Prix Fixe menus in Vegas: The Mirage

One of the newer trends in the Las Vegas food industry are "prix fixe", or "fixed price" menus at some of the upscale restaurants.

When I first heard of them, I thought there'd be no way I could afford to take advantage of any of the prix fixe menus because the restaurants that offered them were above my *allotted* Vegas daily dining budget. As a rule, I try to spend no more than $40-$50 a day on meals, including any comped meals I earn through my rewards points from the various slot clubs or any free meals I might get from casino e-mail offers. That's not a small amount by any means, but it's not a huge amount when you consider all the higher-end restaurants in Vegas, either.

Because I save money on my Vegas trips by booking only free or discounted rooms for each trip, fly only on Southwest at discounted prices, and allot myself 'X' amount of money to spend on entertainment and gambling each day, I have decided to start allowing myself a little more leeway on each trip to try new and exciting restaurants I wouldn't have tried before.

It's amazing to even consider the number of restaurants that have popped up in Vegas over the past few years, and especially on or near the Strip. Because of this, Las Vegas is no longer just a gambling destination, but a food-lover's dream come true. Some of the restaurants have started offering prix fixe meals as a possible way to get more people in the door and give them an affordable way to enjoy a delicious meal at a lower price than if they just ordered the same items - or something similar - directly off the menu.

The choices on prix fixe menus are ever-changing, and they typically include an appetizer, an entree', and a dessert selection for a set price beginning at $29.99. Most prix fixe menus give you two or three options for each selection, so you're not tied into one set menu if you don't like seafood or can't eat chocolate. The sizes are probably a bit smaller than the dinner offerings - more like a lunch-sized portion of food - so don't expect to see a huge pile of food on your plate. Also, the menu price does not include drinks, tax, or tip, so be careful to consider the full price of your meal and read the fine print before you commit to a meal.

Be aware that some restaurants may offer several different prix fixe menus in different price ranges; $29.99 is the most common, but they may also be as high as $59.99 or $79.99, depending on the restaurant. Be sure that you specifically ask for the $29.99 prix fixe menu and verify the price at the bottom of the special menu before you place your order.

The Mirage is one of the leaders in the Las Vegas prix fixe meal arena, and they currently have three restaurants with prix fixe menus listed on their website:

Fin (contemporary Chinese): http://www.mirage.com/restaurants/fin.aspx

Kokomo's (steak and seafood): http://www.mirage.com/restaurants/kokomos.aspx

Onda (Italian): http://www.mirage.com/restaurants/onda-ristorante.aspx

Stack (American Grill) previously offered a prix fixe menu, but they currently don't list one on the website. Fin was not listed before, so they may have replaced Stack in the prix fixe "rotation". These offers, and the restaurants that offer them, are subject to change at any time, so be sure to check before you go. All of the restaurants' menus can be viewed online via the Mirage's website: http://www.mirage.com/

One of the goals for my next trip (April 2010) is to try two prix fixe menus, and I'm aiming for one at The Mirage and possibly Mesa Grill at Caesars Palace (http://www.caesarspalace.com/casinos/caesars-palace/restaurants-dining/mesa-grill-detail.html). It depends on where I end up when I'm hungry more than anything else, but I promise to report back here as soon as I get back from that trip.

Something to consider for your next trip!