Gold Strike Casino Resort

The games, staff, and rooms at the casino were all enjoyable, but dinner at the restaurant was extremely disappointing. My friend and I paid about $150 for the all-you-can-eat buffet. Not long after we sat down, we saw a roach crawling on a chair and on the tables nearby. We told the waiter and left before finishing our meal. I know pests can occasionally turn up anywhere, but seeing them in the dining area while we were eating was unacceptable. I hope management deals with it quickly, because the rest of the property was otherwise very nice.

The band was enjoyable, but the casino got so packed the second night that we could barely find seats. The food wasn’t that good, and my massage felt rushed. The therapist didn’t focus on any of the areas I’d asked about, so it wasn’t worth what I spent. I expected more from the weekend with my mom and sister. The TVs were outdated and had only basic channels, with no movie channels. When we arrived, several workers were standing around the desk, but the staff weren’t friendly during check-in. Restaurant staff also came across as unfriendly. There were a few kind people: the woman at the Chicago steakhouse was hospitable, one casino waitress was very sweet, and the bag handler Harlem was nice. At checkout, only one elevator was working. We were on the 25th floor, and getting downstairs took an hour. One staff member kept suggesting the stairs, even though I’m expecting and can’t take them.

We usually love this casino, but this was a terrible stay. We reserved our rooms a week ahead, yet the rooms we booked weren’t available when we arrived, and our family ended up split across different floors. The room was extremely dirty, with only the bedding cleaned. After we reported it, they sent housekeeping at 11 at night to mop the bathroom floor and clean the toilet, tub, and sink instead of moving us to a new room. The elevators were hell. Only one was working, and getting from the lobby to the 30th floor took almost 20 minutes. Then our room keys were deactivated, so we had to go all the way back down for new ones, another 20-minute elevator ride. It took another 20 minutes to get back to the room. We wasted an hour on elevators alone. I doubt we’ll be back soon unless they fix those damn elevators.

At Drafts Bar and Grill at Gold Strike Casino, I had the best margaritas I’ve ever had at this casino. I wish I’d gotten the names of the men at the bar. They were kind, attentive, and welcoming the whole time. My waitress, Cartarsha, was a real gem. She’s worked here for 20 years and was so patient with my questions, knew a lot about the casino, and had the sweetest, most genuine manner. She made the meal feel personal and warm. I ordered Texas cheese fries with cheddar sauce, bacon bits, and sour cream, leaving off the jalapeño this time. They came piping hot, with crisp fries and rich cheese sauce coating every bite. The bacon was in big, smoky pieces and added plenty of flavor and texture. A little sour cream cooled things down. I loved them, though halfway through I had to slow down because they were still so hot. There was enough to share with three people and still have a generous portion, so they were great value for the money. Walking back to Romeo, my RV van camper, I stopped when I saw a United States flag waving high against the sky. It was a majestic, grounding sight and the perfect ending to a great visit.