Solo Poker Trips - Page 2

bav · #1 10-17-2007, 07:31 PM

Eat at the bar in the restaurant (even Mesa Grill has one, and the usual bartender at Cheesecake Factory in Forum Shops before 5pm is hawt [and you can still get lunch-size portions before 5pm]). Do buffets. Order from the table-side menu available at Harrah's, Caesars, other. Or just take along something to read and sit in a real restaurant. And a lotta decent restaurants will do take out if you really wanna just slink back to your room and eat alone.

pig4bill · #2 10-18-2007, 02:10 AM

I try to find places with snack bars. The golden age of sportsbooks with snack bars next door is about over. MGM has a good snack bar right next to the poker room. Wynn has a deli near the poker room, but a hot dog is 8 bucks. The Venetian has two food courts not too far from the poker room. Bally's has a couple good places in the back next to the sportsbook, but they close early. The Orleans has a 24 hour Subway near the poker room, and a Friday's, but that room has been enormously unlucky for me. TI has a deli (sorta) in the hotel but it is painfully slow, to the point you'll want to firebomb the place after waiting a half-hour. Planet Hollywood used to have a nice snack bar while they were re-modelling but I think it's gone now. If you don't mind a long walk, the Miracle Monster Mile Mall has a food court or 10.

foureightsuited · #3 10-17-2007, 06:43 PM

Pick nice restaurants that have bars in them. Go sit at the bar and just order there. Its a pretty easy environment to be social in and the bartenders/waiters are usually very nice to you ime.

habsfanca11 · #4 10-18-2007, 06:38 PM

Me too! I mean ... I go on solo trips all the time and the only downside is eating alone, I hate eating alone.

So, what the others have said ... their advice is solid.

Let me add to the list ...
Eat at the the bar of the resaurant: PF Changs, California Pizza Kitchen (in the Mirage) and there are a couple of decent places in the Forum Shops where you can do this.

I haven't done this on any solo trips to Vegas, but have done it in the past on other vacations ... Pick a couple in your age range (I think it's important that it's a couple, so there are no insecurity issues on their part) and ask if you can join them. I've met some great people that way. While I haven't done this often, it has worked very well. Give them an out when you ask and simply state that you hate eating alone and would they mind if you joined them. If they say yes, introduce yourself and away you go. Conversation usually starts off about traveling alone etc.. As mentioned, it's worked for me and I've met some super nice and interesting people.

Last suggestion and this work better for lunch - but get take out and pick a spot and people watch while you eat. Get's you outside for a short time and it's something to do and be entertained during a quick break.

Good luck!

robracing · #5 10-22-2007, 02:06 PM

I have had a week at each of the past two WSOP's on my own, and I wouldn't dream of doing it any other way!

The freedom of being able to come and go, sleep and eat at a whim, to move from poker room to poker room, entirely as the mood/action takes you, is a priceless freedom, if you are someone who has a very hectic structured family routine like I do, for the rest of the year.

Eating alone is a small price to pay for all this freedom!

To the list of food advice, I would second Chipotle, add In'n'Out Burgers, and also the Venetian Grand Lux Cafe. Just grab a free Cardplayer/Bluff Magazine and while away 15 or 20 mins, no big deal.