A Beef Break

The steakhouse at most casinos is a pricey place. Because so many of their players use comps for their meals, the casinos jack up the prices to make it look like their best customers are getting something really special. I mention this as prelude to a semi-secret that I took advantage of last night at the steakhouse at Harrah's Tunica, which is called '37 (named after the year Harrah's opened its first casino).

The prices on the menu were typically high, and since I don't play slots or table games, I didn't have any comps to use and neither did the other three St. Louisans I was having dinner with. But earlier that evening, a player in my pot-limit omaha game had tipped me to an unadvertised special this restaurant offered -- a filet mignon dinner with salad, potato, dessert, and a beverage, for $37 (about half what it would normally cost). This special wasn't listed anywhere on the menu, but if you asked for it, you'd get it.

Three of us did, and it was pretty good. Not the best steak I've ever had, but far from the worst. And we had a waiter, Nick, who understood that I needed to get back to the game in an hour before they gave away my seat.

There's a similar meal deal at the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas at a place called Mr. Lucky's 24-7. Their word-of-mouth steak-and-shrimp dinner costs $7.77. I'm sure other places offer specials like these, so ask around before you eat at any of them. To my knowledge, none of the casino steakhouses in St. Louis offers that kind of bargain.

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