Dinner and a show. It’s a classic pairing, a one-two punch of night-out planning that combines sustenance and entertainment for a truly satisfying time. But in Las Vegas, sometimes you don’t have to leave the table to enjoy an engineering marvel, interactive cooking, brilliant art or an aquatic performance. At these local restaurants, dinner is the show. And may we say, “Encore!”
1. Mr Chow
(Caesars Palace, 702.731.7888)
Beijing duck beneath the “moon.” That’s the what you’ll find inside Mr Chow, which serves Chinese staples in fashionable surroundings. A Champagne trolley delivers bubbles on arrival, and the pageantry continues above your head, where a 3,800-pound kinetic sculpture breaks into choreographed dance every 35 minutes.
Guy Fieri's Vegas Kitchen & Bar
2. Mon Ami Gabi
(Paris, 702.944.4224)
With a packed patio just above the bustling Strip, this charming bistro comes with a veritable buffet of visual entertainment. The people watching is A-plus, and when the Bellagio fountains erupt it will take your breath away.
3. Carbone
(Aria, 877.230.2742)
Settle into a crimson banquette at this glamorous New York import, then let your “captain” take you on a culinary journey from tableside Caesar salad to spicy rigatoni vodka to massive portions of veal Parmesan. By the time the dessert cart rolls by, you’ll barely have room for flaming bananas Foster.
4. Guy Fieri’s Vegas Kitchen & Bar
(The Linq, 702.794.3139)
Three words: trash can nachos. These loaded brisket nachos revealed from inside a tall metal can are a gluttonous good time emblematic of Fieri’s in-your-face aesthetic. The portions are big, the presentations are silly and even the ice cream sundae is deep fried.
5. Morimoto
(MGM Grand, 702.891.3001)
The Iron Chef’s eponymous eatery gracefully balances style and substance. Marvel at teppan chefs working their magic, snag a seat at the sushi bar or get your camera ready for Instagram-worthy treats like the chocolate tart cloaked in flames. Most importantly, everything tastes as good as it looks.
6. Picasso
Carbone
(Bellagio, 702.693.8865)
Eating at Picasso is like dining inside an art museum, thanks to the opulent environs and walls boasting original works from the restaurant’s famous namesake. The food could easily play second fiddle, but Julian Serrano’s French and Spanish fare lives up to its stunning setting. Two masters, one great restaurant.
7. Bazaar Meat by Jose Andres
(SLS Las Vegas, 702.761.7610)
Dinner at Andrés’s eccentric meatery is like entering a culinary wonderland. Here, croquetas arrive in a (very clean) shoe, olives are available in liquid form and “super-giant” chicharrónes are smashed before your eyes. Don’t miss the foie gras served in a cotton candy cloud or the beef tartare mixed to order.
8. Oyster Bar
(Palace Station, 702.367.2411)
Open 24/7, the handful of stools at this beloved casino spot are perpetually packed with in-the-know eaters who come for the fresh oysters, rich gumbos and unbeatable atmosphere. Every seat comes with a view of the kiosk kitchen, so you can watch the chefs prepare your seafood pan roast before entering comfort food bliss.
9. Cut
(Palazzo, 702.607.6300)
Behold the beef! At Wolfgang Puck’s modern Palazzo steakhouse, meat gets top billing, beginning with a waiter presentation to explain the various cuts, feeds and aging lengths and how they’ll impact the texture and taste of the steak on your plate. It’s dinner with a dash of education—and utterly delicious.
