Started with a Bang, Ended with a Bit of a BellyacheBouncybeth79
We booked the Finger Licking Foodie Tour as a premium option through our Go City Pass for Las Vegas. The booking process was fairly simple, and although my confirmation email didn’t arrive at first, it was re-sent promptly after I got in touch, which I appreciated.
Our first stop was Carson Kitchen. We weren’t entirely sure what to expect when we arrived, so a little more pre-tour information would have been helpful — for example, whether we’d be getting small tasting plates or full meals, and what sort of food to expect. That said, the atmosphere was great, the venue was tidy, and the staff were helpful and efficient in seating us and getting drinks sorted quickly.
The food here was very, very good. We were served fried green beans, a spicy cauliflower dish, and possibly chicken wings (although I can’t quite recall). The pescatarian in our group was well accommodated, which was a nice touch. These weren’t dishes we would have normally chosen ourselves, but we were really glad to try them — everything was delicious. We paid separately for our drinks, and although it states you don’t have to leave a tip, we all felt the service deserved one, so we did.
Our next stop was Eureka! on Fremont Street, and this was probably our favourite of the three. The service was excellent — friendly, fast, and welcoming — and the food was exceptional. We had a Brussels sprout dish, more chicken wings, and fish tacos for the pescatarian, along with a few other plates I can’t quite remember, but everything was fantastic. The whole group really enjoyed this stop, and we’d happily go back again on our own.
Unfortunately, our final stop, 7th & Carson, let the experience down quite a bit. By this point, we were already very full after the first two stops. We asked what was being served in an effort not to waste food we couldn’t finish, and were told it would be fish and chips. We mentioned that something lighter, such as desserts, might have been more suitable at this stage of the tour. The response we received was an abrupt, “Well, you do know you’re on a food tour, don’t you?”
All eight of us were full — this wasn’t just one person — and we were genuinely trying to avoid waste. The comment made us feel awkward, so we sat down and tried to eat anyway. Unfortunately, the table was placed right next to a cluttered counter with power and phone cables hanging near our feet. The perimeter of the room looked dirty, with old food and visible signs of poor cleaning.
To make matters worse, the pescatarian in our group was served chicken goujons, which showed the staff didn’t seem to understand what “pescatarian” means. We had to wait over 25 minutes before anyone came to take a drinks order. When the error with the food was pointed out, an apology was given and a vegetable curry was made, though by then it was clear it wouldn’t be eaten.
7th & Carson really brought down what had otherwise been a great experience. It didn’t feel like it was in the same league as Carson Kitchen or Eureka!, and we left feeling disappointed — both by the service and by how much food was wasted.
Overall, while the first two stops were brilliant, I’m not sure I’d do the tour again however. There was simply too much food, and I can’t imagine how you could manage if you opted for the four-stop version! It might work better if one restaurant handled starters, the second mains, and the last desserts, instead of all serving full portions.
We also chose not to add the $50-per-person beverage option, and I’m glad we didn’t — cocktails at each venue were under $20, and with only about 40 minutes per stop, there wasn’t much time to enjoy more than one drink anyway.
In summary, the tour started strong and had some fantastic food and service, but it ended on a disappointing note that took away from the overall experience.
