The Hard Rock Cafe is a Great Place to Eat and is Also Very Entertaining

The brand new Hard Rock Cafe on the Las Vegas Strip just opened in September 2009, so we just had to make time to visit during our November 2009 vacation. This larger than life cafe is a must visit for people who want a bite to eat, maybe a few drinks, and a place to relax for awhile.

Location
Not to be confused with the Hard Rock Hotel, also located in Las Vegas, the Hard Rock Cafe is on the south half of the Las Vegas Strip. Just north of the MGM Grand, across the street from the Monte Carlo. It is within walking distance of any any the hotels from the Planet Hollywood all the way to the Excalibur.

The Place
Like everything in Vegas, the Hard Rock Cafe is larger than life. The huge guitar on the front of the building draws you towards it. Although we only got to experience the 2nd floor of the cafe, this particular location actually has "three-floors of non-stop action", including a rock shop where you can buy Hard Rock Cafe goodies. The second floor is separated into a bar area and a restaurant area with the entire place being decorated with all sorts of rock memorabilia. You'll see outfits famous people wore, such as Britney Spears and Elvis, as well as guitars, photos and other such items from the music world.

The Music
Sitting at a booth allows you to control what music plays in the cafe! Anyone at a booth has the option to vote on the next song using the touch screen computers located on the wall next to the table. Five song choices appear for guests to browse and vote on the one they want to hear next. Depending on how many people are voting, you may find that you are completely controlling the music! We ended up getting a lot of our choices played because we went at a quiet time when not many people were voting. When the song selection plays, televisions around the cafe display the matching video so you can watch while you enjoy the music.

The touch screens also provide tons of entertainment for those interested in memorabilia and history of these musicians. You'll find information and photos of many more clothing items and guitars, but you'll also see rare things like as Michael Jackson's hand written lyrics to the song "Bad". We could have sat there all day playing with the music and the touch screen and no one seemed to be rushing us out so we did stay for awhile. Unfortunately if you are not sitting at a booth, you may not get one of these neat touch screens. However there is a very large touch screen wall located on the second floor that anyone can play with.

Food and Drink
Of course, we didn't go to the Hard Rock Cafe just to play! We actually went there to eat. I ordered two sides of mac and cheese as my meal and it was more than enough to fill me up. The mac and cheese was unique and very tasty - even a little spicy! My husband ordered a burger and fries and was plenty satisfied with his meal. The cafe also has a full bar including a variety of pre-designed alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. We made sure to get a collectible glass since it was dated with September 2009 so we could remember we were there when it was still brand new. The prices are reasonable depending on what you get.

The Service
Service was great! We got seated right away and our waitress was very helpful and attentive.

The Rock Shop
After eating, make sure to get something for your memories from the rock shop located on the first floor. Here you will find a large selection of shirts, stuffed animals, and a variety of other collectibles.

Even More!
This large cafe is so big that they even offer you the ability to book large parties - even up to 750 people! They also have their own chapel. What a fun place to have a wedding! You can even rent the whole place out if you wanted to. The cafe also includes a patio area and VIP lounge, but these didn't seem like they were meant for the average person.

Overall
If you are looking for a fun place to hang out in Vegas, that doesn't require a dress code, the Hard Rock Cafe is for you! The laid back atmosphere makes it more fun than some of the fancy bars found inside the Las Vegas hotels. I will definitely visit the Hard Rock Cafe on the Las Vegas Strip during any future trip to Vegas! Enjoy!!