Desserts and Wine from The Good Plate, Westin, Las Vegas

The Westin in Las Vegas is very different from any of the big resorts along the strip - in many, many ways. It is a non-smoking and non-casino property, is not quite on the strip, and has zero flashy amenities.  It is a perfectly acceptable Westin (clean, friendly staff, etc), follows the brand standards well (love the Westin Heavenly beds!, decent gym, etc), and does have the basics like a small, quiet, modest pool and spa, but it seems to mostly appeal towards business travelers, and lacks any real Las Vegas vibes.  It is comfortable and pleasant, but really could be located anywhere.  But this isn't Julie's Hotel Club.  This is Julie's Dining Club, so of course, I'm here to talk about the food!

Dining - The Good Plate

Unlike the major properties in Las Vegas, the Westin lacks a fun food court, or a fancy steakhouse, or much of anything in the way of dining really, besides the single hotel restaurant: The Good Plate.  It is entirely generic, sans any tie to a celeb chef, with a menu that is largely uninspired.  Again, you could be anywhere.  I don't really know why anyone would choose to dine there, besides maybe breakfast for an easy morning option (or, in my case, because I had free dessert vouchers to redeem!).  It seemed woefully understaffed at all times of day.

Restaurant Entrance.

The restaurant is on the ground floor, in a section that is separate from the rest of the vast lobby, but not actually enclosed.  Open all day long.  It was usually empty.

Lobby + Restaurant.

I'm not quite sure where the kitchen is, as it isn't part of the visible restaurant itself, and food had to be carried over from elsewhere.  I think they have one common kitchen that does the in-room dining, restaurant, catering, etc, and it is along the edge of the building somewhere?  A strange setup for sure. 

The restaurant never had many people at it when I walked by.  Service seemed slow - even to place a takeout order, as the hostess was often far away fetching food orders from the mystery kitchen.  I only got takeout and it was really amazingly slow each and every time.

I was there for only one thing: dessert.  Not only because, well, I have a serious sweet tooth, but because the hotel gave me a bunch of vouchers for free desserts.  The dessert menu is quite small.  Only 3 items.  Butter cake, apple tart, or chocolate cake.  $10 each normally.  The first two are served warm.  I had all of them.

Warm Apple Tart w/ Caramel Sauce.

The first item I tried, at the hostess's half-hearted suggestion when I asked her favorite, was the apple tart.  It took nearly 25 minutes to be ready, which seemed ... excessive.  I hoped this meant that perhaps it was being actually baked to order, although that seemed unlikely.  I opened my box to find something that looked buffet quality.  It was also barely warm, so, definitely not freshly baked, just crazy slow.

Anyway, it actually wasn't bad.  But it also wasn't really a classic apple tart.

The tart shell, a component I often actively dislike, and in many cases just toss, was surprisingly decent.  It was soft, sweet, buttery.  The softness wasn't a sign of a quality pastry, more of one that had been poorly reheated, but, I didn't mind it that much, and perhaps liked it more than most crispier tart shells.  Low *** shell.

The main filling was not actually apple, instead it was a soft gooey sweet buttery goo, sorta like pecan pie or chess pie or crack pie filling.  It wasn't particularly complex, but, it was tasty enough.  Higher ***+, but not what I expect from an apple tart filling.

On top of the filling was the actual apple element, 5 thin slices of apple.  Not too mushy.  Kinda just there, and they didn't actually add much as they were so thin.  ***.

It was drizzled with average caramel.  More sweetness.  Low ***.

So overall, it was actually kinda enjoyable.  That said, it was barely lukewarm, and I think it would have been better either properly warm, or actually chilled.  It also needed something to compliment it - ideally ice cream when served warm, or whipped cream if served chilled.  It was a bit one-note sweet without anything else.  My research says this used to come with ice cream, but alas, when I asked about that, they told me they no longer have any ice cream.  Not even for an extra charge.  So, just a plain tart, not even whipped cream was served with it.  I think the ice cream or at least whip would have made a pretty big difference.

I added some fresh blackberries to mine, and that lightened it up a bit.

***+ overall, by far the best of the 3 desserts.

5 Layer Chocolate Cake w/ whipped cream.

Next I went for the more decadent sounding 5 layer chocolate cake.  This one was ready within about 10 minutes, presumably because it doesn't need heating up?  Interestingly, the chocolate cake does come with whipped cream.  It was clearly just from a can, e.g. the kind that deflates quickly, but I still appreciated it.  It was also drizzled with some kind of berry sauce.

The cake was less successful than the tart.  It was fairly dry, particularly the exterior.  Not a moist, inviting cake.  The fudge frosting on top and between layers was thick and rich, fairly classic chocolate fudge frosting.  Basically, this tasted a few days old, and grocery store quality.

The whipped cream was nice to have, but it was a very thin/airy style, so it didn't stand up well against the rich cake.  The berry sauce was the best part.

Least favorite of the desserts by far.  **.  I almost got it again another day to see if a fresher slice would be better, but, meh.  Too many actual good desserts in Las Vegas to waste on this.

Butter Cake w/ Whipped Cream & Berries.

The final selection is the one that I had read great reviews of, and I saw a couple people eating at the bar on previous days, and I'll admit, it did look pretty good: butter cake.  I've just never been much of a butter cake person - granted, I think I've only had it once before, from California Pizza Kitchen, which people *adore* and I hated.

This was better than the CPK one, but I still didn't care for it.  It was served warm.  It came with not only whipped cream and berry sauce like the chocolate cake, but also, some fresh berries!  In terms of value, as all 3 desserts cost exactly the same, I find it strange that the apple tart is so small and has no additions, whereas this one is the biggest, and has all the toppings.

Anyway, the cake was ... eh . Again, I think maybe I just am not a butter cake person?  It seemed like a too rich pound cake crossed with a too dry cheesecake.  It was rich but not in a decadent way.  The top layer was the best part, the rest just kinda dry and flavorless.  I did like the toppings.

***+ toppings, * cake.

Apple Tart, again.

My last day, with a stack of free dessert coupons in hand, I decided to at least get one more apple tart.  It was remarkably consistent with the previous one, in looks, in taste, in lukewarmness.  Still the best of the bunch.

Drinks

I also had free drink vouchers that I could redeem for beer, non-alcoholic drinks (no sparkling water option, doh), or the house wine.  I assumed the wines would be horrible, but was pleasantly surprised that I actually liked all 3 that I tried.  I'm not sure what brand any of them were.

House Cabernet Sauvignon.

First up, the cab, my mostly commonly consumed varietal these days.

Well, huh.  It was really not bad.  Not too much acid or tanin, a bit of complexity.  Very drinkable.  ***+.

I had this one other day, and felt the same.  Happy to get this again.

House Pinot Noir.

I decided to mix it up and try the other red option, pinot noir.

The pinot noir I also enjoyed, although it wasn't nearly as light as I'd expect from a pinot.  It was an easy drinker, very little tanin, very little acid, but mildly interesting overall, and a bit of structure.  It drank more like a red blend than a pinot, but I didn't dislike it.   ***+.

House Chardonnay.

The last day, when it was 98* (literally!  <3 Vegas!), I opted for a white wine, as it seemed more fitting.  Plus, I had seafood planned for dinner, and this seemed like a great match.  I got it togo, which meant for a rather amusing plastic cup with straw, but, hey, it worked (mostly people I think got them to go to bring to the pool?).

I don't drink much white wine, but again, I was pleased with this.  A touch buttery, not too dry, not too much acid.  Just again, an easy drinker, but not boring.  If I was craving white wine again, and I'd gladly get it again too.  ***+.