15 Best Food Destinations in Las Vegas

Emeril Lagasse, one of the most recognizable celebrity chefs on TV, has several trademark restaurants in Las Vegas, of which the most notable one is called Delmonico’s, located at the Venetian Hotel. Winner of numerous awards for excellence, Lagasse has infused his trademark creole style with a traditional steakhouse and “Bam!” - you’ve got something no one else in Las Vegas would even dare to try. New Orleans style appetizers, gumbo, and salads to complement the finest cuts of beef. And don’t forget to order some shrimp. Cooked with seasonings only Emeril could concoct, this is one meal that will satisfy every taste bud in your mouth and leave you trying to figure out how to get back here again before your vacation ends. Definitely a winner on all counts.

If you’ve been to Paris, France, you might be disappointed over a replica of the Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas, but then again, you might as well get disappointed to see the Statue of Liberty replicated there, too. But if you get over it, you stand a good chance of eventually becoming a big fan of everything related to the cuisine at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel. You can, in fact, transplant what is good in France and improve on it. The Eiffel Tower Restaurant is certainly one of the must-visit establishments in Las Vegas, especially if you don’t plan on visiting France any time soon. "Romantic," "chic" and "panoramic" are all words that fall short of describing the Eiffel Tower experience, if you're a pushover for good French cuisine. And with the fountains of the Bellagio erupting across the street and the delicate aromas of decadent soufflés wafting from the kitchen, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more romantic location to break bread with your belle amour. Oui, c’est magnifique!

Located more than 800 feet above the Las Vegas Strip in the Stratosphere Hotel and Tower, the award winning Top of the World Restaurant offers an unparalleled dining experience. Enjoy culinary delights served in an elegant atmosphere with breathtaking views of Las Vegas as the restaurant revolves 360 degrees every 80 minutes. Under the direction of sommelier Dean Wachstetter, Top of the World Restaurant has been awarded the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence every year since 1996. Open for lunch and dinner. Reservations are recommended. Dinner can be pricey but, considering the view, it’s well worth it.

Located at the legendary Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Nobu Las Vegas brings the critically acclaimed signature fare from its flagship Nobu New York restaurant to the Nevada desert. Classically trained in Tokyo, world-renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa has taken traditional Japanese cuisine and infused bold South American and Western flavors to create a style that continues to captivate audiences world wide. Like its award winning namesake, Nobu Las Vegas continues to enchant the palates of fans the world over. Pulsing nightly to a rhythm all its own, hip locals, chic party goers and serious connoisseurs all acknowledge Nobu Las Vegas to be one of the hottest dining destinations in Vegas.

Sink your teeth into the most succulent steak of your life at The Steak House at Circus Circus, honored as “The Best Steak House in Las Vegas” for nearly two decades. Bring a hearty appetite and enjoy the superb flavors of mesquite-grilled steaks aged 21 days and cooked to perfection. Alternatively, give yourself a treat to the mouth-watering prime rib, lobster, lamb chops, crab legs and other seafood delicacies – all served up at affordable prices in a warm and inviting atmosphere. Reservations are recommended.

Jonathan Gold of Gourmet Magazine once called Lotus of Siam the single best Thai restaurant in North America and he’s not alone in such high praise. Just about every restaurant guide places Lotus of Siam in the top echelon of Las Vegas eateries. With an emphasis on northern Thai cuisine, the chef Saipin Chutima is known for such specialties as Kanom-Jean-Nam-Ngaew (vermicelli in curry sauce), Kang Hung Lay (pork stew), Green chili dip (fire extinguisher hot), and Nam Kao Tod (minced sour sausage to die for). Saipin Chutima has a following that extends worldwide and, for some fans, a trip to Las Vegas isn’t complete without a visit to Lotus of Siam. Don't be put off by the cheesy, strip-mall location; the real treasure is on the plate.

Hugo’s is one of the “Old Vegas” classics that refuses to compromise its traditional-styled French cuisine for the new designer style chef-du-jour, flash-in-the-pan. And why should they? Their reputation for excellence extends from coast to coast and there are plenty of rave reviews proclaiming this as one of the best “Old Vegas” landmarks. Located below the Four Queen’s Hotel in downtown Las Vegas, Hugo’s Cellar has been voted by the locals as the “Best Gourmet Room” for five years in a row. The cuisine is classic French, but you’ll still find some of the best surf and turf in town. And if you’re in the mood, the Cellars “Champion Chateaubriand and Lobster for Two” is hard to beat.

A couple of blocks off the Strip on Paradise Road is Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House. This is a great steakhouse born from its roots in Dallas, Texas driven by the desire to serve only the best hand-cut steaks, chops and freshest seafood, including Australian cold-water lobster tails. And the prices won’t break the bank here either. Del Frisco’s uses the freshest ingredients to create mouthwatering appetizers, flavorful side dishes and irresistible desserts. Sommeliers are on hand to guide you through their extensive wine list and their bartenders will lift your spirits with hand-shaken martinis and crafted cocktails. Sometimes you just want a steak or a lobster tail that tastes the way you remember they should, not a cheap imitation. There’s nothing pretentious here to stand between you and a remarkable dining experience.

If nothing else, the Mandalay Bay Hotel has one of the best selections of restaurants on the Strip, and that is not to sell the hotel short. Mandalay Bay excels in every thing they do and Fleur is one of the premier and most sophisticated restaurants on the Strip. From its show-stopping appearance to its San Francisco roots, chef Hubert Keller will create a five-course masterpiece you’ll savor with every bite. But not everything on the menu is the items you can’t pronounce. They’ve got good old-fashioned surf and turf too, but rest assured that when they bring oysters on the half shell, or the Fleur Burger with wagyu beef, fois gras, and truffle, you’ll look twice at the presentation. Fleur is a great dining experience and is sure to put you in a great mood for the rest of your evening. And don’t forget to order the fresh fruit minestrone dessert. Yum!

Located in the Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace, Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab is one of the most popular restaurants on the strip. Great food and service makes this a perfect and affordable spot for either lunch or dinner. Their signature dish is Stone Crabs. Discovered by the founders in the early 1920s in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, these delicacies are hand-harvested and then flown in where they’re grilled to perfection. Complementing a superior menu of seafood entries, chowders and bisques, Joe’s is no slouch when it comes to Prime Steak, and their Bone-in Signature Steaks are prized for their rich, on-the-bone flavor and melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. And what restaurant with roots in the Gulf Coast doesn’t make a Key Lime pie? Whether you opt for the homemade Boston Cream or the Havana Dream pie, your taste buds will thank you.

The Lawry’s name has been a staple in Los Angeles since 1938 and is as synonymous with the word Prime Rib as "Tiffany" with diamonds, and it would be difficult to pick who’s the best. Lawry’s opened in Las Vegas in 1997 and was a hit the moment the doors opened. You’d think that with $5.99 Prime Rib specials at every gin-joint in town, why pay the high price at Lawry’s? If you drink wine out of a box, this restaurant isn’t for you. Eating at Lawry’s is actually a very simple and straightforward experience. Pick which cut of meat you want and what size; the thin English cut, the regular Lawry’s cut, or the extra-large Diamond Jim Brady and when it arrives at your table - devour. And for total decadence, you can even request the end cut, which is extra crispy and gristly with plenty of fat still on the bone. Yes, they have chicken, pork and fish, and a fabulous selection of salads, but prime rib is the name of the game at Lawry’s.

Admit it! You're a carnivore! If you pick a charred and crusty rib eye steak dripping with fat before you’ll ever choose a sung-bean salad with lemon juice and a spritz of olive oil, then certainly you are, a passionate one! They say you might be headed for an early heart attack, but if you're at Morton’s Steakhouse devouring one of their signature steaks, you’ll die a happy man. This stand-alone restaurant dedicated to the art of “The Steak” has been a perennial “Best of Las Vegas” award winner year after year. How do they do it? Remains a mystery, but certainly there might be some sort of a secret network that sends the best cuts of beef to a select group of restaurateurs and Morton’s is one of them. Morton’s is also known for their seafood dishes, but the steaks are their main attraction. You can’t go wrong or broke at Morton’s. Go give it a shot.

When you're voted the Chef of the Century, you get carte blanche when it comes to who, what, and where you want to park your truffles, and chef Joel Robuchon has so much to offer, the MGM Grand built him 2 restaurants. The main restaurant is called Joel Rubouchon and if the prices don’t transport you to a new world, the food certainly will. It’s been proclaimed the best French food in America and he’s received so many rating stars, he’s got his own galaxy. Perfect food, perfect combinations, and perfect presentation. For a dining experience you’ll never forget, make your reservation now. In some circles, his second restaurant L’Atelier is considered even better that the main establishment. What a dilemma. Do you go for perfection or more perfection. The choice is yours. A little less expensive and a little more casual, the cuisine at L’Atelier is equally as delicious and equally as attractive, but everything is scaled down a notch.

Awarded 4 stars by Forbes, the famed Las Vegas steakhouse evokes a retro environment in a stunningly modern way. Strip House is known for prime signature cuts of New York Strip Steak and Rib Eye charred to perfection. Table-carved Double Porterhouse and Cote du Beouf add drama to the experience. Decadent side dishes include Black Truffle Cream Spinach and Goose Fat Potatoes. The wine list offers depth and breadth to enhance the dining experience. Part of the unique experience of the Strip House is the sumptuous, all red décor designed by David Rockwell, featuring vintage photographs from Vienna’s Studio Manasse. It’s very retro in many ways, but the choice of dishes is anything but. Have you ever had a 24-layer chocolate cake? There’s really nothing on the menu you won’t like. In fact, there’s nothing on the menu you won’t rave about. The Strip House is a one-of-a-kind dining experience. Check it out.