Breakfast is by far my favorite meal – anytime of the day. Especially if someone else is cooking. So you can only imagine how excited I was to try Payard Patisserie and Bistro. The much anticipated Las Vegas location of this famed pastisserie and bistro opened last fall at Caesar’s Palace on the Strip. A well-known name among the culinary set, it amazed me to find this place deserted, save for the host/server and the cook/warmer-upper. The time we arrived probably had a lot to do with it – Sunday, approximately 5:30 p.m. They do serve dinner entrees here also, but still no other patrons to be seen in the restaurant or at the two tables located adjacent to their take-out counter.

Our early dinner was just “eh” – not really bad, but not really good either. For half the price, we could have ordered the exact same items from the take out counter and the quality of the food would not have been any better or worse.

Here’s a glimpse of what was ordered:

Classic Croque Madame ($17.00)

Ham, Cheese, Bread, Bechamel Sauce, Sunny Side Up Egg (I opted to have my egg prepared over-easy.)

Served with a salad of mixed greens tossed with a balsamic vinaigrette and homemade potato chips.

A “gourmet” ham and cheese sandwich – gourmet because of the Bechamel sauce – topped with an egg prepared over-easy. For $17.00, I expected something a bit over the top. But it was just your usual croque madame. No “pomp and circumstance” here. Just a straightforward croque madame. The homemade potato chips were really good. Served hot, crisp and with just enough seasoning that did not overpower the chips at all.

Chicken Cocktail Panini ($17.00)

Ciabatta, Thinly Sliced Roasted Chicken Breast, Arugula, Tomato, Parmesan Cheese

Served with a salad of mixed greens tossed with balsamic vinaigrette and homemade potato chips.

Being known more for their desserts, you’d think that we would have ordered dessert, but we were so turned off by this point that we ended up going somewhere else, for dessert. But, here’s a look at the some of the sweet stuffs that Payard offers at their patisserie counter. I was able to take this photo before the girl at the counter got on my case about taking pictures.

I’ll definitely give this place another try. Maybe stop by for brunch sometime. Maybe my opinions would be different. We’ll have to see.

*****

Payard Patisserie & Bistro

Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas

3570 Las Vegas Boulevard South

Las Vegas, NV 89109

(702) 731-7292