Las Vegas, NV. Ah, Vegas. The Bacchanalian capitol of the world, where excess is revered, sobriety is not an option, the price tags are high, the dresses are short, and the lights are brighter than ever. The recession is over; Vegas is hoppin’ again. But where to eat? There’s no such thing as a sure thing in LV, but here are some of the best bets.
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| The steak at The Barrymore |
For the Adventurous (aka We’re having getaway weekend… where can we avoid the tourists?)
The Barrymore. If you’re as big a Mad Men fan as I am,
you will fall in love with this mid-century modern throwback of a
steakhouse. Set just off the strip
at the northern end of all the madness, this place is aces: the prices are
moderate, the food is fantastic, and the lighting is super-sultry. Start with a cocktail and the grilled
octopus appetizer or one of several well-constructed, fresh salads (I’m partial
to the beet salad and the panzanella).
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| Cheesecake |
If you’re into steak, you will find a
great cut of meat here for under 40 bucks; and it’s one of the rare places
where non-beef eaters will be treated just as well. A vegetable curry, sea bass, and chicken are all
options. For dessert? The
cheesecake was a real winner, topped with quince and sorbet. Trust me: you want to take your date or
your closest friends here… they will think you know all the secrets in this
town.
The Barrymore99 Convention Center Dr
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 407-5303
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| Nam Kao Tod |
Lotus of Siam. Any foodie worth his salt knows
Lotus of Siam is considered the best Thai restaurant in the country. Located off-strip you’ll need a cheap
cab or a car rental to get here, and the strip-mall surroundings belie the
genius happening inside. The menu is over 12 pages long, and can be
overwhelming to navigate. Let me help. Start with the nam kao tod, crispy rice
with spicy sour pork. You have
probably never eaten anything like this: each bite is a zinger. Get a table-sized cauldron of chicken
coconut soup.
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| Nua Sao Renu - Beef in tamarind sauce |
Try one of the
Northern Thai specialties, like a pork blood noodle soup or a non-coconut
curry. If you’re unsure, tell your
waiter to choose for you. It’s
Thai cooking like your non-existant Thai mother would make: it warms your
stomach and your soul, heats the tongue, and doesn’t sting the wallet.
Lotus of Siam
953 E. Sahara Ave, Suite A5
Las Vegas, NV
702-735-3033
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| Ricotta at Mon Ami Gabi |
To Satisfy a Big Group with
Varied Tastes (aka Where can I take this bachelorette party to dinner?)
Mon Ami Gabi. Yes, it’s a chain of sorts, with
outposts in DC and Chicago. But if
you don’t feel like spending the cash down the street at Bouchon Bistro, Mon
Ami Gabi is a great alternative. A
girlfriend and I split an appetizer of ricotta cheese with capers and olives,
and I brunched on a frisee salad with poached egg.
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| Frisee Salad |
Her quiche lorraine was the size of a sauté pan. They have
rose by the glass which is a pretty perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Yes, it’s all
part of the cheesy illusion that is Vegas (set in the dated and Disney-ish
Paris hotel) but the food and the service are true bistro. C’est magnifique.
Mon Ami Gabi
3655 S Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 944-4224
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| Patatas Bravas |
Jaleo. Another eatery with a DC
outpost, Jaleo is part of the Jose Andres empire of Spanish small plates. Our party of 10 just asked the waitress
to feed us at about $50 a person, and the march of food was long and
lovely. Addictive patatas bravas
(fried potatoes) in aioli… chicken croquetas served, inexplicably, in a new shoe… spinach with
raisins… tortilla Espanola… poached lobster salad… grilled steak a la
plancha.
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| There was a croqueta who lived in a shoe.. |
And their version of flan
converted even the non-flan lovers among us. Costs add up here, and some plates seem REALLY small for
their price, but if you add some more of those spicy potatoes for bulk, you’ll
leave a happy campesino.
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| Burrata with Roasted Tomato |
Otto Enoteca. This Batali Italian small-plates
restaurant won the bang-for-buck award.
A party of 10, drinking several bottles of wine, a few cocktails,
desserts all around...each person paid only $70 including tip, which is (sadly) very difficult to do in this town.
Burrata (creamy mozzerella) with roast tomatoes was a rich, tangy winner, as was cavatelli
with broccoli rabe and sausage.
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| Cavatelli with Broccoli Rabe and Sausage |
There
are pizzas and charcuterie platters, and for those who don’t like to share,
entrees are very large for the price.
There’s something for everyone, but try to sit indoors. Sitting
“outside” under the fake Venetian sky has a food-court quality that detracts
from what’s on the plate.
What are your Vegas favorites? Leave them in the comments section!!
Categories:
American (New), Breakfast and Brunch, Eatery, Erin, French, Italian, Las Vegas, Postcard, Spanish, Steakhouses, Tapas, Thai
