Our first trip -- too many food options! Where do I start?

You might check out the Miracle Mile shopping esplanade at Planet Hollywood and the Forum Shoppes at Caesars. Both have a lot of restaurants with a variety of styles and prices. Pull up the MM and FS websites for a list before you go. Technically those restaurants won't be inside a casino but they are easy walking distance.

 

Venetian / Palazzo / Mirage have huge variety between then though they are slanted towards higher end fare. Plenty of midrange (by your definition) places like CPK and those places previously mentioned.

I'm guessing you won't have a vehicle given your question on taxis? I would suggest hitting a different section of the Strip (or a trek downtown) daily to keep transportation costs minimal. Plenty to do between say, Caesars and the Center City area, or just concentrating on the South Strip and certainly no lack of restaurants anywhere in this city. I love the selection in NYNY, esp 48th and Crepe for break/lunch ($10 per entree max) and Nine Fine Irishmen for dinner ($20-30 plus drinks).

Are you familiar with Las Vegas Advisor? They offer a deal where for $40 (incl shipping) you get a massive member book with well over 150 coupons. These include up to $50 off at Palms, 2-for-1 Wicked Spoon buffet at Cosmopolitan and $50 (or more) in free slotplay across the various downtown hotels. Each of these cover the cost of the package all by themselves. It's like they're giving you free money

 

Ken2V of this board is an excellent resource for dining suggestions from In n Out Burger on the low end to Prime Steakhouse on the high end.

 

Ken is a great resource for dining so read some of his ideas. If you stay at Venetian or Palazzo you have a great mid-range breakfast/lunch restaurant in Grand Lux....great comfort food. Also, if you want to do one high end meal there are so many great choices Italian B&B Ristorante is great and many here like Carnevino (my wife and I ate there one time and service was bad). For steaks Emiril's Delmonico is Great. We stayed at V/P for a number of stays and really enjoyed it. That would be a great choice...............Rick

 

Figure out your splurge meal as that will probably also need a reservation.You will also need reservations if you are there during a big convention or special event and want to eat during prime dining hours.
Familiarize yourself with the buffets and coffee shops/cafes for your hotel and neighboring hotels. Those will be your fall backs if you lost track of time and just need to eat or can't make a decision.
Decide what type of cusine you want to experience. For center strip, you can find a good representation of almost everything and will narrow your list for you. Specialty restaurants tend to be more midrange as well..
For many vets, it's no big deal to head offstrip or downtown for a meal. Don't feel like you have to do the same. There's a ton to explore on the strip and odds are you'll be back!
Don't take a taxi just for a meal. Plan a full excursion like shows, attractions or multiple casino visits so you maximize the money you are paying for the fare.
Figure out how many sit down meals you actually want to do. You may just want to larger meals and a snack or smaller meal from a food court type restaurant. I don't like fast food in Vegas but I can appreciate how that can stretch a budget.

 

I would rank them in this order but would replace Wicked Spoon with Bellagio. Had Wynn and Wicked Spoon last week and loved Wynn especially with their bottomless fill Sangria at $19.

 

You probably have all the info you will already need from others and I maybe too late but here is my advice to how I work my trips.
1. You obviously know what types of food you like. Therefore list all the strip hotels and visit each via their website and check out their restaurants. You can also view their menus and check pictures of what the establishment looks like.
2. The ones that appeal to you make a point of putting it on your list and visit it.
3. I go to Las Vegas for 2 weeks every year and I always like to go to 3 or 4 nice restaurants so my wife can dress up and we have a nice night out. I only make reservations at the restaurants where I want it special for my wife. I use the open table booking system through the restaurants website and never encounted a problem.
The remaining restaurants I have never had issues in gaining a seat from just turning up. But then again I make a point of arriving just before the rush our or just after.
3.You say you may stay at the Venetian Casino. Firstly very good choice , I have stayed here but now stay at the Palazzo which is the sister hotel right next door. I find the Palazzo a little better and for the same price and you can use either pool.
4. I can recommend a couple of nice restaurants. "Otto" @ the Venetian , "Sinatra's" , "Wing Li" and "Andreas" all @ the Wynn / Encore and "Fin" @ The Mirage.
5. As for scaling it down a little "Grimaldis Pizza" on the shoppe level at the Palazzo/ Venetian is outstanding. We dine her at least 5/6 times. The pizza is superb. We have an 18" pizza a couple of wines and beer for $30 - $35 for the both of us , try and sit at the bar. You can watch the sports and all the ordering and the barman will normally kick up a conversation. "Spago"@ Caesars Palace is another great pizza restaurant. Try and get a table outside. I know you are inside but sit out of the restaurant and its great for people watching. Oh and I must not for get the "Peppermill Diner" this is superb for diner meals and is open 24/7. The Peppermill is just down where the Riveria once was.
5. The strip will be hot even in the early evening at this time of year. Get yourselves a week Deuce bus pass and ride the strip up and down. The deuce stops at every casino hotel and you can even take it down to Fremont Street. just keep your ticket safe. it will save you arriving at the restaurants all hot and sweaty and on the nights you are have a nice meal take a cab then.

I hope this gives a couple of good points at least. Have a great time and you both take care.

 

Hi!!

It was my first time in Vegas last October and going back this October. The food was outstanding, and I know exactly what you mean about feeling completely overwhelmed because I felt it too!

Obviously it depends on what types of food you are into but here was a couple of my faves;

Aria Buffet - Omg it was amazing! We went for dinner and used a My Vegas BOGOF coupon. I managed to try about 4 different strip buffets and Aria by far was the best for quality. Price is reasonable too!

Pinks hot dogs/ In N Out Burger - If you want a cheap lunch or snack these two places were fab, super cheap and really tasty, especially after a late night drinking haha.

Burgr - If you want a little more than a standard burger this place was also pretty damn high on my list. There was a long wait to get a table at lunch, maybe 30 - 40 mins ish but the food was really good, the prices were reasonable and occasionally Gordon Ramsey pops in for a visit which is super cool! (we missed him by a few days! shame)

I have a little list of places I want to try on my next visit including the Mandarin Bar, Mon ami Gabi and Peppermill as I hear these are great too but cant personally comment.

Hope you have an awesome time!!

 

You do NOT need to transfer somewhere else for food. There are lots of options near you.