two words…VonGerichten
Aria restaurant, Vegas.(off the strip)
I was there in May. I know they try to work with seasonal ingredients, so I’m not sure if the menu will be even close to the same as when I ate there. If they have a dish involving sea scallops with salted caramel and slow-cooked beef, get it. It sounds like a trainwreck, but it’s really good. The foie gras creme brûlée, as I mentioned before, is a must-have. I had a chocolate peanut butter tart for dessert that was delicious (more like candy bar than pastry) and my husband had carrot cake that was so good he would not let me try any.
I also dug that they did either wine or beer pairings. I don’t drink beer anymore, but back when I did, I would have loved that.
I’ll second Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill. Ate there a couple weeks ago, and the tab was about $150 for two (food, drinks, tax and tip). The pork tenderloin was so tender I could have cut it with a plastic spoon. But they gave me a steak knife anyway.
Also awesome food: Scarpetta at the Cosmpolitan. The breakfast buffet (Wicked Spoon) at the Cosmo was also awesome, at a flat fee of around $29 per person.
As for shows: do not, repeat, DO NOT see the Criss Angel show at the Luxor. Man did that suck. If you really want to see it, please check the reviews on Yelp! first. I wish I had!
Where ever you decide to eat, avoid the Grand Buffet at the MGM grand. It was the worst food I have ever paid for.
Yea, I had a sorta cheap prime rib dinner at one of the off strip, city center, budget casinos, and it sucked. One of the worst and most disappointing meals of my life, and that was my first trip to Vegas, All I wanted to do was go to the World Buffet. But no… I have expensive crappy Prime Rib, at a seedy casino diner, my First Jack-in the box, and my Dad dies taking of his belt and shoes because of Homeland Security.
We went to Sage and it was sublime. I took pictures of everything and will be writing a review of our meal - when it’s done, I’ll link to it here.
PS - the tab, with tip, was $240.00, no wine, and despite being a cheapskate, I thought it was worth every PENNY.
I also went to an insider steakhouse in Vegas, about a 40 dollar cab ride from any of your hotels. Real fine dining, around you price by 2004 pricing. Also attended an excellent catered wedding… the purpose of the trip. A Joyeus time.