Restaurant/Bar recommendations -

I'm visiting for 4 days in just over a month. Staying at Bally's, based on the package deals that were available. I looked at their website and was disappointed with the limited number of restaurant options. I'm definitely more into casual dining than upscale, but do prefer a sit down place rather than just hitting a fast food type counter. (Though I may have to get a dog from Nathan's.)

I know Paris is close by with their buffet and some other restaurants. I'm looking for recommendations on decent casual restaurants mid strip. Any cuisine type is fine. Haven't been back to LV in 3-4 years so I'm not sure what's good and what's overrated. We are going to Hoffbrauhouse for one meal + beers, but that's the only meal planned. We won't have a car.

I'd also like to find good places to try some microbrews. May not make it downtown to Triple 7's, so I'm looking for places closer to mid or southern strip. What are some of your favorites?

For more casual dining I'd take a walk to the new Linq area. There's a good selection there. Also Gordon Ramsay Burgr is near by at Planet Hollywood. My favorite burger in town and not super expensive.

Downtown is still the best for breweries. There's a somewhat new place, Banger Brewery that has great beer. Plus you can hit Chicago Brewing at the 4 Queens and grab some good pizza.

I don't recommend the walk even though its close to Bally's, but give Ellis island a try.

Quote: Toes14

I'd also like to find good places to try some microbrews. May not make it downtown to Triple 7's, so I'm looking for places closer to mid or southern strip. What are some of your favorites?

TAG Lounge at Linq casino. 200+ bottles compable playing either VP/keno/slots at bar, or their e-gaming machines. No where even comes close if you want "comped" beers.

If you like IPAs, I can give you suggestions on those if you don't plan to drink the whole list like I did...lol Off hand, for IPA style, I would recommend Sculpin IPA, Joseph James Citra Rye, Union Jack IPA, Pizza Port Swami IPA (if available), and Happy Camper IPA. For Double/Imperial IPA style, Squatters Hop Rising, Dogfish Head 90 min., and Oskar Blues G'Knight. My trip reports also list a lot of what I drank as well.

Here is a dated list by brewery location. They have reorganized the menu by style, but most of the things listed here are still there though. Anything under $9 is usually comped when playing.







If you want to pay for beer, Yard House at the Linq promenade would be a good choice as well. They have "flights" for ~$10. Same goes for "The Pub" at Monte Carlo's "Street of Dreams".

Off strip, the 32 Degree Bar at M Resort is great. 96 compable beers on tap.
http://www.themresort.com/dining/32draftmenu.html

If you can get down to Sahara, Cleo at the SLS is an excellent choice for a casual dinner at a great price with some class. IMO, one of the best valued meals on the Strip.

Yes Cleo is good. I love it, and it's well priced. Garlic shrimp is a must as an appetizer, eggplant lasagna was really good. I had no Idea it was eggplant until after I asked my GF what it was.

The Katsuya Japanese place is very good as well. Best Japanese beef dish I have had. I didn't like Ku Noodle at SLS. They specialized in dumplings that all tasted the same to me I didn't care for anything there. Others found it ok.

IMO Grand Lux Café @ Venetian is the best " cafe " in a casino, it's lower lit dining, good enough to take a date but not break the bank.Its Good enough for a special occasion and fine for just causal dining. The food is great, the prices are fair, the selection is really good. If your solo, or in a rush you can eat at the bar/counter inside, just seat yourself. It's not as quiet as an fancy upscale place. Get the creamy chicken soup, it's awesome. They come pour it from a silver kettle thing into your bowl. I sometimes just get that. The have both Asian and American selections. They have good steak and seafood as well. I can't remember the desserts at all, nothing caught my eye, probably normal cheesecake factory stuff.

There's a really good place in that bizarre outdoor mall between Paris and Bally's. Dam, I Can't remember the name of it now. It's Half way down from the strip on the left hand side. Really interesting menu.

Quote: djatc

I don't recommend the walk even though its close to Bally's, but give Ellis island a try.

Tell him how long the line is.

I'm going to say EI is good for a coffee shop, but it's really not all that. For free, sure, you should jump on it like WOR, but I wouldn't go out of my way and pay for it.

If you are a big BBQ fan then that's a different story.

FYI. That BBQ place you now see, was once just a small (outside?) cooking thing on special days, it was where the micro brewery is now.

You sat over by the pizza place in the crappie booths or the make shift tables, along with the ugly concrete floors.

I don't remember the pizza place being there at that time.

You usually got a free coupons for it in with the mailers, or it was really cheap ($6?). It was a very limited selection. I just remember BBQ chicken and a few sides(beans and corn). I can't remember any ribs at the very beginning, but they may of had them.

We only choose the BBQ lunch, because it was fast at the beginning and the cafe was a 60 minute wait. It was very tasty BBQ so we kept going back.

I swear it was served it on paper plates with plastic forks or in baskets with paper lining. You shared your space with some very undesirable people.

My memory may be off a bit, but you get the Idea.

It had been a Very long time before going back to EI. When we all decided to meet up for dinner a while back and you-all suggested there . I though, really you want to meet there? *frown* When me and mt GF arrived, I was looking around in the old spot, because I didn't know even know they dedicated a really cool new restaurant for it. I was impressed to see how far it came.

At Bally's, I think your best bet is Burger Brasserie. Decent burgers and fries in a sports bar environment.

Mon Ami Gabi at Paris is on the upscale side of casual. Nice patio, but I think its a bit of a challenge to get a seat there.

If you're gonna get a dog, I recommend Pink's in front of Planet Hollywood.

There's a new Guy Fieri restaurant at the Linq which I thought was pretty good.

Todd English P.U.B., next to Aria, is a good place for beers. Visit during happy hour when beers and appetizers are almost affordable.

My favorite beer place on the strip is Public House in the Venetian.

As mentioned in previous replies, the Yardhouse, Grand Lux Cafe, and TAG are all good spots too.

Mon Ami Gabi at Paris is a good choice, most entrees can be had at or under $20. I don't typically like going to places I can go to at home while in Vegas, but it still is a good quality place. Furthermore, I don't know where you live, but if you live in the Chicago area, it is also part of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, that has branched out to some areas like Vegas, DC and the Twin Cities.

Quote: PapaChubby

At Bally's, I think your best bet is Burger Brasserie. Decent burgers and fries in a sports bar environment.

I'll second this. And also add that you can get it comped with Total Rewards credits. You CANNOT get Mon Ami Gabi comped with TR credits. It's an outside contractor restaurant. But it is good (not outstanding in my opinion).

The lamb burger at Burger Brasserie is one of my favorite dishes anywhere. Must try. Also, you can get a weird contraption that sits on your table and dispenses like five liters of beer. That's fun :)

Quote: tringlomane

Here is a dated list by brewery location. They have reorganized the menu by style, but most of the things listed here are still there though. Anything under $9 is usually comped when playing.

Nice recommendations, but as a Seattle resident, looking at the selection for "Washington" in this list makes me very sad. The Seattle area has one of the most active beer scenes in the US with over 50 breweries and many amazing beers. This bar chooses to offer a bland wheat beer, an apricot beer (Yuck!), and Mike's Hard Lemonade (not even a WA brand, and not a beer.)

The Yard House is not just a place to get good beer, they have a very decent mid-priced menu as well, with lots of variety.

Shake Shack makes a killer burger on the strip in front of NY NY. It's fast food style but made with good quality ingredients. I also second the suggestion for Burgr.

I always suggest Grimaldi's Pizza in the Palazzo mall for a great meal without breaking the bank.

Jml I know how you feel. 4 Missouri beers and they are all generic AB stuff. Nothing from Urban Chestnut, 4 Hands, Civil Life, or any of the quality microbreweries we have here.

Quote: djatc

I don't recommend the walk even though its close to Bally's, but give Ellis island a try.

What's wrong with the walk? I walked down Koval from Tropicana (Hooters) to get to Ellis Island and then down the rest of Koval and looped around Sands to the Wynn. This was midday, of course, I can't speak for after dark, but I was the only one (with exception to an apartment security guard and a lone bicyclist) that I even saw on Koval.

Quote: Mission146

What's wrong with the walk? I walked down Koval from Tropicana (Hooters) to get to Ellis Island and then down the rest of Koval and looped around Sands to the Wynn. This was midday, of course, I can't speak for after dark, but I was the only one (with exception to an apartment security guard and a lone bicyclist) that I even saw on Koval.

Not in this weather

Quote: djatc

Not in this weather

That's very true! I thought you were talking about safety.

I wouldn't walk from The D to Four Queens in this weather.