I really love ice cream sundaes at Serendipity 3 in New York.  Ten years ago, I could stroll up to their door, wander in and sit down for one of their awesome concoctions.  Not today.  Today there is a line around the block and you have to make reservations a month in advance.  Ah those were the days.

So you can imagine my delight when I found out there was a Serendipity 3 in Las Vegas at Caesar’s Palace - the hotel I was staying in!  It was a crazy miracle of miracles.  I immediately made a reservation for our post-Celine Dion concert and knew it would be a great way to finish off the evening.  My mother and aunt would LOVE it!

Not so much.  

Serendipity 3 in New York is this quaint store with an upstairs that just makes you want to fall in love with someone.  It’s cozy and special.  

The one in Las Vegas is huge.  Really huge.  And pink.  I know everything in Las Vegas is larger than life and I should have known but I wasn’t expecting this.  It was over run with teenagers, had a sticky floor and reeked of fried food.  There’s nothing I hate more than feeling my skin absorb the oil from the kitchen fryer when I want the exact opposite of that greasy burger and fries.

We sat down and had to flag down a waitress to ask for menus.  When she came back a good bit later, we immediately ordered sparkling water.  When it came, it was flat water.  There was a water spill on the floor near our table that was never cleaned up and when our sundaes came, they were kind of sad.  Small, unadorned, not very exciting at all.  It was a long driveway to a very small house as some would say.  A sad end to an almost perfect evening.

Heather Rating: Not Worth Going Again

Las Vegas Bound

I’m headed off to Las Vegas later today and scheduled to eat at a number of well-talked about restaurants like Rao’s, Caesar’s Bacchanal Brunch, Gordon Ramsay Steak and Joe’s (who DOESN’T like stone crab???).  I’m set to write a number of formal reviews next week but maybe I’ll post a shot and quip or two from our extravaganza.  :)  Have a great weekend!