Vegas baby. vegas! They weren’t lying: what happens in Vegas…stays in Vegas!
How many times have you heard those catchy phrases? Well, we agree: both are wildly over the top. But, they really sum up your Vegas experience. Bottom line: Las Vegas is all about controlling your husbands, wives, girlfriends, boyfriends, etc. at the door and detach yourself from any morality, concern, conscience. This is the place where everyone seems to think “anything goes”, and it usually is! People really enjoy pretending to be someone else. Even the most conservative woman in your office will let her hair down and give in to that one-night stand—she’s in Vegas, after all!
With all those poker faces and bluffs in the casino scene, everyone thinks they are someone else long after they leave the tables.
Vegas is a place to act like that friend who always tells the best stories. It’s a place to stay up past bedtime, gamble your entire paycheck, act a little crazy, or do the things you’re always too afraid to do in the “real world.” It’s a place where you’re supposed to get into trouble and mix things up. It’s a city of bling-bling and dreams, because you never know when your luck is going to catch fire.
Somehow, despite all this crazy single nonsense, Las Vegas is still a big enough city to offer plenty of options for yuppie side-couples, too. They can clean up and enjoy a delicious meal or a dazzling show. They can run the tables with the best and spend the afternoon in the pool or spa. Do things get boring in the bedroom? Taste one part champagne, one part glitzy hotel room, one part Las Vegas, and you’ll be at it like rabbits all over again. Just don’t get too drunk, because you might wake up the next morning to find that Elvis married you in that little white chapel, with plastic flowers. Classy, huh? I bet parents will love hearing that!
Yes, Las Vegas has a lot of adrenaline and you will feel the excitement in everything you do here. In a city where people have $10,000 on a single card, even the most mundane daily tasks, like eating and drinking, take on more excitement. And if eating and drinking is your thing, you’ve come to the right place. The best restaurants and chefs from around the world came to the city and opened their doors. Now you too can enjoy the highest quality cuisine on The Strip. Here are our JourneyPod picks for Las Vegas-style dining, drinking, and dancing:
Restaurants
Bradley Ogden (Caesars Palace) – California celebrity chef Bradley Ogden recently opened this sleek and modern Caesars Palace restaurant, his first outside of the Bay Area. In addition to a 60-seat lounge, the restaurant features a patio dining area that overlooks Caesars Coliseum and a faux patio with torch-shaped fixtures and a waterfall. The emphasis is on creative, regional, farm-fresh American food – try the opah and halibut, and you’ll see why this restaurant is such a prize. Everything here seems to be perfect, and judging by the looks of the locals, everything really is! One tip: try to get a seat in the back dining room near the fireplace, it’s the most romantic spot here.
Delmonico Steakhouse (Venetian): Chef Emeril Lagasse has done it again, this time on the Las Vegas Strip! Housed in The Venetian, his new Creole-influenced Tuscan monastery-style establishment takes its name from New Orleans’ legendary century-old institution. Remember the time when lunch was a full-fledged event and cocktail hour was never to be missed? Delmonico Steakhouse remembers! Although the beef is the main draw here, you won’t be disappointed with all the other options on this menu. And be sure to save room for the fresh blueberry bread pudding with lemon ice cream and caramel sauce. Psst…if you want the “ultimate” dining experience, try and reserve the chef’s kitchen table and enjoy a six-course tasting menu.
Il Mulino (Caesars Palace): Perfect for top-notch people-watching (ask for a seat on the 40-seat patio overlooking the Forum Shops Strip) and decadent food, Il Mulino is sure to please. Diners sit in a sumptuous room with wrought-iron chandeliers and a floor-to-ceiling glass wine rack. Every meal here starts with a slew of delicious free appetizers and the menu options are impressive. But it won’t just be the food that will impress you, the tuxedo-clad wait team and rich specialties are sure to make this one of your most luxurious dining experiences while in town.
Daniel Boulud Brasserie (Wynn Las Vegas) – Who would want to pay $40 for a burger and fries? We would and we did and we loved it. Of course the meat was the best in town and this was no ordinary burger. Boulud’s other signature dishes, such as the tomato steak, pissaladière tart, crispy pork belly and Dover sole fricassee are…how shall I put it? If you’re looking for first-rate French cuisine served in a sumptuous country setting, this brasserie is the perfect choice (overlooking Wynn’s Lagoon).
Andre’s (Monte Carlo) – Repeatedly voted among the best restaurants in the city, Andre’s is essentially housed in a 1930s Las Vegas house that has been converted into a charming and comfortable chateau in the French countryside. It serves decadent French cuisine – everyone who leaves here is in awe. There are three private dining rooms and even a Louis XVI room, where diners can enjoy cognac and cigars. The tables are covered with Versace china, candles, and fresh flowers. The menu is seasonal and always offers an abundance of fresh seafood, poultry, and meat. Try the duck wrapped in a hazelnut crust.
Sushi Roku (Caesars Palace): The popular Los Angeles sushi spot is now available in Sin City. With its critically acclaimed modern Japanese food and zen-like atmosphere, Sushi Roku isn’t just a favorite among young and hip visitors, the locals flock here too! And not only is the scene fabulous, but the food is to die for. Specialties include seared yellowtail sashimi with ponzu and diced chilies, and baked lobster roll with creamy spicy sauce. Signature cocktails are awesome; try the “Cantaloupe Martini” or the “Tokyo Cooler”. And if you’re in the mood for a view, booths 603 and 604 are elevated, giving you views of the Strip.
Piero’s Italian Cuisine If you’re looking to relive the days of the Rat Pack, head to this retro-style Las Vegas mainstay off the casino strip (located at 355 Convention Center Drive). Piero’s features leather booths and an environment full of attitude. Don’t be surprised if you see some familiar famous faces here—they, too, can’t stay away from the restaurant’s signature Roman-style stuffed artichokes and spumoni.
Prime (Bellagio): For beautiful views of Bellagio’s dancing fountains, visit Prime. The steaks come with six types of mustard and five sauces, all of which add sophistication to any cut. The restaurant’s signature steak is the beef steak with pineapple kumquat chutney and caramelized cauliflower. And the dessert of choice, the chocolate cake with a warm gooey center, isn’t too bad either! Note: If you’ve had a good day at the tables, treat yourself to a $1,050 shot of Chivas Royal Salute (bottled and released in 1953 in honor of the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II).
Fleur De Lys (Mandalay Bay) – Contemporary French prix-fixe cuisine (with a Mediterranean twist) is presented like a work of art in this elegant and romantic setting. Named one of the “Nation’s 50 Best Restaurants” for 2005, this is for many discerning palates, hands down, the best food in Las Vegas. The food isn’t the only thing impressive here though, Fleur De Lys boasts a flower arrangement of 3,500 ice-fresh pink rosebuds, the theater-style drapes on the small tables and the hand-painted china on each table just exudes grace and style. If you’re a vegetarian, don’t worry: the chef has been known to prepare something unique just for you.
Olives (Bellagio): A Mediterranean gem overlooking the lake (the dancing fountains of Bellagio), Olive’s is the less expensive relative of The Mirage’s Onda (as well as a branch of our boy Todd English’s original Boston restaurant). Don’t miss their signature wood-fired flatbreads with imaginative toppings and tiny goat cheese meatballs wrapped in a black olive flavored wrapper. Just make sure you save room for the vanilla soufflé – it’s so good it should be banned!
Michael’s Steakhouse (Barbary Coast Hotel) – A culinary masterpiece for over 20 years, this intimate gourmet restaurant is known for its epicurean delights. Exquisitely furnished in deep red velvet, the restaurant features a 40-panel stained glass vaulted ceiling, oversized wingback chairs and imported Italian marble. When you dine here, try signature dishes including Chateaubriand Bouquetierre or Rack of Lamb. And you must (we say: must!) save room for dessert, such as Bananas Foster, Cherries Jubilee or the famous selection of chocolate-dipped fruit.
Aureole (Mandalay Bay): Winery meets abseiling competition in this Charlie Palmer masterpiece. Dining at Aureole is as much an event as it is a culinary evening, and the wine list is exceptional (the restaurant boasts nearly 10,000 bottles). With that, guests are greeted by the spectacular 42-foot wine tower that houses these bottles. Then there is the food. The menu changes seasonally, and the tasting menu, which changes almost weekly, offers three- and eight-course tasting options. If you see the prosciutto-wrapped sage pork tenderloin on the menu, don’t hesitate.
Chino (Caesars Palace): Chef Wolfgang Puck’s casual French-Asian-inspired cafe features two levels of authentic Asian art, a trickling water fountain, and windows large enough to inspire people-watching on the Forum Shops Strip . A display-style kitchen allows restaurant guests to watch their tempting feasts being prepared. Try the popular Chinese Chicken Salad and the spicy Kung Pao Chicken. If you and your group are particularly hungry, meals can be served “family style” to give you the opportunity to try more than one of Wolfy’s dishes.
Tao (Venetian): A visually stunning 43,000 square foot restaurant, banquet hall, ultra-lounge, and nightclub, Tao has been a magnet for those on the “A” list (movie stars, sports celebrities, and rockers alike). ). Modeled after the sexy and successful New York restaurant of the same name, Tao finds himself under the watchful eye of the lucky 20-foot Buddha. With two rooms, The Temple and The Emperor’s Ballroom, Tao presents a variety of music formats, eight private boxes and an infinity pool. The menu features dishes from Hong Kong, China, Japan and Thailand with full entrees and small plates. Tao also has an extensive wine list with over 30 sake options. Make reservations at least a week in advance or even the Buddha himself won’t be able to get you a table.
