Travel Suggestions Blog

Las Vegas Nevada

In 1992, Austrian chef Wolfgang Puck took a gamble on the Las Vegas Strip by opening “Spago” at Caesars Palace. People thought he was crazy at the time, but he started a trend that renewed the Vegas hotels and restaurant scene. Now, Wolfgang Puck owns “Chinois,” at Caesars, “Café de Lupo” at Mandalay Bay and the “Wolfgang Puck Café and Grille” at the MGM Grand. Soon to follow, Emeril Lagasse opened “Emeril’s New Orleans Fish House” at MGM Grand, and “Delmonico” at the Venetian. Charlie Palmer opened the “Charlie Palmer Steakhouse” at Four Seasons and “Aureole” at Mandalay Bay. California wine country entrepreneur Thomas Keller opened “Bouchon” at the Venetian. Nobu Matsuhisa opened “Nobu” at Hard Rock and San Francisco’s Michael Mina opened “Seablue” and “Nobhill” at the MGM Grand. Restaurants along the Las Vegas Nevada Strip are considered among the best in the world.

Some people come to Vegas Nevada for Las Vegas Strip luxury. They want to stay in the finest hotels, drink the finest wines and eat the finest meals. Price is of no concern to them, especially if they’re used to winning big rounds of poker or are celebrating a very special occasion. But where does one go to find gourmet feasts by celebrity chefs? One esteemed restaurant is called “Alex” and is located in the Wynn Hotel, which offers a five-star, four course menu. Two of the most popular dishes are the pancetta wrapped veal with Swiss chard and sweetbread-artichoke fricassee and the roasted wild turbot with lyonnaise potatoes, wild mushrooms and endives. Chef Stratta’s four-course menu goes for $145/person. Another classy fine dining choice is “Joël Robuchon at the Mansion” located at the MGM Grand. Inside, the dining room greets guests with 1930s elegance that includes velvet and black marble, as well as a breathtaking garden and indoor dining terrace. For the indecisive, there are spectacular six and sixteen course tasting menus highlighting French cuisine. The menu offers more than 750 wines and over 100 champagnes, as well as items like sautéed lamb chop and sea urchin with potato purée.

For travelers who haven’t quite hit it big at a Las Vegas casino yet, there are more modest offerings that are explosive in flavor but not in price. “Cravings” in the Mirage Hotel boasts the biggest menu over any other Las Vegas hotel restaurant, with buffet-style dishes from Japan, China, Mexico, France, Italy and more for $15-25/person. “The Sterling Brunch” at Bally’s Steakhouse fills bellies with seared salmon, smoked fish, bagels, fresh shrimp, waffles, omelets, sushi, sashimi and desserts, making this the ideal option for a special occasion, at only $30/person.

Another one of the best buffets in Vegas is at The Bellagio Hotel. Presentation is big here at this $32/person gourmet dining experience. There is a vast array of Italian, Chinese and American options. Just off the Vegas strip on Sahara is “Hash House A Go Go,” which is ideal for families with five types of scrambled egg skillets, five kinds of eggs benedict or dinners, like sage fried chicken, stuffed meatloaf and blue crab cakes.

Sometimes, hungry travelers are looking for simplicity and just want a big, juicy burger. For those people, “The Burger Bar” is the ideal Las Vegas Strip hotspot. Wanderers can choose from a wide selection of burgers, including Black Angus, turkey, veggie, Colorado lamb and Kobe beef (for the high rollers!) There’s everything from sliced zucchini, grilled lobster and pan-seared foie gras for toppings, with all the usual condiments as well. Yes, you can also find McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell and Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill on the Strip for cheap and easy dining.