New name and new style at Stateline casino

It's not the same gaming casino that your father used to take his guests to. The old signs are gone and the new ones replacing Caesars Tahoe now read "MontBleu." Inside, it's all new downstairs; upstairs in the 440 guest rooms the old Caesars' decor is still there, but the beds have been replaced by something that officially is called the "Bleu Cloud Bed" but probably should be called an Emperor bed - big enough for an emperor and many of his court.

MontBleu officially opened for business Wednesday with a special show starring Howie Mandell, who indulged in a dialogue with his audience that kept the more than 1,000 guests in the MontBleu Theatre cheering even at the unfunny lines. Mandell gave the crowd just what it wanted to hear: scatological jokes and "my wife" routines. If he wasn't exhausted at the end, he should have been.

The new MontBleu

The building is the same, of course. But the casino floor basks in the light of a multimillion-dollar ceiling (those eyes in the sky are probably still there to keep watch on the 900 slot machines, roulette, craps tables and blackjack dealers) and new signs everywhere touting the MontBleu gaming advantage card.

While remodeling has been going on since last summer when Columbia Sussex bought Caesars and announced ambitious plans to upgrade the aging hotel, all was not completed Thursday. But Ciera Steak + Chophouse was and the media guests enjoyed excellent wine and steak and lamb Wednesday night.

Del Soul Mexican Grill is right off the casino floor, and it offers a very active bar area and needless to say snazzy "nuevo Mexican" food. plus barrels of imaginative tequila concoctions.

At the far end of the casino floor is the plush Opal, serving Eurasian Cuisine (it turns into an Ultra Lounge as the evening progresses). In a startling innovation for Lake Tahoe, Opal offers hookahs (water pipes, in case your Arabic is rusty), a touch of the Mideast. Rental fees were not announced. It also features sushi, imaginative cocktails, saké and just about anything one could dare to drink.

Opal is a gracious symphony of wood and stainless steel, where discussions of ethics could easily take place. As the night wears on, Opal's disc jockeys take over.

Just past Opal is the new Zone and Race and Sports Book with its own limited deli. It's open and airy, and at the opening was not yet a smoke-filled room.

For those seeking a more modest dining experience, the 2 Four Continuous Cuisine is a very luxurious version of a snack bar. It's open 24/7. It makes most snack bars look like seedy drive-by hamburger joints.

The unbuffet (that's all lower case) isn't open yet, but promises to offer "a new perspective" on traditional buffets with items created fresh by Action station chefs.

Also not quite finished is the Blu, replacing the old Club Nero nightclub. Blu will offer the latest sound technology with a constantly changing kind of music (although Beethoven is not scheduled). There will be large-ish, raised sections where guests will be able to lounge about on cushions behind gauzy curtains and enjoy private bottle service (don't ask; we didn't).

Both Blu and Opal will be run by PR Entertainment, which is also in charge of updating the theater and the new outdoor sports areas (Yes, beach volleyball is coming to Tahoe).

What's ahead at MontBleu? An adult show by Chelsea Handle & JImmy Shubert June 6-7, REO Speedwagon June 17 and Widespread Panic July 3-5. Don't say you weren't warned.

TIMELINE

Park Tahoe opened in 1978, and became Caesars Tahoe in 1980.

Caesars Entertainment sold the resort to Columbia Sussex. Columbia is a major player in casinos and hotels, owning 80 hotels, casinos and resorts in 28 states.

In October 2005, Columbia announced it would rename Caesars MontBleu.

In April, Caesars Tahoe closed the doors to Club Nero after 16 years as the area's most popular nightclub.

• Contact Sam Bauman at sbauman@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1236.