Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix is expected to draw crowds the size of which Las Vegas does not often see. So if you are not in town for Formula 1, you may be considering steering clear of the general race area during your stay. Well, when it comes to making dinner plans, Las Vegas Magazine has you covered! We’ve collected some of the best restaurants in town where your biggest concern won’t be getting there through the traffic; it’ll be whether you should have that second cocktail or not (and yes, you should—it’s Vegas!).
1. Scotch 80 Prime (Palms, 866.942.7777) There are high-end steakhouses, and then there’s this off-Strip gem, a truly singular restaurant experience (if you’ve got the coin, it doesn’t get better than the caviar service, featuring 30 grams of Bjork Oscietra). After enjoying an appetizer of jumbo shrimp cocktail, smoked bone marrow or a wagyu empanada, dig into either a wood-fired grill prime cut steak or a selection from the boutique wagyu collection. No wrong choices here.
2. 8 East (Circa Resort & Casino, 702.726.5508) The great thing about this downtown Asian eatery is that it won’t break your budget. It’s the sister eatery to downtown’s wildly popular Le Thai, and its menu is packed with surprises. Wait until you try popcorn chicken skin, cumin lamb lollipops or musubi bites (Spam, furikake rice, sesame aioli and shoyu glaze). You’ll be kicking yourself if you don’t order the honey toast (which uses brioche in this version) for dessert.
3. Kassi Beach House (Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, 702.693.5000) The ambience here is second to none—a beachy, Mediterranean vibe, including floor-to-ceiling windows. And the menu is full of delights, from branzino and rotisserie chicken diavola to pizzas and pastas. The housemade ice cream sandwich, with pistachio gelato, marshmallow and chocolate, is just heaven.
4. Fresco Italiano (Westgate Las Vegas, 702.732.5276) You’ll feel like you’re in Tuscany as you enjoy the Italian classics like calamari, meatballs made with slow-braised beef, pork and veal, and a bruschetta trio of fig mostardo, pistachio-marinated eggplant and tomato and basil pesto. By the time you get to main courses like chicken Parmesan and branzino (accompanied by sides like creamy polenta or rosemary-flavored roasted mushrooms), you may never want to leave.
5. Crossroads Kitchen (Resorts World Las Vegas, 702.676.7000) There are several excellent dining options at this property, but this one truly stands out, as everything it serves is 100 percent vegan. The accomplishments here are staggering; you’ll swear you’re eating the real thing when you dig into the eggplant skirt steak or the caviar and chips. And you’ll want to check out the entire menu to experience the across-the-board excellence on display. Chef Tal Ronnen has truly outdone himself here.
6. Twin Creeks Steakhouse (Silverton Casino Lodge, 702.263.7777) Yes, it’s definitely off the beaten path, but well worth the trip! A favorite of locals and tourists alike, this welcoming environment is the perfect way to spend an evening while you enjoy appetizers like the grilled artichoke and smoked beef tartare or main courses like a 22-ounce cowboy ribeye, 28-ounce porterhouse or 16-ounce New York sirloin. In a cool twist, if you order the Creekstone Farms Tomahawk for Two, you get some dice to roll to possibly win a complimentary entrée or dessert!
7. Chi Asian Kitchen (The STRAT, 800.998.6337) This restaurant, which focuses on Chinese cuisine, has a décor designed around the idea of a Chinese alley restaurant, and since it’s right off the entrance to the property, the energy is nonstop. You’ll love hanging out here while enjoying leek cake dumplings, oxtail noodle soup and bulgogi fried rice.
8. Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse (Golden Nugget, 702.386.8399) It’s easy to see why this downtown staple is one of the most-awarded restaurants in town. It pays the utmost attention to every detail, from décor and waitstaff to cocktails and desserts. Its steak menu highlights include an 8-ounce filet mignon, a 40-ounce tomahawk for the table, and A5 Kobe from the Hyogo prefecture.
9. Libertine Social (Mandalay Bay, 702.632.7558) James Beard Award-winning chef Shawn McClain’s hot spot is all about fun and just hanging out and enjoying the moment. Enjoy an enormous cocktail and beer menu while sampling bacon-wrapped dates, hamachi cones, short rib flatbread and the caviar “fried egg” (caviar, corn pudding and brioche). Then work your way up to mains like braised veal cheeks and seared scallops, served with oven-roasted cauliflower.
10. Osteria Costa (The Mirage, 702.682.8482) We realize The Mirage is part of the race course, but it’s easily accessible by Spring Mountain from the west, and we couldn’t leave this one off our list—it has some of the best service you’ll find anywhere (on the Strip or off), and its Italian favorites are all stellar, especially the rigatoni pomodoro, salmon piccata and veal Milanese.
11. Toscana Ristorante & Bar by Eataly (Park MGM, 702.730.7617) In case you’re sensing a trend in this feature, yes, we love Italian food at Las Vegas Magazine. And we would be remiss in not recommending this lovely experience, from the room itself to the ambience. While you savor house-made gnocchi, pappardelle and egg yolk fettucine, make sure to save room for desserts like tiramisu and panna cotta (we’re partial to the gelato, personally).
12. Bazaar Meat by José Andrés (Sahara Las Vegas, 702.761.7610) This longtime favorite of locals and tourists alike may be one of the most beloved in the history of the Strip. Andres truly breaks new ground in his presentations and flavor profiles. Where to start? Cotton candy foie gras, super-giant pork-skin chicharron, a selection of tartares and carpaccios, and the real star: Jamon Iberico de Bellota, meat hand-cut from the acorn-fed, black-footed Spanish pig.
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