5 Best Restaurants in Center Strip, Las Vegas

Chef Bobby Flay scored another hoped-for hot spot at Caesars Palace with his replacement for the popular Mesa Grill. With a menu emphasizing seafood (thanks to Flay's visits to Italy's Amalfi Coast), the new restaurant encourages diners to visit a "market" section near the back, where they can choose a whole fish and one of three ways to prepare it. A "knowledgeable fishmonger" is on hand to answer the diners' questions, right down to where the fish comes from and how long it's been sitting. One thing to note: this is Flay's first foray into an Italian restaurant concept.

Spiegelworld strikes again with this “friendly finer diner” that has been designed as a companion to the company’s new Discoshow. Diner Ross is suitably Spiegelworld-wacky, carrying out the 1970s disco theme with cocktails such as the Wallbanger and the LSD ("Love Saves the Day" . . . what did you think it was going to be?), which mixes gin, aquavit, and falernum with Earl Grey yogurt. To carry out the theme, the food includes a "dirty martini" salad (with bibb lettuce and green olives) and green goddess wedge, as well as steaks, buffalo chicken schnitzel, steelhead trout, and burgers. Don’t miss the "disco fries" with cheese, gravy, and caramelized onions.

Chef José Andrés was one of the first to capitalize on the tapas concept in the United States at his original Washington, D.C., location, and small plates are the highlights of his restaurant here, too. You haven't thoroughly explored the menu until there are stacks of plates on your table. There are classic choices like jamon iberico (Spanish ham) and gambas al ajillo (shrimp in garlic). Or turn it over to the chef, with a tasting menu (two-person minimum). Another highlight: paellas, in at least four varieties. Bring a sense of humor to the main dining room, as some tables are fashioned out of foosball tables that still function perfectly (balls available upon request). For a more formal and intimate experience, try dining in the adjacent "é," an intimate, prix-fixe experience with seats that overlook a separate kitchen.

This French bistro and steak house that first earned acclaim in Chicago has become much beloved in Las Vegas, in large part because it was the first restaurant to have a terrace overlooking the Strip. For those who prefer a quieter environment, a glassed-in conservatory conveys an outdoor feel, and still quieter dining rooms are inside, adorned with chandeliers dramatically suspended three stories above. The specialty of the house is steak frites, offered three ways: classic, au poivre, and Bearnaise. The signature roast chicken A La Grand Mere is excellent, as is the classic skate wing with new potatoes and creme fraiche, and the prices are, on the whole, reasonable for the Strip. This place is also a favorite for breakfast or brunch, with dishes like classic eggs Benedict or French toast.  

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.