Favorite Restaurants on the Strip?

What are your favorite restaurants on the Strip? Places you try to visit whenever you travel to Vegas? Places you recommend to friends?

I've been to Vegas about a dozen times, but so far the dining experience has not impressed me. I'm a middle-class kinda guy: I like fair portions of good food at a reasonable price. I understand that prices on the strip will certainly be higher than Topeka, KS, and I'm willing to pay a reasonable premium. I'm interested in trying high-end restaurants if they really offer a "to-die-for" culinary experience, but so far all I've encountered is tiny portions (3 scallops for $30, really?) and a lot of pretentiousness.

I used to recommend the Grand Lux Cafe, but my last two meals there have been very disappointing. I enjoyed the ambiance of the patio at Mon Ami Gabi in the evening, but it wasn't worth the 3 hour wait (they don't take reservations), and some of our food was so bad we had to send it back. Based on my experiences I wouldn't recommend Spago or Postrio or Emeril's Fishhouse. I love the view at Voodoo, but the food and prices didn't impress me.

For what it is, I recommend the Pub at Monte Carlo. It's really just sports bar food, but everything I've had there has been good and the prices are reasonable. It's too bad they don't brew their own beer anymore, but they still have a good selection of micros and imports.

I've mentioned both these places in other threads, but I like the Hofbrauhaus, which is a block off the Strip, at Harmon and Paradise, and the Peppermill, which is between the Wynn and Riviera.

The best I can recommend is Piero's (http://www.pieroscuisine.com/). They have great food and awesome ambiance. Check out the menu for pricing. It is not cheap, but you get what you pay for. It's not like the trendy $30 for three scallops stuff. Good food. They also have a lounge with a singer. Carmine sings Sinatra and Tony Bennett type music on the weekends, with other performers stopping in.

It is near the convention center, I beleive.

Girlmimbo and I have been to Mon Ami Gabi on several occasions. We were doing a long walk through Lincoln Park zoo and there's another Mon Ami Gabi next to Lincoln Park that we've also enjoyed.

You really can't beat the ambience being on the strip across from the Bellagio fountains. For me, though, the steak is very so-so. Last time I was there, the fish was excellent, and the salads and drinks are good too, and reasonably priced for the location.

I've also been to Bouchon in the Venetian -- fairly expensive and is supposed to be very romantic. I found the dinner there to be excellent, but not spectacular, and the romance factor was so-so.

Still a big fan of Grand Lux Cafe, even if its a chain. Service is usually fast, its right off the casino floor, and nearly everything is under $15...

Asian nachos, ftw.

My wife and I enjoy Cannaletto LV on St. Mark's Square in the Venetian and go there once on each Vegas visit. Friends we have taken there have enjoyed it also. It is moderately priced (we typically spend $40 to $70 for dinner for two). It has a good variety of Italian entrees, and the ambiance on the "outdoors-indoors patio" is very pleasant, though it provides a bit of background noise due to the crowds wandering through the square. The musical entertainers on the little stage in the square are always nice. I am not an epicure, but I think the food is very good, though we were disappointed the one time that we added a dessert there.

For a simple breakfast, brunch, or lunch, we like to drop by the Pyramid Cafe in the Luxor. Nothing special, but it gives us a chance to experience the themed environment, which reminds us of sites we visited in Egypt. For a cheap dinner (which may not be at all in keeping with the intended theme of this thread), we like Gonzalez y Gonzalez in NYNY. Neither of us has ever been able to eat a full entree there, and since taking the leftovers home to reheat later is not really an option, we just order an appetizer each.

Quote: dlevinelaw

Still a big fan of Grand Lux Cafe, even if its a chain. Service is usually fast, its right off the casino floor, and nearly everything is under $15...

You would also like the Cheesecake Factory too. They are owned by the same company, and have practically the same menu.

For "fancy pants" dinners my wife and I have enjoyed Zefferino's in the Venetian's canal area. I admit we haven't eaten there the past couple of trips we've made because they were closed for remodelling, but we'll check 'em out again next time.

Dos Cominos in Palazzo is excellent if you like Mexican food.

The cafe in Mandalay Bay (off the casino, not in the food court; can't remember the name) has never disappointed us.

Quote: Wizard

You would also like the Cheesecake Factory too. They are owned by the same company, and have practically the same menu.

Probably the best meal I've had in Vegas, food and value-wise, was at the Cheesecake Factory. But I've got several of them in my hometown, so its not the sort of thing I go to Vegas to experience. If you can't do this everyday, I recommend it. From my perspective, I find it disappointing that this chain restaurant can turn out a better dining experience than Bobby Flay, Emeril LaGasse and Wolfgang Puck put together.

Cheesecake factories are all over my hometown (fort lauderdale), and I've been to the one at the forum shoppes but grand luxe has a few specific menu items I love, like their BBQ chicken pizza and Asian nachos. We also have 2 grand luxe's in south Florida, but thanks for the heads up Wiz.