text: Somewhat Disappointing and ExpensivennWhat is a celebrity or superstar chef Let us be realistic for a moment there are some outstanding little known chefs out there that do not appear regularly on Food Network or Bravo that are far more deserving of accolades than some of the celebrity chefs that will earn of the stars on a review simply because of false expectations associated with a recognized name nnCraftsteak at the MGM Grand is a wonderful restaurant The service is impeccable the decor nothing short of stunning and you will without a doubt have a fine meal here so long as you are willing to pay the price and a hefty price it is The real question is if it is really worth it Regretfully my answer is depends what you are looking for nnCraftsteak barely misses the mark in my book expect to pay more than double what you would at other equally good venues If we bring the total picture into play not just food then our measuring stick has to change and I would give the place stars instead of three For me I prefer a beautiful friendly atmosphere and great food over museumquality surroundings and average to good food This review is actually a comparisoncontrast and hopefully will give you a good idea what to expect nnOur table of three at Craftsteak enjoyed a few drinks then started off with wagyu tartare It was nothing short of outstanding and an extremely large portion I was expecting oz but received what appeared to be more than a pound of pure delight It was opulent Had I known I would have ordered it for dinner and called it a night The three of us actually struggled to finish it it is very heavy nnOn to the steaks We decided on a oz rib for two and a oz New York strip As sides we ordered the mushroom assortment which included somewhat rare hen of the woods which is a delight in an of itself and sautueed Brussels sprouts nnComplaints well I must say the steaks lacked seasoning Sorry ChefOwner Colicchio it was close but no cigar A great steak should need little more than some fresh cracked pepper and salt our two steaks felt devoid of either To add insult to injury the rib was excessively fatty with a rather large grain of connective tissue running through the dead center This had to be a mistake The knives provided were surprisingly dull security issue and we had a hell of a time carving through this sucker If not for the great company I was seriously considering sending it back nnWe packed up some of the dinner rolls and the remaining steak to make late night sandwiches in our suite that evening we were feeling like beached whales after the tartare The check arrived and I handed over to our waiter Ouch Double Ouch I shudder to think what the bill would have been if we ordered deserts and coffeennLets move ahead hours to a little Irish joint called the Nine Fine Irishmen at the New York New York right over the connecting bridge from the MGM Grand It is a bit loud but bristling with a friendly not raucous energy and live music that was just loud enough that you could still very easily have a conversation This time it was just myself and my wife We sat at the deep marble bar we did not feel like waiting an hour for a table and ordered two of the Guinness limited edition stouts Really yummy if you like stout nnWe shared a bowl of their colcannon soup which is a hearty blend of leeks potato and irish bacon They offered it to us with fresh soda bread and European butter with a herbs I was simply in heaven I considered licking the bowl but there were too many people including my wife watching It was at this point that I started feeling bitter about Craftsteak My oz NY strip arrived round two and horseradish crusted halibut Perfection I was enjoying a great beer with a simply phenomenal steak that was cooked to perfection The halibut was flaky and succulent in every way Here is the best part our bill was Sixty Four dollars compared to what we spent at Craftsteak There simply was no comparison As much as I think Gordon Ramsay is a pompous ass and I have eaten at his restaurant London there is something to be said for his philosophy of great simple food Craftsteak is good but with the exception of the tartare does not blowmeaway They are missing the mark just a bit by trying to be an over the top You are paying mostly for a name and a very posh atmosphere nnConsidering the price and the quality of food Nine Fine Irishmen was the winner for me Granted it is not a somber fine dining experience but I enjoy eating out to have a good time and a good meal not just gawk at the decor and whisper in the amber glow of a restaurant that is bucking for a michelin star