While you will always be able to enjoy a world-class Las Vegas buffet, a signature 99-cent shrimp cocktail and a shuttle to any number of exceptional outlet malls, Las Vegas dining and retail options have reached new heights in the past several years. Now on par with international dining and shopping destinations like New York, Paris, Chicago and Milan, Las Vegas is home to some of the most unique and upscale dining and shopping destinations in the world! This section of our guide is designed to give you a taste of the many flavors to be found in Las Vegas: from theme restaurants and internationally-renowned chefs to unique shopping venues and out-of-the-way boutiques.
Dining in Las Vegas has evolved from simply satisfying an appetite to partaking in a full sensory culinary experience. From exotic foreign cuisine to home-style comfort food, there is a taste to suit every appetite and budget. True “foodies” can enjoy the ultimate in dining experiences in Las Vegas: outstanding food paired with an intoxicating ambience delivered through exceptional service.
With an incredibly diverse population, diversity on the culinary front has expanded to include ethnic specialties from countries spanning the globe.
For an Asian flair, visit Hamada of Japan, with an award-winning sushi bar and flaming tableside teppan service, or Tao at The Venetian, with its spicy tuna tartare and crisp Thai shrimp.
Looking the fresh tastes of the Mediterranean? Check out Paymon’s Café, with its darkly exotic and savory appetizers and tantalizing hookah lounge.
How about a taste of Indian cuisine? Consider Mantra Masala or Mint Indian Bistro, with spicy curry and Tandoor specialties, like clay oven-roasted chicken and Himalayan cuisines, which include delectable vegan and vegetarian options.
For the best in Vietnamese dining, look no farther than Pho Rose or Pho Saigon 8, with specialties including grilled pork and savory fresh grilled vegetables.
In the mood for Southern cooking? Ella Em’s Soul Food and B.B. King’s Blues Club’s Creole Cuisine both offer down-home favorites such as smothered chicken, short ribs, liver and onions and collard greens.
In a German state of mind? Hofbräuhaus offers the finest in traditional Bavarian cuisine, brats, beer and culture.
Hard Rock Café
The Hard Rock Café Las Vegas continues to rock tourists and local alike with its iconic 45-foot neon Gibson Les Paul guitar gracing its entrance. The restaurant plays hits from all decades and features an exceptional collection of rock ’n’ roll memorabilia. The restaurant also boasts a signature line of gourmet burgers including the S.O.S. Burger, basted with spicy chipotle pepper puree and topped with
jack cheese, served on a butter-toasted bun with Hard Rock guacamole. Wash that down with a Hard Rock Hurricane and keep the collectible glass!
NASCAR Café
The famous Las Vegas Motor Speedway attracts race fans from across the country—and the NASCAR Café brings in its own foodie fan base as well! This two-level restaurant boasts giant television screens featuring NASCAR racing and nearly 20 authentic NASCAR stock cars. The centerpiece of the café is the Carzilla Bar, the world’s largest stock car, a Pontiac Grand Prix that weighs more than 3 tons. Every hour it rises to the second level, starts its engine, blows smoke and turns on its lights. Food at the NASCAR Café is bound to get your engine running with signature dishes including The B3 Burrito, a six-pound, 24-inch Monster Burrito! You also can enjoy some high octane cocktails such as Battery Acid, Brickyard Lemonade and the ever-popular Caution Flag Margarita.
Rainforest Cafe
Relax next to soothing waterfalls and revel in the sounds of the jungle in this rainforest-themed restaurant. The tropical ambience includes trees, beautiful flowers and life-like rainforest animals. Specialty foods abound with festive favorites like China Island Chicken Salad, complete with crisp greens tossed with grilled chicken, potato sticks, toasted sesame seeds, red cabbage and rice noodles.
Planet Hollywood
This Hollywood-themed restaurant, located inside the Forum Shops at Caesars, is an excellent place for spotting your favorite celebrities! The restaurant features an upbeat style packed with movie and television memorabilia. You can enjoy vintage movie clips while savoring signature dishes such as L.A. Lasagna, a California twist on classic lasagna that features fresh pasta tubes filled with ricotta cheese and Bolognese meat sauce fried to a golden brown with garlic cream and tomato basil sauces.
House of Blues
The House of Blues has become a legend for hosting hot concert acts and providing Southern-themed food favorites like sweet potato fries and catfish nuggets. Visiting the House of Blues on Sunday is a special occasion as the restaurant hosts the Gospel Brunch, which features live gospel music and a true down home buffet with favorites including smoked fish and delectable rosemary cornbread skillets with maple butter.
Harley Davidson Cafe
A 28-foot-high, 15,000-pound Harley Davidson replica bursts through the façade of this Harley-themed cafe, which also features more than 15 custom motorcycles. The eatery boasts a variety of sandwiches, entrees and desserts and a wealth of signature cocktails, including the V-Twin, The Sturgis and the Malibu Low Rider.
ESPN Zone
ESPN Zone is a sports lover’s paradise! The triple-play action at this eatery features the Screening Room, the Sports Arena and the Studio Grill dining area. The Screening Room boasts 11 “Zone Thrones,” leather reclining chairs with speakers in the headrests and tray tables along the sides and two 14-foot TV screens, surrounded by 12 36-inch TV screens. Booths feature flat 18-inch touch-screen monitors mounted on the table. Speakers also are set in the booth’s headrests so guests can hear a specific game. The second floor of ESPN Zone features the 10,000-square-foot Sports Arena. The Studio Grill offers a variety of food, including typical sports bar fare such as chicken wings, cheese fries and sliders.
Numerous world-famous chefs call Las Vegas home. Wolfgang Puck is now a Vegas staple, with six resort-based eateries, including Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill at MGM Grand, Spago at Caesars Palace, Trattoria del Lupo at Mandalay Bay, Postrio at the Venetian and CUT at The Palazzo. Brasserie Puck recently opened in Crystals at CityCenter.
Another household name, Emeril Lagasse, has made his mark on Las Vegas as well, bringing tourists and locals his signature “Bam!” with Table 10 at The Palazzo, Emeril’s New Orleans Fish House at The MGM Grand and Delmonico Steakhouse at the Venetian. Lagasse also boasts Lagasse’s Stadium, a fully-operational sports book at the Palazzo that features down home Lagasse-style Creole cuisine.
MGM Grand is home to world-class Chef Joël Robuchon, one of several Michelin three-star chefs in Las Vegas.
Michael Mina has taken Vegas for a culinary ride with creations including Bellagio’s Michael Mina, MGM Grand’s Nobhill Tavern and Seablue, Mandalay Bay’s Stripsteak and American Fish in Aria at CityCenter.
Las Vegas restaurants have been gracing the pages of international food magazines for several years now, taking top honors in numerous fine dining categories.
Bouchon, an Epicurean Award winner at The Venetian, is a classic Parisian bistro featuring Chef Thomas Keller. The menu is stocked with artisan products such as boudin noir, or blood sausage, Maine mussels and Puget Sound oysters. Bouchon also plays homage to its Parisian roots with properly ripe and strongly scented French cheeses for dessert, as well as its delicate profiteroles with Valrhona chocolate sauce.
If you are looking for ultra haute cuisine, Bellagio’s Picasso and Le Cirque are both recognized by AAA as Five Diamond restaurants. Picasso diners can enjoy a spectacular viewing of Picasso’s original artwork while savoring the artistry of award-winning Executive Chef Julian Serrano. With a Spanish upbringing and a flair for French cuisine, Serano prides himself on using seasonal foods to create a continually changing menu of French and Mediterranean delicacies.
Le Cirque features a whimsical circus theme paired with classic and contemporary cuisine prepared by Executive Chef Steven Varga. Favorites include specialty three- and five-course meals; a popular signature dish is lobster salad with black truffle dressing. Additionally, Le Cirque’s fine wine list includes more than 900 international selections.
If it is upscale surf-n-turf you are in the mood for, the American Culinary Federation has recognized Capital Grille for its impressive menu of dry-aged steaks and the freshest of seafood. Capital Grille is also lauded for its award-winning wine list with more than 5,000 selections.
Exceptional steakhouses abound in Las Vegas. Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House features the finest USDA Prime Steaks, fresh seafood and Australian lobster tails, with a special emphasis on personal service and attention. Its wine list has received Wine Spectator’s “Best of Award Excellence.” The restaurant boasts a selection of more than 1,200 wines.
Morton’s The Steakhouse features USDA prime-aged, Midwest grain-fed beef, shipped directly from Chicago. Wine Spectator recognized Morton’s with its Award of Excellence in 2008.
Flemings Prime Steakhouse offers the finest prime steak, aged to perfection, as well as fresh seafood, a gourmet “Burger Bar,” innovative side dishes and decadent desserts.
Who can resist an authentic Italian meal?
A Las Vegas staple since 1985, Ferraro’s Italian Restaurant and Wine Bar is known for its time-honored family recipes: homemade pasta, sausage, breads, desserts, exquisitely fresh seafood, award-winning osso buco and for the adventurous palates, Trippa Calabrese or the Coniglio Brasato. Ferraro’s has been recognized with a rave review in the Zagat and received the Las Vegas Epicurean Award for “Best Restaurant.”
Brio Tuscan Grille at Town Square Las Vegas uses the finest and freshest ingredients with an emphasis on high-quality steaks, house-made pasta specialties and flatbreads prepared in an authentic Italian oven.
Long-known for its famous buffets, Las Vegas smorgasbords now span the range in terms of edible offerings. Some upscale buffets have taken the venue to a whole new level with their delectable goods.
Consider the Bistro Buffet at the Palms, with its individual fresh designer pizzas;Wynn Las Vegas’ chic & tempting desserts including tiramisu, chocolate mousse and madeleines; and the Carnival World Buffet at the Rio, which caters to international taste buds with specialties from across the globe!
In addition to its range of unique world-class dining options, Las Vegas is also home to favorite neighborhood restaurant chains, as well as unique intimate bistros dotting neighborhood communities across the valley. Residents also enjoy annual international food festivals, held periodically throughout Southern Nevada.
More Chamber: 
6671 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Suite 300, Las Vegas, NV 89119
Phone: (702) 641-5822 Info Center (702) 735-1616 Fax: (702) 735-0406