Craftsteak at MGM Grand

My boyfriend and I ate here for his birthday last year in August. We were staying at the MGM and were early for our reservation. Within a few minutes we were sat at a table. The server was very polite and friendly. We ordered the summer tasting tasting menu that changes every season and every course as served family style. For the first course we had grilled quail, roasted red peppers, and a cucumber salad. All were simple and tasty. For the main we had grilled filet, roasted chicken, and diver scallops plus sides. We ordered the steak rare and it came out perfect. The steak came out sliced, it was seasoned well, and cut like butter. The roasted chicken was delicious and moist; the scallops were cooked well. As sides we had the potato puree, sauteed corn, and roasted mushrooms; all of which were excellent. The dessert was chef's choice. We had bread pudding and a berry crisp with vanilla ice cream. There was definitely a lot of food and the tasting menu was only $65 per person (and only $30 more per person for wine pairings for each course). The whole experience was pleasant. The service was excellent. The staff was very attentive and knowledgable. I have definitely recommended this place to friends and family.

Pros: Quality food

Cons: None

Posted 02/25/09

My husband and I ate here on our wedding night (2/29/08). We didn't read any reviews before going here. In fact, we had never heard of the place before. We were staying at the MGM and wanted steaks, so we headed here. We didn't have reservations but were lucky enough to have been seated within 10 minutes of arriving. The atmosphere was very nice... dim lighting, romantic music softly playing in background, and somewhat private booths. We shared the porterhouse steak (one of our favorite cuts), friscee salad, and fingerling potatoes. The salad was served with large bits of bacon and warm dressing and tasted amazing. The steak comes to the table on a single plate for sharing as well as the potatoes. To our surprise, the steak was already sliced and put back together like a puzzle. It was seasoned just right and was unbelievably juicy. The potatoes were sooo good. I usually add salt and pepper to potatoes, but these were so good I didn't want to mess them up with over salting. Interesting enough, there was no salt or pepper on the table or any other table for that matter! They really know how to season food at this place. The bearnaise sauce was the best I've ever had. My mouth is watering right now just thinking about it. It was the perfect compliment to the meal. By the end of the meal we were so full we didn't have room for dessert. Instead we relaxed at the table with our drinks for a bit while we waited for the bill. The total bill, including drinks came to under $200. It was an incredible meal, the perfect atmosphere, and great service. My husband and I plan to visit many other Vegas steakhouses in the future but this steakhouse will be very hard to top.

Pros: Very well seasoned entrees

Cons: Dress code not enforced

Posted 02/15/09

Great atmosphere and service. The Lobster Bisque was outstanding but the steak was not good at all cooked very well done when I asked for medium and it had a Whole lot of pepper on it. I do not recommend this place to anyone that is looking for a good steak. TOURIST TRAP

Pros: LOBSTER BISQUE

Cons: STEAK

Posted 10/20/08

I don't know what the people below with bad reviews are talking about! The food here was amazing. Everything from the foie gras to the scallops to the kobe was impeccable! I would eat here every night if I could afford it... absolutely delicious!

Pros: Food was delicious!

Cons: High price

Posted 07/08/08

Too many complaints to list... my husband is a chef at one of the top restaurants in the country so he of all people should be able to pick out flaws in a meal but seriously, anyone could have noticed the problems with our meal. We had reso's for 5:30 when the restaurant opened and arrived on time but the hostess had us stand in the hall for nearly 15 minutes waiting to seat us, I still can't figure that out. So called sommelier couldn't tell me what WTW (white table wine) or RTW (red table wine) on the by the glass list meant, ha! Lobster $70 overcooked so that it was rubber, Kobe beef skirt steak $70 ordered mid-rare came out well done. Risotto was blah and mushy. Server to casual.....Whole experience was a let down and waste of money. If Tom sat at our table that night would he have approved?

Pros: we can say we at at Tom Colicchio's restaurant

Cons: not worth it

Posted 06/11/08

The service was impeccable. Food was average. My guest and I ordered a shrimp cocktail to split as an appetizer. The shrimp were divine, but the cocktail sauce tasted like plain catsup. We had to ask for horseradish to add to the sauce. I ordered the roasted top sirloin, my guest ordered the roasted filet and we ordered sauteed spinach, roasted carrots and gratin of potatoes with leeks and roasted garlic. Everything but the carrots and potatoes was salty. I sent my steak back because it was tough (and had no flavor). We wanted to send the spinach back because it was so salty but decided not to after I had already sent back my steak. The was another expensive trip to a celebrity chef restaurant on the strip that wasn't worth it.

Posted 05/07/08

i have a problem with any high end steakhouse that does not know how to prepair a steak pittsburg rare(black&blue) and craft steak did not pass the test, why anybody who loves prime beef would ever want grass fed beef is beyond me! if you want lean meat eat buffalo, or tenderlion or just eat fish! of course lean meat is more heathy for you but when i am shelling out $100 a steak i dont want healthy ,i want richess and flavor! i cant say that the quality was bad but the preparation was less than great , no char or sear on my ribeye and no seasoning also ,another problem i had was i had to order a huge 40oz ribeye for two if i wanted a dry aged steak (thats what i ordered)i have heard that they offer all kinds of aged prime beef but the night i had dinner that was the only option on the menue for dry aged ,service was not great but not bad sides ok , drinks ok ,would i go again if i had to pay, NO! would i go if it was on sombody else, maybe, all i could think about while i was eating was Tom Coliccio bashing the young chefs on top chef about not seasoning food and poor preparation, hey Tom i think you better stop by you OWN kitchen and give your OWN food a test.

Pros: nice room .large menue

Cons: preparation , price

Posted 05/05/08

Food: Porterhouse for two, lobster bisque, and salad were good, not excellent.

Wine: Excellent wines, but no options for the average joe (ie. under $130/bottle).

Ambiance: Noisy and busy. My wife and I had to shout to cary on a conversation.

Service: Honestly, I have had better service at applebees. Not what I was expecting for the $$$.

Summary: There are better places to eat in Vegas (including MGM)...don't wast your time and money here.

Pros: Good food.

Cons: Service; ambience; value.

Posted 04/05/08

We just went to Vegas for the weekend and I made a reservation about
a week in advance for Craftsteak. We were really looking forward to it,
and it did not disappoint!!! My wife and I each had the Filet Mignon, and
they were spectacular. SO PERFECTLY COOKED AND DELICIOUS.
The only negative was they were a little too large for us at 10 oz. each.
The Shrimp Cocktail might be the finest I have ever had, only the cocktail
sauce was extremely mild. I'm not big on horse-radish at all, but I
believe you should be able to taste it a little. You could tell there was a
hint of it, but that's it. Anyway, the shrimp were pristine. Firm, fresh, cold,
and very tasty. Beautiful. I know it's a simple dish, but that's all the more
reason it needs to be nailed, perfectly!!! My wife's Spinach Salad
with a truffle-oil dressing was very simple but very good as well. Also
we had Sauteed Baby Broccoli, which was SO delicious!!! For dessert we
had the Apple Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream. Incredible!!!

We were so happy with our meal, and the excellent service. It was one
of our best meals ever. The only Steak we could remember enjoying more
was at Dylan Prime in NYC, and not by much.

Pros: Incredibly Delicious, Simple Food!!!

Cons: Pretty Expensive!!!

Posted 03/30/08

Craftsteak is my favorite restaurant on the planet!!! The kobe beef tartare is sinful! I love the beet salad. The steak is always perfect! The sides are gigantic and there is always a great variety. The portions are huge...we always order way too much food. It all sounds so good we can't help ourselves. The service is always top notch. The bar is also a good place to eat if you are in a hurry or you can't get a reservation. My only less than positive comment is that I am never especially impressed by the dessert. We usually opt out or do an ice cream/sorbet sampler. The pastries do not match up to the stellar food and service. My suggestion is order several appetizers and sides, split a steak, and skip dessert.

Posted 03/15/08

This was a fantastic place to eat. We were there to celebrate my husband's birthday and we were not disappointed. The service was impeccable - both of our servers were knowledgeable and friendly. This is a very elegant, beautiful restaurant, without being pretentious. I highly recommend following your server's recommendations: our server suggested the seasonal scallops and they were heavenly. The Kobe beef is just as wonderful as expected and the portions are perfect. The asparagus, as mentioned in an earlier review, was delicious. We did not stay for dessert, because we were just too full, however, I highly recommend the Sidecar Martini. This is the perfect place for atmosphere, upscale dining, and impeccable service. If you want some privacy, request a booth. Don't miss out on this place - it is a fabulous splurge and well worth the money.

Pros: Service, Atmosphere, Great Food

Cons: None

Posted 02/10/08

Let's just say that overall, I was happy, but the hefty price tag left me with a little more to desire...thankfully, I was traveling on business, so the bill wasn't completely absorbed by myself. The service was prompt and the staff was quite friendly even if they were a little difficult to understand. The bar is well stocked and the signature key-lime martini is a fantastic after dinner drink. As for the food, it was both great & o.k. I thoroughly enjoyed the yellow fin tuna appetizer. The bone-in steak however was good...not great, and at $50+ for just the steak, I've had better (the chop house in Chicago comes to mind). Note that I also don't particularly care for pre-cut meat (I am a big boy and you gave me a knife), nor did I particularly care for the rosemary the steak was garnished with. The side of asparagus was o.k., but nowhere near worth the cost. Why did I select this place to eat at in the first place...well, it was the end of a long 2 week trip it was downstairs, and I wanted a good steak. That's what I got, a good steak and a hefty bill, but I will say again, that the tuna was a fantastic appetizer. Would I go back, probably not, and I wouldn't recommend it to someone traveling on their own dime.

Pros: they take reservarions and the dress code is relatively liberal for "fine dining"

Cons: hefty cost for an o.k. cut of steak

Posted 11/25/07

A profound disappointment. Based on Colicchio's reputation and a sampling of diner reviews -- including some from this site -- I organized a family reunion and dinner at Craftsteak. Should not have bothered. Almost every aspect of our evening was underwhelming. Let me count the ways.

1.) The service was horrifically slow. Although we were seated promptly, five minutes passed before a waiter arrived; another ten minutes passed before our drinks arrived; another 15 minutes passed before water and bread arrived. Perhaps we were being conditioned, because our appetizers then took another half hour and our entrees -- ta da! -- arrived almost two hours after we first sat down.

2.) The steaks, which as others have noted are almost comically expensive, were unevenly cooked. Granted, this meant that half the steak was wonderfully prepared, tender and tasty. But it also meant that half of the same steak was either overdone or dripping raw, not to mention tough and gristly.

3.) The ambiance is more akin to a Denny's then to place where the per-person check tops $100. The restaurant is theme-park sized, obviously far too large to competently staff. The din is horrible. Four times during out meal waiters dropped plates or glasses -- four times! These thundering events were followed by much shouting and rushing about by the wait staff, and then frenzied mopping and sweeping, complete with chemical aromas.

I could go on and on, but I'm sure you get my drift. We felt cheated and taken for granted, and we're now soured on the whole Craft empire. Had we not gone as a family the next day to Mesa, at Caesar's Palace, the reunion would have been ruined. Happily, Mesa's was quiet, the staff was competent, and food cheaper and much better than at Craft. Had I only known that in advance. Ah, well.

Pros: None

Cons: Cost, Ambience, Service, Noise

Posted 10/24/07

My husband and I are HUGE Top Chef fans, so for our trip to Vegas we had to see if Chef Colicchio really knew what he was talking about in his sometimes harsh reviews of the contestants. Let me tell you, he has every right to point out every single little flaw because Craftsteak was absolutely flawless!! We went with 3 other couples who have never seen Top Chef and all are picky eaters and have huge appetites. First of all we were seated at a huge circular table with lots of room around it. This may seem like something so simple but it made for really easy conversations and a lot of laughs all night instead of the typical rectangular tables restaurants put groups at. Our server had a great sense of humor and almost insisted on us doing one of the chef's tasting menus. We decided on the $110 a person one which included Kobe beef since none of us had tried it yet. We were really leery that there wouldn't be nearly enough food for everyone but with the a la carte prices we trusted our server that we wouldn't be able to finish everything on the table and it was the best option for our group. We were SHOCKED at both the quality and the quantity of the food that was presented to us! The prawns in the appetizer course were the best shrimp that anyone in our group had ever had. My personal favorite for the entree course was the meat that they served in a little copper kettle that had been cooked for over 18 hours. For dessert, I would have to pick the cantaloupe gelato, I am craving it now!! Honestly, our group was filled with some of the pickiest eaters I know and they all couldn't stop raving about it!! I was so proud to have made the suggestion when two of the couples in my group said it was the best meal they had ever had. For the two of us to do the $110 tasting, 1 Kettel One dirty martini for him, and a glass of wine for me, including tax and tip it was $320 and worth every dollar!! Craftsteak is perfection without any snobby or elitist attitude.

Pros: Perfect for Groups, Amazing food prepared simply

Cons: Wine and cocktails were expensive but strong and large

Posted 07/23/07

I agree with several others here that the staff was very professional and the service was great. I ordered the
Sirlion, i believe around 16 oz, and it was presliced when brought to my table. I asked for it to be medium well, not very pink inside. Well, it was served more or less like a bright red Prime Rib so I sent it back to cook it a bit longer. When they brought it back it was cooked as I requested, however, the quality of the meat was not much better than a tough London broil that I would buy at the local supermarket. The shrimp cocktail was excellent and the green beans average, for $10.
I probably ordered the wrong steak, probably should have stayed with the Filet Mignon. The steak was supposed to be the highlight of the meal so I must say it was rather dissappointing.
The jazz music was good.

Posted 12/19/06

My boyfriend and I ate here for our anniversary and we were not disappointed. The caesar salad was great, different than your typical caesar. We both ordered rib eye steaks which were both amazing. The side dishes were great too and pretty large. For dessert we had the monkey which is one of the most unique and tasty desserts I have ever had in a restaurant. It is a bit pricey, but I had won at the tables so it evened out.

Pros: everything

Posted 11/13/06

My girlfriend & I decided to cancel our original dinner reservation, and were able to make a same-day reservation at our desired time at Craftsteak. It was one of the best decisions we made on our recent trip to Vegas, as the food (we ordered the 32-oz ribeye steak to share) was totally worth the experience! Be prepared to spend $$$, especially with the expensive wine list, but there are many great selections which just enhances the overall quality of the restaurant. The service was outstanding as well and I would certainly recommend this for both couples seeking romantic dinner, or groups seeking an enjoyable upscale dining experience!

Pros: great steaks, extensive wine list, excellent service

Cons: wine list is a bit pricey

Posted 10/05/06

I have eaten here numerous times with friends and out of towners and every time, we have left pleased, if a little lighter in the wallet. The kobe skirt steaks are fork tender and the hawaiian prawns are delicious. James our waiter remembered us every time we came in **by name**. Not many people can attest to that, especially in Las Vegas!
Definitely recommend the Dark and Stormy cocktail, a smooth concotion of dark rum, lime and ginger beer (not ale) that compliments the Kobe. We told them it was our anniversary and my birthday the last time, and we got the red carpet treatment of an onslaught of tasty desserts. We love this restaurant!

Pros: Excellent service, professional staff, excellent dining experience

Cons: be prepared to spend good money on great food!

Posted 09/09/06

All I can say is WOW!!! Actually a lot more. Our dinner (06/24/06) was absolutely incredible. After looking at the menu, and with recommendation from our waiter Kevin, who was great, we decided to order the Chef's Sampling Menu. We ordered the Surf & Turf which included Kobe beef and Alaskan King Crab Legs.

The meal started off with a little tidbit from the chef, two little pieces of bread topped with a tomato paste & white bean paste. Next were the appetizers, Arugala Salad, Scallops (which were to die for), and Red Peppers. I am not a fan of Peppers, but these were incredible.

Dinner: 2 styles of Kobe Beef; Skirt steak, which was my favorite and filet. Fresh Corn which was grilled and then schucked off the cob, pureed potatoes, along with an assortment of mushrooms. The Alaskan King Crab legs were already shelled and in a wonderful butter sauce

Dessert: 4 flavors of IceCream; Peanut, Caramel, Pineapple Sorbet, Strawberry Sorbet. Monkey bread, a bed of Citrus fruit.

Believe me when I say that everything was incredible!!! Even though I am not a fan of some stuff, Crab included, it was delicious!!! I would definitely recommend this restaurant. One one note though, if you do go keep in mind that everything on the menu is ala carte. And it is very pricey. For the two of us our meal including drinks was slightly over $300. This does not include the tip

So If you don't mind spending money on incredible, to die for food, Craftsteak is the choice. I am soooo looking forward to our next trip to Vegas!!!

Pros: Ambience, Out of this World Food, Service

Cons: Price, and thats only if you don't like paying for good food.

Posted 06/25/06

This is a fantastic resturant if you are ready and willing to pay the price. The Kobe skirt steak was unbelievable as was the spinach. The filet was standard but good and the wine was wonderful. You MUST try the cinnamon monkey bread for desert and the vanilla ice cream - both to die for! Service was immpecable, good humored and not the least bit uppity. The one downside is that we were dining on a crowded night and it was very, very loud. It was impossible to have a conversation at a normal level until some of the large groups moved out. It definatley took some of the romance out of it. With several large tables and booths that could be made larger they appeared to be able to handle large groups well and there was a private dining room.

Pros: service/staff, food, wine

Cons: price, noisy

Posted 05/29/06

I have been there twice, and each time was heaven, the steak is the best I have ever had by a large margin. I want to qualify that statement by saying that I am a food snob that almost always cooks gourmet at home. I have been to Rush's Chris, Peter Luger and many more and this restaurant does it better then any of them. The sides are tremendous and the service is top notch.

I would like to note that I have had the "grass feed" steak, and it was not that great. I would highly recommend the porter house, rare. If you are getting your steak anything higher then medium I would recommend you do not submit a comment.

Pros: food, service

Posted 04/24/06

I have eaten at Craftsteak 2x, and both were excellent experiences. The service and the steak are equally terrific, however, I would write home about the vegetables. Fresh and prepared with originality! I would go there again gladly anytime!

Posted 01/03/06

Make sure to check special promotions if your staying at MGM. We received a $35.00 credit for dinner at Craftsteak. Make reservations in advance and ask for one of the booths near the back if you want a romantic separated table. The Duck was tasty (but salty). Craftsteak is primarily a steakhouse (as the name implies) so don't expect much else on the menu.

Pros: Convenient

Cons: Expensive, Narrow Menu

Posted 10/09/05

My husband and I visited Craftsteak for a nice, quiet dinner, which we received but we were very disappointed in the food. The service and lobster bisque was very good; however, the steak left a lot to be desired. There was no seasoning on the steak and I found it to be chewy. I would not recomment spending $150 on one meal at Craftsteak.

Pros: Service

Cons: Price, Food Quality

Posted 07/07/05

My girlfriend and I visited Craftsteak twice while staying at the MGM. The caviar is great, the kobe fillet is great, and the 2lb Australian lobster tail was superb. If you're in a hurry, don't go here. Service is good, but a little slow at times. Overall, the food was great and I would recommend this restaurant to others.

Posted 06/05/05

The service was great. The lobster bisque was excellent. The side dishes were excellent.
But the steak was a big disappointment. Although I would say, it was a great cut of meat. It did not meet the level of the rest of the meal. The steak did not have an outstanding flavor or imagination in how it was grilled. Anyone can put a high quality cut of meat on a grill, but for the value I would expect outstanding flavor and grilling. If the steak had met the level of the rest of the meal, it would been an excellent dining experience.

Posted 05/18/05

The food was awesome. Wait staff is attentive and great at pampering guests. The menu is varied and interesting. There hasn't been a single negative anytime we have eaten there.

Posted 05/04/05

We dined at CraftSteak after my daughter's Wedding. All 4 of us dressed in full wedding regalia! The service was very attentive without being obtrusive and certainly helpful in maintaining the festive feelings of our mini celebration. The food.....well the best is all we can say. Everyone enjoyed their meals immensely, we over ordered on the sides just so we could taste more variety. There wasn't a bad thing served! Go and eat yourselves full!

Pros: FOOD, Ambiance, Service

Posted 08/27/04

My boyfriend and I have been to Craftsteak twice. Each time is totally worth it. We had the Rib-eye steak for two. Tender, flavorful, incredible presentation. For sides we chose the baby shitake mushrooms and graten potatoes. Their bread is amazing as well. Everything about our meal was superb, ESPECIALLY the martinis! Each one shaken to perfection and served with a beautiful twist which paralleled an incredible Vegas experience! I would highly recommend this restaurant!

Pros: Ambiance, Service, Great food

Cons: , Seats near bar smokey

Posted 05/02/04

The meal that my husband and I had at Craftsteak was the best meal that we have EVER had. The atmosphere was classy yet relaxing. The service was excellent. As mentioned, the food was amazing. I had chicken, and my husband had a steak. We plan to go back there every time we visit Vegas! If you are looking for a delicious meal, with a great adult atmosphere...this is your restaruant!!

Pros: delicious, not crowded, great service

Posted 03/21/04

I am usually not one for superlatives but the food at this restaurant is exceptional. It could easily be overlooked from its unassuming exterior but this place has a lot to offer.
We spent $280 in total and I would have to say it was entirely justified. The skirt and crab bisque was totally unimaginable. I regard myself as reasonably well travelled and I can honestly say our experience was better than I have ever come across in Paris, London or New York.

If you are in Vegas and are looking to take your experience of food to a totally different level, eat at Craftsteak. Its amazing!!

Pros: great food

Cons: a little expensive

Posted 01/25/04

Hands down the best steak I've ever had. I splurged and had the $50 Kobe beef flat iron steak. Absolutely tremendous.

Very high scale restaurant. Very professional staff.

Other than the fantastic steaks, everything else we had was awesome. Salads, potatoes, spinach, fries, desert. All of it was delicious.

It is expensive, but in my opinion, worth every single penny.

Pros: Steaks, Everything else

Cons: nothing

Posted 08/07/03

Simple, bold, unadorned and unapologetic. I was skeptical at the menu and the lack of garnish/decoration on the food, but the tastes of the grilled quail, the kobe beef and the hangar steak were amazing. The desserts nearly brought us to tears...Our waiter (Kevin) treated us like the king and queen of Vegas, and kept wine recommendations reasonable. All in, we spent more than $300, and it was WORTH EVERY PENNY.

Pros: Incredible food, Great service, Good ambiance

Cons: Expensive

Posted 04/19/03

The lobster was great. The best we ever had. My potatos gratin were bland. My husband's polenta was good, for polenta. I didn't try his beet salad but it looked very nice. The side dishes are big and enough for two. At $10.00 each, they should be. The waitress brought me the wrong wine and my husbands mint drink was sent back. The waiter didn't know what braised was when I asked him. During the dinner, a new waiter showed up at our table. I would go back for the Lobster. It was worth the $37.00 price. Our bill came to 129.00 for two dinners, two sides and two salads and two drinks. We didn't have reservations and the hostess wanted to sit us by the front door, I refused. Then she sat us by the kitchen, even though the restaurants was empty when we got there.

Pros: decor, food presentation, selection of dishes

Cons: unknowledgable staff, bland side dishes, expensive

Posted 12/04/02

This steakhouse may be the best I have ever been to in the United States. Not only is the food terrific, but the menu offers a variety of exqisite side dishes and desserts which are atypical of standard steakhouse menus. Every dish is served family style, so everyone at the table can share the kobe beef, with the huge porterhouse, and halibut.

Posted 10/06/02