Will I find any authentic food in Las Vegas?

joev · Joined: 05 May 2008 Posts: 11

I'm heading to Las Vegas in a few weeks for a work thing. I've never been, and it's never been on my short list of places to want to visit, so I haven't done any research at all yet. Any recommendations on places to eat that won't break the bank and are original/local to the city? I'm not looking to gorge at a buffet, though that seems to be the local specialty. I know some great chefs have restaurants in Vegas now, but my expense account is absurdly puny.

**lisathewaitress** · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 12:57 am Post subject:

I haven't been to Vegas in a few years, but strangely, I really like it a lot. I've heard a few good things about:

Metro Pizza - I've heard a few people say they get their cabbie to stop by Metro Pizza on their way to their hotel: http://metropizza.com/

I've also hear good things about Lotus of Siam: http://www.saipinchutima.com/

I feel very spoiled that we got to go to Knob Hill (at the MGM) before anyone had ever heard of it; we got the tasting menu for $65, and now it's like $150 or something.

If you are interested in trying a Thomas Keller restaurant "on a budget," you might want to try Bouchon http://www.venetian.com/BOUCHON.aspx I've been to the Bouchon in Napa, and you can get sandwiches, and probably the best fries on earth, shellfish, etc, and although it's kind of expensive and trendy and whatever, it's still pretty darn good.

Let us know where you go!! Take pictures!
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uhockey · Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 26 Location: Dublin

Been to:

Bartolotta at Wynn
Nero at Caesars
Mesa Grill at Caesars
Social House at TI
Okada at Wynn
Simon at Hardrock
Jean Phillipe Patisserie at Bellagio

Also the buffets at Paris, Bellagio, TI, Palms, Circus Circus, and Rio.

Honestly, in Vegas you get what you pay for, and most of the dumpy little places are pretty mediocre.

I'm going back in September and am aiming for L'Atelier, Bouchon, Michael Mina's Seablue, and probably B&B or Craftsteak.

The Paris brunch is not to be missed as the quality blows anything in Ohio out of the water. Nutella, Banana, Chocolate Crepes? Oh yeah. Bellagio had some amazingly fresh seafood options on theirs, as well.

Jean Phillipe is worth the price, just for the experience. The tiramisu gelato is sublime.

Bartolotta is pricey with small portions, but honest to god, the Langostinos had the texture of foie gras they were so tender......it really isn't even describable.

The raw-cut ahi nachos and bread basket alone at Mesa grill are worth the $15 at lunch.

Simon and Social House were more for the "scene" but both were fun with awesome desserts. If you can get outdoors at Social House you can watch the Pirate show from about 10 yards w/o all the crazy people. The Dynamite Scallops were perfect and the Waygu roll was good enough that my buddy convinced me to eat beef for the first time in 6 years.

Nero was just pricey steak with good sidedishes (on par with Mastro's in LA, but not any better than Cbus options like Ruth's or Mortons)

Okada was VASTLY overpriced, but the surf clam and peekytoe crabs will haunt my dreams forever.....

The ones on my list for this year appear amazing and are chronically well reviewed, as is Lotus of Siam.

L'Atelier is on my very short list of places I've always wanted to go, along with Il Mulino NYC which I checked off earlier this year and Alinea which I'll ideally experience in June. FWIW, there is a second Il Mulino in Caesars and if it is even 1/2 as good as the original, it'd still be the best meal I ever ate.
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joev · Joined: 05 May 2008 Posts: 11

Well, I'm in Vegas right now and had one of the most amazing meals of my life at Nobu. 7 course omikase with some extra sushi thrown in. Luckily, a very nice person treated me, because I would have broke my whole budget for this one meal, but I would have gladly starved the rest of the week to experience this one.

johann · Joined: 04 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

I fear this reply may have come too late, but hopefully it can be helpful to someone. All links are listed at the bottom of this posting in order of their mentioning.

For authenticity in Vegas, especially on a budget, I suggest you go off-strip. This of course makes transportation a tricky issue. The bus system is not very good and I don't recommend walking to these places (Nevada leads the nation in per capita pedestrian fatalities). So, I'd either rent a car or take a cab.

Lotus of Siam is indeed very good, but it is in a rather sketchy neighborhood, so go there for lunch not dinner. However there is a mini Chinatown about two miles west of Treasure Island on Spring Mountain. You'll see a faux-Asian deco strip mall sort of thing that has my favorite Korean restaurant, Mother's. It's open 24 hours/day. I used to go there at 2 am after work for bibimbap. Just across at the corner is my favorite dive bar PT's. Also 24/7, of course!

To the east of the strip is Firefly on Paradise. They have a nice Tapa menu and wine list, but they are not 24-hour. This is a big resto industry hang-out.

South of the airport are a couple new restaurants showcasing SC Low Country cuisine owned by SC chef Louis Osteen. Louis's and Louis's Fish Camp, the former more expensive and formal. These are in the Town Square Center, which is a huge Easton-like commercial monster. They are in the back of the complex on the second floor. Great shrimp and grits.

As far as strip restaurants go, be prepared to spend! I recommend Nobu at the Hard Rock Hotel very highly. Mario Batali's Enoteca San Marco is very nice (and actually not very expensive). Okada in the Wynn is great for sushi and robata. Also in the Wynn is the Daniel Boulud Brasserie, which is very good. L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon in the MGM Grand is an exact replica of it's Parisian half-brother.

Bouchon in the Venezia tower of the Venetian is good, but it is not the Bouchon of Yountville. This is Vegas and restaurants do 400-600 covers a night.

And one final parting thought: don't believe the hype. All buffets suck!

links:
http://www.saipinchutima.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/mothers-korean-grill-las-vegas
http://lasvegas.citysearch.com/profile/39295701
http://www.louislasvegas.com/
http://www.hardrockhotel.com/las-vegas/dining/nobu/
http://www.venetian.com/ENOTECA.aspx
http://lasvegas.citysearch.com/profile/41731361
http://www.danielnyc.com/dbbrasserie/
http://www.mgmgrand.com/dining/atelier-joel-robuchon-french-restaurant.aspx
http://www.bouchonbistro.com/

joev · Joined: 05 May 2008 Posts: 11

Thanks for all the tips. I'm back in Columbus now, but did get two really great meals, the first at Nobu as mentioned, and the second at Spago in Caesar's Palace. I had an octopus/fava/pesto salad appetizer as and entree, which was both delicious and satisfying. Managed to avoid all the buffets, but did get stuck with rubber convention center chicken a few times.