You know those restaurants where you wait forever to get a menu, your waiter is rude, you feel intimidated by the staff and the restaurant feels just a little untidy? Well, at Dick’s Last Resort, you get what you pay for, and what you pay for is rude and obnoxious staff and an environment where throwing paper wads at strangers is perfectly acceptable.

There are a smattering of Dick’s across the United States, but the only one in Las Vegas is located in Excalibur Hotel. Every time I’ve walked past the restaurant, there’s been a line out the door. After hearing rave reviews about the Dick’s experience, I braved the line (only a 15-minute wait on a holiday weekend) so that I could see for myself whether it lived up to its hype.

The point of Dick’s Last Resort is to provide a humorous dining experience where all the rules are broken. The servers make you wait to order, act annoyed at any request you have and are generally rude and un-customer service like—that’s the point. I saw one male wait staff member sitting on a girl’s lap while she was trying to eat. Another brought out several smaller cups of soda instead of one large glass for someone who had ordered a Coke. People sitting at long picnic tables flung wadded up pieces of paper at each other as they waited for their food. The Dick’s in Las Vegas is known for the hats that each customer receives while dining. On the paper hats, the wait staff writes commentary about everything from sexual preferences to physical appearances, all in the name of fun. My hat, for example, said: “High Maintenance, But at Least I Swallow.”

While some people dine at Dick’s for the entertaining atmosphere, I was interested in checking out the food. Large menu boards are posted on the walls with minimal descriptions, but suffice to say everything is basically of the barbecue variety. I had a brisket sandwich with French fries, both of which were very flavorful and filling. The people I was with ordered various other meals, including fish and chips, hamburgers and chicken, all of which received rave reviews around the table.

The strange part of the Dick’s dining experience for me was understanding the line I could cross to get customer service when I needed it. I ordered a Sprite that tasted like tonic water. Was that part of the joke? Could I request a new drink? I wasn’t sure what to do. My husband, who is much more outgoing than I am, took an attitude with our waitress about me being high maintenance (see the hat) and demanded another drink. Our waitress threw some snide comment back, but then asked me what was wrong with it before bringing me another drink. I also needed a fork to eat the brisket that fell out of my sandwich but felt that might be a bit much to ask, so I let that situation be.

A meal at Dick’s Last Resort is a memorable experience, but only if you understand and can handle the service that comes with it. The food is definitely worth stopping for, but if you prefer to dine in a place where the customer is always right, then pass on Dick’s Last Resort.

If You Dine at Dick’s Last Resort:

• While kids are allowed in the restaurant, I highly recommend leaving anyone younger than 13 at home. There is inappropriate language thrown freely around the restaurant, and with kids in the restaurant, wait staff have to tame their antics, which dampens the experience for those who want to be razzed.
• To be immersed in the full experience, request to sit on the left side of the restaurant between the two bars where the long tables are located. You might need to share a table with strangers, but if you’re seated on the right side of the restaurant, you are forgotten and not really involved in any of the fun.
• The male servers seem to be much more assertive with their raunchy jokes. The female servers can tell when their customers are uncomfortable and really hang back on their act. Again, if you want the full experience, request a male waiter.
• Don’t be afraid to speak up about problems with the food. The staff at Dick’s Last Resort wants you to return, so if there’s something actually wrong with your food, say something. You may be teased at first, but your wait staff will work with you to rectify the problem.

Dick’s Last Resort | Excalibur Hotel | 702.597.7991

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