On the Strip: Buddy V's
TV’s Cake Boss Buddy Valastro now has three Buddy V’s restaurants across the country, but it’s the Las Vegas eatery (The Venetian, 702.607.2355) that started it all and took the brilliant baker’s recipes far beyond sweet treats.
It’s a true hidden gem at lunchtime, when Hoboken cheesesteaks and smashed meatball subs await. The buffet-style weekend brunch is a Strip favorite, serving up tempting antipasti, maple-glazed ham and smoked slab bacon at the carving station and roasted veggie frittata to balance things out. Dinner can get decadent thanks to favorite dishes like spaghetti Bolognese, wife Lisa’s linguine and clams and Nonna’s lasagna al forno made with sausage, beef and pork and speckled with ricotta and mozzarella. But the kitchen also displays a delicate touch with a bright chicken picatta or perfectly grilled Mediterranean sea bass. You already know dessert is going to be over-the-top, from Jersey-style cheesecake to tiramisu, so plan accordingly. –Brock Radke
Off the Strip: Pop Up Pizza
Pop Up Pizza
Savvy fans of downtown dining know the original Vegas neighborhood is a hotbed of terrific pizza. One of the most convenient and delicious options is Pop Up Pizza (Plaza, 702.366.0049) at the gateway to the Fremont Street Experience. Whether you’re taking a break from the tables or exploring the classic neon drag, these pies are built to satisfy with fresh ingredients and artisanal style. A recent menu refresh brings new selections like the crispy Old School Cheese pizza, the Suprema with spicy Italian sausage, Ezzo pepperoni and hot capicola, and the creamy onion, spinach and mushroom pie topped with garlic cream sauce. –Brock Radke
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NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal’s first restaurant, Big Chicken (4480 Paradise Road, 702.675.3333), is a slam dunk of flavor and fun centered around towering sandwiches. Featuring juicy, deep-fried poultry inside puffy brioche buns, creations range from the Shaq Fu BBQ with pork belly and housemade kimchi to the Charles Barkley with frizzled onion-topped mac and cheese. Or sink savory chicken strips and sweet potato waffle fries into lip-smacking Shaq sauce or Carolina honey mustard dip. –Greg Thilmont
Big Chicken
