text: Okayanyone who frequents Las Vegas knows that many of the very best chefs in the world have restaurants there It is literally a city oozing with star sauces The problem is many of the restaurants are jammed into smoky casinos overpriced and often focus on the show more than the food Surego to Switch once and watch in awe as the walls change and the roof rotates before your eyes It will be entertaining and take your mind off the fact that you are about to get a bill Everyone should experience it at least once No pain no gainnnFor those of you who consider a night off the strip somewhat of a victory however I strongly recommend that you give The Barrymore a try It does not have flashy dancers crazy lasers moving walls ice sculptures or celebrity chefs What it does have however is old Vegas charm andoh yeahexcellent food nnThe ambiance is more Lionel Barrymore than Drew Barrymore in almost every respect The dining room is warm and cozy with plush booths and a classy sstyle movie motif One truly feels as if they might just look in the booth next to them and catch a glimpse of Bogey or Grant sipping on a cosmopolitan with a lady friend nnThe staff is great as well From the time we walked in and sat down we received flawless service Our head waiter was dressed in a white dinner jacket and looked as if he could have just finished serving Lionel himself He was fully familiar with the dinner menu bar specialties and did not hesitate to offer his opinion on wine choices The evening manager also stopped by our table introduced himself and asked about our experience nnWe dined on NY Strip steak braised short ribs and a wonderful risotto Each dish was well executed top quality and very enjoyable The highlight was a wonderful roasted artichoke which still haunts my taste buds two weeks later nnSo if you are in Vegas looking for a flashy trendy restaurant named after some celebrity on the Food Network you may be happier on the strip eating a shrimp cocktail with the din of slot machines in the background If however you are looking for a classy elegant dining experience with a real old Vegas feel Give The Barrymore a try The difference is black and white