Restaurant itinerary for Vegas weekend
 

Hi, all! We have reservations at the MGM Grand for a Fri-Sun stay in mid-July. (Picked the MGM mostly because we also have tickets to a show there, and got a decent rate of $139 for Grand Tower Kings.)"We" are 2 couples and one singleton.

I would really love some help with planning our meals; if I don't do it, no one will, and I have a vision of us pressing our noses against the doors of solidly booked restaurants up and down the Strip!

So here's what we need: dinner on Friday night, either before or after "O"; b'fast (quick, simple, cofee bar OK), lunch and dinner (only one of these need be a major meal)on Saturday night; and brunch on Sunday before we all fly out. Money isn't a big concern, but dress code is, as some of us, ahem, will refuse to dress up--they'll be in khakis or neat jeans and shirts, though, no worse than that.

No steakhouses or sushi, please (I hate the former, they hate the latter!), but anything else goes. Thank you!

Assuming food quality does not change between now and July, you might consider the Alladin buffet for dinner before or after O. Nobody has to worry about what they wear. The food is most excellent. The price is reasonable (about $25.00 per person). The Aladdin is an easy walk from the MGM. Once dinner is over, Bellagio is just a walk across the street.

We took a party of 8 visitors to eat there before a show two weeks ago. Every single one of them was impressed with the food, and best of all no reservations were required.

The only consideration is the wait to get in. If you can't go early (5-ish), you may find the line a bit too much to deal with.

We really like Onda in the Mirage. It's Italian with great seafood and wine selections and great service. The Mirage is only a short walk to Bellagio.

E,
Don't let dress code issues limit your options. Fine dining establishments in Vegas are much more lax about this than any other city. Though most people DO dress for these places. There are always some in the room w/ khakis, polo shirts, etc. They appeared to get the same excellent service as everyone else. I once sat one table over from two guys in hawaiian shirts at Renoir (recommended BTW) once - they were treated royally. Make a reservation someplace for Sat. evening and have a great time!

I'd recommend the Bellagio Buffet though it's not cheap at $33ish but we go every time we're in Vegas. If you're the gambling type, you can get a line pass form the pit boss and not have to wait.

I like Mon Ami Gabi at Paris and you can get by dressing casually for lunch.

For brunch on Sunday, splurge on Bally's Sterling, get a reservation. They have lobster, oysters and champagne, no where else.

My experience with Wolfgang Puck restaurants in Las Vegas has always been good. Chinois (french/chinese) in the Forum Shops of Caesars Palace is tasty and casual. Postrio at The Venetion is also good albeit a little more dressy (but not much).

Bertolini's (not a Puck restaurant) in the Forum Shops is good Italian with excellent people watching if you sit out in the "street".

I also like The Stage Deli in the Forum Shops mall for breakfast.

MGM Grand itself has plenty to keep you busy. But you're quite right - you'd better make reservations - we didn't one night and ended up doing just what you said - peering longingly into completely full restaurants.

Thanks so much, all of you! You've given me some great ideas--in fact, now I'm kind of bummed we only have, what is it, 4 or 5 meals to enjoy there! Thanks for your comments about dress code, bardo--good to know. I'm going to send this thread to our fellow travelers and see what catches their eye, and go from there. (Meanwhile, if you have any other rants and raves, keep 'em comin'!)

for a casual lunch, there is a restaurant in the flamingo (back of the casino by the doors to the pool) that serves pizza (and other things). the pizza was great.
the paris breakfast buffets always gets good reviews as does the alladin buffet for dinner.

I recommend Border Grill at Mandalay Bay - it's casual, great food, and fairly reasonable prices. It's Mexican food - I've eaten there several times and never been disappointed.

For lunch we always hit the new york, new york on the main floor there are some pizza and deli's hidden around new yrok street decor. There is a fabulous sandwich deli, best ever.

If you love seafood and I then the RIO has a seprate seafood buffet that is awesome. It's not part of the carnival buffet so some people don't know it's even there but very good.

The restuarant on top of the stratosphere is very good, the hotel is ugly but the restuarant is very nice and food is excellent, above mentioned clothing works there just fine. As a bonus it rotates and you get a great view of the whole strip and downtown.