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Foodies First time to Vegas

Discussion in 'Restaurants & Buffets' started by dloberg, Apr 11, 2014.

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  1. dloberg

    dloberg Tourist

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    If you are a regular post reader you will see I'm posting like crazy !
    Everyone has been a huge help.
    My wife and I will be in Vegas April 21-24th fro the first time.
    We are in our early 40's and love life. Part of loving life is good food.:beer:
    I don't want to break the bank but still want to enjoy some good food.
    As for type of food, honestly we enjoy everything !!
    I am looking for some suggestions as to where to eat.
    Would prefer to stay on the strip but its not a deal breaker.
    Looking forward to your suggestions.
     
  2. dannyocean

    dannyocean High-Roller

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    A real Vegas treat is Lotus of Siam -- just off Strip on E. Sahara. Great Riesling wine list. Fantastic food -- sea bass drunken noodles, crispy duck panaang, crispy rice, bacon-wrapped prawns ... it's a great experience. Also a fan of Chada Thai and Wine, which is the former Lotus wine director's restaurant. Those are fun trips off the Strip.

    On the Strip, I love breakfast/brunch at Bouchon. A great way to start the Vegas day with fantastic food and a good cocktail.

    Another way to sample some terrific places on the Strip is to do the pre-theater menu. Great value and can see what the high-end restaurants do without breaking the bank.
     
  3. sybgal

    sybgal VIP Whale

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    If you want to experience true LV restaurants....may want to try Peppermill on the north end of the strip. Also, a block behind The Crom / Bally's is Battista's Hole in the Wall.....both are very old-time Vegas and have good food.
     
  4. tmaas21

    tmaas21 Low-Roller

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    I really think you should visit the "Grand Lux Café" at the Venetian. It's an upscale café....menu is as thick as a book. Reasonably priced. Never had a bad experience there.
     
  5. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    We agree. Food is not just fuel. And if folks are gonna eat like they do back home, eat chains, doesn't that take away one of the big appeals of travel???

    I'm going to take you off Strip. Just simply the best way to experience Vegas food and to do it with a nod to not having to raid Ft. Knox every day. I'll second the vote for Lotus. On the Italian front, keeping it casual but not caricatured, Nora's. For thoughtful touches on "American," go to Todd's Unique and Table 34. On the way downtown, tamales at Dona Maria's. For bistro … Marche Bacchus way out nw.

    Full disclosure: We don't travel to Vegas like we once did. Not even remotely close. But we hit these spots over and over through the years and they never failed us.
     
  6. Wanger1969

    Wanger1969 Iowa Nice

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    The Las Vegas Foodie Fest is in town from April 24th - 27th. Not sure how long you are in town on the 24th, but maybe you can catch it.

    LasVegasFoodieFest.com

    Other than that, I say take a trip downtown for some Oxtail soup. (among other great eats in downtown Vegas) Once I tried it, you can't pull me away. Additionally, the pancakes at Dupars? Yes, they really are as good as everyone says they are.

    Have a great time!
     
  7. dfalk

    dfalk VIP Whale

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    FALSE! haha, the only reason I eat is so I don't die.
     
  8. Bommen

    Bommen High-Roller

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    Since ken2v did such a nice job providing you with some good off strip locations I'm going to suggest some on the strip as well.

    First of all the one meal you don't wanna miss is doing lunch at Milos (Cosmopolitan). Its fine dining but their lunch menu for 22 including a 3 course meal is excellent value and a lot cheaper then going for dinner. Border Grill for brunch is also a must if you are visiting on a weekend. Also Mon Ami Gabi is a great breakfast spot were you can overlook Bellagio's fountains on their patio.

    For dinner i would do either Jaleo or Julian Serrano, great places if you are into spanish tapas. Holsteins or Stripburger is your best option if you feel like having a burger one night. Also American Fish at Aria has an excellent happy hour were you can eat some great food for cheap. If you are looking for a french bistro i would suggest Bouchon.
     
  9. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    Good stuff there.

    On Strip, three places we've always loved, and all by some quirk at Venetian, are Bouchon, Pinot Brasserie and Otto Enoteca.
     
  10. thecarve

    thecarve Misanthrope

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    I'll echo the Bouchon (Venetian) recommendations. And you'd be crazy to miss the aforementioned $22 lunch special at Estiatorio Milos (Cosmopolitan) if you want top notch grub on the cheap. I also think Sage (Aria) has a fantastic quality/execution-to-price ratio, even if it isn't exactly cheap.

    Another poster mentioned the pre-theater menus many places offer - great idea.:thumbsup: You can also catch some good Happy Hours for a snack/light dinner without blowing the budget. I know a lot of the restaurants at Aria and Cosmopolitan have happy HH's.
     
  11. gilly from philly

    gilly from philly Low-Roller

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    Border Grill's weekend brunch at Mandalay Bay is one of the most underrated meals in Vegas. All you can eat small plates with seating by the pool, it is one of the best AM meals I have had in LV.
     
  12. chef

    chef Resident Buffetologist

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    Gotta give you a buffet recommendation; after all, this is Vegas. Do a lunch buffet instead of dinner to save a few bucks. For best bang for that buck, head a mile west of the Strip to the Palms casino and enjoy their lunch buffet for $8.99 (with players card). Anyone can get a players card - just go to players club and sign up. Simple process.
    For lunch, you'll find a decent spread of salads, fresh fruits, lebanese section, four types of curry, assorted meats and seafood, side dishes and desserts.
     
  13. dloberg

    dloberg Tourist

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    All of these tips are awesome I greatly appreciate them
     
  14. dloberg

    dloberg Tourist

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    I'm sorry to hear that :beer:
     
  15. Happily

    Happily High-Roller

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    Brunch at Border Grill is a must.
     
  16. mab3376

    mab3376 Tourist

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    Dio:

    Not knowing what you like or want to spend, here's some Strip thoughts:

    RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay is pretty good. IMO this is medium to high end dining. The Burger Bar at MB is not bad either -- good burger and casual.

    Prime at Bellagio is one of the greatest steak houses in America. Treat yourself if you like meat. Off the Strip Del Frisco's is a fine steakhouse choice. I enjoy Noodles at Bellagio as well for Chinese.

    Carnegie Deli at Mirage is a pretty good replica of a NYC landmark. The pastrami is fine -- perhaps not NYC quality but certainly better than just OK. In this vein i like Todd English Pub at Aria -- food is good and beer selection is really good.

    I know people like Battista's but it's never done it for me. I've never really eaten Italian in Vegas -- growing up in Brooklyn, you can probably guess why. Along those lines, Rao's at Caesars is no big deal to me either.

    Among my favorite ridiculous places for breakfast is Hash House a Go Go at Oriental Palace -- I guess now called The Linq. Oversized portions but a bear to get into at regular breakfast hours -- you're not the only hungry, drunk person in Vegas. Opt for eating at the bar to beat the line.

    You can check out all these place online before you arrive so you'll have some sense of what they're all about.

    Happy Eating!
     
  17. judy

    judy High-Roller

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    strip: have always had great meals at Spago in Caesar's forum shops. They have the best service and wonderful food-simple but good-good people watching. Also in that complex = loved sushi roku-which originated in LA, get a seat in the window and enjoy the view! http://www.innovativedining.com/restaurants/sushiroku
    also in caesar's casino there is a bakery with a tiny restaurant next door Payard that serves a nice brunch/lunch -small menu but very french and very good quality food! It's near Rao's. If you are a foodie you can see in the photo fresh anchovy on the Nicoise salad and real cream on the french toast that Mom ordered. We filled up on this before our 4 hour flight.

    Peppermill is an old vegas must see.Atmosphere is unique and old school, fireside lounge-tres cool. Food is huge portions and meh quality. Maybe i ordered the wrong thing (?)

    Oui, oui to Bouchon-bistro fare-it's very noisy and reminds me of Balthazaar in NYC.
    Off strip:

    For unusual Asian flavors, go to Monta (on spring mountain) crazy good food and authentic and super reasonable. Tiny, crowded, busy and unique. I also like Pink Taco off strip in Hard Rock for homemade tortillas and carnitas!

    Definitely do one buffet that is high end- I like Wynn or Bellagio but there are many more that I have not tried!
     

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  18. dloberg

    dloberg Tourist

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    Wow. Another bunch of great suggestions. Thanks all
     
  19. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    Oh, my. One of my fave restaurants anywhere. Anywhere. Anywhere. :thumbsup:

    Judy, have you been to Bouchon in Yountville?
     
  20. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    No kidding.
     
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