[(-)]

hi all,

i'll be making my annual trip to vegas next month, doing the usual high end hotel accommodations and all. my question is where do regular folks eat in vegas? i love the accommodations in the nicer hotels but i feel like i'm literally on an island when it comes to food choices. where are the good happy hour spots at in the city? are there any good non chain resstaraunts located near the strip (i'm staying at the encore). i will be without a vehicle so any recommendations you could make would be appreciated. what are some of the spots that locals rave about?

[Spraynard Kruger]

If you like Japanese food, I highly recommend RA-KU on Spring Mountain Rd. They serve their food tapas style and feature dishes such as agedashi tofu, which is out of this world. I've never really known how good tofu could be until I tried it here. Dishes such as foie gras custard, kurabuta pork cheek and crispy fried chicken were highlights from my last visit.

There are three levels of the chefs omakase. We went with the 50 dollar per person (least expensive) offering and it was really sensational. All told, I think there were 13 different items served.

[vegaslocal55]

There are hundreds of great restaurants within walking distance of The Encore, all places where locals like to go. Why bother finding some suburban place like you can get anywhere else in the country?

[Buzz123]

One of the top restaurants in town is a block behind the (now closed) Sahara Hotel on Sahara Ave., near Paradise. Pamplemousse Restaurant Las Vegas Nevada

Gina's Bistro Cafe, possibly the best Italian restaurant in Las Vegas, Gina's Bistro

About 200 of every kind of Asian restaurant there is at China Town, almost within walking distance of the Strip, but not quite.

At Paradise Road and Flamingo Rd is a wide choice of good restaurants we locals enjoy. Take a cab there and take your pick from Mexican, Italian, Steak, Indian, etc., etc.

[Exaday]

We'd all have different opinions of course :-)

As a local I never shy away from the strip though.

Off the strip I love Bahama Breeze which is close.

Rosemary's is really good though I never hear people talk about it.

Las Vegas Restaurants - Rosemary's Restaurant

Grape Street has been getting a great deal of buzz lately but I personally think that place sucks :P

Flemmings steakhouse

Golden steer is technically off the strip I suppose.

Golden Steer

Marche Bacchus is good though I personally like Garfields better.

Marche Bacchus - French Bistro & Wine Market (http://marchebacchus.com/flash/ - broken link)

[(-)]

Thanks for all who responded. Another question for you guys/gals. Where's the best "cheap eats" type of place in vegas? I noticed that most of the responses were high-end spots, which is cool, but i'd also like to visit a smaller, mom and pop, local favorite as well.

[Exaday]

Originally Posted by (-)

Thanks for all who responded. Another question for you guys/gals. Where's the best "cheap eats" type of place in vegas? I noticed that most of the responses were high-end spots, which is cool, but i'd also like to visit a smaller, mom and pop, local favorite as well.

Try this one.

Battista's Hole in the Wall - Italian Restaurant - Las Vegas - Home

[MomMom]

Originally Posted by (-)

hi all,

i'll be making my annual trip to vegas next month, doing the usual high end hotel accommodations and all. my question is where do regular folks eat in vegas? i love the accommodations in the nicer hotels but i feel like i'm literally on an island when it comes to food choices. where are the good happy hour spots at in the city? are there any good non chain resstaraunts located near the strip (i'm staying at the encore). i will be without a vehicle so any recommendations you could make would be appreciated. what are some of the spots that locals rave about?

Mimmo Ferraro's, on Paradise Road, right near the Strip

Ferraro's Las Vegas Italian Restaurant

[Shipresa]

For those without a car...and not price busting....

You can get the bus to Downtown - I like Chicago Joe's on 4th. Its a small 50s house with a lot of Little Italy character. Great red sauce.

The buffet at Main Street Casino is good and cheap.

Binion's steak house - superb. Its still a bit pricey (aren't all decent steak places?), but not nearly as pricey as Golden Steer, and easier to get to. the views over the north mountains at dusk are great.

La Florida Cuban - VERY GOOD, very cheap.

Luv-it Custard on Oakey. You can eat at White Castle across the street - great burgers.

Maggiano's is on the strip, and I don't think its overly expensive. Neither is Mon Ami Gabi at Paris. Superb dining and eating experiences.

Cheap and yummy, always the Ellis Island. Great BBQ and cheap beer. They should still have the locals 777 - the steak with all the trimmings.

Also over on that side is Buca and Bahama Breeze - but those are chains. Cheap and cheerful, of course.

On the strip itself, I personally like Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville. Decent burgers, sandwiches and salads and killer drinks.

[Spraynard Kruger]

^
Luv-It Frozen custard is really good and La Florida Cuban is also fantastic. Just be advised it's not the best area of the strip to be running around after dark without keeping your wits about you.

For more cheap eats on the north end of the strip, try Doña Maria's. Really great tamales. Another place you can grab some inexpensive grub just north of the stratosphere is at Taco's Mexico (very close to Luv-it). Really authentic, cheap and just plain grubalicious. If you happen to be there on a night that Dino's is doing Karaoke, it's a fun place to stumble into and perhaps wash the tacos down with a beer and take in the local scene. Very colorful.

And the Olympic Garden is right across the street from there, if you want to be entertained in the Champagne room.