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Condé Nast Traveler picks
 Las Vegas for Gourmets
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Not long ago, Las Vegas was a wasteland of 99-cent shrimp cocktails and cheap surf 'n' turf. It wasn't much of a place to take a date, let alone to dine à deux with the spouse you'd just gotten hitched to by an ordained Elvis impersonator. But in the past few years, the Strip has made such a mark on the culinary world that two of the five finalists for best new U.S. restaurant in the vaunted James Beard competition were here. What's more, the casinos have realized that folks will pay big to sit in a sensational setting and be fed by the world's greatest cooks. Clearly, times have changed. Herewith, some of the most romantic restaurants—often several in the same casino complex—in what's becoming one of America's best food scenes.
The Wynn Las Vegas has two standouts, starting with Alex: What could be more impressive than sweeping your sweetie elegantly down a Hello, Dolly!–esque staircase and into a sunken dining room of dramatic orange drapes and tall windows? You may wonder if the food could be lovely; Alessandro Stratta's superlative Franco-Italian cuisine would be worth eating from a paper bag (3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S.; 702-770-7000; prix fixe, $120). Sit outside Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare amid trickling, candlelit waterfalls and enjoy Milwaukee chef Paul Bartolotta's stunning lakefront eatery. With the Wynn's 140-foot man-made mountain shielding guests from the Strip's ruckus, tuck into a flavorful baked pink snapper with oregano and artichokes or some amazing sheep's milk ravioli (3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S.; 702-770-3163; entrées, $12–$58). For couples who feel that Sideways spoke to them, Charlie Palmer's Aureole at Mandalay Bay is an oenophile's fantasy. Break open one of the 50,000 bottles and toast life, love, and wine—and try classic Palmer dishes such as herb-crusted Pacific halibut with a potato–snap pea pancake in wine sauce (3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S.; 702-632-7401; prix fixe, $69; tasting menu, $95). At Fleur de Lys, also in Mandalay Bay, every day feels like Valentine's Day. The sensational dining room has a floral installation made up of more than 2,000 pink roses. Hubert Keller's second Fleur is especially known for its oxtail tortellini (3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S.; 702-632-9400; prix fixes, $74–$94). Finally, atop THEHotel at Mandalay Bay, there's Mix, where the tough choice is where to sit: outside, overlooking the glittery Strip, or inside, in a dining area with a chandelier comprised of 15,000 pieces of blown glass. Alain Ducasse offers a, well, mix of Mediterranean and American staples from his other eateries (3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S.; 702-632-7777; entrées, $13–$55). Hmm, what to say about the Eiffel Tower Restaurant at the Paris Las Vegas. Let's see. You're on the eleventh floor of a half-sized replica of the most romantic structure on the planet, eating remarkable gourmet food while peering out over the fountains in front of the Bellagio. Fantastique, non? (3655 Las Vegas Blvd. S.; 702-948-6937; entrées, $27–$45). A hot spot just off the Strip, Firefly on Paradise is known to locals as the first-date capital for its trendy, colorful decor and killer Spanish tapas. The bacon-wrapped dates and the marinated lamb chops are perfection (3900 Paradise Rd.; 702-369-3971; tapas, $3–$10). At Bellagio, Fix's sleek, ultrasexy design—a wavy wood-paneled ceiling and dimmed lights—is probably the closest thing Vegas has to the sort of hip eatery Carrie and Big might have visited on Sex and the City. The vibe is a tad naughty, with booths for sitting close and nuzzling (3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S.; 702-693-8400; entrées, $26–$43). At Picasso, dine amid $30 million worth of authentic works of art and enjoy such Julian Serrano masterpieces as seafood boudin. Bored with Pablo's paintings? There's always the view of the dancing fountains outside. That's art and romance from every angle (702-693-7223; prix fixes, $90–$100). Inside the Four Queens Casino Hotel, Hugo's Cellar is one of the original fine-dining joints in Vegas lore, and it still offers that touch of class—a rose for every woman—as well as outstanding French cuisine (202 Fremont St.; 702-385-4011; entrées, $28–$42). At Lutèce, in The Venetian, Guy Savoy protégé David Féau adds Vegas panache to his brilliantly executed French cuisine by serving it at tables overlooking the hotel's Grand Canal. The Valrhona chocolate mousse cake with vanilla sauce is superb (3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S.; 702-414-2220; entrées, $28–$49). At the MGM Grand, Nobhill is the quiet, luxurious, and calm Vegas version of a Bay Area classic, and one of the loveliest places to go if you really want to relax—and actually hear the sweet nothings being whispered to you. The creative American cuisine and doting service are all you could hope for. Be wowed by the signature lobster pot pie (3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S.; 702-891-7337; entrées, $31–$69). One of the most expensive menus in the world makes Robuchon at the Mansion a honeymoon-level splurge—or perhaps the ultimate way to pop the question. French maestro Joël Robuchon's first American location is a handsome dining room softly lit by a mammoth teardrop crystal chandelier. Notable, too, is the bread cart with ten types of rolls made with imported French flour (702-891-7925; 10-course prix fixe, $185; 16-course prix fixe, $350). Truth in Travel is the guiding principle for all content published in Condé Nast Traveler. Other travel publications often accept free travel and accommodations. Condé Nast Traveler does not. It is independent of the travel industry. The magazine always pays its way, and, as far as possible, its correspondents travel anonymously. By doing so, they experience the world—both the good and the bad—as other travelers do, and their reports and recommendations are fair, impartial, and authoritative.
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