THE SOURCE: SCENE
UFC’S INTERNATIONAL FIGHT WEEK RETURNS TO VEGAS IN JULY.
Where to eat, drink and play in Las Vegas.
Mixed martial arts super fans, Octagon Girls, celebs, and athletes will converge for the UFC’S annual International Fight Week, held July 5–9 this year. Ultimate Fighting Championship, which was acquired by WME/IMG last year, promotes all combat sports over that blowout week. It’s the sixth annual fight week in Vegas, and this year’s event includes three consecutive events inside T-mobile Arena: The Ultimate Fighter reality TV series crowns its winner during a live finale; a UFC Fight Night card on Fox Sports; and the UFC 213 payper-view event. But one of the big draws for fans is the annual UFC Fan Expo, where MMA fighters sign autographs and take part in open Q&A sessions; there’s a huge EA Sports station, and lots of combat sports events to take in. This year, the fan experience happens in The Park, the dining and entertainment district adjacent to T-mobile Arena. Prepare for lots of (literally) pumped up crowds. ufc.com
ANDIAMO ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE
The Downtown outpost of Andiamo— Joseph Vicari’s acclaimed family of Detroit-area restaurants serving meats from the nation’s top providers (think Pat Lafrieda and Strauss)—is an oldschool steakhouse treasure hidden on the second floor of the D hotel. The tableside Caesar salad is worth the trip alone, as are the handmade pastas, though carnivores shouldn’t miss the 32-ounce rib eye. The D Las Vegas, 702-388-2460; thed.com
ANDIRON STEAK & SEA
The high, whitewashed ceilings and relaxed vibe of Elizabeth Blau and chef Kim Canteenwalla’s modern steakhouse recall dining in the Hamptons. It’s all about elevated simplicity, with steaks charred over an apricot woodburning grill and whole branzino. Don’t miss witty starters like Nueske baconwrapped matzo balls or the crispy/ gooey mac-and-cheese waffle. INSIDER TIP: “Local Love Tuesdays” mean $1 oysters, plus $5 martinis all night in the bar and on the patio. 1720 Festival Plaza Dr., Summerlin, 702-685-8002; andironsteak.com
BARDOT BRASSERIE
Gold lettering on the windows, Laguiole cutlery, and a central zinc bar epitomize the singular quality of Michael Mina’s elevated French brasserie in Aria, where classics like onion soup are refined with aged Gruyère and Périgord truffles in one of the most romantic and transporting dining rooms in town. INSIDER TIP: Simple roasted chicken? Mina treats his all-natural Hudson Valley heirloom birds like Peking duck—brined, blanched, and hung to dry before being roasted with artisanal soy and vin jaune from France’s Jura region. Aria, 877-230-2742; aria.com
BAZAAR MEAT
José Andrés’s elegant ode to carnivores is, as you might expect, all about the meat, with dishes like wild boar sausage and even an entire 10-pound suckling pig. INSIDER TIP: Though the meaty menu can be daunting, the restaurant’s new Bar Centro menu, offered nightly beginning at 5 pm, provides an intro with smaller bites like gazpacho shots, beef tartare sliders, and a just a taste of that suckling pig (in a sandwich).
BOUCHON BISTRO
This airy Thomas Keller bistro is hidden away on the 10th floor of the Venezia Tower of Venetian, looking out onto fountains and gardens. In good weather, take your breakfast on the patio; it starts with a basket of fabulously flaky French pastries. (Try the giant, gooey pecan sticky bun.) Venetian, 702-414-6200; venetian.com
BOTTIGLIA
The Tuscany- and Napa-inspired restaurant with its cheery interior and convivial patio capitalizes on fresh ingredients for dinner specialties like pappardelle bolognese, but it’s most crowded for weekend brunch, when revelers ease out of the weekend with lemon ricotta pancakes and blood orange mimosas. Green Valley Ranch, 702-617-7075; bottiglialv.com
BUDDY V’S
The lines to get into “Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro’s Carlo’s Bakery wound through the Venetian when it opened, and his family-style Italian place across the corridor gets the same kind of attention. Can’t-miss favorites include Jersey City-style fried mozzarella named for his Aunt Nina, his grandmother’s meatballs, and My Wife’s Eggplant Parm. Head to Carlo’s Bakery for an after-dinner cannoli. Grand Canal Shoppes at Venetian and Palazzo, 702-607-2355; buddyvlasvegas.com
CARBONE
When Major Food Group launched Carbone in New York’s Greenwich Village, the company envisioned a high-end red sauce restaurant celebrating the distinctive interpretations of Italian food in the five boroughs. It was only natural to bring the concept to Vegas—and quadruple the space, of course. Don’t miss the tableside Caesar salad and the immense veal parmigiana, divided into four sections by your Zac Posen tuxedo-clad waiter in the stylish, theater-inspired room in Aria. Aria, 702-590-2663; aria.com
CARNEVINO ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE
Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich’s signature Italian style comes to a carefully curated pretheater menu. Try the simply grilled tagliata di manzo with arugula, meaty homemade tagliatelle Bolognese, and pear budino with whiskey butterscotch (or in warmer weather, the semifreddo). If you’re here for regular dinner service, the reserva steak, aged locally for six to eight months—and with sauces such as truffle vinaigrette and Barolo ristretto—is the must-order. Grand Canal Shoppes at Venetian and Palazzo, 702-789-4141; carnevino.com
CHART HOUSE
The many locations of Chart House across the country serve exceptional seafood and steaks, but only the newest outpost—in Golden Nugget—dazzles with a 75,000-gallon tropical aquarium. INSIDER TIP: Go for lunch and ask for a seat behind the aquarium for one of Las Vegas’s best, and most discreet, power lunches. Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino, 702-386-8364; chart-house.com
CHICA
Star-struck Top Chef Masters fans flocked to the grand opening of Lorena Garcia’s new restaurant for a star sighting and stayed for the innovative interpretations of flavors from Peru,
Mexico, Argentina, and Venezuela. Don’t miss ceviches from the cold bar, churrascaria grilled meats, and arepas with everything. Wash it down with a glass from her collection of wines by female vintners from every country in South America. Venetian, 702-4301235; venetian.com
COSTA DI MARE
Chef Mark Lorusso flies in exquisite seafood and exotic shellfish from Italy daily at this Wynn favorite, where the emphasis is on seasonal and unusual catches. INSIDER TIP: Look for rarities like moleche (Venetian soft-shell crab) in fall and spring, centrolofo (imperial blackfish) in summer, and its legendary live langoustines, whose source ships to only a dozen restaurants in the world. Wynn Las Vegas, 702-770-3305; wynnlasvegas.com
DELMONICO STEAKHOUSE
Star chef Emeril Lagasse puts a modern, Creole spin on his own New Orleans steakhouse, a century-old restaurant that he purchased and renovated 20 years ago. Cuts like the bone-in rib eye, the Japanese Wagyu, and even a Chateaubriand carved tableside for two are superlative, but don’t miss Lagasse’s classic barbecue shrimp. And the wine selection tops 2,300 bottles. Grand Canal Shoppes at Venetian and Palazzo, 702-414-3737; venetian.com
EIFFEL TOWER RESTAURANT
Directly facing Bellagio’s fountains, the intimate Eiffel Tower offers traditional French fine dining and one of the most romantic views in Vegas. INSIDER TIP: Call far in advance, ask for table 56 (aka “the proposal table,” the corner spot whose two seats both face the fountains), and order the famous soufflé as soon as you arrive so it will be ready by dessert. Paris Las Vegas, 702-948-6937; parislasvegas.com
ESTIATORIO MILOS
This sunlit Greek fine-dining restaurant in Cosmopolitan (an offshoot of its original New York City location) allows diners to choose from piles of fish and live lobsters hauled in from Mediterranean waters. Simply grilled or baked in salt crusts, the seafood is the star, but don’t miss the Milos Special: paper-thin fried chips of zucchini and eggplant in a mound of thick tzatziki. INSIDER TIP: The $29 three-course lunch menu, not at all downsized, is the best lunch deal in town. Cosmopolitan, 702-698-7930; cosmopolitanlasvegas.com
GORDON RAMSAY FISH & CHIPS
Batter up! Fried British fare never tasted so good, from fresh cod filets to sausage and “dirty” chips to bangers and mash, at Ramsay’s traditional takeaway-style “chippy.” The Linq, 702-322-0529; thelinq.com
HERRINGBONE
Star chef Brian Malarkey’s fish restaurant with La Jolla roots takes the relaxed, ocean-to-table concept to a new level with beach-chic décor and live music on a patio overlooking Aria’s pool. Big group? Order a “yacht” of a dozen oysters, Alaskan king crab, Maine lobsters, and jumbo shrimp. Aria, 702-590-9898; aria.com
JOËL ROBUCHON
At this mecca of haute cuisine, diners start with Dungeness crab, lobster gelée, and fennel cream topped with osetra caviar—which helps explain why this is the sole Michelin three-star restaurant in Vegas. Enjoy the 16-course tasting that follows from a private booth or the Garden Terrace. MGM Grand, 702-891-7925; mgmgrand.com
KITCHEN TABLE
Passionate local gourmands flock to this unassuming rustic Henderson kitchen, where the chef (whose roots are in fine dining) elevates the fresh, simple dishes of his El Paso childhood. Look for a decidedly unvirtuous doughnut sandwich (filled with bacon, fried egg, and Irish cheddar) and smoked pork belly eggs Benedict with jalapeño hollandaise. 1716 Horizon Ridge Pkwy., 702-478-4782; kitchentablelv.com
LAGO BY JULIAN SERRANO
This contemporary Italian restaurant features a crisp white design by Munge Leung, inspired by early-20th-century Italian Futurism. The patio tables are practically in the mist of Bellagio’s fountains, while Michelin-starred chef Julian Serrano offers tapas-style Mediterranean dishes such as an exceptional red wine risotto, simply grilled langoustines, and crudo with blood orange. INSIDER TIP: Call ahead and ask for table 80, closest to the fountains. Bellagio, 702-693-8865; bellagio.com
LAKESIDE
While the aptly named Wynn restaurant—located on the surreal Lake of Dreams—has always had a terrific seafood program, chef David Walzog’s relationship with fishermen in Hana, Hawaii, now yields tons of snapper, monchong, shutome, mahi-mahi, and ono, flown straight from the Pacific and sometimes served the day after they were caught. Try a flight of the day-boat fish simply prepared with fennel and citrus, pickled vegetables, and ponzu broth. Wynn Las Vegas, 702-770-3310; wynnlasvegas.com
LAVO
Find unpretentious Italian standards at Lavo, famous for its bottomless brunch and dishes like lobster eggs Benedict. Now a hybrid private gaming room and sexy Italian lounge with bottle service, its weekend Casino Club brings food and beverages right to your reserved gaming table via a butlersteered cart. Grand Canal Shoppes at Venetian and Palazzo, 702-791-1800; venetian.com
LE CIRQUE
This opulent, Adam Tihany-designed French restaurant is as impeccable as when it first opened more than 15 years ago—modeled, of course, on Sirio Maccioni’s New York landmark. For the full experience, order the 10-course Prestige menu, saving room for the theatrical boule au chocolat. Bellagio, 702-693-8100; bellagio.com
LIBERTINE SOCIAL
This bar-meets-kitchen-meets-hangout space dishes up specialties from chef Shawn Mcclain, like his Modern Fried Egg, cooked sous vide with sweet corn custard, topped with American sturgeon caviar, and served in its own shell. Also don’t miss the barrel-aged and
draft cocktails and the history-inspired punches. Mandalay Bay, 877-6327800; mandalaybay.com
MIZUMI
The Kobe Beef Federation has granted only three licenses in the United States, and Wynn holds one of them. But at Mizumi, the teppan and sushi restaurant with its own waterfall and private outdoor floating pagoda table, chef Devon Hashimoto goes a step further, serving Hokkaido Snow Beef (even rarer than Kobe), produced by just one farmer on the snowy Japanese island of Hokkaido. Wynn Las Vegas, 702-7703320; wynnlasvegas.com
MORIMOTO LAS VEGAS
Masahuru Morimoto’s long-awaited Vegas outpost swankily serves up the original Iron Chef’s famous teppanyaki, Wagyu beef sukiyaki, soups, pork belly, and some Vegas exclusives in a sleek, Yabu Pushelbergdesigned room. MGM Grand, 702-891-3001; mgmgrand.com
NOBU
Nobu Matsuhisa’s Caesars Palace restaurant—which anchors his own hotel tower—was the first Nobu in the US to offer teppanyaki, as well as signature dishes like his famous black cod miso and his squid “pasta,” all in the dining room David Rockwell designed to make you feel as if you’re inside a Japanese ikebana basket. (Look for the “tea whisk” light fixtures.) Caesars Palace, 702-785-6628; caesars.com
OTHER MAMA
Chef-owner Dan Krohmer, who has worked with Masaharu Morimoto and toured as a chef for rock stars (T-swift! Jay Z!), combines a casual aesthetic with pristine, spot-on oysters and sashimi served with innovative cocktails. Hidden in a west-side strip mall,by word-of-mouth it’s become a favorite of gourmands and off-the-clock chefs. 3655 S. Durango Blvd., 702-463-8382; othermamalv.com
PICASSO
Run by Spanish favorite son Julian Serrano, Bellagio’s AAA and Forbes Travel Guide five-star-rated fine dining destination is also graced by the work of another famous Spaniard. Authentic Pablo Picasso paintings and ceramics are a gorgeous accompaniment to Serrano’s own works of art: regional Spanish and French dishes such as pan-seared U10 day-boat scallops with silky potato mousseline and jus de veau, served with a spectacular view of the fountains. Bellagio, 888-987-6667; bellagio.com
RAKU
Specializing in robata and oden cooking, this Japanese grill, which has been nominated for a number of James Beard Awards, is well-known to gourmands as one of the best Japanese restaurants in the country. It stays open late to accommodate chef fans like Guy Savoy and Mario Batali, who eat here after service. INSIDER TIP: Call three days ahead to reserve chef Mitsuo Endo’s 10- or 15-course kaiseki tasting menu. 5030 W. Spring Mountain Road, 702-367-3511; raku-grill.com
RESTAURANT GUY SAVOY
Chef Guy Savoy attracts serious foodies with his traditional nine-course menu and his playful, 13-course Innovation menu, featuring fanciful creations like spot prawns in a “sweet and sour fishnet” of mesh-cut daikons. INSIDER TIP: Savoy’s new Caviar Room offers guests a taste of legendary dishes—like his Colors of Caviar, paired with a Krug or Belvedere martini—without booking an entire evening’s experience. Caesars Palace, 702-731-7286; caesars.com
RIVEA
Not-to-miss items at Rivea include tangy Provençal caponata and a lobster and purple artichoke salad whose vibrancy rivals the spectacular view of the mountains and the Strip from your perch on the 64th floor. Be sure to try the crispy socca (the chickpea street food sold in the South of France) for a feeling of endless summer on the Riviera. Delano Las Vegas, 702-6327888; delanolasvegas.com
RX BOILER ROOM
Chef Rick Moonen—often called the “godfather of sustainability” in seafood circles—indulges his love of comfort food in a steampunk-themed room upstairs from his RM Seafood, complete with an alchemy bar and “nourishment chart.” Don’t miss witty bites like Devils on Horseback (dates stuffed with Shaft’s blue cheese and wrapped in smoked bacon), chicken pot pie nuggets, and duck confit poutine. Mandalay Bay, 702-632-9300; mandalaybay.com
SALUTE TRATTORIA ITALIANA
The refined Southern Italian offerings at this Red Rock hot spot range from pastas prepared tableside to a whole, salt-roasted branzino to Nutella-stuffed bomboloni. Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa, 702-797-7311; redrock.sclv.com
SPAGO
Gourmet dishes like smoked salmon pizza and fresh salads—plus a devoted following of local socialites and power brokers—makes Wolfgang Puck’s original Vegas outpost one of the Strip’s best options for closing a deal over lunch. The Forum Shops at Caesars, 702-3696300; caesars.com
SUGARCANE RAW BAR GRILL
The Vegas location of the James Beard Award-nominated Miami hot spot debuted in November. Early favorites include the sea urchin tostada and shellfish hot pot rice with clams, cuttlefish, and Alaskan king crab. Venetian, 702414-4525; venetian.com
SW STEAKHOUSE
Overlooking Wynn’s Lake of Dreams, SW Steakhouse is one of a small handful of restaurants in the country to serve certified-authentic Kobe beef. INSIDER TIP: Like the comfortable dining room chairs? So does hotel mogul Steve Wynn. He’s had them shipped to his offices around the world and to SW in Wynn Palace in Cotai. Wynn Las Vegas, 702-770-3325; wynnlasvegas.com
TWIST
Pierre Gagnaire’s Mandarin Oriental restaurant—his only presence in the States—offers whimsical, modern takes on French fare (broccoli ice cream, anyone?). Mandarin Oriental, 888-8819367; mandarinoriental.com
VERANDA
The ideal brunch destination (in-theknow guests go for the mini doughnut machine) also hosts afternoon tea and has an intimate lounge on its lush, pool-facing patio. While it’s also a great power breakfast and lunch spot, its secret strength is as a sanctuary from Vegas’s evening chaos. The Four Seasons, 702-632-5121; fourseasons.com