NAB for the Foodie

In America, Las Vegas, Travel by Doug1 Comment

As I live in Las Vegas and enjoy a good meal, I’ve offered to field questions about local eateries for incoming NAB attendees. I am taking questions in Twitter, but 140 characters is problematic for describing why a place is great. So, I’ll keep this post updated with my responses and point folks here in Twitter.

Breakfast

  1. Hash House-a-Go-Go inside of the Imperial Palace. The Imperial Palace has, frankly, seen better days. Which makes the Hash House a real gem on the strip. The restaurant features gourmet takes on diner and farm food classics. Calling the portions enormous may be the understatement of the year.
  2. Brunch at Le Village Buffet at Paris! – Hands down the best breakfast buffet in town. Long lines can be a hassle though.

Steakhouses

  1. Craftsteak, by Tom Colicchio from Top Chef. Craftsteak is in the MGM Grand. About three years ago, I went to an event after party there and had the best steak I’ve ever eaten. I found Top Chef through Tom Colicchio, not the other way around.
  2. The Golden Steer. Just a bit off-strip on Sahara, it looks like hole-in-the-wall, but looks can be deceiving. Once you are inside, it is a slice of old-school, Las Vegas. The Steer has served Sinatra, Elvis and more than a few mobsters in it’s day. Why do they all come? The steaks and sides are absolutely top notch. Their prime rib is outstanding.
  3. Rum Jungle at Mandalay Bay. The Brazilian BBQ/Steakhouse food is good, but not spectacular. Rum Jungle is on the list for the experience. All you can eat meat, carved in big hunks. And, if you make your reservations from 8-9 PM on a weekend night, you’ll already be inside when it turns into a fun, unique dance club for the evening, so no waiting in lines. Think Go-Go dancers and drink runners all dressed in white, working in black light from suspended dance cages and a two-story bar.

Burgers

  1. Burger Bar at Mandalay Bay. The Burger Bar is the brain child of Chef Hubert Keller, most recently seen on Top Chef Masters. Absolutely amazing. If you only eat one burger in Vegas, make it from the Burger Bar!
  2. In-n-Out Burgers – No big surprise here for West Coast folks. But if you are coming from anywhere else, you owe it to yourself to go to the In-n-Out Burger on Tropicana & Dean Martin. If you are already a fan, this location is also a company store where you can pick up hats, shirts and other gear. Without question, they have the best fast food fries in the city. Each batch is made from fresh potatoes.
  3. Le Burger Brasserie Sports Grille in the Paris! – Home of the $777 hamburger! The rest of their menu outstanding as well. All high-concept burgers done well. I think they may have the best fries in Vegas.

Buffets

  1. Cravings at the Mirage – I am admittedly biased because I used to eat there a couple of times a week when I worked for the company. Disclaimer aside, it is the best value for a high-end buffet on the strip. Everything is outstanding. Vegetarians will love the salad bar where you pick the ingredients and they build a huge, hand-tossed salad. Service is high touch, which is not so common in a buffet.
  2. Le Village Buffet at Paris! – Lunch and Dinner are great as well, but they really shine for breakfast/brunch.

Comments

  1. Reply

    As a non-local, I can tell you that life is easier without a car for these big LV conventions. Which means that the best options are those along the monorail. Here are a few I’d add:

    Breakfast – The Paradise Garden buffet at the Flamingo is a little pricy, but it’s quiet and it gives you a great view of the early morning activity in the wildlife habitat.

    Lunch – Bring a PowerBar (see my blog post) to save your time for the show and your money for a real meal later. If you absolutely need to spend an hour sharing a real meal with a colleague, try The Buffet at the LV Hilton. The line moves quickly, and the food’s better than what you’d find on the show floor.

    Dinner – The Buffet at Aria is definitely pricy, but the selection and quality are amazing. The Indian food was better than at most Indian restaurants I frequent, and that’s just one station. Come visit the new place, even if it is a long hike from the Strip.

    Bargain – Dollar Days at the Sahara. $1 gets you a beer, a shot, or a juicy hot dog. Several dollars will get you several beers, several shots, and several hot dogs. You’ll find this deal at the rear of the casino near the NASCAR Café.

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