Las Vegas Restaurants

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Though casinos and glitzy show productions are squarely in the middle of the Las Vegas spotlight, there is another reason to visit Sin City: the food. Some of the finest and most famous chefs in the world have created menus for some of Vegas’ finest restaurants. Even if you aren’t paying $100 per plate, the food will be better than you might expect. Even a wait in the buffet line can lead to a satisfying culinary experience. You just have to know where to dine.

Budget

The buffets at Wynn Las Vegas and The Bellagio put a premium on quality. Prices are much cheaper if you go for breakfast and lunch. Even then, the quality is high. The buffets at most major hotels have gotten immeasurably better in recent years. Lines can be long. As a general rule, the earlier meals are both cheaper and less crowded.

Ellis Island Casino Restaurant (on Flamingo, near Bally’s) is famous in Vegas for its $6.95 steak dinner. This is definitely the old Las Vegas, but prices throughout the menu are reasonable and quality is fairly good. The bar makes its own beer and serves it for $1 for a 20 oz. glass during Happy Hour.

Value

If you don’t mind a little kitsch, there are some fun offbeat restaurants in town. Generally, the more offbeat the theme, the more laid back the experience. Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville (Flamingo) is a fine example of this. Bahama Breeze (375 Hughes Center Drive) is not on the Strip and not quite as over the top as Jimmy Buffet’s. Both are a good time, though.

Not all celebrity chef eateries are overpriced. Mesa Grill (Caesar’s Palace) has a Southwestern-inspired menu created by Chef Bobby Flay. It is reasonably priced compared to other such eateries and quite laid back in terms of atmosphere. AJ's Steakhouse (Hard Rock Hotel) is a Vegas classic. It is the kind of place where Sinatra would have eaten and is, therefore, worthwhile for anyone who wants the classic Vegas experience.

Splurge

Craftsteak, (MGM Grand) is considered by food writers and culinary pros to be one of America’s best steakhouses. Prices are, therefore, exorbitantly high. Expect you bill to be over $100 per person before you’ve ordered drinks.

Other fine dining experiences include Shang-hai Lily (Mandalay Bay), which serves Chinese cuisine in a fine dining environment and Top of the World (Stratosphere), which pairs gourmet cuisine with a revolving seating area 800-feet above street level.