Best Restaurants for Birthdays in The STRAT Hotel & Casino

The food did not disappoint! Started with chicken lollipop drumsticks that were very savory. The broccoli and NY steak was cooked to perfection. The sweet and spicy shrimp and vegetables rounded out the meal enjoyed family style. But can’t say enough about our waiter and his hospitality. Will be back for sure.

The restaurant is beautifully decorated and very much in theme with the rest of Vegas; a departure from your current reality to a place where everything feels more alive. The staff are all courteous and kind, helping you make decisions and find the meal you’ve been on a mission to find your whole life. Don’t hesitate, just order it. Share it with a friend or eat it all yourself. You can’t go wrong with any of the freshly made pastas, with sauces that make you want to take up cooking classes. Although I didn’t have the salt baked wild branzino, the table next to me did and it was all anyone around us could talk about. It looked incredible and judging by their reactions, it certainly was. I had the giant 16oz meatball, which is almost big enough to be a meal on its own. Softball sized and covered in fresh ricotta, I couldn’t help but devour the whole thing. My server suggested the bucatini carbonara to pair with the meatball and she nailed it. Tender, flavorful and the perfect portion size. I was eyeballing that 20 layer chocolate and peanut butter cake, but as able to somehow resist temptation. If LAVO isn’t on your list of places to try in Vegas, it needs to be.

Service: Reservation at 6:00pm. Checked in at 5:45pm. Allowed in at 6:01pm. Receptionists were accommodating. Waiter provided a brief description of dishes when asked. Checked in often. Attentive and patient. Servers described in greater detail the dishes they bring to the table. Food: Miso soup had two thin tofu slices garnished with diced chives. Moderately hot. Sea bass with black bean sauce was homey. Topped with ginger slices and chives. Black bean sauce was great over rice. Black cod with miso was delicate and velvety. Miso glaze was mildly sweet and savory. Black cod melted with every bite. Shrimp with spicy garlic sauce was well-seasoned. Shrimp had a perfect bouncy texture. Cucumber salad with crab had a zesty vinaigrette. Pickled radish wrapped around the crab was a refreshing bite. Cleansed the palate. Vanilla Miso Tart was creamy and delightful. Bento Box: Dark chocolate lava cake had an accompaniment of a variety of berries. A perfect balance of bitter and sweet. Ambience: Warm lighting Moderate chatter R&B/pop music

Party of six for Christmas dinner. 5/6 had the special prix fix menu and the food was exceptional—the soup stole the show. One party had a huge filet cooked to his liking. The whipped potatoes are also worth mentioning. Service was impeccable. Absolutely no complaints. Our waitress and the bus staff were attentive and responsive. Free parking, easy access from the Ahern. All good. I recommend Joel’s without reservation. We had a great time.

All dishes were fresh and appetizing. Service was anticipatory and pleasing. Ambiance was comforting and bright. Hope to go again soon.