8 Best Restaurants in Center Strip, Las Vegas

Caesars Palace completely revamped its buffet experience with the Bacchanal Buffet. It's a culinary extravaganza of more than 250 menu items daily, plus nine chef-attended action stations and the support of 10 kitchens, with an emphasis on seasonality. Made-to-order sushi, baked-to-order soufflés, pizza made in a wood-burning oven, and individual portions of dishes that are served in steam tables elsewhere are consumed in three distinct dining areas with glass, wood, and steel decor themes. As at most buffets, brunch is served—Bacchanal's features snow crab—which is served from 1 to 3 pm Mondays and Thursdays and 9 am to 3 pm Friday through Sunday.

Chocolate—dark, white, and milk—flows from a tall glass fountain at the entrance of this stunning pastry shop just off the Bellagio's famed conservatory. This artful homage to chocolate has decadent desserts, including cakes, cookies, macarons, gelato, hand-dipped chocolate candies, and particularly memorable crêpes (try the one with Nutella sauce inside and out, candied hazelnuts, and whipped cream), as well as salads and sandwiches Seating is limited. It's open late, until 10 pm daily.

Step into the regal dining room, tricked out with opulent chandeliers and elegant artwork, and any doubt that a buffet could meet Bellagio's standards vanishes. Even the most discerning foodie should find something to like among the bone marrow, pork belly, crab legs, oysters, shrimp and grits, made-to-order crêpes, and elaborate pastries. Some call the buffet overrated and overcrowded, but don't be put off by the naysayers—if you skip items that you could easily get at any Vegas buffet (such as pizzas from the wood-fired oven), you'll do well here. The staff does a first-rate job tending to everybody's needs. Beverage packages—offering two hours of mimosas, beer, margaritas, and more—are available.

Locals and visitors alike were delighted when New York's cronut king set up shop in Las Vegas, at Caesars Palace across from The Colosseum. The shop serves Ansel's cronut creations as well as French pastries such as the best-seller kouign-amann, tiger-striped pain au chocolat, huge nutty almond croissants, macarons, Liege waffles, and canneles. Mini-madeleines are piped to order and served warm. Ansel's signature chocolate chip cookie shots and frozen s'mores are made while you wait, and there's even a Thousand Layered Hot Dog Roll. Creative, beautiful pastries like the Blueberry Muffin—blueberry mousse and blueberry gelee atop a citrus almond financier cake with fresh blueberries—are another specialty, and sandwiches are available. There are a few seats inside if you'd like to sit while indulging in a croque monsieur.

Since Gordon Ramsay's been known to flame a contestant or two, it's only fitting that his burgers are cooked over a hardwood fire. Consider the Hell's Kitchen Burger, with asadero cheese, roasted jalapeños, and roasted tomatoes; or the Farmhouse Burger, with Dubliner cheese, bacon, and a fried egg. Salads include the "hellfire" chicken, and sides run to truffle Parmesan fries and beer-battered onion rings. Dig into one of Ramsay's rich desserts, or sip a cocktail while enjoying the roaring fire. There's another location at the Flamingo.

Three things stand out at this comfortable, casual restaurant, conceptualized by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey: the libations, the cheery across-the-pond ambience, and the elevated British pub grub. Cocktails have names like "Behind Blue Eyes" and "Boston's Inferno," or you can slake your thirst with a Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale. Hum along with classic Brit pop and rock tunes and watch football—soccer, to us Americans—on any of the numerous flat-screen tellies. Seating is easy on the bum, the place settings rich and rustic. Start with beef carpaccio or a jumbo lump crab cake. The beef Wellington, braised short rib and cabbage, crispy-skin salmon, oak-grilled meats, and mac and cheese are standouts. Warm sticky toffee pudding has fans aplenty. A four-course tasting menu and three-course menu are other options.

Visitors won't need a car for their In-N-Out fix since there's a location at The LINQ Promenade right on the Strip. The simple menu of fresh burgers, just-cut fries, and milk shakes makes this affordable West Coast fast-food joint with 18 locations around town a cult fave. If you're extra hungry (and we mean seriously so), go "off menu" and order a "4x4" (four beef patties with four slices of American cheese on a freshly baked bun), and maybe order it "animal-style," with a mustard-grilled beef patty and extra spread with grilled onions.

Unlike other buffets, which serve all of their items in large buffet pans, many of the foods here are presented as individual portions—an improvement on a number of levels. Wicked Spoon quickly became a cult favorite for desserts including gelato and homemade macarons, and dishes such as "angry mac 'n' cheese" (traditional mac and cheese with a touch of spice). There's continuous service from breakfast to lunch daily. There's also a bottomless-beverage option. The decor and music selection are modern and fun.