World City Guide

Restaurants

Due to recent political events and a subsequent slowdown in tourism, some restaurants have changed their menus or modified their hours temporarily. Wherever possible, these changes have been noted in the guide.

The selected restaurants have been divided into five categories: Gastronomic, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. The restaurants are listed alphabetically within these different categories, which serve as guidelines rather than absolute definitions of the establishments.

There is a 7.25% restaurant tax in Las Vegas for both eat-in and takeaway purchases. The tax is normally added to the meal at the time of payment, although some buffets and fast-food chains may incorporate the tax in their prices. Service charges are unusual in Las Vegas (except for parties of 8–10 or more); it is more usual to leave a 10–20% tip.

The prices quoted below are for an average three-course meal for one person and for a bottle of house wine or cheapest equivalent; they do not include sales tax or tip.

Gastronomic

Buccaneer Bay Restaurant
Overlooking Treasure Island’s famous pirate show, the Buccaneer Bay Club promises a unique atmosphere as well as gourmet food. The cuisine is American and features entres such as generous portions of prime rib or shrimp scampi saut. Guests also get a bird’s-eye view of Treasure Island’s ship battle below, although the Old World stately charm of the restaurant is atmosphere enough. The dress code is ‘dressy casual’. Reservations essential. No lunch.

Treasure Island at the Mirage, 3300 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 894 7223.
Website: www.treasureisland.com
Price: US$60. Wine: US$50.

Eiffel Tower Restaurant
The Paris Las Vegas’ unique tribute to the French Eiffel Tower is a slightly smaller rendition but includes a luxury restaurant on the 11th floor, with one of Las Vegas’ best scenic views. Featuring gastronomic feats such as lobster thermidor ‘Eiffel Tower’ and roast rack of lamb Provenale with tarragon jus, the restaurant endeavours to capture the ambience of Europe’s most romantic city. For those who wish to savour more than one dish, there is also a tasting menu with a changing selection of the chef’s best culinary creations. Reservations recommended. No lunch.

11th Floor, Eiffel Tower, Paris Las Vegas, 3655 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 948 6937. Fax: (702) 942 0004.
Website: www.parislasvegas.com
Price: US$120. Wine: US$75.

NobHill
Classic San Francisco Bay Area cuisine is the speciality at NobHill, which features the inspirations of San Francisco’s renowned chef, Michael Mina. A consultant to the popular Bay Area restaurant Aqua and its branch in Las Vegas (see Business below), Mina create a casual, understated atmosphere for dining in the MGM Grand hotel (see Hotels). He blends Las Vegas pizzazz with Californian specialities. NobHill’s popular tasting menu includes Dungeness crab in a sweet poivre sauce and vanilla crpes with flambed strawberries and Kirsch liqueur. Reservations recommended. No lunch.

MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 891 7777 or (877) 793 7111 (reservations). Fax: (702) 891 3036.
Website: www.mgmgrand.com
Price: US$55. Wine: US$65.

Renoir
The Renoir has the distinction of being one of only two restaurants in Las Vegas to have been awarded the coveted Mobil five-star rating – and its menu reflects this. A tribute to the French Impressionist painter, the Renoir’s cuisine reflects subtle French influences with North American overtones. One of its most popular dishes is the Maine lobster ravioli with sweetcorn and black truffles. Several popular tasting menus are also offered, featuring five-course selections of the Renoir’s most popular dishes. Formal dress is advised. Reservations recommended. No lunch. Closed Sunday and Monday.

Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 791 7353 or (702) 693 7223 (general reservations).
Website: www.mirage.com
Price: US$115 (tasting menu); US$85 (set menu). Wine: US$60 (depends upon pairing).

Trattoria Del Lupo
Wolfgang Puck’s Trattoria Del Lupo at the Mandalay Bay Resort (see Hotels) could be called an American version of the Italian trattoria. Featuring a 25-seater bar that encircles the centre of the restaurant, as well as individual dining and a private dining room for more intimate lunches and dinners, the restaurant’s design is bright and inviting. Guests can also sit on the verandah and watch the crowd stroll by, although the casino atmosphere makes the surroundings rather noisy. The restaurant features a blend of traditional Italian and American cuisine, such as Wolfgang’s inspired version of lasagne with braised beef and herb ricotta, and his unique portabello mushrooms, caramelised onion and goat’s cheese pizza. Serving sizes are ample, in accordance with the upper-scale prices.

Mandalay Bay Resort, 3950 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 740 5522. Fax: (702) 740 5533.
Website: www.wolfgangpuck.com
Price: US$55. Wine: US$33.

Business

Aqua
Nestled within the Bellagio’s (see Hotels) serene botanical gardens, Aqua is in an element of its own. Although the interior design has been described as bland and uninspiring, the cuisine is anything but – overseen as it is by Michael Mina. The dishes, which feature gourmet renditions of some of America’s most exotic seafood recipes, include a smoked salmon chowder accented with caviar, and miso-glazed Chilean sea bass. It also offers a popular fixed-price tasting menu. No lunch.

Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 693 8199 or (702) 693 7223 (reservations). Fax: (702) 693 8799.
Website: www.bellagiolasvegas.com
Price: US$80; US$75 (five-course tasting menu). Wine: US$70.

Charlie Palmer Steak
Charlie Palmer is more than a steakhouse, as evidenced by its prestigious location in the Four Seasons Hotel (see Hotels). The cuisine may be North American but the ambience suggests a European touch, with high Spanish-style archways and rich tones lending themselves to intimate dining. Classic dishes include the European-style filet mignon and marinated hangar steak with roasted portabello mushrooms. But it is the restaurant’s offering of European appetisers that sets it apart from the typical American steakhouse. A la carte dishes include crisp calamari accompanied by spiced citrus butter and a selection of Nioise olives and sweet tomatoes or an iced shellfish platter with selected sauces. Reservations recommended. No lunch.

Four Seasons Hotel, 3960 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 632 5000. Fax: (702) 632 5222.
Website: www.fourseasons.com/lasvegas/index.html
Price: US$75. Wine: US$50.

Il Fornaio
Italian cuisine has always been a speciality in Las Vegas. In days past, some of the town’s best Italian restaurants could be found in the secluded, quiet neighbourhoods where the locals lived, rather than on the Strip. In this case, Las Vegas’ acclaimed restaurant Il Fornaio is located in one of the Strip’s busiest luxury hotels – the New York-New York (see Hotels). Although the ‘outside’ patio overlooking the casino provides an interesting view, it is noisy and smoky. The indoor dining provides for more intimate smoke-free discussions. Signature dishes are Il Fornaio’s wood-fired rotisserie chicken and its pasta dishes. Reservations recommended.

New York-New York Hotel and Casino, 3790 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 740 6403. Fax: (702) 740 2449.
Website: www.nynyhotelcasino.com
Price: US$40. Wine: US$30.

Pegasus Restaurant
Alexis Park’s restaurant, Pegasus, offers an elegant atmosphere for business or leisure dining. Its dishes range from Chilean sea bass with a savoury mango sauce to chicken in Marsala sauce – a long-standing Las Vegas favourite. The restaurant also provides full room service for the hotel (see Hotels). Reservations recommended.

Alexis Park Resort, 375 East Harmon Avenue
Tel: (702) 796 3300 or (800) 453 8000. Fax: (702) 796 3347.
E-mail: info@alexispark.com
Website: www.alexispark.com
Price: US$30. Wine: US$25.

Veranda Café and Lounge, Clarion Emerald Springs
Designed to accommodate both casual and more formal dining, the Veranda is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The absence of a casino and throngs of vacationers at the Emerald Springs (see Hotels) makes this a comfortable setting for business dining. Evening specials often include prime rib or New York steak and the lounge also features a happy hour with hot and cold appetisers.

Clarion Emerald Springs, 325 East Flamingo Road
Tel: (702) 732 9100 or (800) 732 7889. Fax: (702) 731 9784.
E-mail: clarion@lasvegas.com
Website: www.clarionlasvegas.com
Price: US$15. Wine: US$16.

Trendy

Coyote Caf
Decorated in Southwestern style, the Coyote Caf in the MGM Grand (see Hotels) offers an array of traditional dishes from Santa Fe, New Mexico. There are two seating areas, a casual caf that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and a grill room that offers fine dining in the evening. Blue-corn chicken enchiladas and an expansive selection of margaritas are among the Coyote Caf specialties. Southwestern American dishes are sometimes spicy and customers should enquire about the menu selections if this is likely to pose a problem.

MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 891 7777 or 7349 (reservations). Fax: (702) 891 3036.
Website: www.mgmgrand.com
Price: US$17 (caf); US$48 (formal grill). Wine: US$35.

French Market Buffet
Las Vegas buffets that feature a range of international dishes have a tendency to hit and miss, but the French Market Buffet is considered one of the better all-you-can-eat restaurants of its kind. The buffet is designed in the form of an American food court, with separate serving stations surrounding a large dining area. Dishes range from Mexican spicy enchiladas and tacos, to Italian spaghetti and pizza or traditional American barbecued ribs. The price of each meal includes an all-you-can-eat dessert bar and on Sundays the restaurant offers a champagne brunch buffet.

The Orleans Hotel and Casino, 4500 West Tropicana Avenue
Tel: (702) 365 7111 or (800) 675 3267. Fax: (702) 365 7505.
E-mail: info@orleanscasino.com
Website: www.orleanscasino.com
Price: US$10.95. Unlicensed.

Gonzalez y Gonzalez
With its ‘fiesta’ atmosphere of candy-filled piata toys and brightly lit courtyard dining, Gonzalez in the New York-New York (see Hotels) is probably just as popular for its selection of traditional Mexican drinks as for its food. Typical dishes include the more stereotypical Mexican dishes of burritos, enchiladas and tacos (corn or flour tortillas filled with a choice of meat, vegetables and a spicy sauce). Drinks include an impressive selection of Mexican tequilas.

New York-New York Hotel and Casino, 3790 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 740 6455. Fax: (702) 740 6700.
Website: www.nynyhotelcasino.com
Price: US$20. Wine: US$25; beer: US$4.25 (per pint).

JJ’s Boulangerie
This small, open French-style bakery with terrace seating serves both pastries and freshly made sandwiches. The breads are all baked on the premises, although the individual items are probably more expensive than they would be in Paris. Set on the edge of a Parisian-style promenade, the bakery is a great place to people-watch while sipping a cappuccino. There is also an ice cream and confectionery counter in the back of the store featuring various light desserts.

Paris Las Vegas, 3655 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 946 7000. Fax: (702) 946 4405.
Website: www.parislasvegas.com
Price: US$12. Wine: US$4.95 (glass).

Mr Lucky’s
Where else would one find a classic hamburger and fries restaurant than in a hotel–casino that immortalises Rock’n’Roll? Surrounded by memorabilia from the 1950s and 60s, Mr Lucky’s serves up the best of American casual favourites: hamburgers, fries, pasta and fountain drinks. Surprisingly, the homemade veggie burger has received even more raves than the ‘real’ thing. The casino, situated to the east of the Strip, also contains the world’s largest collection of rock memorabilia.

Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, 4455 Paradise Road
Tel: (702) 693 5000. Fax: (702) 693 5021.
Price: US$15. Wine: US$24.

Budget

California Pizza Kitchen
This chain of restaurants takes the concept of pizza to the extreme. Its most popular creation is the barbecued chicken pizza – combining two of Southern California’s best dishes. Other unusual, but equally popular, versions are the Peking duck and garlic shrimp pizzas. The restaurant also serves a wide selection of pastas and salads, but unlike its other franchises, it does not tend to offer sandwiches. Located in the Sports and Race Book section of the Mirage hotel, the atmosphere can be noisy at times but never dull.

Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 791 7357.
E-mail: food@mirage.com
Price: US$13. Wine: US$39.

Fresh Harvest Caf
The Fresh Harvest Caf, which is situated in Sam’s Town, to the west of the Strip, serves typical American favourites, from the standard American breakfast of bacon and eggs to steaks and hamburgers for lunch and dinner. The decor is typically American too – bright, airy, and reminiscent of the small-town Western-style diners that put many of its favourite menu items on the map. Its Blue Plate Special is a popular recent addition and features a special of the day, such as corned beef and cabbage or roast turkey. Desserts include a variety of fresh pies and ice cream. The restaurant is open 24 hours except on Tuesdays, when it closes at 2300.

Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, 5111 Boulder Highway
Tel: (702) 456 7777 or (800) 897 8696. Fax: (702) 454 8017.
Website: www.samstownlv.com
Price: US$12. Wine: US$10 (carafe).

Molly’s Buffet
Molly’s Buffet is located in the heart of Downtown, about ten minutes north of the Strip, in Fitzgeralds Casino and Hotel. The casino’s image and colours are proudly Irish and its popular buffet has been rated one of the better moderately priced buffets in Downtown. Featuring bacon and egg breakfasts and evening prime-rib dinners, its cuisine could easily be called standard American, if it weren’t for its interesting mix of world cuisine at lunchtime. International cuisine in Las Vegas buffets can be fairly good or fairly poor representations of the real thing, depending upon the cook’s experience and the dishes featured. Molly’s, however, seems to hit the mark, as it is popular throughout the day.

Fitzgeralds Casino and Hotel, 301 Fremont Street, Downtown
Tel: (702) 388 2400. Fax: (702) 388 2181.
Website: www.fitzgeralds.com
Price: US$9.99 (Evening Buffet). Wine: US$12.

Paradise Garden Buffet
Set in a light-hearted tropical theme in the hotel–casino Flamingo Las Vegas, right on the Strip, the Paradise Garden Buffet offers a varying selection of seafood, from lobster to mussels. It is also one of the less expensive buffets in town and boasts many repeat customers. Evening buffets are notably the best to sample since they feature a wider selection of dishes, the majority of which are shellfish. As with all Las Vegas buffets, however, diners should be prepared to queue.

Flamingo Las Vegas, 3555 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 733 3111 or (888) 308 8899. Fax: (702) 733 3353.
Website: www.flamingolasvegas.com
Price: US$16. Wine: US$8 (carafe).

Wild Oats
A popular North American natural foods franchise, Wild Oats is more than a grocery store. Its salad- and deli-counter offers a wide selection of dishes, from traditional vegan salads and soups to meat sandwiches. Customers can ‘mix and match’ their choices from the store and the deli-counter. Self-service seating is also available. The store is located in West Las Vegas, away from the main tourist areas but easily accessible by both public transportation and car.

7250 West Lake Mead Boulevard
Tel: (702) 942 1500. Fax: (702) 942 1507.
Website: www.wildoats.com
Price: US$10. Unlicensed.

Personal Recommendations

Nectar
One of the Strip’s newest restaurants, Nectar’s ambience is more reminiscent of a colourful neighbourhood gathering place than an upscale restaurant. Still, its food is anything but ordinary. Located in the Bellagio (see Hotels) and describing itself as an All-American restaurant ‘with intrigue’, it has recently gone through a refurbishment. Its subtle, comfortable tones that lend themselves to formal dining American style. Dishes range from barbecued jumbo quail to blackened mahi mahi. A raw seafood bar, the exclusive list of cocktails and micro-brewed beers make this a lively place for drinks as well. Reservations recommended. No lunch.

Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 693 7223.
Website: www.bellagiolasvegas.com
Price: US$55. Wine: US$35.

Noodles
Noodles’ menu carries a careful blend of dishes from China, Vietnam, Thailand and Japan. Its setting in the Bellagio (see Hotels) is also a melding of traditional and contemporary styles, with simple wood furnishings and a tasteful Asian-European decor. The spicy mandarin beef soup and the wonton noodles are two of the more popular selections. Meals can range from a single-dish entre to a full-course formal dinner, depending upon preference and taste. One of the few restaurants on the Strip that is still open for the famous midnight dinner on Fridays and Saturdays, Noodles is also open for lunch every day but only serves dim sum Friday to Sunday.

Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 693 8131.
Website: www.bellagiolasvegas.com
Price: US$35. Wine: US$40.

Olive Garden
Situated to the east of the Strip, the Olive Garden, one of North America’s favourite chain restaurants, serves good Italian pasta dishes in plentiful amounts. Its ambience is meant to remind one of a boisterous, Italian, family dining room more than a fine ristorante. The decor is simple and relaxed and the atmosphere is airy and bright, with tables that will serve up to eight or more. The Lasagna Classico and the Chicken Parmagiana are two of the more popular dishes. It also serves a bottomless salad bowl and a hearty minestrone soup for lighter appetites.

1545 East Flamingo Road
Tel: (702) 735 0082. Fax: (702) 735 6952.
Website: www.olivegarden.com
Price: US$22. Wine: US$35.

Ping Pang Pong
Looking out onto the gambling floor, this open airy Chinese restaurant features dishes of many Chinese provinces, rather than any particular speciality. Dishes range from spicy black pepper beef medallions to tea-smoked duck with hoisin sauce. Hot pots are also a speciality here. The restaurant is casual but always busy. No lunch. Open until 0300.

Gold Coast Hotel and Casino, 4000 West Flamingo Road
Tel: (702) 367 7111 or (800) 331 5334. Fax: (702) 414 1988.
Website: www.goldcoastcasino.com
Price: US$25. Wine: US$4 (carafe).

The Verandah
As the name suggests, The Verandah restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel (see Hotels) offers both indoor and terrace seating for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Its semi-casual atmosphere is complemented by a surprisingly wide variety of ethnic dishes. Breakfast selections include a cholesterol-free omelette with fresh-baked goods, and a Japanese breakfast with miso soup, grilled salmon, pickled vegetables, rice and green tea. It also offers the standard American breakfast, with eggs, bacon, hash browns, juice and toast. Lunch and dinners are more formal but just as wide ranging in terms of cuisine.

Four Seasons Hotel, 3960 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 632 5000. Fax: (702) 632 5195.
Website: www.fourseasons.com/lasvegas/index.html
Price: US$32 (fixed menu). Wine: US$45.