152 Best Restaurants in Las Vegas, Nevada

Background Illustration for Restaurants

Las Vegas is one of America's hottest restaurant markets. Nearly every big Strip property has at least one and often two or more celebrity-chef restaurants. Away from the Strip, the unprecedented population growth in the city's suburbs has brought with it a separate and continuous wave of new eateries, both familiar chains and increasing numbers of legitimate destination restaurants.

Casino-resort dining basically falls into one of three categories. In the top echelon are the properties that have a half dozen or more bona fide star-status restaurants: Aria, Bellagio, Caesars, The Cosmopolitan, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, Venetian/Palazzo, and Wynn/Encore. At the next level are those resorts with one or two stellar restaurants and a smaller range of worthwhile but not quite top-of-the-line options. On the Strip, these include The Cromwell, Mandarin Oriental, Mirage, Monte Carlo, New York–New York, Paris, Planet Hollywood, SLS Las Vegas, and Treasure Island. Off the Strip, you can add the Lucky Dragon, Palms, the Hard Rock, M Resort, The Rio All-Suite Hotel, Green Valley Ranch, the JW Marriott, and Red Rock Resort. Then there's everybody else: casino-resorts with maybe a decent eatery or two but that simply aren't known for great food.

Downtown Las Vegas has seen a big revitalization in the past several years, and that extends to restaurants. Although Downtown still lacks a destination restaurant, notable spots are Carson Kitchen, Therapy, Turmeric, Le Thai, and La Comida in Fremont East; and Pizza Rock and the older Triple George Grill in the Downtown 3rd District. There also are a number of good restaurants in the Downtown Container Park.

Outside the tourism corridor, Las Vegas has a number of marquee restaurants with increasing cachet among foodies from out of town—places such as Todd’s Unique Dining, Marché Bacchus, Nora's Italian Cuisine, and Lotus of Siam. There's great food to be had off the beaten path in Las Vegas, and you'll pay a lot less in these areas, too.

If you haven't been to Vegas in a few years, you'll notice some major changes. Names like Wolfgang Puck, Michael Mina, and Emeril Lagasse still have plenty of pull in this town, but the Vegas chefs commanding the most attention are French imports such as Pierre Gagnaire, Joël Robuchon, and Guy Savoy, along with vaunted U.S. chefs like Giada De Laurentiis, Charlie Palmer, and Mario Batali.

There's also a trend toward high-minded restaurants with exclusive-nightclub vibes. Note the success of see-and-be-seen Pan-Asian hot spot Hakkasan and Tao Asian Bistro & Nightclub, the youthful late-night haunts LAVO and FIX, and bordello-chic establishments such as Strip House—to name just a few. Elsewhere in town, Las Vegas's growing international—and especially Asian—population has created a market for some of the best Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, and Pan-Asian restaurants in the country.

La Pizza e La Pasta

$$ | South Strip

If you’re looking for something a little more sit-down-and-relax than Eataly’s forage-style food hall, consider this mid-priced part of the Italian behemoth. Two towering, gold-tiled pizza ovens turn out Neapolitan-style pies in numerous varieties, while the pasta side offers house-made fresh pasta dishes, such as pappardelle al ragu di funghi, lasagna Emilia, and ravioli di zucca, and others made with dried pasta imported from Gragnano, Italy, such as bucatini cacio e pepe, and linguine alla scoglio. Antipasti and salads also are served. The prix-fixe Taste of Italy menu has three courses.

3770 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, NV, 89109, USA
702-730–7644
Known For
  • Price point not far above food hall
  • Pizzas made in state-of-the-art ovens
  • Fresh pasta and dried imported from Italy

Something incorrect in this review?

Lago

$$$$ | Center Strip

Although chef Julian Serrano has stepped away from this lakeside Italian restaurant, the tradition continues. The emphasis is on seafood, with starter choices such as oysters with tangerine mignonette, hamachi or salmon crudo, and scallops and prawns with saffron fregola. Pizzettas include one with fresh black truffle, guanciale, and truffle cheese. Pasta dishes range from good ol' spaghetti and meatballs to gnocchi with wild boar sausage, and entrées include a mixed seafood grill, osso buco, steaks, and chicken. 

3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, NV, 89109, USA
702-693–8888
Known For
  • Italian-style small plates
  • Seafood antipasti
  • View of Bellagio fountains

Something incorrect in this review?

Lamaii

$ | West Side

This restaurant's founder started out as the sommelier at Lotus of Siam, so it makes sense that the wine racks behind the register and the multi-page wine list set this restaurant apart from some of its noisy neighbors, along with a romantic, jazz-music vibe (after sunset, the view of the rear of the neighboring Macy's home store fades away). The menu is smaller and more creative than the standard Thai eatery as well, with crisp-fried meats—Panang Crispy Duck, Pla Crispy Beef—as the focus of several dishes. There's another location in Henderson (2645 St. Rose Pkwy., Suite 150).

4480 Spring Mountain Rd., Las Vegas, NV, 89102, USA
702-238–0567
Known For
  • Creative Thai food
  • Romantic, elegant atmosphere
  • Wine pairings

Something incorrect in this review?

Recommended Fodor's Video

Lavo Italian Restaurant & Lounge

$$$ | North Strip

The food at this Roman-styled see-and-be-seen restaurant/nightclub often is overshadowed by the roaring club scene, but it's worth a stop—especially if you go early to avoid the thump thump of the music upstairs. You might see such substantial starters as tuna tartare, a one-pound meatball, and a burrata-and-pancetta brick-oven pizza. Entrées include salmon oreganato, cavatelli bolognese, and salt-baked wild branzino for two. Many of the dishes are meant to be shared. For Party Brunch from 1 to 6 pm Saturdays, or Endless Brunch from 10 am to 2:30 pm Sundays, try the Waffle Abbondanza giant waffle board, or sheep's milk ricotta waffles.

3325 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, NV, 89109, USA
702-791–1800
Known For
  • Celebrity sightings
  • Funky atmosphere
  • Menu far beyond red-sauce choices
Restaurant Details
No lunch

Something incorrect in this review?

Lazy Dog

$$ | South Strip

As casino companies relax their historically strict no-pets policies, canine companions are popping up with increasingly frequency on the Strip. While they're still no-go inside restaurants, they're frequently welcomed by those with patios, including this spot first established in Las Vegas at Town Square. The name's a clue, of course, as is the fact that LD has a special menu for dogs. As for humans, they'll find a varied menu including such starters of spicy tuna poke on crispy sushi rice, or Cajun fries with chipotle-ranch dipping sauce. Entrees include such homey choices as campfire pot roast, or a chicken pot pie, as well as steaks, burgers, sandwiches, and salads. There's a menu for human kids, too, as well as a gluten-sensitive menu; brunch dishes such as mountain berry pancakes and quiche are served on weekends. Suburban locations are in Summerlin and Henderson.

Le Cirque

$$$$ | Center Strip

This sumptuous restaurant, a branch of the now closed New York City landmark, remains one of the city's true temples of haute cuisine, despite increased heavy-hitting competition. The mahogany-lined room is all the more opulent for its small size: in a city of mega-everything, Le Cirque seats only 80 under its draped silk-tent ceiling. Even with a view of the hotel's lake and its mesmerizing fountain show, you'll only have eyes for your plate when your server presents dishes like pan-seared foie gras with roasted figs and crossaint pudding, California rabbit with English peas, or whole roasted Dover sole with caviar. Eight-course, four-course, vegetarian, and three-course theater menus are available.

3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, NV, 89109, USA
702-693–8100
Known For
  • Tiny, jewel-box room
  • Food not often found elsewhere
  • Fine, attentive service
Restaurant Details
Closed Tues.–Wed. No lunch
Reservations essential

Something incorrect in this review?

Libertine Social

$$$ | South Strip

This casual spot from James Beard Award–winning chef Shawn McClain puts the emphasis on "social." The food's fun but seriously good: try the caviar fried egg, in which fish eggs are paired with a chicken one and corn pudding, or boards like charcuterie, house-baked bread or pretzels. Among the entrées are a roasted chicken and pappardelle with oxtail ragu. There are conversation-inducing seating areas and a cocktail program that includes a house old-fashioned with Calvados and cinnamon, and a refreshing pisco sour. Grab-and-go lunch is available at the window on weekends.

3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, NV, 89119, USA
702-632–7558
Known For
  • Serious but fun menu
  • Emphasis on the "social"
  • Updated versions of historic cocktails
Restaurant Details
No lunch

Something incorrect in this review?

Lindo Michoacán

$ | East Side

Javier Barajas, the congenial owner and host of this colorful cantina group, named this restaurant after his birthplace in Mexico, where he learned to cook while growing up in the culinary capital of Michoacán. Don't miss such outstanding specialties as the carnitas or cabrito birria de chivo (roasted goat with red mole sauce). Guacamole is made tableside, and the flan is a silken wonder. There's no reason to stick to Mexican-restaurant basics when the menu is so expansivethe lunch menu alone offers 37 choices. This local success story began in 1990 and now boasts three other locations—in Henderson, Summerlin, and in the Palace Station casino—but the original is a singular experience: a dense labyrinth of rooms (with a capacity of around 300) with arched ceilings and brightly colored walls covered in bric-a-brac, and table visits from strolling mariachis.

2655 E. Desert Inn Rd., Las Vegas, NV, 89121, USA
702-735–6828
Known For
  • Specialties from Michoacán region
  • Tableside guacamole
  • Colorful, lively atmosphere

Something incorrect in this review?

Luchini Italian Restaurant

$$$ | South Strip

The Italian immigrants who brought their homeland’s cuisine to New York added their own touches that are celebrated today in spots such as Luchini. Grandma’s meatballs would be one example, and pizzas such as the "Fuhgeddaboudit" (truffle cheese, mozzarella, ricotta, and prosciutto di Parma) would be another. Grilled meats, pastas, sides, salads, and an extensive cocktail collection complete the picture. The adjacent slice shop just adds to the realism, as does the Chez Bippy speakeasy behind it.

3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, NV, 89109, USA
702-891--1133
Known For
  • Solid interpretations of Italian favorites
  • Slice shop for convenient take-out
  • Fun Chez Bippy speakeasy
Restaurant Details
No lunch

Something incorrect in this review?

Lucia Mexican Grill

$$ | Paradise Road

Fans of the bygone Pink Taco (and then, for a spell, Casa Calavera) will smile in recognition when they see its hotel-operated replacement's layout is much the same, including the convivial center bar; however, as the name change would signal, the decor and atmosphere are subtly more sophisticated now. Expanded outdoor patio seating against the backdrop of the pool area gives it a cool vibe for the daily 5–6 pm happy hour. The tequila menu is more expansive than the food side, which trims things down to creative versions of tacos and burritos with flourishes such as roasted pineapple or kimchi red onions. Every week brings Taco Tuesday's $5 tacos, and a there's a Fiesta Brunch on Saturday and Sunday.

4455 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas, NV, 89169, USA
702-693–5000
Known For
  • Lively atmosphere
  • Outdoor seating
  • Taco Tuesdays

Something incorrect in this review?

Lucy Ethiopian Restaurant

$ | West Side

Look past the sad, faded strip mall exterior: Lucy is bright, cheerful, and big—with a designated bar area and a stage for DJs or bands. Separate breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus offer various stews or deep dishes, which include cubed beef goreb goreb, and collard green and bone-in beef gomen besga, both meant to be scooped up with spongy injera flatbread. If you're curious, the name Lucy comes from Ethiopia's most famous fossil skeleton, and this place feels like a community hub. Officially designating a loosely defined area as "Little Ethiopia" in 2023 might have seemed as optimistic as the signs pointing the way to Chinatown did in the early 2000s, but the area is definitely evolving, and Las Vegas is said to have some 40,000 Ethiopians. Ethiopian restaurants and markets are scattered around the edges of Chinatown, but this restaurant is a solid place to anchor it.

Mabel's BBQ

$$

Michael Symon, TV celebrity chef and the man who revived the Cleveland culinary scene, took his show on the road to Las Vegas with this meat-centric spot at the Palms. "Pig Parts" (crispy ears, tails and cracklin's) may seem like a novelty to some, but there's no doubting the seriousness of his pork, beef, poultry, and carefully conceived sides, as well as the long list of brews to go with them. The airy, two-level space takes on a sports-bar vibe for high-profile games, complete with a "Tailgate Menu."

4321 W. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas, NV, 89103, USA
702-942–7780
Known For
  • House-smoked meats
  • Crispy pig parts
  • Bottle-aged cocktails
Restaurant Details
Closed Tues. and Wed. No lunch

Something incorrect in this review?

Marché Bacchus

$$ | West Side

This French bistro-cum-wineshop is in a quiet master-planned neighborhood that winds around its own lake (!), a remnant of the era when Las Vegas cared even less about running out of water. The tranquil setting and view are rivaled by a wine list nearly 1,000 bottles deep, and tastings and wine dinners are held regularly. You can buy a bottle at retail prices in the store and then drink it on the premises ($10 corkage fee). Seating is in either the cozy dining room or on the expansive lakeside terraces, which have misters for summer use and fireplaces for winter. When you're ready to eat, start with a cheese or charcuterie tray and move on to seared foie gras with poached seasonal fruit or a roasted beet salad. Entrées might include a classic steak frites or trout almondine. Hear live music on select nights. Marché Bacchus is open before noon for lunch and has a 3–6 pm happy hour.

2620 Regatta Dr., Las Vegas, NV, 89128, USA
702-804–8008
Known For
  • Serene view of lake and swans
  • Updated French classics
  • Nearly 1,000 wines

Something incorrect in this review?

Marrakech Mediterranean Restaurant

$$$$ | Paradise Road

Feel like a pampered pasha as belly dancers shake it up in a cozy Middle Eastern–style "tent" with a fabric-covered ceiling and eye-catching mosaics. The prix-fixe feast is a six-course affair that includes Moroccan-spiced shrimp scampi, a vegetable sampler, lentil soup, beef kabob, chicken with couscous and vegetables, and the tasty dessert b'stilla, which is baked phyllo dough layered with fruit. Moroccan and Lebanese wines flow freely in this upbeat spot, where servers wear Moroccan robes and generations of visitors have been invited to join the belly dancers if they feel the urge. Factor in the short walking distance to convention facilities, and it's no mystery why this has become one of Las Vegas' longest-tenured restaurants (though, in a young city, that means 1979). A significant remodel has kept the restaurant in its time-honored location but with welcome upgrades. 

3900 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas, NV, 89169, USA
702-737–5611
Known For
  • Belly dancers
  • Fun atmosphere
  • Great for groups
Restaurant Details
No lunch

Something incorrect in this review?

Mastro's Ocean Club

$$$$ | Center Strip

In addition to food that is upscale and delicious, this impressive restaurant is known for the "Tree House," a two-story wooden sculpture that rises from the ground level and houses the main dining room 30 feet up. Menu items range from Bering Sea king crab claws or legs and bigeye tuna tartare to 32- or 40-ounce Australian wagyu tomahawk chops, Japanese A5 wagyu, rack of lamb, and filet mignon. Side dishes tend to be predictable, except for the wild mushroom and black truffle gnocchi, and the lobster mashed potatoes. The signature warm butter cake alone warrants repeat visits.

3270 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, NV, 89158, USA
702-798–7115
Known For
  • Warm, welcoming service
  • "Tree House" structure
  • Warm butter cake
Restaurant Details
No lunch

Something incorrect in this review?

Matteo’s Ristorante Italiano

$$$ | North Strip

This sister to The Factory Kitchen in Los Angeles offers a relaxed, casual atmosphere along with a serious menu of the northern Italian cuisine. Starters like plancha-grilled calamari and vegetable salad, and seared foie gras with pistachio, might be followed by handkerchief pasta with almond-basil pesto, slow-roasted pork belly with vegetables, or almond-crusted Icelandic cod. The daily lunch menu lists such dishes as vegetable minestrone, and gnocchi with pork sausage ragu. There's also a children’s menu.

3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, NV, 89109, USA
702-414--1222
Known For
  • California-style Italian cuisine
  • Silky handkerchief pasta
  • Daily lunch menu

Something incorrect in this review?

Metro Pizza

$ | West Side

Younger Las Vegans call this local success story "the pizza they grew up on," while the smell of dough when they walk in the door may trigger older patrons' own childhood memories of their youthful pizza parlors. Look for size and value on the deep-dish pies, not fancy salads or artisan experiments, on the family-friendly menu. Metro is more about big stuffed pizzas with names such as the Stockyard or the Zamboni that are as hearty and meat-filled as you might imagine, and it's been growing with the city since the 1980s. The modest Westside original still has a 1950s-style diner look in a strip mall next to a supermarket. As native Las Vegans grew up and went to UNLV, home base might have become the second, freestanding location near campus (1395 E. Tropicana Ave.). The large freestanding Henderson location (4001 W. Decatur Blvd.) may be chain's pride and joy, and the fourth arrival is north in the Centennial Hills area (6720 Sky Pointe Dr.).

4001 S. Decatur Blvd., Las Vegas, NV, USA
702-362–7896
Known For
  • Giant pies
  • Family atmosphere
  • Good value

Something incorrect in this review?

Michael’s Gourmet Room

$$$$ | South Strip

Michael’s has long had the somewhat dubious distinction of being arguably the most expensive restaurant in Las Vegas; suffice it to say South Point owner Michael Gaughan knows how to treat his high rollers. That ladies’ menus don’t have prices (and you’ll have to hunt long, and probably in vain, to find them online) feels like more of a throwback than a misogynistic move. And throwbacks are what this menu is all about, with dishes like coquilles St. Jacques and shrimp, lobster, or lump crab cocktail to start, plus entrées of Chateaubriand, Dover sole, veal saltimbocca, and prime steaks. Service and decor are definitely on the elegant side. No children younger than 12 are allowed.

9777 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV, 89183, USA
702-796–7111
Known For
  • Menu of classic dishes like coquille St. Jacques, Chateaubriand, and Dover sole
  • Impeccable service
  • Quietly elegant surroundings
Restaurant Details
No lunch

Something incorrect in this review?

Mon Ami Gabi

$$$ | Center Strip

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.  

3655 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, NV, 89109, USA
702-944–4224
Known For
  • View of Strip from outdoor patio
  • Steak frites variations
  • Great for breakfast or brunch
Restaurant Details
Reservations essential

Something incorrect in this review?

Mother Wolf

$$$$ | North Strip

James Beard nominee and former Spago sous chef Evan Funke has brought his pasta prowess to Las Vegas with this sister restaurant to the locations in Hollywood and Miami. The busy and lively atmosphere matches the energetic level of his Roman-style cuisine. Funke puts a spin on the traditional; his funghi pizza has both wild and cultivated mushrooms, scamorza, taleggio, and parmigiano reggiano. Starters include squash blossoms with ricotta romana; main courses include Australian rib chops with peperonata salsa verde, and a grilled whole branzino for the table.

2777 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, NV, 89109, USA
833-702--7070
Known For
  • Modern twists on Roman traditional dishes
  • Whole branzino for the table
  • Chops with peperonata salsa verde
Restaurant Details
No lunch

Something incorrect in this review?

Mr Chow

$$$$ | Center Strip

It was a long time coming, but the venerable celebrity magnet Mr Chow finally established a beachhead at Caesars Palace, and it's acquired a following of its own. On the second floor overlooking the Garden of the Gods pool complex, the predominantly white restaurant is centered on a circular suspended "kinetic sculpture" that periodically descends and opens itself to the room. All the favorites are here, including the famous green prawns, plus Mr. Chow noodles and drunken fish. Las Vegas being an Asian magnet, there's a Chinese menu as well. There also are three "semi"-prix-fixe options. Don't miss the champagne trolley as it makes its way around the room.

3570 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, NV, 89109, USA
702-731–7888
Known For
  • Kinetic sculpture centerpiece
  • Lots of Mr Chow classics
  • Superb, friendly service
Restaurant Details
Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch

Something incorrect in this review?

Nellie’s Southern Kitchen

$$ | South Strip

The Jonas Brothers have captured the hearts of a generation of music fans, and Nellie’s has claimed dominion over their stomachs. Named after their great-grandmother and an offshoot of the original in North Carolina, the restaurant serves appropriately Southern riffs-on-classics at lunch and dinner. You can start with a basket of biscuits with cinnamon butter and jam, pimento cheese or collards and artichoke dip, or fried green tomatoes, and proceed to dishes like fried chicken with four-cheese mac and drunken collard greens, a waffle with lobster tail dipped in Nashville hot sauce, meatloaf, or a rib-eye steak. Live music is, as you might expect, a staple.

3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, NV, 89109, USA
702-640–1056
Known For
  • Owned by Jonas Brothers' family
  • Southern cuisine with a few tweaks
  • Biscuits with cinnamon butter

Something incorrect in this review?

Netflix Bites

$$$ | South Strip

Las Vegas has had restaurants themed for Motown, ESPN, Star Trek, magic, Hello Kitty, and more over the years, so this zeitgeist-grabbing spot feels inevitable. The energy of the casino floor carries into the neon-bedecked restaurant, where you'll find food and drink inspired by Netflix favorites, such as "Eggs Benedict Bridgerton" (with smoked salmon) "Stranger Wings" (with Buffalo, lemon pepper, or bbq sauce) "Orange is the New Mac" (mac and cheese with hot Cheetos), or drinks like the "Dalgona Rum Buzz" or "The House of Usher." Or indulge in the full Bridgerton Regency Tea, with finger sandwiches, scones, and everything else Lady Whistledown would expect. This is a pop-up that is expected to last into early 2026, but maybe it'll get a second season. It closes from 2 to 5 daily.

Nobu

$$$ | South Strip

Executive chef Nobu Matsuhisa helped fuel the popularity of the original Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, so it would have just seemed wrong for the restaurant not to carry over when the hotel transitioned into Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. Although there's now a Nobu restaurant at Paris Las Vegas and an entire Nobu sub-hotel within Caesars Palace, this one reflects the decor and menu of the Manhattan Nobu original, with bamboo and wood accents. But those who feel it's somehow a little different now are correct: the decor was spruced up during the hotel's remodeling, and there's a new outdoor space overlooking the pool. The menu comprises small- or moderate-size plates, making Nobu perfect for sharing but also an easy place to drop a wad of cash (as all those artful food presentations add up). Entrées might include the famous black cod with miso, yellowtail tartare with caviar, rock shrimp tempura, and Maine lobster with wasabi-pepper sauce. If you're feeling brave (and flush), opt for the omakase multi-course tasting menu, and let the chef make the decisions for you.

4455 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas, NV, 89169, USA
702-693–5090
Known For
  • Nobu classics such as black cod miso
  • Plenty of sushi and sashimi
  • Quiet, efficient service
Restaurant Details
No lunch
Reservations essential

Something incorrect in this review?

Nora's Italian Cuisine

$ | West Side

Independent restaurants in Las Vegas have such a struggle that Nora's is a refreshing success story. It's so popular with locals that it was able to build a new home, ground up, within walking distance of the old storefront location (now the equally worthwhile Monzú Italian Oven, owned by a family member) that fueled its 24-year reputation. The newer building adds patio seating and a Josper charcoal oven, which combines traditional grilling with a tandoor effect. But it remains a dark wood-and-white tablecloth kind of place with fetching food and a nice ambiance for repeat customers. There’s traditional pizza, pasta, and veal, but the adventurous won’t be disappointed in Nora’s collection of unique dishes such as wild boar pappardelle, or the “Crazy Alfredo,” which combines fettuccine with shrimp, chicken, sausage, roasted bell peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, and jalapeños. Another favorite is the "Alla Nora" of baked spaghetti and eggplant with a meat sauce plus pesto and Parmesan.

5780 W. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas, NV, 89103, USA
702-873–8990
Known For
  • Inventive pastas
  • Indoor/outdoor seating
  • Easygoing atmosphere

Something incorrect in this review?

One Steakhouse

$$$$

Brothers David and Michael Morton, restaurateurs whose father founded the Morton's The Steakhouse chain back in the day, maintain the tradition at the new Virgin Hotels. This one is quite a bit different than their MB Steak, dividing its seating between the front bar with a bit of a retro vibe and its rear dining room. The former is a little more casual—opening to the casino floor and punctuated with video screens—yet in a way more gorgeous, thanks to a giant acrylic lighting sculpture overhead, which changes colors every so often. The menu still offers more than a half-dozen beef choices including wagyu, as well as the 32-ounce tomahawk or double porterhouse steaks for two. Roast chicken, scallops, or Alaskan king crab pasta are options for the non-beef eaters.

4455 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas, NV, 89169, USA
702-522–8111
Known For
  • De-stigmatizing "we'll just sit in the bar"
  • 32-ounce tomahawk steak
  • Table-side carving
Restaurant Details
No lunch

Something incorrect in this review?

Pasta Shop Ristorante & Art Gallery

$$

This house-made pasta pioneer (which sells to Strip resorts) is part restaurant and part art gallery, showcasing the owner's works. Pasta is, as you might expect, the specialty here, shown to advantage in dishes such as Artisan Pasta Anne (spinach pappardelle with grilled shrimp, feta, and tomatoes in a scampi sauce). There also are vegan dishes, pizzas, and salads, including the popular "Live Forever Salad" with wild greens, brown rice, tomatoes, and roasted cashews.

2525 W. Horizon Ridge Pkwy., Henderson, NV, 89052, USA
702-451–1893
Known For
  • House-made pasta
  • Friendly, personable service
  • Extensive options for vegans

Something incorrect in this review?

Peter Luger Steak House

$$$$ | Center Strip

The venerable New York steakhouse, which dates to 1887, launched its first American location outside of New York with this spot with lots of windows and a dramatic arched ceiling. The legendarily gruff waiters are back in the Big Apple, but the on-site dry-aged prime steaks are here—for two, three, or four people. Double-thick lamb chops are another option, and whole sole is boned tableside. For lunch, indulge in a half-pound-plus Luger Burger, or take a lighter approach with sliced tomatoes and onions with Luger’s Own Sauce, both also available as part of the three-course prix-fixe Luger Power Lunch, available Wednesday through Friday and Sunday. 

3570 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, NV, 89109, USA
702-731--7267
Known For
  • Porterhouse steak for two or more
  • Apple strudel or a hot fudge sundae with "schlag" for dessert
  • The famous burger, available only for lunch

Something incorrect in this review?

Piero's Italian Cuisine

$$$$ | East Side

Las Vegas has very few restaurants left from the early 1980s, and none with the legend of Piero's. Located just across the street from the convention center for all but five of those years, Piero's is a blend of "expense account joint" and a classic Vegas mecca for those fascinated by the bygone mob era, having hosted the actual characters depicted in Casino and later serving as a filming site for the movie itself. Little set decoration was needed in the meandering restaurant full of nooks and crannies, low ceilings, and dark paneling with two bars serving giant martinis in the middle of the action. And, oh yes, there's food: The basics are done with detail and served on huge platters, from the osso buco (off menu but usually a special) to pastas such as the "Sunday Gravy" (rigatoni with both meatballs and Italian sausage).

355 Convention Center Dr., Las Vegas, NV, 89109, USA
702-369–2305
Known For
  • Generous portions
  • Lots of convention lanyards
  • Feeling like a wiseguy
Restaurant Details
No lunch

Something incorrect in this review?

Ping Pang Pong

$ | West Side

Delicious regional (mostly Cantonese) fare includes marvelous dim sum made fresh daily often compels discerning diners—many of whom hail from Vegas's large Asian community—to brave the smoky, low-rollers casino floor of the Gold Coast, an otherwise unremarkable locals casino. The hours are a testament to its popularity: it's open from 10 am to 3 am every single night of the week. Named for three characters in Puccini's opera Turandot (Pong is head chef of the imperial kitchen), this well-regarded restaurant is kwown for authentic dishes such as chicken lettuce cups, seafood fish mah stew, preserved-egg porridge, or spicy Dungeness crab with peppercorn, along with a glass of chrysanthemum iced tea and sweet pineapple buns for dessert, soft and warm from the oven. Chefs will cater to customers' requests for small, unique offerings not on the menu, as long as the ingredients are on hand. 

4000 W. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas, NV, 89103, USA
702-247–8136
Known For
  • Dim sum plentiful and varied
  • Authentic Chinese specialties
  • Lots of Chinese expats

Something incorrect in this review?