GUIDE

Enjoy this sampling of the best restaurants in Las Vegas. Prices reflect the average cost of a three- course dinner for one, excluding drinks, tax and tip. Note: Menus change frequently and seasonally. Not all items mentioned may be available at all times

Blue Ribbon returns to its roots; London meets Las Vegas at Zuma; and more.

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 wood-burning grill and whole branzino. Don’t miss witty starters like Nueske bacon-wrapped matzo balls or the crispy/ gooey mac-and-cheese waffle. Tip: “Local Love Tuesdays” mean $1 oysters, plus $5 martinis all night in the bar and on the patio. 1720 Festival Plaza Drive, Summerlin, 702.685.8002, andironsteak.com $$$$

ANDREA’S Chef Joseph Elevado, who returned to Las Vegas from L’ermitage Beverly Hills, helms the kitchen of the cream, cognac, and gold-hued room dripping with Venetian glass teardrops and lovingly named after Steve Wynn’s wife. A vast, ever-changing menu of Pan-asian dishes plays to a social, sharing crowd. After dessert, skip the line into Surrender nightclub, which has its own entrance from the restaurant. Wynn Las Vegas, 702.770.5340, wynnlasvegas.com $$$$ AUREOLE LAS

VEGAS Aureole closed for a revamp last fall and reopened early 2017 with lightened-up décor and an approachable new configuration around food’s “natural foundations”: Surf, Root and Ranch, organized from light to more robust dishes. Don’t miss vegetables in raclette, Kona kampachi crudo in citrus cream, lionfish ceviche and a trio of savory and sweet cheesecakes. Well-known for its massive cellar, Aureole serves nearly 50 wines by the glass. Mandalay Bay, 702.632.7401, mandalaybay.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. 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 $$$$ BEAUTY & ESSEX Beauty & Essex conjures up a secret pawn shopinspired entrance— paying tribute to its Manhattan namesake— before diners enter a 10,000-square-foot space (formerly Comme Ca) inspired by vintage jewelry boxes, antiques and gemstones, and, unlike the original, containing a gold DJ booth. Three rooms from celeb chef Chris Santos serve shareable dishes from the original like tuna poke wonton tacos, Thai-style crispy shrimp, and Vegas-only dishes like roasted bone marrow. Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, 702.737.0707, beautyandessexlv.com $$$

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. Tip: Though the meaty menu can be daunting, the restaurant’s new Bar Centro menu, offered nightly beginning at 5pm, provides an intro with smaller bites like gazpacho shots, beef tartare sliders, and just a taste of that suckling pig (in a sandwich). SLS Las Vegas, 702.761.7610, slslasvegas. com $$$ BOUCHON BISTRO This airy Thomas Keller bistro is hidden away on the 10th floor of the Venezia Tower of Venetian, looking out onto fountains and gardens. In good weather, take your breakfast on the patio; it starts with a basket of fabulously flaky French pastries. ( Try the giant, gooey pecan sticky bun.) Venetian, 702.414.6200, venetian.com $$$ BOTTIGLIA The Tuscany- and Napainspired 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. Hang out at the fire pit overlooking the desert and dine on pristine crudo, stuffed zucchini f lowers and chargrilled octopus with black garlic yogurt sauce. 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 familystyle 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, 702.607.2355, buddyvlasvegas.com $$$ CARBONE Major Food Group’s Vegas venture, like the Greenwich Village original, celebrates the distinctive interpretations of Italian food in the five boroughs. Don’t miss the tableside Caesar salad and the immense veal parmigiana. divided into four sections by your Zac Posen tuxedo-clad waiter in the stylish, theaterinspired dining room. Aria, 702.590.2663, aria.com $$$$ CARNEVINO ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich’s signature Italian style comes to a carefully curated pre-theater menu. If you’re here for regular dinner service, the reserva steak, aged locally for six to eight months— and with sauces such as truffle vinaigrette and Barolo ristretto— is the must- order. Grand Canal Shoppes, 702.789.4141, carnevino.com $$$$ 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, 702.430.1235, venetian.com $$$

CLEO Confirming the idea that every success that debuts outside Las Vegas can be made grander on the Strip, chef Danny Elmaleh’s popular Middle Eastern restaurant Cleo, from Hollywood’s Redbury Hotel, is just as convivial in its SLS Las Vegas location. A central wood-burning oven turns out Elmaleh favorites like homemade laffa breads, meatball tagine and moussaka. The mezzes are some of the best in the city. SLS Las Vegas, 702.761.7612, slslasvegas.com $$$ COSTA DI MARE Chef Mark Lorusso flies in exquisite seafood and exotic shellfish from Italy daily at this Wynn favorite, where the emphasis is on seasonal and unusual catches. Look for rarities like moleche ( Venetian soft-shell crab) in fall and spring, centrolofo (imperial blackfish) in summer and its legendary live langoustines, whose source ships to only a dozen restaurants in the world. Wynn Las Vegas, 702.770.3305, wynnlasvegas.com $$$$ DELMONICO STEAKHOUSE Star chef Emeril Lagasse puts a modern, Creole spin on his own New Orleans steakhouse. 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, 702.414.3737, venetian.com $$$$

EGGSLUT Alvin Cailin has brought his concept from LA’S Grand Central Market, and his cult following, to a sleek little shop with a counter and barstools to plant yourself in for egg-based dishes such as his classic Slut, a coddled egg on potato puree poached in a glass jar and topped with gray salt and chives, or the Gaucho, an egg sandwich fancied up with seared wagyu tri-tip and chimichurri on a brioche bun. The long lines don’t differ much from the original, and the eggs are worth the wait. Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, 702.698.7000, cosmopolitanlasvegas.com $ ESTIATORIO MILOS This sunlit Greek finedining 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. Tip: The $ 29 three- course lunch menu is the best deal in town. Cosmopolitan, 702.6987930, cosmopolitanlasvegas.com $$$$ GORDON RAMSAY FISH & CHIPS Batter up! Fried British fare never tasted so good, from fresh cod filets to sausage and “dirty” chips to bangers and mash, at Ramsay’s traditional takeaway- style “chippy.” The Linq, 702.322.0529, thelinq. com $ HEARTHSTONE KITCHEN & CELLAR Situated in Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa, Hearthstone is a rustic, half-indoor, half- outdoor space, with its blazing fire pit and raw bar. Don’t miss perfectly charred pizzas, like truffle chicken and carbonara, from the wood oven. The restaurant’s patio has a prime west-facing view, perfect for taking your chorizo-stuffed dates and a glass of wine to watch the sunset over Red Rock Conservation Area. Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa, 702.797.7344, hearthstonelv.com, $$$ 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 elevates the fresh, simple dishes of his El Paso childhood. Look for a decidedly unvirtuous doughnut sandwich (filled with sausage, fried egg and Irish cheddar) and smoked pork belly eggs Benedict with jalapeño hollandaise. 1716 Horizon Ridge Parkway, 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 tapasstyle Mediterranean dishes such as an exceptional red wine risotto, simply grilled langoustines and crudo with blood orange. Bellagio, 702.693.8865, bellagio.com $$$

LAKESIDE

While the aptly named 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 butler-steered cart. Grand Canal Shoppes, 702.791.1800, venetian. com $$$$

LE CIRQUE This opulent, Adam Tihanydesigned 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 $$$$

LE PHO Chef Khai Vu’s District One restaurant developed a cult following for its modern takes on traditional Vietnamese favorites. They’ve followed him to Downtown’s Le Pho, which has everyone from the Strip’s celeb chefs to Downtown hipsters to the area’s court workers packing into the little place for fun twists like DIY fresh spring roll platters. 353 E. Bonneville Ave., 702.384.5563, lephodtlv.com $$ LIBERTINE SOCIAL This bar-meets-kitchenmeets-hangout space serves specialties by chef Shawn Mcclain and rising star, executive chef Jamaal Taherzadeh, like the Modern Fried Egg, cooked sous vide with sweet corn custard, topped with American sturgeon caviar, and served in its own shell, and the Snake River flat iron steak in the mesquite fired grill. Don’t miss the barrel-aged and draft cocktails and the historyinspired punches. Mandalay Bay, 877.632.7800, mandalaybay.com $$$

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, 702.770.3320, wynnlasvegas.com $$$$

MOMOFUKU LAS

VEGAS While David Chang’s Momofuku empire has 13 restaurants, two bars and a culinary lab, this is his first project on the West Coast. Look for all the Chang classics— his ramen, those pork buns. Tip: You’ll only find the Vegas-exclusive chili-glazed fried chicken sandwich topped with cucumbers on a potato roll on the new late-night menu at Peach Bar, between 11pm and 2am —worth staying up late for. The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, 702.698.2663, cosmopolitanlv.com $$$

MORELS FRENCH STEAKHOUSE &

BISTRO In the best kind of old-school-meets new steakhouse, dive into great raw bar platters; selections from a cheese and charcuterie bar with more than 60 artisanal cheeses and cured meats from around the world; wet- and dry-aged steaks and more than 60 wines by the glass. The dining room is classic elegance with Murano chandeliers. In nice weather, take your meal on the patio overlooking the Strip. Palazzo, 702.607.6333, morelslv.com $$$ MORIMOTO LAS VEGAS Masahuru Morimoto’s long-awaited Vegas outpost serves his famous teppanyaki, wagyu beef sukiyaki, soups, pork belly and some Vegas exclusives in a theatrical, Yabu Pushelberg-designed room lined with exotic photographs by Yasumichi Morita. Look for the former Nobu Matsuhisa protégé’s black cod braised in thick ginger soy and yosedofu: fresh tableside tofu served with crab. MGM Grand, 702.891.3001, mgmgrand.com $$$

NOBU Nobu Matsuhisa’s Caesars Palace restaurant— which anchors his own hotel tower—was the first Nobu in the U.S. 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 witty “tea whisk” light fixtures.) Caesars Palace, 702.785.6628, caesars.com $$$$

OTHER MAMA Chefowner 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 westside strip mall, by word-ofmouth it’s become a favorite of gourmands and off-theclock chefs. 3655 S. Durango Blvd., 702.463.8382, othermamalv.com $$

OYSTER BAR Vegas is a city crawling with oyster bars, but executive chef Bradley Manchester is taking on all the classics— a good variety of fresh oysters, massive classic pan roasts, a huge lobster roll packed with giant chunks of fresh meat. Little extras, like complimentary housemade salt and vinegar potato chips with a menu of top shelf beer, take it over the top. And the restaurant shines when Manchester goes rogue with dishes like a curried coconut seafood stew with jasmine rice and pickled chilies. Hard Rock Hotel, 702.693.5000, hardrockhotel.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 James Beard-nominated Japanese grill 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. 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, rakugrill.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. Tip: Savoy’s 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, 702.632.7888, 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 $$

SCARPETTA Chef Scott Conant’s modern Italian is an intimate space, but many don’t know about its eight-person chef ’s table, where you can watch signature dishes like yellowtail crudo with olio di zenzero and Mediterranean branzino with English peas, spring onions, morels and fava beans prepared right in front of you. Don’t leave without a taste of Conant’s deceptively simple spaghetti with tomato and basil. Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, 702.698.7960, cosmopolitanlasvegas.com $$$$

SEARSUCKER LAS

VEGAS Celeb chef Brian Malarkey’s popular Searsucker restaurant comes from San Diego to Las Vegas, where the “come early, stay late” social dining philosophy is right at home. Expect a retro-americana-themed room celebrating cowboy culture. To signatures like a 38-ounce tomahawk steak, Malarkey adds new

classics like eggs and pork belly in brown butter hollandaise, plus sides like fried Brussels sprouts with walnuts drizzled in anchovy-red-wine-jalapeno vinaigrette. Caesars Palace, 702.866.1800, searsucker.com $$$ SW STEAKHOUSE Overlooking Wynn’s Lake of Dreams, SW Steakhouse is one of a small handful of restaurants in the country authorized to serve certified-authentic Kobe beef. An entire Japanese and domestic wagyu menu allows guests to gild the lily with add- ons like Rogue Creamery smoked blue cheese, Maine lobster and Hudson Valley foie gras. Tip: Like the comfortable dining room chairs? So does hotel mogul Steve Wynn. He’s had them shipped to his offices around the world and to SW in Wynn Palace in Cotai. Wynn Las Vegas, 702.770.3325, wynnlasvegas.com $$$$ TOM COLICCHIO’S HERITAGE STEAK Las Vegas is a steaklover’s town, but Tom Colicchio brings his own special technique to the table. The menu in his restaurant focuses entirely on antibiotic-free meats sourced from ranchers across the US, prepared over an open flame with a charcoal grill and in a wood-burning oven. Leather walls, a huge hearth, and dsdseep banquettes in the lounge are as cozy as can be. Mirage, 866.339.4566, mirage.com $$$$

TWIST BY PIERRE

GAGNAIRE Pierre Gagnaire’s Mandarin Oriental restaurant—his only presence in the States—offers whimsical, modern takes on French fare. Celebrating? Order the “777” menu, Twist’s seven course menu paired with seven rare wines for $777. Mandarin Oriental, 888.881.9367, mandarinoriental.com $$$$ VERANDA The ideal brunch destination (in-the-know guests go for the mini donut machine) also hosts afternoon tea and has an intimate lounge on its lush, pool-facing patio. While it’s also a great power breakfast and lunch spot, the modern Italian trattoria-style restaurant’s secret strength is as a sanctuary from Vegas’s evening chaos during dinner. Relax with a plate of gorgeous antipasti, fresh salads, and a wide variety of light-to-robust entrees. The Four Seasons, 702.632.5121, fourseasons.com $$$

WING LEI The only Forbes Travel Guide Five-star Award-winning Chinese restaurant in North America, dining in Wing Lei will remind guests of dining inside a literal jewel box of classical Chinese design —decorated in sparkling white, gold and jade. Imperial Peking duck is served from custom-designed carts and carved tableside. Ask for a table with a view of the two century-old pomegranate trees and golden dragon for a transporting experience. Wynn Las Vegas, 702.770.3388, wynnlasvegas.com $$$$

Zuma At London transplant robata grill and sushi bar Zuma, from Rainer Becker, three open kitchens turn out shareable plates—from a main kitchen, sushi counter and robata grill. Dishes—like lobster tempura and truffled wagyu tataki— are shareable ( but that’s up to you). Zuma, whose contemporary Japanese is served in 10 other restaurants, from Abu Dhabi to Rome to Hong Kong, is the sexiest room in Las Vegas right now— a 9,000-square-foot space designed to capture earth, fire, water and air, and which features a natural stone wall from Chiang Mai— and a bar made from tree trunks. Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, 702.698.2199, cosmopolitanlasvegas.com $$$$