zwho

I'm taking my DD and her DH to Vegas for a long weekend. They are both chefs in NYC and my son in law has never been to Vegas. I'm not a foodie. My favorite place to eat in Vegas is the coffee shop at The Wynn. That's eclectic enough for me and priced right! I need recommendations because although they will love it for lunch, it won't cut it for dinner. I will be watching their baby when they go out at night, so it doesn't matter what I think. I just want to treat them and pick right! Suggestions please? Also the very best buffet in Vegas? Thanks in advance.

joesorce

Vegas has become a major city for dining options and if they are chefs in NYC they probably already have a few places in mind. Chowhound.com is a good place to read suggestions for upscale dining. Yelp.com is a place to then check reviews for the places you decide you might be interested in. Wynn has one of the best buffets if that's where your staying, Bellagio and "Wicked Spoon Buffet" at the Cosmopolitan also get a lot of raves.

zwho

Thanks for your suggestions. I know they already have ideas, but I'm would like to suprise them with the choice. They call me a cheap date and I want them to see that I can find gourmet without their input!

tracys2cents

Lots of the "foodie" spots in Las Vegas are from these chefs who have become world re-knowned. So you'll probably want to choose a spot that does not have a "sister' restaurant in NYC. I always hear that good Mexican food is hard to find back east, Mundo Las Vegas is kind of a best-kept-secret in Las Vegas that would require a couple miles cab ride from the Strip. It's upscale with a great happy hour, I'd call it a cross between Mexican and Spanish Tapas. Lots of small plates to try and interesting choices as well as inventive cocktails. You'd definitely score points as a good scout, as in "how the heck did you ever find THAT little gem, it's in the middle of nowhere and the food was inventive and terrific, a real find." You can check out their menu at mundolasvegas.com

zwho

Mundo sounds YUMMY! thanks.

boom_boom

Loved a Spanish place in the Cosmo, i think it's name is Jalo.

rattravlers

Check out "Hash House A Go Go" at the Imperial Palace...definitely not high end, but for anyone that loves some good food....great for breakfast/brunch or post late night. Saw it on the Food Network....creative, huge portions, yummy.

Tomsd

For fine dining in Vegas - there are any number of places - at the better Hotels in particular - such as at the new Aria/City Center complex - and also - Wynn (and btw - I also like their coffee shop for Morning Joe and it's sister resort - the Encore, as well as at the Venetian and it's new twin - the Palazzo - as well as at Bellagio, MGM and on and on.

If you don't want to choose a chef of NYC acclaim - who has opened a clone in Vegas (still like those guys - such as Jean George Vonrichten, Daniel Boulud, Sirio Maccioni ) - you might try something by SF's Fleur de Lys maestro - Hubbert Keller - http://www.hubertkeller.com/ Fleur - in the Mandalay Bay I believe it is - or Michael Mina's new American Fish at Aria http://michaelmina.net/restaurants/locations/ or one of Wolfgang Puck's places - such as Spago at Caesar's. http://www.wolfgangpuck.com/

And hey - even if noted Parisian Chef Joel Robuchon - has a place in the Big Apple, http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/04/di...pagewanted=all I would trust your Foodies in tow would be impressed with his Vegas place at MGM, rated by some as the best. http://www.mgmgrand.com/restaurants/...estaurant.aspx It ain't cheap - and we tried to get in last time and it was booked.

Also - here is a good article in general about the Vegas "Foodie" scene. http://www.epicurious.com/articlesgu...rants/lasvegas

BTW - Vegas also has some good Thai restaurants if you check around, and you can also get pretty good faire at some of the old steak places, including downtown - and also see the Fremont Experniece laser show.

And as for the best buffet - I would certainly put Wynn's up there and the new places at City Center may lay claim to the latest and greatest.

Tomsd

Oh yes, Parisian Chef - Guy Savoy's place at Caesar's is highly rated - and I haven't been by that - but I did have an appertif at Alex (Strata's)in the Wynn and it looked very inviting.

TerryLFred

My husband and I are Foodies so we love to eat in Vegas! If you like seafood, the Village Seafood Buffet at The Rio is great. We also loved the buffet at The Aria. You should also check Zagat.com.

lgott

Las Vegas has some wonderful restaurants, but choices will be influenced by budget. The very best are also very expensive!

Folks have already mentioned Joël Robuchon. Not to be confused with its little brother (L'Atelier, which also has a branch in New York), Joël Robuchon offers the best that the chef has to offer. However, it's hideously expensive; the full experience will run around $400 per person, PLUS wine, tax and tip.

Guy Savoy is about as good, and nearly as expensive. I thought that the food at Savoy was a small notch below that at Robuchon, but they're both great.

My choice for most interesting restaurant in Las Vegas is é by José Andrés. Google "molecular gastronomy" to find out about the type of food. The food consists of about twenty small courses, almost all very unusual, and almost all very good. é is also super expensive -- perhaps $200 per person, with wine pairings costing over $100 per person. When it first opened, reservations were very difficult to get; I don't know the current status.

If they're willing take a taxo off-Strip, then consider Raku. It's a Japanese restaurant that is so different from the standard sushi bars and such that I won't even go into details unless you ask. A typical meal there costs around $50 to $75 per person, plus drinks. There are also kaiseki meals available, which highlight the best the restaurant has to offer. A 10 course kaiseki dinner runs $100 per person; 15 courses costs $150 per person (plus drinks, tax and tip). This place gets rave reviews, even from chefs at other Las Vegas restaurants. Reservations are a must.

A final note: restaurant Alex was mentioned. Sadly, it closed a while back (part of Steve Wynn's dumbing down of Wynn/Encore's restaurants).