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I HAVE TO ADMIT, I DIDN'T LIKE PRINCE FOR MUCH OF HIS CAREER. The rock-tinged pop of Purple Rain was far too commercial for my taste. His Madonna-esque over-the-top sexuality seemed a bit contrived for a short, goofy-looking guy. And don't even get me started on the idiocy of that symbol-for-a-name bullshit, or the offensiveness of seeing a millionaire wearing the word "slave" on his face on national TV.

But times have changed. Apparently his newfound religion has turned him into a bit of a prude, and he's ditched a lot of the sexual theatrics (guitar-as-phallus Super Bowl shadows notwithstanding). He long ago stopped trying to write Top 40 hits. We're once again allowed to call him Prince. And the Maybelline graffiti is gone. Without those distractions, his undeniable talent is now the only thing I notice when I watch him perform.

Now that I've finally developed an appreciation for Prince's music, I recently decided to check out his local restaurant, 3121 Jazz Cuisine. As you probably already know, he recently took over the old Club Rio in the Rio hotel-casino, and converted it into a club called 3121, where he performs most weekends and books his friends on weeknights. Around the corner, you'll find 3121 Jazz Cuisine, which is something of a vanity project for the artist and his personal chef, Lena Morgan. Word is, it will close its doors when Prince heads out on tour, with March expected to be the last month for both at The Rio. So if you want to check it out, you'll have to do it soon. Unfortunately, while the food at 3121 is great, the service and ambience don't quite live up to the price tag.

The menu is small but intriguing, featuring influences from around the world. Appetizers include a shellfish assortment ($27 per person) and a "napoleon" of golden and garnet beets with honey goat cheese, shallot and citrus vinaigrette ($12). Among the entrees, you'll find seared salmon with coriander, jalapeno and lime crust, herb chevre polenta and zucchini blossoms ($25); a tagine of lamb shank with couscous, roasted root vegetables, green olives and honey lemon sauce ($38); and a filet mignon with mushroom foie gras butter in a cabernet port reduction ($45).

My wife began her meal with a hearty salad of romaine, tomatoes, Buffalo mozzarella and Dijon parmesan dressing ($12), and progressed to a delicious order of sea bass "stuffed" (actually stacked) with crab meat and brie in a blush champagne beurre blanc, accompanied by mushrooms and perfectly pureed potatoes ($26). For my appetizer, I had an excellent bowl of butternut squash soup ($11), which featured tiny bites of slightly sour sherry-caramelized apple to offset the sweetness of the broth. For my entree, I had something thoroughly original: scallops with Jamaican jerk jam and mango relish ($34). The condiments provided the perfectly seared mollusks with an amazing combination of sweet, sour and extreme spicery that might have been overpowering if it weren't accompanied by a small bowl of mashed breadfruit to soothe the palate. For dessert, we shared a delicious mocachino tower ($10): a sort of tiramisu stuffed into a chocolate cube.

As I said earlier, the food was great. But the prices were kind of steep. Entrees cost between $29 and $48, which is more than those at many of this city's better restaurants. And at $125, what my waiter described as the "six-course tasting" (actually five courses plus an amuse bouche) costs considerably more than similar tasting menus at most four-star restaurants. For that kind of money, I expect at least four-star décor and service, and 3121 doesn't even come close.

The designers were obviously going for a casual elegance when they set up the room, with gold satin (or perhaps silk?) covers over the chairs, and a similar gold cloth draped across each black tablecloth. At first glance, it kind of works. But on closer inspection, the entire place looks rushed, as if thrown together at the last minute.

As for service, my wife and I were both missing napkins when we were seated, which the staff didn't notice until we asked for them. When I requested a shot of Jagermeister to decompress from a 14-hour workday before ordering my meal, it arrived un-chilled. I had to request bread twice before a server arrived to provide us each with a single slice from their large bread tray. And later in the meal, it again took two requests before he returned. All of this occurred despite the fact there were only two other parties in the restaurant the night we dined there. Moreover, while my waiter was friendly and knowledgeable about food and drinks in general, he seemed a bit confused by some of the items on the menu.

Hopefully someday Prince will fix those distractions, and I'll learn to appreciate him as a restaurateur. Today, however, 3121 just isn't worth the money.

i probably should have stopped reading after the guy said he didnt like Purple Rain because it was too commercial

I don't know about you but his first two paragraphs reads kind of bizarre. I'm thinking he doesn't know much about Prince but was chosen to write the story by the Editor and he had to come up with something.

I can't hate on him about the Cuisine though. Seems like he had a bad experience. That's unfortunate, because my VIP Dinner experience was superb and the staff was knowledgeable and so damn friendly and attentive.
[Edited 2/22/07 21:40pm]

It totally sounds like he was out to find something wrong with the place. But the place was really thrown together. I didn't notice though. My coffee was served cold once. They forgot to bring a drink menu to me once. And out of the four times I've been there, twice it was empty. In my opinion, the aftershows are not only a good time but they are a way to make up for some of the money the restaurant is losing Wed-Sun.

That being said, Lena is super nice and the food was incredible. Worth every penny for me.

I had a good experience at the restaurant also. Unfortunately, though, I can't compare prices to other four star restaurants because I haven't been to any in Vegas. Our servers were attentive and friendly.

man you guys that live in Vegas are so damn lucky when i went there a few years ago i never wanted leave (looks out window at cold and snow)

I have been off the org for a while, can someone fill me in on what the heck this is?

WatchThemFall said:

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Madonna-esque over-the-top sexuality seemed a bit contrived for a short, goofy-looking guy

He lost me. Prince was around before Maddonna.

laurarichardson said:

I stopped reading when he called him goofy looking

Hater..he probably wishes he had half the women Prince has had and couldn't identify style, class, or sexy if someone paid him $125.00

I don't know what restaurant this guy was eating at...but we had a wonderful time at 3121 Jazz Cuisine. The food was excellent (my sweetie actually ate and liked the goat cheese and beet "salad," which stunned the crap out of me ) and the staff was very attentive and cordial. About the only problem we had was getting them to take our money (they were quite busy when we were ready to leave).

And Lena...well...she put us in the best seats in the house (I thought) for the aftershow.

I will always remember that night with a very warm heart.

it is just sad to me that this is the biggest article and press that the Cuisine has gotten....and it comes out negative for the most part

Vegas sucks

It's a crime to spend so much money on food!

MikeMatronik said:

Yet so delightful!

The menu could have Fart Sandwiches for $25 and people would still show up in droves.

It's not about the friggin chow.

Yeah, this reviewer was Mr. Class. "A shot Of Jagermeister!!!???" Dude was probably upset they didn't have sawdust on the floor.

vanessabfly said:

I have eaten at various 4- and 5-star restaurants in Vegas and the pricing is comparable. But his point about when you pay that much you're usually in stellar surroundings IS true. The decor at 3121 could definitely be improved. But, hey, Prince could do his aftershows in a burned out, condemned crack house and I'd still be trying to get in that joint and be like, "Ooooooh, the crack pipes on the floor just add something to the ambiance!" Okay?????

it also feels like a once-in-a-lifetime experience.....i mean who eats like that normally? i just finished a burrito from Pollo Loco

p.s...they did have fart sandwich on the menu but you had to look closely

pkidwell said:

the food sounds good, but its too pricey for me

But, its not like Im in Vegas anyway

vanessabfly said:

I will always pay whatever it costs for good food and good clothes (I have to stay on top of fitting in said clothes ).

I have to go to restaurants as part of my job and I thought the service we received at 3121 was very good. The bartenders/hostesses/and waitstaff were all in good spirits and on top of their job. I was dining with one person and two people we knew showed up later and ended up moving their food to sit with us. Their waiter and our waiter both waited on our table, with out skipping a beat.

I really thought the food was very good and they had some creative cocktails.

Mazerati said: