Recommend Your Favorite Las Vegas Restaurant
 

I'll be in Las Vegas next week with some folks I'd like to take out to a nice dinner. Doesn't have to be super fancy, just great food and great atmosphere.
Thanks in advance for your advice!

I like Caneletto at the Venetian. It has an "outdoor" cafe area that is just charming. It's at the end of the Gran Canal, near the Rialto Bridge. You'll get strolling musicians and singers going by, you'll be able to hear the Gondola handler's singing. And the painted ceiling slowly fades to night.

The food is good italian, the service has always been great. I always go there at least once everytime I go to Vegas.

My favorites, in order, are:

Noodles (in Bellagio). Forget PF Chang's across the street, this is where you'll find Asians dining.

Emeril's (in MGM Grand). It's quite a hike in from the street, and the mall setting leaves something to be desired from an atmospheric standpoint, but the food is superior. I've heard the Emeril's in the "Eiffel Tower" at Paris is very good, too, though I haven't been there.

Bouchon (also in Venetian, on the second floor). French Bistro setting. A bit pricey for what you get, but the food is very good.

Next on my list is to sample a restaurant or two off of the Mandaly Bay Casino. They look like they could be good.

I'd warn you away from Picasso, in Belagio. The Michelin Guide gives it 5 stars, but I found the service decidedly lackluster and uninformed, and the food merely good. For the sky-high prices, I mean.

Fifteen years ago you couldn't get a decent meal in Vegas. It's great how that has turned around.

I love all of Wolfgang Puck's restuarants. The man knows what to do with food. Especially the one in Mandalay Bay but I can't remember the name of it.

The Palm in Ceasers, also very good. And Emerils Fish House at the MGM. We love the Italian Market in the Monte Carlo. Very good, reasonable food, great breadsticks, nice place.

We also just enjoyed the buffet at the Mandalay. Very impressive. Only $12.50 for breakfast/brunch and had a wide selection of basics and treats. Very good smoked salmon and baked salmon. And cobbler and bread pudding for dessert.

Olives- constantly good food and good service

CraftSteak at the MGM. Best steak I have ever had in my life. All of the dishes are very good - their ice creams and sorbets are made fresh on the premesis...Cool atmosphere - very contemporary with leather and very cool lighting.


The Puck rest at Mandalay is El Lupo...the wolf

Lupo is the Puck's at Mandalay.
I think I'd still opt for Spago instead.

I'd agree with Olive's, but sadly they were redoing it when we were there in August, so haven't seen the new finished product.

No one ever mentions Ortanique in the back hallway between Paris and Bally's. We thought it was simply amazing in every way.

Prime will always be my favorite restaurant since it caters to both intimate and large parties. It may be too fancy, though- they have a dress code.
N9ne at the Palms is also excellent- very trendy but no dress code enforced. They also have the best mint ice cream.

I've never had a bad meal at either and would recommend either one- especially if you're looking for a great steak.

I have several!
1) Lawry's Primerib Steakhouse (The seasoning of the same name is sold in most grocery stores.) Expensive. A real experience! About a block off the strip.
2) Rum Jungle (It's a bar and a restaurant). Very excellent food and unique atmosphere! In Mandalay Bay.
3) Le Provencal at Paris. Huge portions and absolutely wonderful bouillabaisse! Corny but likeable musical skit as well!
I was not favorably impressed with Emeril's at MGM.
If you want a $20 lobster buffet(may have gone up, as it's been 3 years ago,
try the Rio! A cabby told us about this one! And at sundown, take the elevator to their bar to go outside to see all the lights of the city! FUN!OSB

Andiamos at the LV Hilton, Hilton Steak House, Ruth's Chris, Steakhouse at Circus Circus, Yolie's Brazilian Steakhouse, Golden Steer, Tokyo for inexpensive, good Japanese food.

Sesamee

Ruth's Chris is a chain. VERY expensive and has gotten mixed reviews by my friends (varies from location to location). Although I enjoyed a special BD celebration there this past weekend in Mobile,AL, I would want something unique to LV while there!
I found Le Cirque (Bellagio)to be VERY upscale and expensive, but unique...you can watch the fountains while dining! It's like you're in a circus tent ( A very elegant circus tent!:))). However, some may find it abit "stuffy". Enjoy! OSB.

Lawry's is a chain too:)

There are so many, all the above suggestions are good.

Isis in the Luxor is also terrific, less known but listed as one of the top 10 Gourmet Restaurants in the US by Gourmet magazine. Excellent dining.

Ditto Craftsteak. Also Andre's- one location downtown and one in the Monte Carlo. But you'll definitely have to bring your wallet for these suggestions.

Here's another vote for Olives or Bouchon. Both nice places on the strip with wonderful food. Another spot that I liked for sunset cocktails and appetizers was the Stratosphere! Dinner was also pretty good, if you stick to fattening Vegas classics like lobster bisque and prime rib....the salad was not so good.

Circo at Bellagio, ditto the Steak House at Circus Circus, and if it's still there.. I like the Coyote Cafe/Grill in MGM. The Grill is the "private" dining room while the Cafe is a cafe atmosphere within view of passersby. The Coyote Grill has excellent gourmet Mexican food.

Leaving for Vegas in just a few hours. Will do Coyote and Circo for sure while there, but will be looking for some other recs from this forum!

Hugos Cellar in the 4 Queens downtown. Very nice and romantic. You will need reservations.

Also, Kokomos in The Mirage is very nice. The shrimp cocktails are really something.

Can't say I have an absolute favorite but the following are some restaurants that I've enjoyed:

Nero's - this would be closest to a favorite of mine. Go there almost every time I'm in Las Vegas. Food and service top notich (Caesar's)

808 - pan pacific food - had very good ahi tuna, modern cool atmosphere (Caesars)

3950 - like Nero's - great food and service in a modern atmosphere (Mandalay Bay)

Antonio's - my favorite Italian restaurant in Vegas (Rio)

Delmonico - barbeque shrimp appetizer and steak were excellent (Venetian)

Royal Star - gourmet Chinese - not like your local take-out place (Venetian)

WE just returned from a weekend in Vegas where I must say I had one of the best meals ever-at VooDoo Lounge. GREAT atmosphere, amazing food!

We went to Rum Jungle the first night and it was horrible. Terribly overpriced and the food was awful. We had been there before and not had a great experience so I have no idea why we chose to go back.

Where will you be staying? At times on Fri and Sat evenings, the traffic on the strip can be at a standstill and getting to a restaurant that is on the wrong end of the strip can be a real pain.

Wow! This is great. I have lots of options now. Some are beginning to stand out. Thanks for telling me where NOT to go too. Appreciate it.

I posted awhile back and thought I would check again-anyone eaten at Aquanox at the Venetian? Any thoughts?