My grandaughter is turning 21 in August and a few of her friends and family members are going to Las Vegas. We would like to have one fun night to celebrate her birthday. What restaurants are recommended that are fun, affordable and with good food?

try posting this question at chowhound.com. on the SW board. Include where you will be staying, what type of food you prefer and the budget ("affordable" is a difficult word to define). I'm sure you will get some excellent suggestions.

orrrrrrrrrr, stay here and search this forum as this is a popular question.

We had fun at Jimmy Buffets at the Flamingo. The atmosphere was fun and it was overly expensive.

Excuse my previous post, i forgot a word. It WAS NOT overly expensive!

lyttleone - That's quite a word to forget!

TeeWidow - What's your idea of affordable? What's your idea of fun? Are you looking for something casual? Do you want to stay on the strip? What about The Palms or The Rio casinos - are those okay, too?

There is a lot of info about different restaurants already on the forum, but if you give me a bit more info, it might help to get suggestions that will work for your budget, etc.

Oh... And if you did post on chowhound and check on this post again, let us know what you found out there, too!

My 21 year old daughter loved the Grand Luxe at the Venetian--it is a chain, part of the Cheesecake Factory, but we still like it for an affordable meal with nice atmosphere. They do have very large portions.

The Fontana Bar at the Bellagio was so much fun. There's a live band there. The menu is extremely limited. It would be fun for you to go there after dinner to enjoy the music with some drinks and dancing.

I want to thank everyone for their replies. My grandaughter has chosen Jimmy Buffetts Margaritaville at the Flamingo. Some of us are staying at the Paris and a few at Ballys, so we are nice and close to the Flamingo. Just wondered if anyone has been to Nine Fine Irishmen at N.Y. N.Y.?

TeeWidow,

Nine Fine Irishmen is always our first stop when we get to Vegas. Great food and a really fun atmosphere, especially when they have live entertainment.

just in case you wanted one more place- mon ami gabi in paris is wonderful and not too expensive and i think a 21 year old would like it. right across from the fountains too

We never leave Vegas without a goodbye lunch at Mon Ami Gabi- it is so relaxing and wonderful!

The pool at the Paris is wonderful and the cafe out by it actually has good food.

The spa at the Paris is the best in Vegas IMO.....a nice treat to go and relax in the sauna and have a massage.

Almost no LV post goes by without a complimentary comment about "Mon Ami Gabi". We had lunch there once, & thought it was just ok.

Maybe b/c we're from NY....

Leona,

I'm curious--why would being from New York color your opinion of Mon Ami Gabi?

If your interested in Jimmy Buffett's, just to let you know that Toby Keith just opened up his restaurant here and it is supposed to be great (and fun).
I have the same question to Leona, why does you being from NY make a difference? I'm not saying that its not ok to not like a restaurant, even thought I do LOVE Mon Ami Gabi at night sitting outside watching the Bellagio fountains eating a filet, but that is besides the point. Anyway, just curious about the NY comment??

Toby Keith, the chef, Toby Keith?

Tess - because of the quality of restaurants one finds in NY.

TSD,
Toby Keith the country singer...supposedly it is great food unlike the other celebrity owned restaurants..have not been yet...planning on going next week...we'll see just how true that is.

I think that was Leona was going also, however, the quality of restaurants in Vegas is just as great...I think 10 years ago I would have said otherwise, but not now!

I guess my point was that you don't have to be from New York to appreciate and experience a wealth of fine restaurants.

TeeWidow, if you're staying at Paris, make sure and take your granddaughter to Napoleon's Champagne Bar and toast her 21st. If you go there during Happy Hour, a plate of marvelous sandwiches will accompany your drinks. They often have live music--a very chic atmosphere.

We haven't eaten there but have heard good things about Mandalay Bay's Rum Jungle. We stayed at MB last week and Rum Jungle was full of 20-somethings at night--the entrance really is amazing--both fire and ice.

I will second Mon Ami Gabi as a fun and delicious dining experience (AND I've eaten in New York!)

(I'm not trying to get your goat, Leona--just being a little silly