What’s on the menu in Las Vegas this year? For the TWICE staff at CES, it’s sore feet, little sleep and tight daily deadlines. But Vegas has transformed itself in recent years into a destination city for fine dining, and the rest of you may want to find out how it did.
Our friends at Vegas.com and their print affiliates Las Vegas Life and Showbiz are the resident experts on the ever-changing local restaurant scene. Here is their take on the places to see and be seen.
8-0-8
Caesars
3570 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
(702) 731-7731$15 to $25
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m. Chef Jean-Marie Josselin features Hawaiian themed dishes spotlighting French, Thai, Indian, Japanese and Italian influences. — Showbiz
AJ’s Steakhouse
Chops, Salads, Seafood, Steak House-Fine, Steaks
Hard Rock Hotel
4455 Paradise Rd.
(702) 693-5500
$25 to $35
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Closed Sunday-Monday.
Walking into A.J.’s Steakhouse is like walking onto the set of Ocean’s Eleven. With Henry at the piano and Gina at the door, you’re sure to have a great time. The porterhouse is a must. Dino would have hung here. — Las Vegas Life
Al Dente
Italian
Bally’s
3645 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 967-4111
$25 to $35
Hours: Open nightly, 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. If you like pasta you’ll like al Dente. It’s a lighter side of Italian dining, offering a new flavor experience in a contemporary setting. — Showbiz
Alan Albert’s
American, Seafood, Steak House-Fine
3763 Las Vegas Blvd., South
(702) 795-7133
$25 to $35
Hours: Open daily, 5 p.m.-11:30 p.m. Experience vintage Las Vegas with classic steaks, thick veal and lamb chops, live Maine lobsters and slow roasted prime rib, all served in an impeccably appointed dining room rich with Las Vegas history. —Showbiz
Alta Villa
Italian
Flamingo Hilton
3555 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
(702) 733-3111
$15 to $25
Hours: Seven days a week, 5 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
Inviting atmosphere and a delightful array of Italian specialties, from minestrone to broiled filet mignon. —Showbiz
America
American
New York-New York
3790 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 740-6451
$15 or less
Hours: Open 7 days per week, 24 hours.
Enjoy a specialty from a particular state — Philly cheesesteak sandwiches from Pennsylvania, Buffalo wings from New York — while your eyes go to the 30-by-90-foot map of the United States overhead. The all-American burgers and down-home country breakfasts are best bets. — Las Vegas Life
Andiamo
Italian
Las Vegas Hilton
3000 Paradise Rd.
(702) 732-5755
$15 to $25
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 5-11 p.m. (dinner). Northern Italian-influenced eatery offering the classics and unique signature dishes reflective of the upscale ambience of the room, all prepared in a modern exhibition-style kitchen. — Showbiz
Aqua
American, Seafood
Bellagio
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 693-7223
$35 or more
Hours: Open Daily, 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m.
When it comes to the notion of eating seafood in the desert, this chic, cutting-edge room breaks the mold. You’ll enter through the hotel’s flower-filled conservatory and drink in the natural stone floor, wood-paneled ceiling and rusticity of the place. Chef Michael Mina’s creations are stunning — an exquisite caviar parfait, tempura prawns with a light truffle cream, sea bass marinated in Japanese miso, a rich lobster pot pie that turns the tables on traditional Yankee frugality. Desserts, like a New Age root beer float, are up to the task. — Las Vegas Life
Asia
Asian, Chinese, Japanese
Harrah’s Las Vegas
3475 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 369-5000
$25 to $35
Hours: Friday-Tuesday, 5:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Closed Wednesday-Thursday.
An enticing mix of Chinese and Asian cuisine served in an elegant, intimate ambience. — Showbiz
Aureole
American, Gourmet
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
3950 Las Vegas Blvd.
(702) 632-7401
$35 or more
Hours: Open 7 days a week, 6 p.m.-11:00 p.m.
Celebrity chef Charlie Palmer’s expanded version of his New York City classic is architecturally stunning (it boasts a nice three-story wine tower in the middle of the restaurant as well as a private pond with its own swans) and has a wine list that even the most pretentious snob will delight in. Then there’s the food. The menu changes seasonally, and the tasting menu (which really shows off the abilities of the kitchen) changes almost weekly. If you see the pork tenderloin with sage wrapped in prosciutto, don’t think twice. The only culinary disappointment: Charlie’s signature dish, the sea scallops sandwich, is only available in New York. — Las Vegas Life
Austin Steakhouse
Seafood, Steak House-Fine, Steaks
Texas Station
2101 Texas Star Lane
(702) 631-1000
$15 to $25
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 5 p.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 5 p.m.-11 p.m.
Featuring the finest beef, prime rib, a rib platter, a mix of Texas-style barbecue and seafood, including shrimp and swordfish. — Showbiz
Bally’s Steakhouse
Chops, Seafood, Steak House-Fine, Steaks
Bally’s
3645 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 967-7999
$35 or more
Hours: Open daily, 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m. Sunday Sterling Brunch, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
An American menu of steak, seafood and chops served in a plush New York atmosphere — Showbiz
Benihana Village Hibachi
Asian, Japanese, Steaks
Las Vegas Hilton
3000 Paradise Rd.
(702) 732-5755
$35 or more
Hours: Open daily, 5 p.m.-11 p.m. Voted best Asian restaurant in Las Vegas by a local newspaper the last three years in a row. From the people who made Hibachi Grill demonstration-style cooking famous, Benihana is unsurpassed for good food and good fun. Seafood, steaks and chicken, presented in a huge Japanese village, have made this a Las Vegas Hilton favorite. Robata at Benihana features authentic Japanese cuisine like tempura, katsu and sashimi. — Showbiz
BICE
Italian
Desert Passage at Aladdin
3667 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
(702) 732-4210
$25 to $35
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday & Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m.
Authentic Italian cooking such as pasta and risotto dishes. They also offer a few American favorites like chicken fingers and fish & chips and many other dishes that the entire family can enjoy. BICE also boasts one of the best wine cellars in town. — Showbiz
Big Al’s Oyster Bar
Cajun, Creole, Oysters, Seafood
The Orleans
4500 W. Tropicana Ave.
(702) 365-7111
$15 to $25
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight, Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Enjoy freshly shucked oysters and clams or choose from steamed clams, voodoo mussels, pan roasts, shrimp scampi, bouillabaisse and pasta dishes. All served with a Creole/Cajun flair. — Showbiz
Blue Iguana Las Vegas
Mexican
Circus Circus
2880 Las Vegas Blvd. South(702) 734-0410$15 to $25
Hours: Sunday-Friday, 5 p.m.-10 p.m., Saturday, 5 p.m.-11 p.m. Full service bar and lounge, Open daily, 3 p.m.-11 p.m.
Blue Iguana features a twist on traditional Mexican food in a festive atmosphere. — Showbiz
Border Grill
Mexican
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
3950 LasVegas Blvd. South
(702) 632-7403
$15 or less
Hours: Sunday-Thrusday 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11:30 p.m.-11 p.m. Chefs Mary Sue Miliken and Susan Feniger present the bold, authentic foods of Mexico. The excellent fare is complemented by a vibrant design that makes this the definitive destination for gourmet Mexican. — Showbiz
Buccaneer Bay Club
American, Continental
Treasure Island
3300 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 894-7223
$35 or more
Hours: Open daily, 5 p.m.-10 p.m.
Enjoy American continental fine dining as a sea battle takes place before your eyes. — Showbiz
Buzio’s Seafood Restaurant
Seafood
Rio
3700 W. Flamingo Rd.
(702) 252-7777
$15 to $25
Hours: Open daily, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. From the ocean to your table, experience all-exhibition cooking in an intimate and casual dining atmosphere featuring the finest in seafood selections. — Showbiz
Caesars Magical Empire
American, Seafood, Vegetarian
Caesars Palace
3570 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
(702) 731-7333
$35 or more
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 4:30 p.m.-10 p.m. Closed Sunday-Monday.
An elaborately themed, multi-chambered dining wonderland that presents mystery, fine dining, grand-scale illusions and fun in awe-inspiring surroundings reminiscent of Caesar’s world 2,000 years ago. — Showbiz
Café Andreotti
Italian, Italian Northern
Harrah’s Las Vegas
3475 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 369-5000
$15 to $25
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
Unparalleled Italian cuisine in a setting that reflects an outdoor Tuscan Hills-like atmosphere. — Showbiz
Cafe Heidelberg
German
604 E. Sahara Avenue
(702) 731-5310
$15 or less
Hours: Monday, 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday, 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Closed Sunday.
Those in need of a schnitzel fix will find it in this little taste of Deutschland at Sixth Street and Sahara Avenue. The Las Vegas Valley’s only authentic German restaurant, owned and operated by University of Nevada, Las Vegas graduate Tanya Ferris, serves healthy portions of authentic schnitzels, sausages, and sauerkraut. The simple, solid menu features most of Germany’s greatest food hits, all accompanied by good rye bread, outstanding red cabbage, fried potatoes, or spaetzle. Also available at Cafe Heidelberg are a modest (and modestly priced) list of German white wines, a fine selection of its beers, a deli counter, and a variety of imported merchandise. — Las Vegas Life
Cafe Lago
American, Asian, Buffet, Pasta, Seafood
Caesar’s
3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 731-7731
$15 to $25
Hours: Open daily, 24 hours. Breakfast buffet, daily, 7 a.m.-11:30 a.m. ($13.99); Lunch buffet, Mon.-Fri., 11 p.m.-3 p.m. ($15.99). Weekend brunch, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. ($19.99 [without champagne] $29.99, $39.99 and $49.99 adults, children under 12 half price). A late-night menu is offered from midnight to 6 a.m.
Surround yourself in a contemporary Italian lake setting for a new 24 hour dining experience. Featuring a diverse, international à la carte menu as well as complete breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets. — Showbiz
Cafe Sensations
American, Coffee, Continental, Salads, Sandwiches
4350 E. Sunset Rd.
(702) 456-7803
$15 or less
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
This coffeehouse on the edge of Green Valley serves soups, salads, and sandwiches as well as killer coffee drinks, wine, and beer. Sourdough baguettes and whole-wheat bread wrap sandwiches such as Jo Dee’s tuna salad, an oven-roasted breast of turkey with Swiss cheese, a vegetarian, and Steve’s San Francisco. Steffi’s garden house salad is excellent. Dessert selections include a scrumptious Reese’s peanut butter cup cheesecake. — Las Vegas Life
Canal Street Grille
Seafood, Steak House-Fine
The Orleans
4500 W. Tropicana Ave.
(702) 365-7111
$25 to $35
Hours: Open every day, 5 p.m.-11 p.m.
The intention is to offer upscale dining with a French Quarter flavor, and the Grille mostly succeeds. Worth the effort for meat/seafood-and-potato lovers who like a little extra spice in life. — Las Vegas Life
Canaletto
Italian Northern, Rotisserie, Seafood
Venetian
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 733-0070
$15 to $25
Hours: Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-12 a.m.
Featuring the unique flavors of Venice, using wood-fired rotisseries, grills and ovens. View of the Grand Canal and gondolas. — Showbiz
Chang of Las Vegas
Chinese
3055 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 731-3388
$25 to $35
Hours: Open 7 days per week, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 a.m.
Chang’s offers the most varied dim sum in town, along with much more exotic fare than that found in other Chinese restaurants. Its potstickers and dumplings are top-notch. The restaurant’s strength is in its Cantonese seafood and Hong Kong-style preparations. As a finale to dim sum, the don tot (egg custard-filled pastries) warm from the oven is a great dessert. — Las Vegas Life
Charlie Palmer
Steak House-Fine, Steaks
Four Seasons
3960 Las Vegas Blvd.
(702) 632-5000
$35 or more
Hours: Open daily, 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m.
Located in the Mandalay Bay complex, Four Seasons’ reputation for fine dining is upheld in this specialty restaurant offering Palmer’s signature cuisine. — Showbiz
Chin Chin Cafe
Chinese
New York-New York
3790 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 740-6300
$15 to $25
Hours: Open daily, 8 a.m.-11 a.m. (breakfast), Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-midnight.
A moderately priced menu of wonderful traditional Chinese food in a contemporary atmosphere. — Showbiz
China Grill
Asian, Chinese
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 632-7404
$15 to $25
Hours: Open daily, 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
Asian-influenced cuisine is served in generous portions intended for sharing. Our favorites include the Shanghai lobster served with ginger, curry and crispy spinach, grilled dry-aged Szechwan beef with sake, soy and cilantro, and a dish we just can’t get enough of — crispy duck with caramelized black vinegar sauce and scallion pancakes. — Las Vegas Life
Circo
Bellagio
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 693-8150
$25 to $35
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (lunch), open daily, 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. (dinner).
Whimsical and vibrant, this upscale Italian bistro features homestyle Tuscan cuisine inspired by matriarch Egidiana Maccioni. The dining experience is enhanced by the amusing ambience resembling a festive circus theme. — Showbiz
Coyote Café
Southwestern
MGM Grand
3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 891-7349
$15 to $25
Hours: Open daily, 8:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m.
Taste hot and spicy modern Southwestern cuisine. Featured on the dinner menu nightly are cowboy rib chops, buttermilk corn cakes with chipotle shrimp, pumpkin seed crusted salmon and more. — Showbiz
Cozymel’s Coastal Mexican Grill
Mexican
355 Hughes Center Drive
(702) 732-4833
$15 to $25
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Upscale coastal Mexican cuisine in a delightful setting. House specialties include Pollo Poblano and Lomo de Puerco, and coastal selections such as Camarones al Mojo de Ajo (shrimp sautéed in garlic lime butter and julienne ancho chiles) are sure to knock your socks off. A variety of mouth-watering margaritas and delicious desserts complete any meal. — Las Vegas Life
Cuba Mia Café
Cuban
3035 E. Tropicana Ave.
(702) 435-6797
$15 or less
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m., Sunday, 1 p.m.-9 p.m.
It’s about time we restored our political and social ties to Cuba. Maybe then there’d be more Cuban restaurants in town. Now we have three, two of which are practically on the same block of Las Vegas Boulevard, and this one, occupying a small, unassuming portion of a big shopping center on East Tropicana. ‘Big and small’ might also be used to describe this underappreciated cuisine, famous for its copious portions of beans, rice, yuca, pork, and beef, served at miniscule prices. Most have fascinating names like Old Clothes (shredded beef over rice), or masas de cerdo (fried pork chunks), which scarcely give a hint of the finely tuned cooking behind these tasty treatments of Caribbean barbecue. As a side dish, don’t miss the yuca frita with garlic sauce or the platano madur (ripe-fried plantains). Another test of quality and authenticity: You’ll probably be the only non-Cuban dining in the place. — Las Vegas Life
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse
Creole, Steak House-Fine
3925 Paradise Rd
(702) 796-0063
$35 or more
Hours: Open daily, 5 p.m.-11 p.m.
Vegas’ newest steakhouse is pricey but has selling points like a terrific wine cellar, lots of space, excellent New Orleans-inspired side dishes and a great piece of lemon cake for dessert. The restaurant isn’t far from the Convention Center, and that might attract large groups. The beef is fine, too. — Las Vegas Life
Delmonico Steakhouse
Steak House-Fine
Venetian
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 414-3737
$25 to $35
Hours: Monday-Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. (lunch), Sunday-Thursday, 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. (dinner), Friday-Saturday, 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m. (dinner). Homemade potato chips with Parmesan cheese drizzled with truffle oil — can it get any better? Fantastic menu, great wine list, questionable service in the dining room and surly help in the cocktail lounge. In short, go for the food, not the service. — Las Vegas Life
Don Miguel’s
Mexican
The Orleans
4500 W. Tropicana Ave.
(702) 365-7111
$15 to $25
Hours: Open daily, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (lunch), 4 p.m.-11 p.m. (dinner).
The entrées are simple and delicious, but it’s the pre-meal deal that’ll keep you coming back: a free margarita and triple dips (beans, guacamole and salsa) for your chips. — Las Vegas Life
Dragon Noodle Company
Asian
Monte Carlo
3770 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 730-7965 \
$15 or less
Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.
An Asian restaurant and tea emporium, the Dragon Noodle Company offers a wide selection of traditional Asian noodle dishes, roasted meats, uniquely prepared chicken and fresh seafood. — Showbiz
Eiffel Tower Restaurant
French
Paris
3645 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 948-6937
$35 or more
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 5:30 p.m.- 10:30 p.m. Bar open, 5 p.m.-midnight.
Updated French classics, complemented by cocktails and caviar from the sumptuous bar, are served in a sophisticated atmosphere punctuated by a stunning view from high above the Strip. — Showbiz
Elements
American, Seafood, Steaks
Aladdin
3667 South Las Vegas Blvd.
(702) 785-9087
$25 to $35
Hours: Open daily, 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
A tantalizing mix of dishes created from fire and water elements; fresh seafood and flamed-seared prime cuts of selected corn-fed beef. Authentic pasta dishes and an extensive wine list round out this delicatessen menu. — Showbiz
Empress Court
Cantonese, Chinese
Caesars Palace
3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 731-7731
$35 or more
Hours: Friday & Saturday, 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m., Thursday, Sunday & Monday, 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. In addition to its à la carte menu, Empress Court offers four multi-course, pre-selected Chinese feasts with Cantonese favorites. — Showbiz
ESPN Zone
American
New York-New York
3790 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 933-3776
$15 or less Hours: Monday-Wednesday, 11 a.m. to midnight; Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight (bar and arena open until 2 a.m.); Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. (bar and arena open until 2 a.m.); Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. (bar and arena open until 2 a.m.); Sunday, 9 a.m. to midnight.
Sports lovers heaven. Have a meal or snack amid 150 screens featuring nothing but sports. — Showbiz
Fellini’s
Italian, Pasta
5555 W. Charleston Blvd.
(702) 870-9999
$15 to $25
Hours: Thursday-Sundays, 5 p.m. – 10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 5 p.m.-11 p.m.
An excellent and generous osso buco can be had for $26, pastas are more interesting than at most places (try the Fazzoletti di Vendura), and even the soups are given special attention by the kitchen. — Las Vegas Life
Fiore Steakhouse
French, Italian, Poultry, Seafood
Rio
3700 W. Flamingo Rd.
(702) 252-7777
$35 or more
Hours: 5 p.m.-11 p.m. daily.
Elegant French-Italian dining highlighted by gourmet rotisserie-grilled steaks, seafood and poultry. House favorites include a rack of lamb with roasted garlic sauce and a wood-fired Black Angus porterhouse with horseradish sauce. The wine list is also impressive, boasting more than 400 wines, 45 of which can be ordered by the glass. — Las Vegas Life
Florida Cafe
Cuban
1401 Las Vegas Blvd.
(702) 385-3013
$15 or less
Hours: Open every day, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
You can tell how authentic this simply decorated café really is just by listening. All you hear is a burbling fountain and the dulcet tones of Cuban Spanish. The food is marvelous, everything from leg of pork served with black beans and rice, to the exotic batidos, tropical Cuban milkshakes made with fruits like mango and soursop. — Las Vegas Life
Francesco’s Cucina Italiana
Italian, Mediterranean
Treasure Island
3300 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 894-7223
$15 to $25
Hours: Open 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m. daily. Closed Wed. and Thurs.
A unique setting offers guests a glimpse into the kitchen as chefs prepare Italian specialties, including fresh pastas and breads, sensational antipasto and Mediterranean-style seafood. The experience is complemented by pieces of artwork done by celebrities like Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Phyllis Diller. — Showbiz
Gallagher’s Steakhouse
Steak House-Fine
New York-New York
3790 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 740-6450
$35 or more
Hours: Open every day, 5 p.m.-11 p.m.
This clone of the original establishment on 52nd Street in Manhattan recreates the macho, clubby original that practically invented the genre of urban steakhouses. Well-chosen, aged steaks and some excellent grilled seafood are still the order of the day. Its chef must have a kitchen timer for a heart, as all dishes are cooked to perfection — and served by a waitstaff that knows when to deliver the goods. — Las Vegas Life
Garden Of The Dragon
Chinese
Las Vegas Hilton
3000 Paradise Rd.
(702) 732-5755
$25 to $35
Hours: Open daily, 5:00 p.m.-11 p.m.
Quietly one of the finest Chinese restaurants in Las Vegas, this is the place to go for authentic Cantonese and Mandarin specialties. Extensive menu makes it hard to pick — but one can’t miss — it’s all good here. Restaurant overlooks the picturesque Benihana Village gardens. — Showbiz
Gonzalez y Gonzalez
Mexican
New York-New York
3790 Las Vegas Blvd.
(702) 740-6455
$15 or less
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-midnight.
A rendition of a true New York City Mexican cafe that sets you right in the center of the city with an outdoor courtyard complete with lanterns, pinatas and an outstanding tequila bar. — Showbiz
Gordon Biersch Brewery
Eclectic
3987 Paradise Rd.
(702) 312-5247
$15 to $25
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (lunch), 4 p.m.-10 p.m. (dinner), Friday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Bar open: Sunday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m., Friday-Saturday, late hours.
Founded in 1987 by Dan Gordon and Dean Biersch in Palo Alto, Calif., the microbrewery-restaurant called Gordon Biersch combines such crafted lagers as Pilsner, Marzen, and Dunkles with dishes accented with Pacific Rim flavors. The flagship location in the Howard Hughes Center follows the same winning pattern. Chef Dylan Moses offers inventive house-made dough pizzas, pastas, stir-fries, sandwiches, satays, salads, and a number of specials. The indoor stainless steel fermenting tanks have a brewing capacity of up to 2,200 barrels per year and are visible behind glass walls — adding an authentic brewery feel to the contemporary decor. — Las Vegas Life
Grand Lux Cafe
Eclectic
Venetian
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 414-1000
$15 to $25
Hours: Open daily, 24 hours a day.
Offering unique global cuisine in an elegant but relaxed atmosphere, featuring more than 150 menu items, including pizza, seafood, steaks, burgers and pasta. — Showbiz
Grand Wok and Sushi Bar
Asian
MGM Grand
3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 891-7777
$15 to $25
Hours: Open daily, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sushi bar open from 5 p.m.-11 p.m.
Featuring a wide array of Asian cuisine created by chefs who specialize in authentic Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Korean and Vietnamese dishes. — Showbiz
Hamada of Japan
Japanese, Seafood, Steaks
Flamingo Hilton
3555 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 733-3455
$15 to $25
Hours: Open daily, 5:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.
Authentic Japanese steakhouse and sushi bar. Steaks and seafood cooked at your teppan table. — Showbiz
Hard Rock Cafe
American
4475 Paradise Rd.
(702) 733-8400
$15 to $25
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-1 a.m.
Enjoy down-home American cuisine, rock ‘n’ roll music and videos, plus a cool merchandise store. — Showbiz
Harley Davidson Cafe
American
3725 Las Vegas Blvd. S. at Harmon
(702) 740-4555
$15 or less
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-12 a.m.
Featuring great American road food such as the Harley hog sandwich and home style meatloaf and memorabilia of Harley Davidson’s past, present and future. — Showbiz
Hilton Steakhouse
Seafood, Steak House-Fine
Las Vegas Hilton
3000 Paradise Rd.
(702) 732-5755
$25 to $35
Hours: Open daily, 5 p.m.-11 p.m. The quality one would expect from a Hilton steakhouse in a warm, contemporary atmosphere. Prime-cut steaks seared over an authentic mesquite-wood broiler make for a recipe that’s hard to beat. Fresh fish and seafood are also available. — Showbiz
Holy Cow! Cafe & Brewery
American, Bar Food
2423 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 732-2697
$15 to $25
Hours: Open 7 days per week, 24 hours per day Open 24 hours daily. Say what you want about Wisconsinites — they sure know how to eat. The best evidence of that in Las Vegas is at Holy Cow and its four sister cafes. Each has its own personality and menu variations, but all feature two staples of the Midwestern diet: beer and brats. With the former, Holy Cow! microbrews its own on premises. From red ale to hefeweisen, they’re all winners. Same goes for the bratwurst. Our ‘light’ favorite is the Johnsonville beer brat (just $4.50), served with fries or slaw, and a condiment tray that includes sauerkraut. The hungry-man version is the Bratwurst Platter, which consists of — hold on to your cheese hat — three varieties of the spicy pork sausage on a bed of sauerkraut, plus soup or salad, baked potato, and veggie of the day. There’s more to the menu than the two B’s — from belt-bustin’ burgers to Wisconsin walleye. Don’t ask us why. — Las Vegas Life
House of Blues
Cajun, Creole, Southern
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 632-7607
$15 or less
Hours: Sunday-Wednesday, 8 a.m.-midnight, Friday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-1 a.m. Friday & Saturday late night Blues band, 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Gospel Brunch—Southern-inspired cuisine and Gospel performances. Seatings at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. ($37 adults, children 11 and under $19).
Featuring Southern-inspired regional cuisine at the live music/restaurant venue located at Mandalay Bay. Dishes include Creole and Cajun staples such as jambalaya and gumbo. — Showbiz
Hyakumi Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar
Japanese, Sushi
Caesars Palace
3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 731-7731
$35 or more
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m.Asian noodle kitchen menu for lunch, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and the sushi bar is open the same hours for lunch.
Authentically Japanese, the tea house eatery’s menu has a variety of small dishes and entrées and every possible kind of sushi. — Showbiz
Il Fornaio
Italian
New York New York
3790 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 740-6403
$15 or less
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-midnight, Saturday-Sunday, 8:30 a.m.-1 a.m.
Everything about the Strip requires some suspension of disbelief. Dining inside New York-New York’s Il Fornaio is no different. A slice of Little Italy it’s not. In fact, the Italian restaurant is one in a successful California-based chain. But close your eyes and bite into one of its bakery-fresh breads (the olive’s a favorite) dipped in virgin olive oil imported from Italy, and you’ll believe you really did just stroll through Central Park to get there. The calamaretti fritti is some of the best I’ve tasted, and the farfalle al salmone, lasagna ferrarese and ravioli di verdura are all excellent pasta dishes. The wine list is decent, but the adjacent panetteria’s Italian coffees, pastries, muffins and scones are the real stars. — Las Vegas Life
J.C. Wooloughan’s Irish Pub
Bar Food, Irish
JW Marriott Las Vegas
221 North Rampart Blvd.
(702) 869-7725
$15 or less
Hours: Daily, 11 a.m.-6 a.m.
One step inside its authentic interior and you’ll know you’re in the right place for a properly Irish experience. An all-day Irish breakfast, shepherd’s pie, Irish stew, and bangers and mash are just a few of the traditional favorites on the menu. Complete your meal with a pint of Guinness or a single-malt scotch from the well-stocked bar, which was built in Dublin. — Las Vegas Life
Jasmine
Cantonese
Bellagio
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 693-7223
$35 or more
Hours: Open Daily, 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m.
Amid a romantic setting, traditional Hong Kong Cantonese cuisine is served with more contemporary interpretations. — Showbiz
Josef’s
French
Desert Passage at Aladdin
3667 South Las Vegas Blvd.
(702) 732-3000
$25 to $35
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 4 p.m.-midnight.
Filled with French decor that emits a casual atmosphere. The main dining area features an open pantry decorated with tile patterns, hand-painted murals and large French mirrors. The menu features traditional French country food, steaks, chops, and an incredible oyster bar with seafood flown in daily from the coast. — Showbiz
Kokomo’s
Seafood, Steaks
The Mirage
3400 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 791-7223
$35 or more
Hours: Open daily, 5 p.m.-10:30 p.m. (dinner).
This wonderfully campy restaurant looks like a tropical rain forest gone Vegas, filled with palm trees and other tropical flora. Food is indulgent and enormous — wonderfully sweet crab claws from Russia, imported Dover sole, thick lamb chops and massive hunks of beef. There is a superb wine list and a variety of soufflés and other sumptuous desserts at the finish. — Las Vegas Life
Kristofer’s
Seafood, Steaks
Riviera
2901 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 794-9233
$35 or more
Hours: Open nightly, 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m.
Dimly lit with a romantic ambience, Kristofer’s features fine steaks, seafood, inventive entrées and daily blackboard specials. — Showbiz
Le Cirque
French
Bellagio
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 693-8100
$35 or more
Hours: Open Daily, 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
Creating a new standard of excellence in French food, executive chef Marc Poidevin and pastry chef Patrice Caillot push the envelope nightly with such succulent offerings as black-tie scallops (tied with black truffles), consomme de boeuf with foie gras ravioli, salade mesclun, roasted duck with a honey-spice fig glaze, and roasted lobster in a port wine sauce — all of which are simple, exotic and perfect. Follow these with ethereal desserts like the trio of crème brûlées, bomboloni (Italian doughnuts filled with vanilla cream) or a dense, warm chocolate fondant. Coat and tie are mandatory for gentlemen. — Las Vegas Life
Le Provencal
European
Paris
3655 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 946-4656
$35 or more
Hours: Open daily 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. (lunch and dinner)
Le Provençal re-creates the festive, merry atmosphere of an old European village restaurant, offering well-known regional dishes and an extensive list of wines indigenous to the Provençe region. — Showbiz
Long Life Vege Restaurant
Chinese, Seafood, Vegetarian
4130 S. Sandhill Road
(702) 436-4488
$15 or less
Hours: Open daily, 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m.
Long Life Vege Restaurant offers an appealing alternative to conventional Chinese cuisine. The chef is a veteran of a large hotel chain in China and is capable of creating many more interesting vegetarian dishes. But because the concept is still new to Vegas, he doesn’t want to make anything too exotic. So for now dishes that resemble familiar fare at the local mom-and-pop Chinese restaurant. The restaurant diverges from typical vegetarian joints in that it serves fish and other seafood. The chicken, beef and pork dishes are made from soy products, but all the seafood is real. Yet even though what he serves isn’t daring, it is delicious. — Las Vegas Weekly
Lotus of Siam
Thai
953 E. Sahara Ave.
(702) 735-3033
$15 to $25
Hours: Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (lunch), Open nightly, 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m. (dinner).
Saipin Chutima has been called the best chef in the United States by publications no less prestigious than The New York Times and Vogue. She moved here from Los Angeles last year, and she cooks dishes from both her native Chiang Mai and the northeast province of Isaan. Her specialties include Thai beef jerky, raw papaya salad, steamed catfish and char-grilled beef, and her food is extraordinary. — Las Vegas Life
Lutèce
French
Venetian
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 414-2220
$25 to $35
Hours: Open daily, 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
Prestige, a New York pedigree, a top chef and a crack design add up to one of the most luxuriant restaurants on the Strip, with a price tag to match. Chef Eberhard Muller took over the original Lutèce in New York, a temple of gastronomy that for years was considered the number one restaurant in America. Muller is a fish specialist, but he also grows much of his own produce, and relies on a flawless technique and impeccable ingredients. — Las Vegas Life
Malibu Chan’s
Gourmet, Sushi
8125 W. Sahara Ave.
(702) 312-4267
$15 to $25
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 5 p.m.-2 a.m., Sunday, 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m. This restaurant wants you to think that it is a California grill and sushi bar, but the menu cleverly dances around the Pacific Rim, with touches of Hawaii all around. Calamari Asia is tender pieces of battered squid accompanied by a pair of interesting dipping sauces. The pork baby back ribs are really a riff on kalbi, the marinated Korean-style short ribs that you’d expect to find in a more ethnic haunt. The sushi, for the record, isn’t bad at all. — Las Vegas Life
Mark Miller’s Grill Room
American, Southwestern, Steaks
MGM Grand
3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 891-7349
$35 or more
Hours: Open daily, 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Taste hot and spicy modern Southwestern cuisine. Featured on the dinner menu nightly are cowboy rib chops, buttermilk corn cakes with chipotle shrimp, pumpkin seed crusted salmon and more. — Showbiz
Marrakech
Middle Eastern, Moroccan
3900 Paradise Rd. (702) 737-5611
$15 to $25
Hours: Open every day, 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m. Belly dancing nightly. Enjoy exotic belly dancing while feasting on a six-course Moroccan meal prepared in the traditional manner. Beautiful dancers, an attentive staff, full bar and an excellent choice of wines make for an intimate dining experience. — Showbiz
McCormick & Smick’s
American, Seafood
335 Hughes Center Drive
(702) 836-9000
$25 to $35
Hours: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, 5 p.m.-11 p.m. Bar Lounge open Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-midnight, Saturday, 4 p.m.-midnight, Sunday, 4 p.m.-11 p.m.
This Portland, Ore.-based seafooder is the newest addition to Las Vegas’ ‘Restaurant Row’ (Paradise and Flamingo roads). With a menu printed daily, upscale décor and diligent service (sometimes almost too friendly), it seems big-city seafood has finally arrived. For proof, look no further than Sunset Beach, Kumamoto, Blue Points, Hot Islands, Malpeque and Skookum — just a few of the oysters featured here daily. A well-chosen wine list, strong on California Chardonnays but weak in other varietals, helps to put M&S at the top of the local seafood chain. — Las Vegas Life
Morton’s of Chicago
American, Salads, Seafood, Steak House-Fine, Steaks
400 East Flamingo Road
(702) 893-0703
$35 or more
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 5 p.m.-11:30 p.m.
The new Morton’s, which replaced the one at Fashion Show Mall, is an airy venue a mile east of the Strip. That same killer meat is broiled vertically at temperatures that would melt a Rolex, and the side dishes —especially sautéed spinach with mushrooms and the incredible hash browns, served in the form of a crunchy golden disc — make a meal here memorable. Just prepare to wince when you get the bill. — Las Vegas Life
Neros
American, Seafood, Steak House-Fine
Caesars Palace
3750 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 731-7731
$35 or more
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m.
Featuring à la carte selections of fresh seafood, large Maine lobster flown in daily, lamb, chicken and USDA prime steaks aged to perfection. — Showbiz
Noodles
Asian, Chinese, Eclectic, Japanese, Noodle
Bellagio
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 693-7223
$15 to $25
Hours: Sun. – Thurs. 11 a.m.-12 a.m.; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Fri. Sat. An open kitchen displays chefs as they prepare authentic Hong Kong-style barbecue dishes and traditional noodle dishes from Thailand, Japan, China and Vietnam. — Showbiz
Olives
American, Mediterranean
Bellagio
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 693-7223
$15 to $25
Hours: Open daily, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (lunch), 5-10:30 p.m. (dinner).
Situated along the bustling promenade of Via Bellagio, Olives offers guests a picturesque view of the lake from an outdoor dining patio. The vivid decor boasts finely detailed mosaic tiling, a sculpted wood ceiling and a lively open kitchen specializing in authentic and rustic Mediterranean fare. — Showbiz
Piero’s
Gourmet, Italian
355 Convention Center Drive
(702) 369-2305
$35 or more
Hours: Open daily, 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m.
Old Vegas politicos and celebrities flock here nightly for standard pasta, veal and seafood dishes. When available, the stone-crab claws flown in from south Florida are worth the price and wait. The osso buco is one of the best in town. — Las Vegas Life
Pullman Grille
American, Steak House-Fine, Steaks
Main Street Station
200 N. Main St.
(702) 387-1896
$25 to $35
Hours: Friday-Saturday, 5 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday, 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Closed Monday & Tuesday.
Both this hotel and its restaurants have the most stunning decor and character of any downtown. Featured are mesquite-grilled choice steaks that are $5 to $10 less expensive than similar offerings on the Strip — and no filet I’ve had in town was tastier or more tender. If beef isn’t your bag, the salmon, swordfish, and excellent chicken dishes round out the menu. Casual (and I mean casual) patrons can sometimes clash with the tres-elegant antique oak and brass bar, and even swankier bar car smoking lounge (a real passenger car). But the decor, steaks, and upbeat service still make a visit worthwhile. Limited but well-priced wine list. — Las Vegas Life
Red Square
Continental, Russian
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 632-7407
$15 to $25
Hours: Open daily, 5:30 p.m.-midnight.
Perestroika-inspired cuisine comes to Las Vegas. In addition to an extensive caviar list, the menu features an eclectic mix of updated Russian classics and continental French, Italian and American specialties created by chef Robbin Haas. Featured selections include citron caviar and crème fraiche, and grilled Maine lobster with Stoli vanilla butter sauce. — Las Vegas Life
Rosewood Grille
American, Seafood, Steaks
3339 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 735-8781
$35 or more
Hours: Open daily, dinner begins at 4:30 p.m.
Delightful recipes from one of Las Vegas’ most outstanding chefs make this one of the very best places for fresh seafood. Attentive, knowledgeable staff makes dining a pleasure in this warm, intimate restaurant just across from the Mirage. — Showbiz
Royal Star
Chinese
Venetian
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 414-1888
$15 to $25
Hours: Open daily, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. (lunch), 5 p.m.-11 p.m. (dinner).
Upscale authentic Chinese cooking, like what you might get in a top-notch Hong Kong hotel, comes to Las Vegas in this spare, elegant dining room. House Special Crab, six-hour spareribs and abalone with yellow morels are just some of the specialties. — Las Vegas Life
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
American, Seafood, Steak House-Fine, Steaks
3900 W. Paradise Rd. (702) 791-7011
4561 W. Flamingo (702) 248-7011
$35 or more
Hours: Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, 4:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
It’s about as beefy as you can get, with a noise and pretension level far below that of some of its rivals. The butter-sizzlin’ steaks are priced right up there, with quality to match. Power lunches are a main draw on weekdays, with the well-dressed Hughes Center crowd competing for ohs and ahs with the first-class (and huge) New York steak sandwich and the spicy, original shrimp cocktail remoulade. Dinnertime finds the tables harder to come by and the prices increasing, but the understated atmosphere, prime beef, good seafood and service keep both locations in the upper echelon of Las Vegas steakhouses. The wine list is serious, but overpriced. — Las Vegas Life
Sacred Sea Room
American, Seafood
Luxor
3900 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 262-4772
$25 to $35
Hours: Friday-Tuesday, 5 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Closed Wednesday-Thursday.
Choose from a variety of fresh fish and seafood prepared from classic recipes. — Showbiz
Saigon
Vietnamese
4251 W. Sahara Ave.
(702) 362-9978
$15 or less
Hours: Open daily, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (lunch), 3 p.m.-10 p.m. (dinner).
The oldest and best Vietnamese restaurant’s specialty is phô. Other intriguing entrées, such as spicy beef with coconut and curry sauce and spicy fresh shrimp in claypot, demonstrate how light and flavorful this hybrid cuisine can be. — Las Vegas Life
Shintaro
American, Japanese, Spanish, Sushi
Bellagio
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 693-7223
$35 or more
Hours: Open daily, 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
The imaginative atmosphere of Shintaro features traditional teppanyaki tables where chefs entertain while cooking on hoods of hammered copper. Indulge in authentically prepared teppanyaki, kaiseki, sushi and Pacific Rim dishes. — Showbiz
Smith & Wollensky Steak House
American, Seafood, Steak House-Fine
3767 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 862-4100
$25 to $35
Hours: Open every day, 11:30 a.m.-3 a.m. (in the grill), 5 p.m.-11 p.m. (main dining room).
Inside the jumbo green-and-white structure is a gargantuan roasted pork shank. Other stunners include a 24-ounce Cajun rib eye and a New York strip that’s among the best in town. Side dishes and appetizers are also strong points, with the deep-fried-but-light-as-a-feather jumbo crab cake a must-try. A stroll around Allan Stillman’s world-famous wine list is de rigueur. — Las Vegas Life
Star Canyon
Tex Mex
Venetian
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 414-3772
$15 to $25
Hours: 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. (lunch) and 5 p.m. to midnight for dinner.
Dallas chef Stephan Pyles has invented his own take on Texas cuisine, and we are all the richer for it. This restaurant has a slightly contrived ambience, but the service is competent and the cooking can be sublime. Just a few of Pyles’ innovations include rock shrimp taquitos, fried green tomato salad, spit-roasted cabrito quesadilla, a bone-in cowboy rib eye — his signature dish — and a superb dessert he calls Heaven and Hell Cake. — Las Vegas Life
Taqueria Canonita
Seafood, Spanish
Venetian
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 414-3773
$15 or less
Hours: Monday-Friday, 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, 11:00 a.m.-midnight.
This casual café is an offshoot of the splendid Star Canyon. Among the many wonderful dishes are pork barbacoa, achiote grilled shrimp on wooden skewers and a soft masa taco crowned with mole, the legendary Mexican chocolate-tinged sauce. — Las Vegas Life
The Noodle Shop
Cantonese, Chinese, Mandarin, Noodle
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
3950 Las Vegas Blvd.
(702) 632-7777
$15 to $25
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-12 p.m., Friday-Sunday 11 a.m.-3 a.m.
A traditional Cantonese noodle kitchen nestled within Raffles Cafe, offering a wide range of Cantonese and Mandarin noodle items, congee, rice and barbecue dishes. — Showbiz
The Palm
American, Steak House-Fine, Steaks
The Forum Shops At Caesars
3500 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 732-7256
$35 or more
Hours: Open daily, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.
A casual steak and seafood restaurant featuring fine New York prime steaks, jumbo Nova Scotia lobsters, poultry, veal and pasta. An American tradition since 1926. — Showbiz
The Pink Taco
Mexican
Hard Rock Hotel
4455 Paradise Rd.
(702) 693-5000
$15 or less
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday & Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-midnight.
A slight Central American-Caribbean fusion makes this menu interesting. Sure, it has all the classics—a great guacamole, enchilada, etc., but also such house specialties as Sabana de Pollo and a special marinated carne asada. These, coupled with an awesome tequila and beer selection, should scratch any south-of-the-border itch. — Las Vegas Life
The Stonegrill
Seafood, Steaks
2021 Sunset Rd.
(702) 898-9048
$15 or less
Hours: Open daily, 5 p.m.-10 p.m.
What can you say about an aboriginal technique where you cook your food on a rock superheated to more than 700 degrees, other than that it is a hot concept? This is low-fat food that is reasonably flavorful and a real novelty. Steaks and mushrooms cook up just fine, but fish like halibut tend to get overcooked. Side dishes and desserts are generally quite good. — Las Vegas Life
The Thai Room
Thai
3355 E. Tropicana Ave.
(702) 458-8481
$15 or less
Hours: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. (lunch buffet), Saturday, 12 p.m.-10 p.m., Sunday, 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Reservations preferred.
Authentic homemade Thai and Chinese dishes include pa-nang nuea (sliced beef tenderloin cooked in a light, sweet, spicy curry sauce) and pad sea-yew (a pan-fried flat noodle with chicken, pork, beef or shrimp and broccoli in a black bean sauce).— Las Vegas Life
The Tillerman
Seafood
2245 E. Flamingo
(702) 731-4036
$25 to $35
Hours: Monday-Friday, 5 p.m.-10 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, 5 p.m.-10:30 p.m., lounge open until 11:30 p.m. and midnight on weekends.
Its nickname is the ‘Mighty Tillerman,’ and it’s well-deserved. ‘Mighty’ comes from its longevity. For 18 years, eastsiders, westsiders and conventioneers have flocked here nightly. The seafood offerings compete with the best in town. Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse and the invading hordes of celebrity chefs have nothing on the Tillerman’s planked salmon, roasted halibut or sautéed scallops, and all should sit up and take notice at the superior Dungeness crab cakes offered. In many ways, only the food has changed here since the ’70s, and that’s just fine with us. — Las Vegas Life
The Verandah
American, Californian, Italian, Japanese, Mexican
Four Seasons
3960 Las Vegas Blvd.
(702) 632-5000
$15 to $25
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Traditional afternoon high tea is served daily, 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Full Sunrise Breakfast Buffet (Sat. & Sun.) 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Offering indoor and outdoor seating in a lush, tropical atmosphere featuring a mix of Mexican, Californian, Italian and Oriental specialties. — Showbiz
Top Of The World
American, Gourmet
Stratosphere
2000 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 380-7711
$25 to $35
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 6-11 p.m. (dinner), Friday-Saturday, 6 p.m.-midnight (dinner). A gourmet lunch is served daily from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Happy hour drink specials from 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Enjoy a breathtaking view of the famous Las Vegas Strip as Top of the World revolves 360 degrees each hour. Dine on sizzling steaks, fresh fish, lobster and much more. — Showbiz
Tremezzo
Italian, Italian Northern, Pasta
Aladdin- 3667 S. Las Vegas Blvd
(702) 785-9013
$25 to $35
Hours: Friday-Sunday, 5 p.m.-10 p.m.
A flavorsome array of Italian pasta and authentic veal and coastal fish dishes will finesse your palate. A bouquet of fine wines complements the fine dishes available. — Showbiz
Valentino
Italian
Venetian
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 414-3000
$25 to $35
Hours: Open daily, 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m.
Piero Selvaggio has been called the best Italian restaurant owner in the country. The Vegas branch of his successful Santa Monica restaurant features chef Luciano Pellegrini, a swank dining room and a killer wine list. Start with the addictive parmesan chips called frico, and then progress to three-color potato gnocchi, main dishes like Mediterranean sea bass and exquisite desserts. You might even meet and be charmed by Selvaggio, who comes to town more and more as his legend grows here. — Las Vegas Life
WB Stage 16
Continental
Venetian
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 414-1699
$15 to $25Hours: Open daily, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Step onto the set of one of four Warner Bros. productions — such as Batman’s Gotham City — and feast from a menu influenced by Mediterranean, Asian, European and traditional American cuisines. House specialties include such delicious fare as barbecued duck spring rolls, lobster strudel, herb-brushed veal chops and grilled chicken-and-apricot kabobs. — Las Vegas Life
Zanzibar Cafe
Middle Eastern
Aladdin
3667 South Las Vegas Blvd
(702) 785-9001
$15 or less
Hour: Open daily, 24 hours. Special late night menu from 1 a.m.-6 a.m.
Specializes in a variety of foods from American style cuisine to Middle Eastern and Far Eastern delights. — Showbiz
ZAX
Continental
Golden Nugget
129 Fremont St.
(702) 385-7111
$15 to $25
Open daily, Lunch 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Dinner 5 p.m.-11 p.m. A modern restaurant featuring contemporary continental dishes and lively entertainment.— Showbiz
Zeffirino
Italian
Venetian
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 414-3500
$25 to $35
Hours: Open daily, 11 a.m.- 11 p.m.
Chef de cuisine Gian Paulo Zeffirino Belloni brings his world-famous Italian cuisine to Las Vegas, specializing in seafood recipes that have been honed to perfection for decades. Zeffirino specialties include filet of sole piccola, lobster tail, fresh fish, zuppa, salads and pasta —Showbiz
Z’tejas Grill
Tex Mex
3824 S. Paradise Rd.
(702) 732-1660
$25 to $35
Hours: Hours: Open daily, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. (lunch), 5 p.m.-10 p.m. (dinner).
Steve Coppolillo concocts such unique Southwestern-style dishes as blackened catfish tacos, honey sesame salmon and Sonoran crab-stuffed shrimp and pepper-crusted New York strip. The Texas-style margaritas are a must-try during happy hour, 3:30-6:30 p.m. weekdays. — Las Vegas Life
