This is the fourth entry pertaining to our Las Vegas Strip experiences encountered during multiple trips. This entry focuses on our dining choices and experiences.
Las Vegas and the Strip are renowned for their dining quality and options. Simple to beyond fancy dining choices are of course available here, and the community boasts some of the world's most noted chefs. The buffets are a major visitor draw, with a spectrum of themes, quality, service, and costs represented. We are big on Vegas buffets, and believe they offer some of the best overall dining values in town. Add in a few common man eateries such as food courts, coffee shops, delis, fast - food shops, and hamburger joints and Las Vegas, once again, offers dining options that span the desires and pocketbooks of visitors. Once again, multiple "options" is one of the most appealing aspects of Las Vegas visitation and that certainly holds true for places to eat.
We have never patronized any of the truly upper - tier restaurants such as Mon Ami Gabi at Paris, Joel Robuchon at MGM Grand, Alex at the Wynn, Guy Savoy's at Caesars Palace, or Michael Mina at Bellagio. It's not that we have anything against these top restaurants but rather we prefer informality and reasonable costs when we eat and pay for it. All of the above are truly multi-star fine dining eating establishments...but the pricing is beyond what we're personally willing to pay. The aura and doting service at some of these locales would further make us a little fidgety...somehow.
There are of course numerous Vegas dining option reviews and reviewers, and, given the subjective nature of those reviews and who actually penned them and for what reasons, visitors obviously might or might not have the same experiences assorted dining analysts tout ( or negatively review, for that matter ). Those same elements are true for the dining venues we enjoyed and list here...they are our choices for our reasons. We've previously offered our own reviews of some of the following eateries ( see linked articles below ), and we have actually dined at all those listed here.
We have been recipients of numerous comped meals in return for gambling activity and / or review articles, but beyond those we always seek low - moderate pricing ( with the exception of the best buffets ) along with decent quality and service when we have to pay for meals in Vegas. Those elements all provide the whys for our choices below. In truth, we often sachet off - Strip to experience decent dining venues simply due to costs.
Top 5 Strip buffets : We don't skimp on these...they're worth the pricing for us
Bellagio - the best
Wynn - the second best, but it's beyond excellent
MGM Grand - my best half's favorite, because many meals have been comped
Planet Hollywood ( Spice Market ) - the shrimp tempura and desserts
Cosmopolitan (Wicked Spoon ) - the newest w/ superb quality and presentation
Top 5 Strip restaurants / eateries :
BB King's Blues Club ( Mirage ) - just do it...you won't forget it
Grand Lux Cafe ( Venetian / Palazzo - there's one at each resort ) - great ribeye steak & servers
Diablo's Cantina - best fajitas on the planet
Hard Rock Cafe - just wow ( world's best hot fudge brownie, anyone?)
Dick's Last Resort @ Excalibur - they make our list for portion sizes, server laid- backness, and overall fun level
Top 5 Strip food courts : - we told you we were cheapos
New York, New York Village - a cool place with an unbeatable theme, and the pizza joint here ( New York Pizzeria ) is a favorite for quality and price
Venetian - Bella Penini sandwiches are relatively cheap but fabulous; great variety of venues
MGM Grand - we just appreciate this entire property, including the food court ( and yes, that includes the McDonald's here )
Monte Carlo - lots of venue variety, plus it's very close to the blackjack pits ( author's honest appraisal )
Excalibur - cheap eats with lots of options
Top 5 Strip grab n' go joints / snackeries / quick bites :
The combo New York Pretzel / Nathan's Hot Dogs at New York, New York
Krispy Kreme at New York, New York convenience shop near sports book
Haggen Dazs Ice Cream ( multi - locations )
Viva McDonalds North Strip Las Vegas Blvd ( now you smell what we're cookin )
Auntie Anne's Pretzels at Circus Circus
Cheers...
Charles Higgins
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