Vegas has become a dining destination for high rollers and those of us who
just like to eat. We’ve compiled a mouthwatering list of some of our favorite
places where we like to chow down–and we’ve included spots where you don’t
have to cash in all of your chips!
Best Value/Great Taste
Crown and Anchor Pub
1350 E. Tropicana Ave.
702-739-8676
24 hours!
Holy cow- here’s a 24 hour sports bar that’s a culinary bailout where you
can have fun, get faced, eat for less than $10 and even play Black Jack/Poker!
Truly Traditional British pub with over 30 beers on tap! 8 oz. British
burger/fries ($8.25). Garden Burger and salads too! Yummy fish and chips ($9.50)
and crisp chicken strips ($7.50). Soccer enthusiasts love the televised
coverage.
Pho
Treasure Island
702-894-7340
Hours: 11am to 11:30pm
11am-2:30am Fri/Sat
This glorified coffee/noodle shop in Treasure Island
will sate you ‘til 2:30 am on the weekends. Very reasonably priced
French-inspired Vietnamese noodle concoctions hovering around $10.50. Favorites
are #5 Pho Tai- raw beef simmering in a rice noodle soup or #9- Pho Gà-
shredded chicken/rice noodle soup. Light/heathly appetizers ($7): vegetarian
spring rolls or Vietnamese egg rolls. Most unique sandwich: Banh Mi Thit- pork,
cucumber, cilantro, jalapeños and mayo on a French roll. Of course, there’s the
ubiquitous sautéed beef/brocoli plus vegan delight: #22 Bun Chay ($10.50) –
mushrooms, tofu and veggies over vermicelli. Forget dessert unless you want
sorbet!
Siena Deli Bakery, Market & Restaurant
2250 E. Tropicana @ Eastern, Ste. 20
702.736.8424
Hours: Open daily: 9 a.m.9 p.m. Closed Sunday.
(3 miles from convention)
Fresh-baked breads, cookies, pastries and home-made pastas. For over 25
years, owner/chef Giancarlo has been an acclaimed destination by the discerning
natives of Las Vegas.
Eat this now: Cavatelli with Homemade Sausage.
Yolie’s Brazilian Steakhouse
3900 Paradise Road
Phone: 702-794-0700
Hours: 11:00am-2:30pm
5:00pm-11pm
All major credit cards
15% discount coupon offered on their website!
In Rio and throughout Brazil,
Rodizio is a dining tradition. Waiters run from table to table with skewers of
barbequed chicken, homemade sausage, sirloin, pork tenderloin, baby lamb, and
turkey wrapped in bacon. Yolie’s transports you to Rio
with a tropical decor and bountiful family-style dining. The mesquite grilled
entrees are accompanied by polenta, rice, fresh vegetables, salad or black bean
soup for $35/ person.
Gorge yourself and wash it down with the popular Brazilian libation
“Caipirinha,” made with cachaca, the exotic sugar cane liquor. Just
grazing? Try the la carte menu ($9-$25) featuring fish, scampi, feijoada, the
national fish of Brazil,
crab cakes, and Mediterranean salad. Desserts include chocolate mousse cake,
crème broulé and tiramisu ($4-$6).
Firefly
3900 Paradise Road
(Flamingo)
Phone: 702-369-3971
Hours: Daily 11:30 am – 2:00 am
till 3:00 am on weekends
All major credit cards accepted.
Web site: www.firefly.com
Fresh tapas-an International meze of your favorite appetizers and
mini-delicacies-are served until 3 a.m. There are several entrees from Paella
($14), Steak Frites ($15), Burger with cambazola cheese & bacon ($10) and
Herb Roasted Chicken ($12). But I prefer to taste all the 40 different small
plates like: steak tartare, ceviche of red snapper, shrimp cocktail, tuna carpaccio,
dates stuffed with almond and bacon, sautéed mushrooms, mushroom tart, roasted
eggplant cannelloni, fried calamari, chorizo clams, spicy chicken wings, crispy
duck rolls, empanadas, babyback ribs, merguez (spicy lamb sausage),
tomato-pepper confit, harissa sauce or cool gazpacho.
Float into the lounge or relax on the patio for an informal cozy escape from
the madding crowd. Get a pitcher of sangria ($18) and imagine you’re in Barcelona.
Mini Salads-Warm Spinach Salad or Big Bowl O’Salad (spinach, romaine, red
pepper, tomato, artichoke, pine nuts and blue cheese tossed in sherry
vinaigrette).
Hash House @ Go Go
6800 West Sahara Ave.
702-804-4646
Monday – Saturday: 7:30 am to 2:30 pm; 5pm-9pm
Sunday.-7:30 – 2:30
Eat this now: Farm Scrambles: a scrumptious mélange of eggs, smoked bacon,
avocado, onion & Swiss ($10) or the namesake Hash with Roasted Chicken,
garlic, onions, asparagus & rosemary. Far from mundane Meatloaf and Hash
($12.) in many guises that will change your mind about these ole staples; Fried
Chicken & Waffles; Crispy Pork Tenderloin.
Metro Pizza
1395 E. Tropicana Ave.
702.736.1955
Open Daily: 10 am – 10pm
Very casual dining and reasonable prices. Award-winning pizza- Best of Las
Vegas.
Pizzas: $11 to $25. Share signature pasta: giant Baked Ravioli ($15.) comes
with salad and bread. Don’t miss: Cannoli or the Tiramisu imported from Milan.
Sergio’s Italian
Gardens Ristorante
1955 E. Tropicana Ave.
702.739.1544
Monday- Friday !!:30am -11pm
Sat. & Sunday- 5pm -11pm
Free Shuttle available for dinner only.
Fine, casual Italian dining with an intimate/charming ambiance.
Eat this now: Linguini with Scampi or the award-winning Osso Buco. Five-star
Zagat rated. Entrees ($17-$28) include soup or salad from.
New & Old Favorites
Lavo
Palazzo Hotel
Sun.-Thursday- 5pm to midnight
Friday & Sat.-‘til 1 am.
702-388-8588
Up-scale casual
Delicious Three course Price Fix- $38.
Private dining room accommodates 20.
Capitalizing on the success of Tao, its creators present an exciting new
concept for a rockin’ club that is open ‘til 5am complimented by delicious
Italian dining. Weather permitting, dine on the outdoor terrace overlooking the
strip. The spacious dining room is modeled after the Roman bath. An
astoundingly ambitious menu boasts a raw bar ($14.-22) featuring Tuna
Carpaccio, Artic Char or Snapper Crudo, & Maine Lobster Cocktail. Also, 2
foot long gourmet pizzas ($16.-20).
Eat this now: Kobe Meatballs with whipped fresh ricotta or sausage ragu
($20),
Pizza Cacciatore with onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, peppers, and Bel Paese
($19),
Chicken Marsala with wild mushrooms ($24.), Branzino Francaise ($26.), Kobe
Beef Carpaccio.
Social House
Treasure Island
3300 South Las Vegas Blvd.
Hours: Sun.- Thursday 5pm-10:30 pm
Friday & Sat.-11pm
Closed Monday & Tuesday
Relax in the downstairs lounge; take the elevator to the main dining room
with cozy alcoves and four bars. The private dining room is perfect to fete 24
revelers. I prefer to seat at the quiet sushi bar in the back.
Melt-in-your-mouth sushi, unique specialty rolls and imaginative Japanese/Asian
fusion greatest culinary hits.
Share this now: Mini Kobe Burgers on Hawaiian sweet rolls with Sapporo battered onion
rings ($24.), Crispy Cod Sliders with shoestrings ($16.), BBQ Pork Baby Back
Ribs. ($15), Chicken Wings with sweet chili ($15), Sapporo battered fish with shoestrings-really
crispy Japanese Fish & Chips($18). Save room for the warm Chocolate Cake or
the Chocolate Panna Cotta ($12).
Hamada of Japan
365 East Flamingo Rd.
702-733-3005
Hours: 5 p.m.-midnight
Dress: Casual
All major credit cards accepted
After 20 years, still an ole favorite for ultra-fresh sushi and hand rolls –
crab, salmon skin, spicy tuna, and rainbow. Main dining room offers beef
sukiyaki and shabu shabu while knife-wielding chefs in the Teppan Room keep the
Benihana tradition alive with deftly prepared steaks, shrimp, lobster, and
marinated chicken/veggies.
B & B
Venetian Hotel
3355 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Phone: 702-266-9977
Open daily: 5 -11 p.m.
Seven course tasting menu of pastas or traditional: $99. Accompanied with
wine-+ $70.
Mario Batali and Joseph Bastianich have teamed up once more for this swanky,
romantic hide away in the Venetian. Some of my favorite, unusually imaginative
culinary triumphs are: Fennel Dusted Sweetbreads with sweet/sour onions &
duck bacon ($29); Mint Love Letters with spicy lamb sausage ($23); Beef Cheek
Ravioli with black truffles/crushed duck liver ($26); Linguine with clams,
pancetta & hot chilies ($26); Grilled Octopus with spicy Limoncello
vinaigrette ($18); Whole Grilled Branzino with fennel and oregano jam($40).
Light desserts:Meyer Lemon Torta or sorbet; Grappa Pana Cotta; or Bourbon
Caramel & Vanilla Bean Gelato.
Bouchon
Tower at the Venetian
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South
702-414-6200
Breakfast: 7:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Light Menu/Oyster Bar: 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Dinner: 5:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Brunch: 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Saturday & Sunday)
Close your eyes… listen to the rustle of fresh air through the tranquil garden of Cypress trees. It’s calm and quiet…
Are you really in Las Vegas or have you been
beamed to Paris or Provence for a pool side breakfast? No,
you’re meeting a friend at Bouchon, the bright and airy French brasserie
designed by Adam Tihany in the Venetian
Tower.
World renowned proprietor of the French Laundry in Napa,
Thomas Keller, proclaimed America’s
best chief by Time magazine and by the James Beard Association, offers bistro
classics usually accompanied by wonderful French fries, an ultra-fresh raw bar
and rich desserts like Dark Chocolate Mousse, Profiteroles with warm chocolate
sauce, and Crème caramel. Share the Petit
Plateau- ($98) a
crustacean dream of lobster, oysters, shrimp, clams, and seasonal crab. Start
with the Frisee Salad with bacon lardons, and poached egg with bacon
vinaigrette or the Watercress & Endive Salad with Roquefort, Fuji apples, toasted
walnuts with walnut vinaigrette ($13). Indulge with the Beignets de Brandade-
cod brandade/ tomato confit and fried sage ($13).
The Steak Frites is a pan seared prime flatiron with those delicious
ubiquitous fries ($34.50). Pan-roasted Trout with almonds, brown butter, and
haricots verts ($26), Roasted Leg of Lamb with ragout of coco beans, piquilla
peppers, and merguez sausage ($31).
Brunch: Sourdough Waffles with fresh bananas, maple syrup, and Tahitian
vanilla bean butter ($11). Toasted Ham & Cheese on brioche with a fried
egg, mornay sauce and fries ($15.95). Go American with two eggs served any
style with bacon, country sausage, toasted brioche, pastry, juice and coffee
($21.95).
Worth the Cab Ride
Pamplemousse
400 E. Saraha Avenue
Phone: 702-733-2066
Dinner only: 5:30pm-10:00pm
Jacket is not required but most people dress up.
Wine and apertifs only, no hard liquor
All major credit cards
The humble, shack-like exterior belies the charming provincial interior of
Pamplemousse. With the quiet, romantic ambiance of a tiny French country inn,
it seems light years away from the crazy strip. Great place for a tryst…
Maitre d’ Yves Beaumont
is justifiably proud of the newly expanded menu, and will wax poetic about the
enviable history of Pamplemousse which has been a dining destination for
celebrities since 1976. The meal commences with the salad presentation- a large
basket of ultra fresh raw vegetables served with Dijon mustard vinaigrette. Chef George la
Forge’s varied menu changes daily to accommodate the season and market
availability. Invariably, you will find his signature dishes: Roast Duckling
with cranberry-raspberry sauce or superb baked Atlantic Salmon with fresh garlic
spinach in a puff pastry. The entrees ($27-54), accompanied by vegetables, may
include Medallions of Veal, Filet Mignon, Osso Buco (veal shanks), Shrimp
Scampi, or, my favorite, New Zealand Rack of Lamb in a pistachio nut crust .
Share the pasta special Fettuccini tossed with prosciutto in a light cream
sauce as an appetizer or one of the specials: Crab Cakes with a macadamia nut
crust with Dijon
cream sauce or frogs’ legs sautéed in white wine and garlic butter. Appetizers:
$10 to $18. Save room for the divine desserts: Grand Marnier Souffle, Chocolate
Lava Cake ($9 to $13).
Rosemary’s
8125 West Sahara
(Cross street:
South Cimarron Road)
Phone: 702-869-2251
Hours: Lunch 11:30 am-2:30 pm
(M-F); Dinner 5:30 pm-10:30 pm
AMC, casual to dressy
Rosemary’s is the best-kept secret in Las
Vegas for contemporary American food with French and
Creole influences. Hidden in a strip mall 8 miles from the Wynn, you don’t have
to worry about the décor competing with the food. Nothing can!
Enter the homey, unpretentious lounge: a perch at the long bar is perfect
for grazing on the small-plate menu: Lamb Chop with Calamata creamed potatoes
with rosemary Bordelaise sauce; White Cheddar Grits with Dijonaise and sautée
of wild mushrooms/garlic; Seared Foie Gras with orange brioche toast, mango
coulis and sweet onion marmalade; and Ceasar salad.
These scrumptious “little commitments” assure you of the splendid
cuisine to follow…I am still dreaming of the Wild King Salmon Tartare and the
simply delicious garnishes like Maytag Blue cheese slaw.
Chef Michael Jordan and his wife Wendy (who teaches at Le Cordon Bleu) have
created countless signature dishes by ‘harvesting’ seasonal, organic
ingredients and coaxing their flavors through innovative combinations using
passion fruit, mango coulis, Blue cheese, or smoked bacon. An irresistibly rich
mélange of apple-smoked bacon/grits, green onions, and caramelized shallots
make the Veal Sweetbreads unforgettable.
The prix fixe three-course dinner is a delectable bargain at $55, considering
that’s the cost of just an entrée at many celebrity chef dining
“theaters” on the strip.
Appetizers ($8.50-$21): Texas
BBQ Shrimp, Beef and Maytag Blue Cheese Carpaccio; Panko Crusted Crab Cakes;
Baked Parmesan Soufflé; Seared Sea Scallops; Shrimp Remoulade; Wilted Spinach
Salad
Entrees($23-$39): Roasted Rack of Lamb; Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna; Creole
Spiced New York Strip Steak; Brick Chicken; Honey Creole Mustard-glazed Salmon;
Grilled Veal Tenderloin; Halibut in a buttermilk onion crust with garlic
spinach; Parmesan Angel Hair Pasta in a sauté of green vegetables, toasted
pistachios, basil pesto/vodka tomato coulis.
Desserts ($7-$8): Goat Cheese Cheesecake; Chocolate Flowerless Cake; Coconut
Bread Pudding; Rustic Apple Tart/caramel sauce, candied walnuts and cinnamon
ice cream; Crème Brulee, and Lemon Ice Box Pie.
Each appetizer/entree is paired with not only suggested wines but also
select ales. Favorite wines: Chardonnay: Talbot Sleepy Hollow or the Cake Bread
Cellars; Pinot Noir: Loring Gary’s Vineyard. Ask the sommelier to steer you
through the hard-to-find, yet gently priced, boutique vineyards. Sunday Special
Promotion: 50% discount on selected wines. Wednesday is Ladies Night with 50%
discount for all female diners. Prix fixe three-course lunch $28.
Lotus of Siam
953 East Sahara
Phone: 702-735-3033
Hours: Lunch 11:30 am-2:30 pm
Monday-Friday; Dinner 5:30 pm-
9:30 pm M-Th, 5:30-10 pm weekends.
AMC, Dress is super casual
Website: www.saipinchutima.com
Do you love Thai food? Want to rock your taste buds? Depart from the Strip’s
glitz and glamour, and dine with Bill and Saipin Chutima at their mom/pop
hole-in- the-wall in the Commercial
Center. Simply appointed
with beige walls, wood tables and paper place mats, Lotus’ homespun Thai
cuisine was praised in October 2001 Gourmet as “the best Thai restaurant
in the US”. Bill offers an extraordinary selection of German Rieslings to
complement his wife’s diverse menu, which sizzles with incendiary flavors. Try
the 2004 Emrich Schonleber.
Take the small journey (4 miles north of the Wynn) from the strip to savor
authentic Thai cuisine with emphasis on the northeast region. Share the
traditional Pad Thai ($9)-stir fried rice noodles/ chicken, egg, onions, bean
sprouts, chopped peanuts, cilantro, and lime, or Mee Krob ($8)-sweet crispy
noodles with chicken and shrimp.
Don’t miss Saipin’s Crispy Garlic Prawns, devoured like potato chips;
Sashimi-grade Sea Bass steamed with ginger sauce; Poached Salmon ($18) with
in-your-face heat stoked by chilies, garlic and lime; Soft-Shell Crab Salad
with apples, contrasting acidity with the sweet richness of the soft-shell
crab. No wonder the dry, yet fruity, Alsatian wines are so appealing…
Preparations with Red Curry and Roasted Duck Curry are highly recommended.
Whatever you desire can be created with a myriad of sauces: Chicken with
Roasted Chile Paste, cashews, carrots and onions; Spicy Catfish with Dried
Chilies and Thai basil; Beef with garlic, cilantro and black pepper.
Ferraro’s
5900 West Flamingo Rd.
Phone: 702-364-5300
Lunch: Monday-Fri.11-2 p.m.
Saturday/Sunday 5-10 pm
(No Shorts/Tank Tops) 3 1/2 miles from the Sands
You almost expect Dean Martin to saunter up to the piano and start crooning.
The multi-level cozy dining room is a time-warp to the ’50’s, the perfect
environment for a relaxing repast of traditional cuisine from both Southern
& Northern Italy. For over twenty years, Ferraro’s has sated celebrities
and “Las Vegans!”
Start with Gamberoni-colossal Pan Sautéed Shrimp, garlic, lemon, butter and
white wine; Grilled Asparagus encased in smoked ham topped with fresh
mozzarella ($19); 4 oz. Broiled Lobster Tail over sautéed fennel, raspberries
and sparkling wine ($21), Beef Carpaccio with arugula and avocado ($16).
Spinach Salad with pine nuts, raisins, raspberry vinaigrette ($9) or the
Napoletana Salad with arugula, Bermuda onions, anchovies and ancient Balsamic
($10). If available, catch the daily special of Lobster Ravioli or Dover Sole!
Outstanding, very rich pastas: Ravioli Funghi with wild mushrooms, ricotta,
mascarpone, pancetta, & cream sauce ($28); Risotto with shrimp, asparagus
and sparkling wine.
Osso Buco is the signature dish- this classic preparation of braised veal
shank over farro should be shared; 20 oz. Bone in Rib Eye with rapini and
beans; Grilled Quail with eggplant caponata and roasted potatoes; Veal Chop
with arugula, ricotta salata and truffle oil. Like the pasta, all the desserts
are homemade: feather-light tiramisu, Nutella Chocolate Crepes and Canoli ($8).
Burger Bar at Mandalay Bay
3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
702-632-9364
AMC Casual
Sun.-Thurs. 10 am to 11pm
Friday & Sat. ‘til 3am
Herbert Keller, renowned chef/owner of Fleur de Lys in San Francisco, has written a gourmet’s sonnet
to the great American burger! For a relaxing protein fix, mosey into the Burger
Bar and compose your dream burger with a choice of Black Angus, (Snake River)
Kobe Beef, Colorado lamb, or Hereford beef. ($8 to 16) Choose from over 50
scrumptious toppings such as prosciutto, seared foie gras, grilled shrimp,
smoked salmon, bacon, cheeses, mushrooms, etc. From the ‘Rolls Royce’ of
burgers- the Rossini ($60.)-Kobe Beef, sautéed foie gras, shaved truffles in a
rich Madeira sauce to the Surf & Turf
Burger ($24)- Black Angus, grilled ½ lobster, and grilled asparagus. The
obligatory turkey and veggie burgers ($11.50) are seemingly more edible
embellished with truffles and a fried egg!
Salads ($8.50 to 15.50): Ceasar, Greek, or Ocean with grilled shrimp,
sun-dried tomatoes, cilantro, and Japanese dressing. Sandwiches: Hawaiian
($14.25), marinated chicken breast, bacon, roasted pineapple, carmelized onions
on sesame bun. Try the Skinny, sweet potato, or zucchini fries ($2.50). Great
Kid’s Meal ($5.75), old fashioned Shakes and Floats ($5.50), plus 24 beers on
tap.
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