Las Vegas Restaurant Tips by shrimp56

Julian Serrano: Delicious Tapas in an Exquisite Setting

This is a colorful restaurant when you first enter, but there are more muted areas further back. Julian Serrano also is the chef at the very pricey Picasso at Bellagio, but he hasn't cut any corners here.

The service was good and comfortable. The food delicious. High on the list were the piquillo peppers stuffed with goat cheese and mushrooms, the brava potatoes, which, unusually had a spicy tomato topping and the tapas tuna "sushi" which was roll your eyes yummy. The dessert paired chocolate with a fresh blood orange sorbet. We were not hurried. Overall it was a very pleasant and delicious experience.

Favorite Dish: The piquillo peppers. They look like a bit of a hot mess on the plate, but are so totally melting and tasty that I didn't care.

Address: Aria Hotel Lobby

Comparison: more expensive than average

Phone: 1.877.230.2742

Price: US$41 and up

Rating: 5

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.arialasvegas.com/dining/restaurants/julian-serrano

Bertolini's: Dine with the Gods Bertolini's Review

Bertolini's is now TREVI and is one of the many eating options at Caesar's Forum Shops -- its location under some rather impressive columns and statuary adds to the ambiance of a delicious Italian meal. They do accept walk-ins, so you can have the atmosphere on the spur of the moment, IF you dine early.

Address: The Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace

Comparison: about average

Phone: 702/735-4663

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Italian

Valentino: Italian goes Hollywood... Valentino Review

Blonde wood and peach walls, white linens, walls of wine racks and 50s lighting fixtures add up to a very sophisticated California glamour.
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The picture is of the Grill which you walk through to get to the restaurant itself. It didn't seem right to take a flash picture in the quiet, elegant space so I didn't :(
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We were in the smaller back room, which seemed more chic. BTW I reserved Valentino on opentable.com.

Favorite Dish: My companion had a rack of lamb with a wonderful berry sauce. I had a thick black pepper-crusted veal chop resting on a fennel gratin. My appetizer was a composed salad with foie gras on top -- very nice.

Address: The Venetian

Comparison: most expensive

Phone: (702) 414-3000

Price: US$41 and up

Rating: 5

Theme: Italian

Olives: Delicious Mediterranean Olives Review

A beautiful restaurant in the shopping area at Bellagio. It is open and light with a lot of tile -- which means it can get noisy when crowded. Todd English's original "Olives" was in Boston.
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The restaurant has recently been redecorated.

Favorite Dish: The flatbreads are scrumptious -- try the Fig and Proscuitto one!

Address: In the Bellagio Hotel

Comparison: more expensive than average

Phone: (702) 693-8181

Price: US$31-40

Rating: 5

Theme: Italian

Pinot Brasserie: A little bit of Paris in Venice ... Pinot Brasserie Review

The decor is pure Paris restaurant -- wood, mirrors and terrific brass lighting fixtures. The severs wear the traditional apron. There are a number of different rooms, each a little different, but all very charming.

Favorite Dish: The food is traditional Parisian bistro/brasserie with a modern California twist. There is also an oyster bar.
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They also serve breakfast -- gotta love those brioches :))))

Address: In The Venetian "restaurant row"

Comparison: about average

Phone: (702) 414-8888

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 4

Theme: French

AquaKnox: Go Fish!!

Walls of water, fresh fish and a decor to match. The food has a California influence. The name is a play on Fort Knox -- the idea being that the seafood is a "treasure"! It could also refer to the price of dinner!

Address: The Venetian on "restaurant row"

Comparison: more expensive than average

Phone: (702) 414-3772

Price: US$31-40

Rating: 4

Theme: Seafood

Harley Davidson Cafe: Make a "hog" of yourself :))) Harley Davidson Cafe Review

Well there is a Harley Davidson motorcycle sticking out of the sign so that should give you a clue! The decor is appropriately themed and the food covers the bases from Southern to Cajun to BBQ to Southwestern to Mexican and a few stops on the road in between! There are also plenty of retail opportunities to stock up on your H-D memories.

Favorite Dish: The Harley Hog Sandwich is a good pulled-pork choice -- but I still prefer Memphis Championship BBQ!

Address: 3725 Las Vegas Boulevard South

Comparison: about average

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 3

Theme: American

Chinois: When in Rome ... eat Chinese!!!

Chinois is a very attractive space -- colorful and full a interesting artifacts. It is located in The Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace. It is one of Wolfgang Puck's many Las Vegas restaurants.

Favorite Dish: On a recent revisit the lunch specials had disappeared, but the food remained good. We shared some spring rolls and General Tsao's chicken.
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We each had the lunch specials, which run from $15-17 USD plus drink. I had spring rolls, hot & sour soup [both ordinary] and a delicious shrimp curry. The picture is of the soup & springroll. My companion's appetizer was a delicious crab rangoon, for which I longed ....

Address: The Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace

Comparison: about average

Phone: 702 737 9710

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 3

Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum

Website: http://www.wolfgangpuck.com/myrestaurants/fine_dining/home/frame.php

Petrossian Paris & Cafe Bellagio: Bellagio Options Combined Suggestions Review

The contrast between the Petrossian Paris, obviously a caviar bar and Cafe Bellagio just off the conservatory is literally night and day. You'll find long lines at the cafe for standard grub -- while at Petrossian you can have a non-caviar snack and drink and watch the world go by with a view of the lobby action and the Chihuly glass ceiling. It's a no-brainer for me, but then I'm not towing 3 hungry children..

Address: The Bellagio

Rating: 0

Theme: Other

Website: http://bellagio.com/pages/frameset_noflash.asp

Memphis Championship Barbeque: Don't miss the baked beans!!

This is traditional Memphis barbecue . They have three locations in Las Vegas, but I've always eaten at the one near the entrance to Nellis Airforce base. It's an unassuming shack-like building that contains excellent food!

Favorite Dish: The barbecue is excellent -- cooked with a dry rub then topped with a vinegar-based bbq sauce that is delicious. The cole slaw which can top your sandwich is a sweet vinegar one, BUT for me the best are the baked beans with pork in them -- sweet pungent, with at least three kinds of beans. I could eat it forever!!! They sell the sauce and dry rub at the restaurants.

Address: 4379 Las Vegas Boulevard, North Las Vegas

Comparison: less expensive than average

Phone: (702) 644-0000

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Barbecue

Website: http://www.memphis-bbq.com/