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When chefs name their idol, more than a few will cite French Laundry chef Thomas Keller, the star behind this stunning, capacious French bistro in the Venezia Tower. Soaring Palladian windows, antique lighting fixtures, a pewter-topped bar, and colorful tile lend a sophisticated take on French country design, a fitting setting in which to dine on savory, rich cuisine. Menu options include classics such as escargots de Bourgogne, steak frites, mussels with white wine, and an extensive seafood bar, and selections of cheese and caviar. Finish with profiteroles or crème caramel. A charming garden outside is perfect for an alfresco dinner or postmeal stroll. Return for brunch from 8 am to 1 pm Thursdays or 8 am to 2 pm Fridays through Sundays, when you might try roasted chicken with a bacon-chive waffle, Croque Madame, or seared foie gras. There's a freestanding Bouchon Bakery near the Venetian Theatre, offering breads, pastries, and confections.
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
Known For
- Thomas Keller's bistro interpretations
- Classic French-bistro atmosphere
- Patio overlooking Venezia Pool
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.–Wed.
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The best Italian food in Las Vegas these days might be at Esther's Kitchen, a hip and lively restaurant in the Las Vegas Arts District southwest of Downtown. Chef James Trees, a Las Vegas native, churns out house-made pastas such as rigatoni carbonara with guanciale, tagliatelle with braised duck, and black fettucine with lobster. Pizzas change nightly, and the fried cauliflower appetizer is addicting. Locals also swear by brunch items such as the ricotta pancakes and the pork and beef meatball sandwich. At the bar, mixologists deliver spins on classics and seasonal drinks made with what's fresh. Trees named the restaurant after his Aunt Esther, who wrote the check for him to go to culinary school.
1130 S. Casino Center Blvd., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89104, USA
Known For
- House-made pasta
- Creative cocktails
- Long wait times for those without reservations
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$$$$ | |
The rare Greek restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip certainly doesn't disappoint, although you'll pay well for the experience. Chef Costas Spiliadis flies in fresh fish from the Mediterranean; you pick out the piece of fish at market price and select how you'd like it prepared. Starters such as Greek bottarga are a nice complement to the main course. Also worth sampling: the Milos Special, lightly fried zucchini with eggplant, tzatziki, and saganaki cheese. Lunch, mid-day, and a four-course tasting menu are also available. And the aesthetic experience matches the cuisine, the architecture echoing ancient Greece with stone, wood, and marble. The Greek gods would approve.
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
Known For
- Fish from the Mediterranean
- Updated Greek classics
- Evocative Greek atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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Noodles are the house specialty at this intimate restaurant in the Fremont East district of Downtown. Although most of the dishes are Thai (try the Awesome Noodles; the name isn't hyperbole), others lean more toward Chinese and Japanese influences. Also worth trying: the three-color curry, and the decadent Short Rib Fried Rice. Whatever you order, request "spicy" dishes at your own risk; chefs here spice things up the way they'd like to eat them, not the way you'd like to eat them. The restaurant itself is truly tiny, with only a handful of tables and seating at the bar, but a large patio with pergola covering is complete with misters for summer and heaters for winter. The patio hosts a DJ and serves a late-night menu Thursday through Sunday. (Le Thai's success led to Chef Dan Coughlin opening a sister restaurant, 8 East, inside the new Circa Resort & Casino.)
523 Fremont St. E, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89101, USA
Known For
- Tiny spot with expansive patio
- Some other Asian influences
- Awesome Noodles really are
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Sun.
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$$$ | East Side |
This simple Thai restaurant has attained near-fanatical cult status, leaving some to wonder what all the fuss is about. It's simply that everything is so very good: Don't miss the starter of garlic prawns, sautéed with shells on; for a main course, try dishes like charbroiled beef liver mixed with green onion and chile, or the chicken and vegetables with Issan-style red curry. Be warned—several plates here can be some of the spiciest food you'll ever try. But another of Lotus's surprises is the phenomenal wine list of 300-plus choices, on which you might find a vintage to cool your palate. The original Commercial Center location at 953 E. Sahara Ave. was undergoing extensive renovations in early 2023 with plans to return, and a third location opened in Red Rock Resort in early 2023.
620 E. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89104, USA
Known For
- Spicy Issan Thai cuisine
- Garlic prawns
- Cult following
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Tues.--Thurs.
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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Grandiose, spectacular, and heart-stopping are three words to describe NoMad Library, the restaurant at NoMad Las Vegas. Inspired by the celebrated library of NoMad New York, the restaurant has 40-foot ceilings and is ringed with shelves of books—a backdrop that creates an intimate and sophisticated vibe. The food is worthy of this setting. Most dishes are communal, meaning they're designed to share. A signature dish is an American Wagyu prime rib (rubbed with porcini and black garlic) for two. Towers of seafood from the raw bar are nice starters, and tuna tartare is prepared tableside. Next door, in the NoMad Bar, a more casual menu is available for dinner and late-night bites. On weekends, there's jazz brunch, too.
3772 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
Known For
- Breathtaking atmosphere
- Delicious communal dishes
- Jazz brunch in the bar on weekends
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed.
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Palace Station has for years flown under the radar of most visitors, although a 2018 refurbishment gave it new life, especially its restaurants. One holdover is the justly popular Oyster Bar, which has a cult following among the cognoscenti, not to mention long waits during peak hours (reservations aren't taken for the limited seating area). You won’t go wrong with chilled seafood or steamers, but the pan roasts are truly sublime, with a base of brandy-infused tomato creating a seafood stew. It’s open 24/7, so avoid the long lines by going at an off-hour.
2411 W. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89102, USA
Known For
- Palace pan roast with shrimp, crab, chicken, and andouille
- Cioppino
- "Bouill-Roast" (like a bouillabaise), a former secret-menu item
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$ | West Side |
Fans of Thai food flock here for spot-on exceptional chow with few surprises—just expertly prepared curries, tom yum soups, fish cakes, and pad Thais. In particular, the shrimp "ginger ginger ginger" (or you can choose it with meat or tofu) has drawn raves; yes, it really is that gingery. Locals rank Archi's among the best Thai restaurants in town. Reasonably priced three-course lunch specials are served from 11 am to 3 pm weekdays. This original location has been a locals' favorite for more than 20 years, but there are three other branches at 6345 S. Rainbow Boulevard, 9350 W. Sahara Avenue, and a fast-casual spot at 9310 S. Eastern Avenue.
6360 W. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89103, USA
Known For
- Carefully executed Thai classics
- Thai iced tea
- Lovely interiors
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Chocolate—dark, white, and milk—flows from a tall glass fountain at the entrance of this stunning pastry shop just off the Bellagio's famed conservatory. This artful homage to chocolate has decadent desserts, including cakes, cookies, macarons, gelato, hand-dipped chocolate candies, and particularly memorable crepes (try the one filled with caramel sauce, caramel candy pearls, and whipped cream), as well as salads and sandwiches (Parmesan crisp grilled cheese!). Seating is limited. It's open late, until 11 pm daily.
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
Known For
- Three-tier chocolate fountain
- Indulgent pastries and chocolates
- Amusing seasonal sculptures
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$ | |
What warms the blood more swiftly at this down-home hang: the fresh-from-the-oven biscuits or the 80-plus varieties of bourbon? Find out at this unique addition to the ongoing refurbishment of the Water Street District in downtown Henderson, where you will find drinks served in Mason jars and a menu of smoked meats, from pulled pork to apple-brined chicken, in big portions. The biscuits are served à la carte with your choice of flavored butters, honeys, and jams. (You can't go wrong with the classic buttermilk biscuits topped with apple cider caramel butter, clover honey, and mango habanero jam.) The room is small, with a rustic-yet-modern, wood-grained decor. (Those with truly formidable stomach capacities can take on the "All In," which pairs three-quarters-of-a-pound servings of three meats with an equal number of large sides.) Brunchers would do well to indulge in the fried chicken waffle, as good a reason for getting up early on the weekends as any.
109 S. Water St., Las Vegas, Nevada, 8015, USA
Known For
- Gourmet biscuits served with a variety of flavored butters, honey, and jams
- A wide selection of 80-plus bourbons
- Mouthwatering smoked meats
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$ | East Side |
If you're looking for a type of place where the waitress calls you "honey," this locals' favorite has an old-fashioned, family-owned vibe. The food is better than the chain places, serving up hearty Mexican specialties, fruit-topped pancakes and waffles, and senior specials. Blueberry Hill has four locations, two of them near each other on the East Side a couple of miles apart on Flamingo Road. Both are open 24 hours.
1505 E. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89119, USA
Known For
- Varied breakfast specialties
- Most meals available all day
- Casual, diner-esque atmosphere
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Since Bobby Flay has always been known for his grilling skills, a burger place just seems like a natural choice. But these aren't just any burgers; order Bobby's Crunchburger, and you'll find it piled with potato chips for the signature sound. There are salads and kids' meals, too, as well as thick shakes and even beer and wine. Breakfast is served from 7 to 11 am daily. Also at Caesars Palace on the Center Strip and Harrah's on the North Strip.
3655 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
Known For
- Signature Crunchburger
- Thick spiked milk shakes
- Family-friendly menu
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$$$$ | |
Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger are the popular, green-minded chefs who created this cheery, sophisticated outpost of their now-closed Santa Monica restaurant. Service is snappy, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a tastier margarita in town—particularly the blood orange and chili-citrus versions. Starters include green-corn tamales, three citrusy ceviches, and house-made guacamole, and grilled sustainable fish and hormone-free meats, such as skirt steak and short ribs, make healthful, flavorful fillings for tacos and tortillas. For dinner, opt for dishes such as jamon Serrano pollo relleno, seafood molcajete, or portabello mushroom mulitas with black beans and roasted peppers. The all-you-can-eat weekend brunch, served from 10 to 3, features creative small plates, such as horchata French toast, diablo chicken with a churro waffle, and cajeta churros with cinnamon and raspberry sauce.
3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89119, USA
Known For
- Urban Mexican cuisine
- Fun, flavored margaritas
- Patio overlooking Mandalay Bay Beach
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$$$$ | |
One of the more recent entries in the Viva Italiano! culinary scene, the Milan-inspired restaurant at Grand Canal Shoppes is a creation sitting right on The Venetian's replica of St. Mark's Square. Taking its name from the Brera neighborhood of Milan, the menu focuses on Milanese favorites. Try these mouth-waterers: squash blossoms, braised pork shank, lamp chops, calamari, branzino, pizzas, and pastas; there also are vegan selections. Top it off with premium Italian wines and cocktails for an experience that aims to be thoroughly and authentically northern Italian. A tasting menu augments the à la carte choices at lunch, and there's a prix-fixe pre-theater menu. During Apertivo Hour from 3 to 5 pm daily, pizzas, cocktails, beers, and wines by the glass are half-off.
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
Known For
- Open to St. Mark's Square
- Nice Italian wine list
- Good pizza
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$ | West Side |
This East Coast transplant with nearly 40 locations in the Valley satisfies Sin City's cravings for giant sub sandwiches, including a Philly-style cheese steak, a hot pastrami sandwich, and a divine creation called the Bobbie—basically Thanksgiving dinner on a bun. Numerous locations around town include outposts in a few outlying casinos, such as Red Rock, Aliante, Santa Fe, and Green Valley Ranch.
4983 W. Flamingo Ave., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89102, USA
Known For
- Turkey roasted in-house
- The Bobbie sandwich
- Vegetarian offerings
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The late rock-and-roll chef Kerry Simon brought his fun, contemporary cuisine to this restored hotel in the Downtown redevelopment district, and his legacy continues. It's small and kind of rustic, with an airy (and kitschy) patio out back and one on the roof. Inside you'll find an open kitchen with counter seating for such dishes as crispy chicken skins with smoked honey, bacon jam with baked Brie, or cocoa-espresso New York steak.
124 S. 6th St., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89101, USA
Known For
- Seasonal—and surprising—cuisine
- Counter seating with a view of kitchen
- Rooftop patio
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The excitement was deafening from Philadelphia-native locals and visitors when this Sahara opening was announced, largely because of its legendary (and reportedly addictive) “world famous” crab fries—french fries with crab seasoning, also available topped with actual crab or lobster. There’s plenty more on this menu, though, including four varieties of Philly cheesesteaks, plus warm or chilled lobster rolls, burgers, and more. The late-night menu, served at the bar from 10 pm to midnight daily, is brief, but all the favorites are on it.
2535 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
Known For
- Famous crab fries
- Lively, sports-bar atmosphere
- Magnet for Philly expats
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$$$$ | |
It has a famous forebear known for a cocktail—Harry’s Bar in Venice, where the Bellini was created by Giuseppe Cipriani Sr. in 1948—but this intimate spot tucked away among the Wynn Plaza Shops, near the main gate, is worth seeking out for the food, too. Try a signature dish like beef tartare or carpaccio “alla Cipriani,” seafood or lamb chops from the Josper grill, or calves’ liver with fried polenta. Or splurge on the 28-ounce grilled wagyu tomahawk. There’s a daily menu at lunch, as well as à la carte selections.
3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
Known For
- Original birthplace of the Bellini
- Full menu of Italian classics
- Daily menu at lunch
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$$$ | |
This pub serves up some of the best comfort food Vegas has to offer. Dishes include a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich; chicken and waffles; a prime rib dinner; and loaded nachos with corn chips, black beans, jalapeños, and your choice of meat. Citizens, as it's known, also offers a mélange of side dishes and signature cocktails. Try the Sam's mac and cheese, or maple bacon coffee cocktail. This handy space between the hotel and convention center is lively but casual; sometimes it can get loud during peak hours.
3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89119, USA
Known For
- Tasty comfort food
- Convenient location right off the casino
- Fun sides such as loaded nachos
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$$ | University District |
With 24-hour service and graveyard specials, Crown & Anchor is uniquely Las Vegas (and a favorite haunt of students from nearby UNLV). Most of the food is British, including the steak-and-kidney pie, bangers and mash, and authentic fish-and-chips. Sandwiches with American and British flavors are plenty, with frequent specials. The decor and faux-cottage exterior are decidedly British, and special events add to the fun: on New Year's Eve the celebration starts when it's midnight in the United Kingdom, which is 4 pm in Las Vegas. Long known as the all-hours Las Vegas mecca for British soccer die-hards, the pub has changed with the times and found ways for Vegas Golden Knights broadcasts to cohabitate with the Premier League, such as offering half-price appetizers during Knights games. The Little Crown & Anchor on Spring Mountain Road is, as the name implies, a smaller version.
1350 E. Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89119, USA
Known For
- Classic English foods
- Live "football" from across the pond
- Open 24/7
