Wednesday, March 4, 2009 | 4:26 p.m.
M Resort Opens
After a 10-minute fireworks display over the resort's pool, the Las Vegas Valley's newest resort casino opened its doors to a crowd of cheering and curious locals.
Greetings, Vegas epicures.
By now, most of you may know about The M Resort, the electrifying, state of the art hotel and casino at the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and St. Rose Parkway. The resort's innovative design and some food and beverage imagination yields rewards for the first time visitor.
Take Baby Cakes, where you can experience artisan breads, elegant croissants, gelato, jaw dropping French pastries and an array of the chef's specially designed chocolates. Red Cup Café is the hotel's coffee shop, it's true, but the kitchen here does authentic Chinese and Mexican specialties as well.
Marinelli's is the casino's specialty Italian restaurant, where recipes from the Marnell family are served, along with risotto, pasta and a number of veal dishes. At Studio B, the casino buffet, there is a counter area in front of which live cooking demos are conducted, possibly a first for this town.
Terzetto is effectively the resort steak house, but the addition of an Oyster Bar means pan roasts, soups and gumbos. Don't miss Veloce Cibo, M's view restaurant, which has a number of Continental dishes complemented by sushi, sashimi and other upscale fare. There's also the Vig Deli, hard by the sports book, for that quick corned beef, pastrami or brisket sandwich.
Soon to open inside the Shoppes at Palazzo is First Food & Bar from the sure hand of Sam DeMarco, formerly of Sam's at the Bellagio. DeMarco is known for a number of dishes from chicken wings to mini-burgers. You'll be seeing lots of him at this huge, hip space.
At M Resort, locals reign supreme. Anthony Marnell III opened this casino with value in mind. With affordable drinks and meals and lots of incentives to play, it's no wonder why M has been a hit since it opened its doors in March 2009.
The property is decorated with dark wood, rich colors and amber-like light fixtures. Gaming offerings include more than 1,800 slot machines and 60 table games, as well as a poker room and race and sports book.
The resort houses 390 guest rooms, including 39 luxury suites. Designed with a modern and contemporary feel, M’s rooms feature dark wood, chrome fixtures and white linens, and are accented by blue or burgundy throws and pillows. Rooms boast floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the mountains or the Strip.
M dining options include Studio B, a show kitchen buffet; "twisted farm food" at Hash House a Go Go; Baby Cakes bakery; Anthony’s Burgers & Brews, serving gourmet burgers and fries; Vig Deli; Anthony’s Prime Steak & Seafood; Marinelli’s Authentic Italian Dishes; and the Hostile Grape Wine Cellar, where guests can taste more than 160 types of wine. Plus, 32° Draft has one of the largest beer selections in the valley, with 96 different beers on tap.
The four-star awarded, 23,000-square-foot Spa Mio offers a variety of treatments and services with saunas, Jacuzzis, 16 massage and facial rooms and a full-service salon and barbershop complete with built-in ESPN in the mirrors. Locals also receive 25 percent off all regular price services.
DayDream Pool Club heads up M's adult pool party scene offering the only locals pool party in the Valley.
Max Jacobson is the principal food columnist in the Las Vegas Weekly, and a Food and Wine Journalist for Vegas Magazine. He can be reached at 702-990-2454 or [email protected].
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