So let me explain . . . \n\nLynn & I are once again in Las Vegas for et another DUI conference. I know, I know -- it's either Vegas or New Orleans, but hey! both cities know how to drink! Anyway, after several nights of excellent but \"fancy\" food, we were thinking something light and Japanese came to mind. The problem is, we're staying at the Death Ray -- sorry, the Vdara -- and there are no restaurants per se in the hotel, and the Japanese restaurants nearby in the Bellagio or the Aria don't open until dinner. BUT . . . there is this place called \"Social Hall\" that opens at 1:00 pm on Friday, so --\n\nNow 1:00 in the afternoon is a DIFFERENT CLIENTELE than a nightclub/bar/restaurant into the evening . . . all we really wanted was some lunch. So readers would be well advised to a) take this review with a grain of salt, and b) understand it is a review of this establishment for LUNCH, in contrast to the overwhelming number of other reviews in which more sensible Yelpers than I went during the evening hours.\n\nNo complaints about the food. It wasn't a \"Wow!\" but we sort of weren't expecting it to be. The kitchen was out of some things -- I guess they weren't expecting people to eat lunch (but then why open for lunch?), as we were repeated told that a particular dish \"isn't ready yet. It will be ready for dinner.\" Uh, OK, but why open of lunch? The Bento box was fine; the sushi was good. But overall it seemed to lack that certain *spark* that elevates it above the ordinary. \n\nThe waitress was simply not interested in us or in our needs. Water glasses went unfilled. She never asked us if we wanted to order more sake. And it took forever to get the check.\n\nAnd the pulsating techno music at 1:00 in the afternoon gets tiresome by about 1:10.\n\nHOWEVER . . . in a move that is VERY unusual for Las Vegas, someone in this place truly cares about coffee! They have a beautiful Hario siphon setup, complete with halogen heaters, plus a La Marzocco 3-group Linea and three Mazzer grinders for espresso. The Ethipoian Harrar siphon coffee we enjoyed was superb! Bonus points for that alone! \n\nIf I were here for dinner, or if I were clubbing, well, I can certainly understand this place getting 4+ stars in reviews. But I will probably take a pass on this place for lunch . . . unless it's just to duck in for some truly wonderful coffee.
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