The City of Lights’ cuisine is a literal smorgasbord of good taste . by Andrea Stolarczyk
Las Vegas has been known for its cheap buffets for too long! As the city that has attracted some of the world’s finest chefs— Emeril Lagasse, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and Charlie Palmer being just a few— it’s time for Vegas to bask in some epicurean limelight. Home to some of the most luxurious resorts ever built, it would be sheer folly if the fare offered in Vegas wasn’t just as decadent. Make no mistake, those high rollers betting their houses and firstborns at the baccarat table should be congratulated (or consoled) by the finest food money can buy. So, here’s the breakdown: Las Vegas gets 37 million visitors each year. Perhaps 13 million come just for the casinos, 11 million for the shows, and 9 million for the hotels and general attractions like Hoover Dam. The rest of us? We come just for the food.
TOP OF THE WORLD at the STRATOSPHERE 2000 South Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89103 (702) 380.7711
Hours of Business: Seven days a week, 11:00am – 2:45pm & 5:30pm – 10:15 At Top of the World a guest can admire Las Vegas from a height of 800 feet, and in the span of one dinnertime, every angle. Voted “Best Gourmet Room” by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, this rotating venue consistently offers menu choices that rival even the view. Especially standout is the Colorado rack of lamb and fresh seafood offerings that vary according to the season. The impressive wine list has garnered attention from publications like Wine Spectator and it is imperative to enjoy a glass while visiting the Top of the World Lounge upstairs, which regularly features the William Moran Jazz Trio.
Estimated cost person for dinner is between $30 and $40.
Note: strict business casual and casual chic dress codes are enforced.
OSAKA JAPANESE BISTRO (two locations) 4205 West Sahara Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89102 (702) 876.4988 10920 South Eastern Avenue, Henderson, NV 89052 (702) 616.3788
Hours of Business: Seven days a week, 11:30am – 12 midnight
Japan’s largest weekly magazine, the Asahi Shukan, recently compiled the definitive list of 50 best Japanese restaurants and Osaka was the only restaurant outside of Japan to receive this honor. By all means, go and try their salmon skin temaki or a “Hot Leslie” at the Sushi Bar. Or visit the Teppanyaki Bar where Japanese crab cakes and teppan chicken star in leading roles. Under the same roof patrons can head over to a traditional tatami room to sit on a pillow and savor age gyoza (fried Japanese dumplings) and sip Zipang, the first and only sparkling sake.
Estimated cost per person for dinner is between $9 and $18.
FLEUR DE LYS 3950 South Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89119 (702) 632.9400
Hours of Business: Seven days a week, 5:30pm –10:30pm
Americans are enjoying French food again! Those seeking haute cuisine find it at Las Vegas’ culinary treasure, Fleur de Lys. Another achievement by acclaimed chef Hubert Keller, Fleur de Lys serves the best French fare in Vegas. A five-course meal could start with an appetizer of artisan foie gras au torchon followed by a fish offering of slow roasted Alaskan king salmon, headed up with the meat entrée, perhaps filet mignon with braised oxtail tortellini. In typical French fashion, an assortment of artisanal cheeses clarifies the palate and prepares it for a fabulous dessert of Grand Marnier soufflé.
Estimated cost per person for dinner is between $74 and $94.
LA SCALA RISTORANTE 1020 East Desert Inn Road (Mark 1 Tower), Las Vegas, NV 89109 (702) 699.9980
Hours of Business: Seven days a week, 5pm – 10pm
Simply reading La Scala Ristorante’s menu is a satisfying experience! Such colorful Italian words entice any appetite to rouse from its slumber. Try this: Scialatielli con Melanzane Mozzarella Promosoro, and the translation: “homemade scialatelli pasta with eggplant, tomato, fresh mozzarella and basil”, or this: Petto di Pollo alla Piemontese, meaning “chicken breast filled with porcini and fontina cheese topped with bagna cauda sauce”. See? And the food, oh the glorious food, lives up to every vowel. Complimented by the warm, tasteful décor it is no wonder Gourmet Magazine hailed La Scala “one of America’s best restaurants”.
Estimated cost per person for dinner is between $18 and $30.
LAS PALMAS MARIACHI RESTAURANT 953 East Sahara, Suite A-27 (Commercial Center), Las Vegas, NV 89104 (702) 732.0010
Hours of Business: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 11am – 11pm , Tuesday, 11am – 3am (Karaoke Night), Friday – Saturday, 11am – 5am (Banda and Nortina Music, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 8pm (Mariachi Band)
It’s a full-scale fiesta Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights at Las Palmas. Between dining on food that is truly delicioso and being serenaded by the mariachi band and folklorico dancers, one tends to forget that he is not actually in Mexico at all. This is the place to eat bilingually. The huge menu includes rolled beef taquitos, fresh guacamole, cactus salad, menudo, and every combination of enchilada, burrito, taco, fajita, quesadilla and tamale one could imagine. Most items are served with arroz y frijoles (rice and beans), and for dessert be sure to try the homemade flan Napolitano.
Estimated cost per person for dinner is between $8 and $18.
GAYLORD INDIA RESTAURANT 3700 West Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89103 (702) 777.2277
Hours of Business: Seven days a week, 11:30am – 2:30pm & 5pm – 11pm
Getting to India is difficult but enjoying its gastronomy isn’t, thanks to Gaylord India Restaurant in Las Vegas. It’s obvious why it was recently given the DiRona (Distinguished Restaurants of North America) Award: the furnishings are rich, the table settings beautiful, and the chefs passionate. Start with chicken chaat (shredded chicken salad, spiced with pomegranate seed, black salt, and cumin), then try the Mulligatawny Soup made with chicken and lemon. Follow up with gosht vindaloo (lamb and potatoes in a spicy sauce). The twelve kinds of freshly baked breads are truly special, and if vegetarian don’t miss the vegetable soups, fritters, and potato cakes.
Estimated cost per person for dinner is between $13 and $23.
THAI SPICE 4433 West Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89103 (702) 362.5308
Thai Spice has been voted “Best Thai Restaurant in Las Vegas” by the Las Vegas Review-Journal nine times now! This is the real deal, especially for those craving the spicy-hot flavors of traditional Thai food. Using a cook’s palette of peppers, peanuts, coconut, cilantro, and curry, Thai Spice cooks up an array of dishes that gratify the senses. The restaurant’s signature offerings include: mint leaves chicken, beef balls noodle soup, Siamese duckling, and pad Thai (soft pan-fried rice noodles that look transparent when cooked and go with everything from chicken to shrimp). Wash down that delicious spiciness with the Thai milk tea.
Estimated cost per person for dinner is between $8 and $15.
OPA! RESTAURANT 2550 South Rainbow Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89146 (702) 876.3737
Hours of Business: Tuesday – Thursday, 4pm – 11pm,Friday – Monday, 4pm until “the last one leaves” Check out this incredible line-up and make sure to try every single thing on the Opa! menu. The tzatziki: “a creamy yogurt-cucumber-garlic spread flavored with lemon & pepper”. Pan-fried calamari: “tender squid is lightly fried & served with our zesty homemade cocktail sauce.” Dolmades: “tender grape leaves stuffed with rice, ground meat & herbs.” Andrea’s garides: “shrimp baked in tomato-garlic sauce in a blanket of crumbled feta cheese.” Opa! Restaurant embodies everything wonderful about Greek food and it has ambience to boot. Las Vegas Weekly called it “the best Greek restaurant ever to open in Las Vegas” and they were right.
Estimated cost per person for dinner is between $15 and $27.
BURGER BAR LAS VEGAS 3930 Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89119 (702) 632.9364
Hours of Business:Monday – Thursday, 10:30am -11pm, Friday – Saturday, 10am - 1am,Sunday, 10am - 11pm This is every American’s dream come true: hamburgers as art, delectable and incredible. The “Ultimate Burger Experience” starts with Ridgefield Farms corn-fed beef and ends in fifty topping options! Baby spinach, pineapple, marinated anchovies? How about fried egg or pan-seared foie-gras? There’s even cranberry sauce, brown gravy, and truffles, and of course the classics: tomato, cheese, and onion. If not in the mood for beef there are lamb, turkey or veggie burgers, chicken sandwiches, and salads; and skinny fries, fat fries, and sweet potato fries.. At Burger Bar it’s all up to the patrons and the patrons are thrilled.
Estimated cost per person for dinner is between $9 and $18.
CAFÉ HEIDELBERG 610 East Sahara, Suite #2, Las Vegas, NV 89104 (702) 731.5310
Hours of Business: Seven days a week, 10am – 10pm
For more than 40 years, Café Heidelberg has graced Las Vegas with authentic German food prepared by German-born chefs. It’s certain to thrive for another 40 years because it is so good at what it does. All the German classics are here: jaegerschnitzel, schweinsbraten, and rindsrouladen, and all are done wonderfully. The dinners include a basket of marble rye bread and a steamy bowl of Bavarian potato soup or chef’s soup of the day, and those with heartier appetites can supplement their meals with potato salad, sauerkraut, or kartoffelpuree from the a la carte section of the menu.
Estimated cost per person for dinner is between $20 and $30.
The Top List of Great Restaurants - Las Vegas, NV