Once known for its all-you-can-eat buffets and bargain shrimp cocktails, Las Vegas has transformed itself into a top culinary destination. Within a decade, Las Vegas has redefined the culinary and wine experience by offering the most comprehensive collection of celebrity chefs and world-class restaurants, more Master Sommeliers than any other city in the world and more wine sold per capita than in any other destination.
Southern Nevada is home to more than 1,450 general restaurants and 258 buffets. These numbers are just a small part of the overall food & beverage culture in the region and do not account for the thousands of snack bars, take-out venues and drinking establishments which also populate the area.
Bon Appétit magazine, a leading authority in the culinary world, cemented Las Vegas' place among U.S. dining capitals by declaring the destination as one of the nation's top five restaurant cities. In fact, the publication has partnered with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, and Las Vegas resorts, to host an annual epicurean event called Vegas Uncork'd. This four-day event in May provides an intimate connection with legendary chefs, along with grand tastings of their delectable creations.
For one week each fall, more than 80 of Las Vegas' fine dining establishments participate in the city's annual Restaurant Week. Working to end hunger in Southern Nevada, a portion of all Restaurant Week sales benefit Three Square Food Bank. Participating restaurants offer prix fixe menus from three tiered price points: $20.10, $30.10 and $50.10. In addition to the special menus, many of the city's resorts offer Restaurant Week diners a chance to extend their experience beyond world-class cuisine by coupling their stay with one-of-a-kind entertainment, spa and overnight packages.
Las Vegas continues to be recognized year after year for its quality restaurants. For 2010, Las Vegas AAA Five Diamond-rated restaurants include Alex at Wynn Las Vegas (fifth consecutive year), Joel Robuchon at MGM Grand (fourth consecutive year), Le Cirque at Bellagio (seventh consecutive year), Picasso at Bellagio (ninth consecutive year) and Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace (second consecutive year). AAA rates nearly 60,000 restaurants and lodgings each year throughout all 50 states, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, providing the broadest coverage of any U.S. rating system, both geographically and by number of properties rated. Of those, only 113 resorts and 52 restaurants earned the highly coveted AAA Five Diamond rating for 2010.
What's New?
As the dining scene continues to evolve in Las Vegas, new restaurants continue to open nearly every month, providing unique experiences for repeat visitors. Some of the many new restaurants include the following:
Wynn Las Vegas announced the opening of Lakeside Grill. Situated on the Lake of Dreams, Executive Chef David Walzog offers modern twists on classic American dishes in a striking and stylish setting. Lakeside Grill is the second restaurant at Wynn helmed by Walzog, who has garnered critical acclaim for his cuisine at SW, the resort's signature steakhouse.
The Sporting House Bar & Grill, Las Vegas' premier destination for year-round sports action, has opened inside New York-New York Hotel & Casino. With more than 130 video monitors, guests of The Sporting House can count on seeing the game they want to see in an environment built specifically for sports fans. The two-story restaurant and bar features a collaborative menu designed by Ark Restaurant Corporation's Executive Chef David Waltuck and Damien McEvoy, Ark's Executive Chef for the past 14 years in Las Vegas.
Tropicana Las Vegas has opened Biscayne Steak, Sea & Wine, a new steak and seafood restaurant. The tropical South Beach-style restaurant features prime cuts of beef, Safe Harbor certified fresh seafood a 200-bottle wine list and signature cocktails.
Chef Kerry Simon has opened KGB: Kerry's Gourmet Burgers at Harrah's Las Vegas. At KGB, Simon creates a menu of uniquely inventive burger offerings, signature snacks and sides including "Iron Chef" sliders and tater tots and sweet selections such as strawberry shortcake push pops.
Lolita's Cantina & Tequila Bar opened at Town Square. The restaurant features traditional, regional Mexican cuisine with a modern twist. Award-winning celebrity chef and mixologist, Carlo Cavallo has created a diverse menu of authentic Mexican specialties, regional classics and a margarita and cocktail menu that is unmatched in the area.
Max Brenner opened Chocolate by the Bald Man at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. With a menu primarily made from chocolate, this store, the largest of 29 locations, features vats of mixing chocolate flowing throughout the space.
Nu Sanctuary, an imaginative new restaurant and lounge, has opened at Town Square, Las Vegas. Symbolizing a new beginning, and inspired by the works of Salvador Dali, the restaurant features a sprawling tree, world-class art, religious representations, and an outdoor patio. The menu is a modern global fusion created by Brian Howard. The restaurant also offers an innovative hookah menu, which is the first in Las Vegas to use fresh fruit in form and presentation. Each night the restaurant transforms into a nightclub featuring house music.
Ensenada, Mexico landmark Hussong's Cantina brings an approachable menu and buoyant Baja atmosphere to Las Vegas at The Shoppes at Mandalay Place located between Mandalay Bay and Luxor on the Las Vegas Strip. Whether it's the authentic Baja cuisine, the chance to experience the unusually strong original margarita or sing along to the rock 'n' roll Mariachi band, Hussong's Cantina appeals to every kind of crowd.
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas has a diverse list of culinary partners and restaurant brands including one we've eagerly anticipated: The Las Vegas incarnation of New York City's Estiatorio Milos by restaurateur Costas Spiliadis.
Celebrity Chefs
Historically, major hotel-casinos featured "gourmet rooms" in order to cater to high rollers' tastes. Each restaurant created an ambience designed to transport diners to a world far away from the action of the casinos. However, by the late '90s, high-end eateries became the rage with their appeal extending beyond just high rollers. Las Vegas hotels recruited some of the top chefs in the world to open and run restaurants inside their properties. Today, Las Vegas has the most comprehensive collection of the world's top chefs and television icons. Continuing to satisfy Las Vegas visitors' appetites, they include - in alphabetical order:
• Paul Bartolotta (Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare at Wynn Las Vegas)
• Mario Batali (B & B Ristorante and Enoteca San Marco at The Venetian)
• Kim Canteenwalla (Society Café at Encore)
• Tom Colicchio (Craftsteak at MGM Grand)
• Alain Ducasse (Mix at Mandalay Bay's THEhotel)
• Todd English (Olives at Bellagio, Todd English P.U.B. at Crystals)
• Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken (Border Grill at Mandalay Bay)
• Bobby Flay (Mesa Grill at Caesars Palace)
• Pierre Gagnaire (Twist at Mandarin Oriental)
• Jean-Marie Josselin (8-0-8 at Caesars Palace)
• Hubert Keller (Fleur de Lys at Mandalay Bay)
• Thomas Keller (Bouchon at The Venetian)
• Emeril Lagasse (Emeril's New Orleans Fish House at MGM Grand and Delmonico Steakhouse at The Venetian)
• Mark LoRusso (Botero Steak at Encore)
• Sirio Maccioni (Le Cirque at Bellagio and Sirio at ARIA)
• Steve Martorano (Café Martorano at Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino)
• Nobu Matsuhisa (Nobu at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino)
• Jean-Philippe Maury (Jean Philippe Patisserie at Bellagio and JP Patisserie at ARIA)
• Maurizio Mazzon (Canaletto at the Venetian and Il Fornaio at the New York-New York and Green Valley Ranch)
• Shawn McClain (Sage at ARIA)
• Michael Mina (NOBHILL TAVERN and SEABLUE at MGM Grand, MICHAEL MINA at Bellagio and Strip Steak at Mandalay Bay and American Fish at ARIA)
• Tom Moloney (AquaKnox at the Venetian)
• Rick Moonen (RM Seafood at Mandalay Place)
• Bradley Ogden (Bradley Ogden at Caesars Palace)
• Charlie Palmer (Aureole at Mandalay Bay and Charlie Palmer Steak at The Four Seasons)
• Francois Payard (Payard Patisserie at Caesars Palace)
• Marc Poidevin (Switch at Encore)
• Wolfgang Puck (Spago and Chinois at The Forum Shops at Caesars, Postrio at The Venetian, CUT at The Palazzo, Trattoria del Lupo at Mandalay Bay and Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill at MGM Grand)
• Joël Robuchon (L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon and Joël Robuchon at The Mansion at MGM Grand)
• André Rochat (Alizé at the Palms, Andre's Monte Carlo)
• Guy Savoy (Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace)
• Piero Selvaggio (Valentino at The Venetian and Giorgio and Ristorante at Mandalay Place)
• Julian Serrano (Picasso at Bellagio and Julian Serrano at ARIA)
• Theo Schoenegger (Sinatra at Encore)
• Kerry Simon (Simon at Palms Place)
• Alessandro Stratta (Alex at Wynn Las Vegas)
• Joachim Splichal (Pinot Brasserie at The Venetian)
• Masayoshi Takayama (BARMASA and Shaboo at ARIA)
• Jet Tila (Wazuzu at Encore)
• Jean-Georges Vongerichten (Prime at Bellagio and Jean Georges Steakhouse at ARIA)
• Michael White (Fiamma at MGM Grand)
• Takashi Yagihashi (Okada at Wynn Las Vegas)
All-You-Can-Eat
In the early '40s, the first buffet opened at the original El Rancho Vegas Hotel, the Las Vegas Strip's first hotel. Beldon Katleman, El Rancho's owner, initiated the all-you-can-eat-for-a-dollar "Midnight Chuck Wagon Buffet" in an effort to keep patrons on the property during late-night hours. His idea of treating guests to an elaborate array of food for a small price was copied again and again. As a result, the Las Vegas buffet has earned its place in the city's history.
Buffets are still popular in Las Vegas. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the average buffet features about 45 food selections per meal including salads, fruits, roast beef, baked ham, roast turkey, vegetables and a variety of desserts. Several properties are taking their buffet experiences to the next level. MGM Grand Buffet invites guests to take advantage of a $29.99 "All-Day Meal Pass." Available Monday through Thursday, each pass allows for one breakfast, one lunch and one dinner - a savings of almost 50 percent. At Excalibur's Roundtable Buffet, patrons can "Buffet All Day" for $25 per guest. Offering a savings of more than $20 off regular pricing, the value package includes VIP buffet line passes and unlimited reentry privileges. At Cravings Buffet at The Mirage, dinner guests can enjoy an "Early Bird Special" of $19.95 when they dine between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Harrah's Entertainment's family of Las Vegas resorts now offers guests all-day, unlimited access to dine in seven resort buffet restaurants with the Buffet of Buffets pass. Guests may purchase a 24-hour buffet pass ($39.99 for Total Rewards members and $45.99 for non-members) from any participating buffet's cashier stations and can use it at Lago Buffet at Caesars Palace, Paradise Garden Buffet at Flamingo, Flavors at Harrah's Las Vegas, Emperor's Buffet at Imperial Palace, Le Village Buffet at Paris Las Vegas, Spice Market Buffet at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino and Carnival World Buffet at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.
Entertainment Dining
Dining and entertainment go hand-in-hand at several locations throughout Southern Nevada. Dinner theater options include the "Tournament of Kings" at Excalibur where guests are transported to the feasts of the Renaissance while watching a knightly battle. If you're in the mood for love, how about "Tony 'n Tina's Wedding" at Planet Hollywood? Be a special guest of Anthony Nunzio, Jr. and Valentina Lynne Vitale, an
Italian-American couple who come from two slightly dysfunctional families. The wedding is complete with drunken guests, a pregnant maid-of-honor, an impromptu "YMCA" dance and, of course, family bickering. Guests can either participate in the wedding with actors who never step out of character or they can simply watch the family
drama unfold.
Themed Restaurants
Las Vegas also boasts a bevy of themed restaurants. Hofbräuhaus Las Vegas, located near The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, is an authentic replica of the Munich Hofbräuhaus. The restaurant features German/Bavarian cuisine, imported Bavarian beer, meat and sausage produced exclusively for Hofbräuhaus Las Vegas and Bavarian pretzels imported directly from Munich. Music connoisseurs can nosh on gourmet hamburgers while soaking up the unique atmosphere and music memorabilia at the Hard Rock Café. Planet Hollywood serves up the best Hollywood fare inside the Forum Shops, while NASCAR Café (Sahara) is a must-see for racing enthusiasts. Parrotheads can nosh on a "Cheeseburger in Paradise" at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville at the Flamingo and the Harley-Davidson Café serves up chow for Hog aficionados.
