"Fine" Dining5 Helmi 2025

Hooter Bowl 3: The History of the Worst Hotel in Las Vegas feat. Alexander Poncio

Hooters Casino Hotel was meant to be a game-changer—bringing its busty brand of mediocrity to the Las Vegas Strip. Instead, it became one of the biggest disasters in Vegas history. A casino so bad, it made Circus Circus look classy. So... what went wrong?

For my third annual Hooter Bowl Spectacular, I had to go big. So I spent 19 hours trapped inside the Hooters Casino Hotel (now OYO), enduring its busted elevators, depressing ambiance, and suspiciously sticky carpets—all for the sake of history.

Along the way, my guest Alexander Poncio and I uncover the shocking history of this cursed Las Vegas casino—including its mob ties, multiple bankruptcy scandals, and an abandoned attempt in the 1980s to become Vegas' first LGBTQ-friendly resort.

"Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to my YouTube to WATCH this episode!

💬 What's the WORST hotel you've ever stayed at? Drop it in the Discord!

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🍔 Bonus episodes – including deep dives into underrated chains like the most recent monthly exclusive: Dan's Hamburgers (Austin, TX)
📢 Extended Yelp from Strangers segments – with even wilder reviews
🎶 Download exclusive music – including all 7 tracks from our Olive Garden musical!

👉 Join us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/finediningpodcast
👉 Hop into the Discord! https://discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4
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🎵 Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music)
🎶 Theme Song by: Gabe Alvarez (@spooky.gabe)
🎙 Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose

Patreon Producers: Joyce Van, & Sue Ornelas

Follow Alex on Instagram @ponciosa

⚡ Like, Subscribe & Share if you enjoy deep dives into the weirdest chain restaurant history!

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Jaksot(172)

Ch**seburger in Paradise (Part Two: Review) feat. Mom

A review Jimmy Buffett would be proud of! Mom joins one more time to dish on our experience eating at Ch**seburger in Paradise in Honolulu, Hawaii! "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to our ...

28 Helmi 202444min

Ch**seburger in Paradise (Part One: Eat Deets) feat. Mom

Lots of censored words in this one... Michael's Mom is back and joins him this week to eat at the historic Ch**seburger in Paradise restaurant in Honolulu, Hawaii! "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head...

21 Helmi 202433min

Hoots Wings (Part Two: Review) feat. VyVy Nguyen (Shaky Shivers, The Sympathizer)

Time to review the PG Hooters! VyVy Nguyen returns to review fast-casual Hooters affiliate Hoots Wings Michael is finally able to give VyVy her gift, now that Harrison has been brought into custody f...

14 Helmi 202452min

Hooter Bowl 2: "Hootdunnit?" Hoots Wings (Part One: Eat Deets) feat. VyVy Nguyen (Shaky Shivers)

The second annual Hooter Bowl! Friend of the show VyVy Nguyen is back to celebrate Hooter Bowl 2 by joining Michael at fast casual Hooters spin-off restaurant, Hoots Wings (basically Hooters without ...

7 Helmi 202446min

Friendly's (Part Two: Review) feat. JUB

OH HI THERE! It's your favorite sponsor JUB and I am back to help Michael review Friendly's! Step back in time to this place that feels old, classic, and filled with Depression-era clientele Octogena...

31 Tammi 202432min

Friendly's (Part One: Eat Deets) feat. JUB...?

Fine Dining: Party of...One? Michael gets stood up by his intended guest host JUB and goes this one alone, traveling to the New England area to take on one of their most historic chains, Friendly's J...

24 Tammi 202429min

Hot Dog on a Stick (Part Two: Review) feat. Monis Rose (Restaurant Fiction Podcast)

Getting in touch with our inner degenerates! Restaurant Fiction podcast host Monis Rose is here to wax romantic over the "character" of the original Hot Dog on a Stick kiosk by the Santa Monica Pier ...

17 Tammi 202455min

Hot Dog on a Stick (Part One: Eat Deets) feat. Monis Rose (Restaurant Fiction Podcast) & Alex Borstein (Family Guy, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)

Heinz-enberg runs these streets! Restaurant Fiction's Monis Rose joins Michael to pretend to learn the Eat Deets about Hot Dog on a Stick because he already knows everything Michael does a Keyser Söz...

10 Tammi 202441min