Las Vegas Dining (and recent trip)
Back in Vegas for the second time this month. Seeing the focus was mostly business and friends we didn’t hit any shows and our live entertainment was limited to a few hours sitting and enjoying the band at La Senta (at the Venetian). We did however get to a couple more enjoyable restaurants (the standout being Mario Batali’s B&B Ristoranti), so I figured I would use this post to talk about some of our favorite Vegas dining places.
Over the last 13 years I think we have hit 100 different restaurants, overall most are really, really good but some stand out. Mostly for the food, but some because of the overall experience and vibe. For us, the dining experience in Vegas has become one of the important aspects of the trip. It really doesn’t get much better than a great meal, good company and a good bottle (or two) of Vino. A lot of folks go to Vegas, hit the buffets, play some slots, drink and go home. Ummm… you can do that at your local Native American Casino. Why waste your hunger and miss out on the experience of great dining when you are in one of the (now) epicurean capitals of the world?
Our Favorites and recommendations
Wolfgang Puck’s Trattoria del Lupo at Mandalay Bay – Our favorite Italian in Vegas. From an overall resort perspective Mandalay has more excellent choices we think than any other strip hotel. I don’t think we, or anyone we have eaten with at Lupo has ever had a meal that they didn’t rave about. You can’t go wrong with anything, but standouts are the Oven Baked Rosemary Shrimp with Chilies (Kimberly now makes a great version at home), the Insalata Caprese with Heirloom tomatoes is the best we have ever had, the Lasagna with Veal, bechamel is amazing and is the three cheese Tortelloni with aged balsamic
Wolfgang Puck’s Chinois in the Caesars Forum – There are several decent lunch options when you find yourself walking around the Forum shops (and I think we do every Vegas trip), but seems 4 out 5 times we hit Chinois. They call it Asian Fusion, but for us it’s like Chinese food as good as it gets.
Lawry’s the Prime Rib on Flamingo – One of the few restaurants off the strip (barely) that is more than worthy to get in the car or cab. Lawry’s not only has unbelievable Prime Rib, but the experience is very unique and way cool. It’s a formal environment but yet with classic comfort food vibe. The servers go by Miss (last name) and your prime Rib is carved table side from a $30,000 cart. For sure get the creamed corn, and the little lobster tails with Lawry’s seasonings work well with the Prime rib. If you are there in December, they have real Dickens- era singers walking around in costume doing your favorite Christmas Carols – can’t beat it.
Rum Jungle in Mandalay – the food is good, but this place is about the experience. If you want to have a whole 3 hour dining experience this is a great option. I really only recommend it if you do the Brazilian Fire Pit. The “Pit” basically includes 12 different meats that are served tableside. Your server comes with a long sword like skewer and carves off your courses, and they come about every 5 minutes for an hour it seems. By the time the roll around for the 10th or so course you can barely walk, but hey, eat up it’s Vegas. After dinner, hanging out, doing a little dancing and watching the bongo players and dancing girls isn’t too bad either.
House of Blues – okay they got rid of the main reason we used to hit this place up – the Cheese Grits for Breakfast, but even so, it’s a great morning option. I still have yet to have a bad meal here. If they bring back the Stewed Chicken, you have to do that for sure, but the current Fried Chicken with mashed Potatoes is outstanding. The breakfast burritos, the pecan pancakes and the omelets are great options. If you are around Sunday morning, do the Gospel Bruch – it may be a pork feast (Kimberly not a fan) but the music and vibe make it well worth it.
Nine Fine Irishman – one of our favorite nighttime drinking haunts (gotta’ love the house band) also it a great lunch (or for that matter dinner) choice. We can only speak for one meal – the Fish-n-Chips. I’m not much of beer man, but sitting out on the Patio, eating the Fish-n-Chips, sipping on a cold one while you listen to some old Irish one man band guy who looks like he got beat by an ugly stick do those old folk songs – ah… as they say, doesn’t get any better.
Eiffel Tower Restaurant at Paris – when you are looking for one of those romantic splurge nights, this is the place. I’m not necessarily a fancy French food guy, and the wine list here assumes you just took a company public (man are they proud), but the WOW effect is in full force dining here. The atmosphere, the service, the view of the Bellagio Fountains from up high, simply spectacular.
Mario’s B&B – our newest discovery. The pastas are so simple, yet so good. I think this speaks to the fact that if you use fresh and high quality, nothing has to be fancy. Try the cheese flights, the accompaniments they do with them are spectacular – as it the cheese of course
Honorable Mention
Rosewood Grille – hey it’s lobster done right, but there are lots of options round the world for that. This place gets our mention because in addition to being able to get some of the largest lobsters ever pulled from the sea, it is the place where the Miller family had one of the most enjoyable family meals ever. I’ll just say it included the whole family, a 7lb lobster, some foo-foo drinks, a great ‘real’ Italian waiter, a spilled virgin daiquiri, and a whole lot of laughing.
Top of the World at the Strat – about the only reason to go north of the Wynn on the strip. The foods not bad, but the reason you go is dining 800 feet above the city. The views are amazing, and after you fill up, drink some wine, have a cognac with desert you can always try the Big Shot and see if you can keep it down.
Don’t avoid, but not as good as expected
Valentino in the Venetian – this place was one of our top choices, as good as Lupo even. But a couple of years ago they went to a price fixe menu and that just doesn’t work.
Emerils in MGM – I’m sure there are some great meals here, and we only have been there once, but it just didn’t stand out as you would expect from an Emeril place.
Mesa Grille at Caesars – same story here. I had the 12 spice chicken that was the specialty and while good, nothing special. I expected more from a Bobby Flay spot.
Red Square in Mandalay – we used to just love the black truffle and lobster pasta and the way they did the beef stroganoff – then they jacked em’ both up – very disappointing
Aeurole – cool wine display, like the tablet PC menus, but high priced average food.
Looking forward to trying ‘Mix’ next trip.