The Main Course — Muriel Stevens: Greed prompts changes to New Year’s Eve prices

Friday, Dec. 17, 1999 | 9:32 a.m.

Muriel Stevens' dining column appears Fridays. Her shopping column appears Wednesdays. Reach her a muriel@vegas.com or 259-4080.

Many years ago there lived in Las Vegas a sweet little man who pretended to be a grumpy person. His name was Wingy Grober, and until his death many years ago, you could find him in the casino and around the restaurants, bars and lounges at Caesars Palace, where he worked.

He was a true Damon Runyon character. His stories were priceless. Hanging out with Wingy was a kick. And you could learn a lesson or two from this sage of the gaming pits. One of his favorite lines was, "Greed'll git you every time." This profound commentary usually was uttered after one of his stories involving gamblers who lost everything because they stayed too long at the tables hoping to make a bigger score. They let greed "git" them and it did.

I've thought about Wingy a lot lately and what he would have said about the New Year's Eve prices at many Las Vegas hotels and restaurants. The public's response, or rather the lack of it, belied the belief that visitors would flock to our fair city regardless of prices and restrictions. Now, at this late date, prices are dropping and will probably level out to numbers that earlier could have filled all the rooms.

One restaurateur, Nicholas Nickolas who owns Nevada Nick's -- An Original Steak House, located at the Resort at Summerlin, against his own better judgment decided to charge $300 a person for New Year's Eve dinner. The letter I received this week from Nickolas said that the price had been dropped to $150. "The whole reason for this New Year's Eve special price is to thank our loyal guests," explained Nickolas. "Quite simply, I was caught up in the madness of the millennium, and all along I wasn't comfortable with that and, apparently, our guests weren't as well. I'm willing to admit my mistakes," he said.

But that's not all. Nickolas has sweetened the pot. Originally, only one seating was scheduled. Now an early seating will include the same menu for $99.99 per person. The early seating is from 5:30 to 6:45. The millennium seating begins at 8 p.m. for $150 per person. All seatings feature a multicourse meal that includes: a sampler plate with smoked salmon, ahi tuna, sushi crab salad, grilled shrimp, a caviar canape and proscuitto; a choice of lobster bisque or the signature house salad; an entree choice of Dover sole or grenadines of Dutch veal tenderloin or a smoked filet mignon or 32-ounce porterhouse or a 20-ounce slab of prime rib. A dessert dubbed Millennium Star -- a French-inspired parfait of candied walnuts, cognac and chocolate and coffee and New Orleans pralines complete the dinner.

Also included is dancing to the Larry White trio; a champagne toast in a souvenir flute at midnight, and a bottle of Sole sparkling water for the morning-after will be given to the first 200 guests at the last seating.

But wait, there's more. Nevada Nick's will debut a sit-down Sunday brunch in mid-January. All New Year's Eve celebrants (all seatings) will receive a complimentary $50 brunch voucher. For reservation call 804-4901. Nice going, Nick.

Christmas dinners

Philips Restaurant: Longtime Philips Restaurant on West Sahara has a new owner, Martin W. Herbert, and new energy. Complete Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners are priced from $15.95. Dinners include a choice of soups or salads; a choice of baked or mashed potato; fresh vegetable or pasta; and hot, freshly made bread. Desserts are priced from $3. Christmas Eve hours are 4:30-10 p.m.; Christmas Day, 2-8 p.m. For reservations call 873-5222.

Station properties celebrate Christmas: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day specials will be offered at Palace Station in the Iron Horse Cafe, The Broiler, Guadalajara Bar & Grille, Pasta Palace and the Feast Gourmet Buffet. Reservations are accepted at the restaurants, but not the Iron Horse or Feast buffet. Each restaurant will serve its regular menu in addition to the holiday fare. Call 367-2411.

Texas Station, Boulder Station and Sunset Station will offer traditional holiday fare on Christmas Day.

At Texas Station's Yellow Rose Cafe complete turkey dinners with all the go-withs ($8.99) will be served 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Around the World Feast Buffet ($12.99) will offer holiday fare 11 a.m.-10 p.m. A Christmas brunch is available 7-11 a.m. Traditional holiday dinners will be available at the Stockyard Steakhouse (from $14.99) and San Lorenzo Italian restaurant (from $15.99), 3-10 p.m. Regular menu items will be available throughout the day. Call 631-1000 for reservations.

Sunset Station restaurants will feature special menu offerings on Christmas Day. Costa del Sol will serve Christmas Day dinner, 3-9 p.m. (from $15.99); Capri Italian restaurant will feature Italian and traditional holiday meals (from $12.99), 3-9 p.m. At Rosalita's, Christmas dinner ($11.99) service is 3-9 p.m. Christmas Day dinner ($12.99) is available at Feast Around the World 11 a.m.-10 p.m. A Christmas brunch ($8.99) will be served 7-11 a.m.

Sonoma Cellar Steakhouse will offer holiday dinner 3-9 p.m. Herb-rubbed turkey or baked ham are $15.99; beef Wellington is $24.99. The regular menu will be available, too. This gourmet steakhouse is beautifully appointed and comfortable.

Boulder Station's restaurants are holiday-ready, too. Christmas dinner selections at The Broiler are priced from $15.99. All entree prices include endless selections from the soup and salad bar, seasonal vegetables and choice of potato. Pasta Palace's holiday dinners are priced from $14.99, service is from 3-9 p.m.; from 11 a.m.-9 p.m., the Guadalajara Bar & Grille traditional American holiday dinners ($11.99) or Mexican style ($18.95). All entrees include a choice of soup or salad and dessert.

For reservations call 432-7559.

Market City Caffe: Market City Caffe in the Monte Carlo and at 7290 W. Lake Mead Blvd. at Tenaya in Summerlin is offering a special holiday menu of "time-honored seasonal family recipes," the kind of comforting, delicious foods that owners Sal Casola Sr. and Chipper Pastron knew from their childhoods. When they decided to go into the restaurant business, they gathered recipes from their many relatives, mostly Casolas. Always a family project, the team also includes wine expert Sal Casola Jr.

Warm and inviting, the Market City Caffes feature a sizable antipasti bar and terrific homemade bread sticks that are baked continuously throughout the day. During the holidays the regular menu will be available as well the special seasonal one. The seasonal menu includes antipasti ($4.95-$8.75); a variety of pastas ($8.75-$17.95); chicken, fish and veal ($12.95-$16.95) and two desserts ($5.25) -- fig and pumpkin tiramisu and spiced sweet potato cheesecake.

For reservations for Market City Caffe at Monte Carlo call 730-7777; Market City Caffe in Summerlin, 242-5185. Parties of eight or more are welcome, but should call ahead.