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Best
Chinese
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Las
Vegas
Casino Player readers have chosen the reliable, reasonably
priced Chinese food at the Flamingo Hilton’s Peking
Market as the best in town. A stunning, 800-gallon aquarium
lights up the entrance to the restaurant, which is themed
to suggest a starlit, outdoor patio in a Chinese garden.
Inside, guests will find delicate pagoda lamps and lustrous
wood furniture bringing the theme alive. No real surprises
on the familiar menu, which sticks close to traditional
Cantonese and Szechwan cuisine, but that’s just what
Peking Market’s guests applaud.
Atlantic
City
Consistently voted “Best Chinese Restaurant” in
Atlantic City by Casino Player readers, the Golden Dynasty
at the Tropicana, with its gold decor and sumptuous seating,
never fails to delight or impress. The menu is just daring
enough to be interesting. All the usual Chinese dishes are
here: the spring rolls, the spare ribs, the chow mein, the
Peking duck. But there are several intriguing dishes that
adventurous diners should consider; certainly, the shredded
jellyfish appetizer and abalone with black mushrooms fall
into this category. A great experience in a consistently
excellent restaurant.
Gulf
Coast
More than just Noodles, as the name implies, the
Beau Rivage’s charmingly-themed little Chinese restaurant
features roast duck, roast pork and steamed fish, as well
as “American” Chinese favorites like fried shrimp,
chop suey and fried rice… and, yes, plenty of noodle
dishes from all over Asia. A terrific spot for lunch or
a late-nite snack.
Native
American
Located right off of Foxwoods’ main concourse, the
attractive Han Garden offers a tremendous variety
of Chinese food with some very creative presentations. Start
with salty pepper shrimp and sea bass or the more traditional
egg rolls, and move on to filet of beef with black pepper
sauce, an excellent sizzling veal chop, or Szechwan scallops.
Diners looking for a more adventurous journey into the world
of Asian cuisine should try the more eclectic (and more
authentic) Golden Dragon, located a little further down
the concourse in the Grand Pequot tower. Either way, you
won’t go wrong.
Best
Japanese
Las
Vegas
The Benihana Village at the Las Vegas Hilton is an
enchanting Japanese fantasy land, with streams, bridges,
trees, chirping crickets, flower gardens, even thunder and
lightning. Several restaurants and lounges surround the
complex, but the standout is, of course, Benihana, where
skilled chefs chop, slice and grill appetizers and entrees
right at the table. Benihana has always been a cross between
dinner theater and high camp; what keeps the place so popular
is the quality of the food, and the truly dazzling skill
with which the dishes are executed. The nearby Kabuki Lounge
is a great place to soak up the sights and sounds of this
surreal nocturnal village.
Atlantic City
Hyakumi (literally, “100 tastes”) at Caesars
is Benihana without the Benihana. Actually, Hyakumi is a
bit more extensive than the traditional chop-chop chain.
Teppan Yaki chefs prepare and serve a seven-course dinner
that includes steak, chicken, lobster and tuna, all in a
beautiful Japanese-themed environment. There’s also
a sushi bar for faster, less theatrical meals.
Gulf Coast
The name Take Maku means “bamboo veil,”
which is exactly what this gorgeous Beau Rivage restaurant
feels like. Bamboo covers every wall; in fact, more than
4,000 stalks of Malaysian bamboo were flown in specifically
to create this astonishingly-designed Japanese restaurant.
Dining here feels like a meal in an Asian arboretum, or
perhaps a lush Japanese courtyard. The cuisine is traditional
Teppan Yaki, with an excellent sushi bar in the center of
the room.
Best French
Las
Vegas
All-day dining and Las Vegas’ only Strip-side outdoor
seating immediately qualifies Mon Ami Gabi at Paris
(where else?) as a standout. Inside, a dark bar, lined from
floor to ceiling with bottles of wine, opens into a casually
elegant, oh-so-Parisian dining room. Under the direction
of award-winning chef Gabino Sotelino, the menu supplements
traditional steakhouse fare with such varied items as omelets
prepared with French-cured bacon, crepes, and quiche. Naturally,
there are steaks as well, with the signature dishes served
Bordelaise or au poivre in a brandy peppercorn sauce. Best
of all, the prices are moderate, a fact which will surely
make this a restaurant that people will talk about. Open
a bottle of Burgundy and order one of the deliciously sauced
Steak Frites, and linger long enough to catch Bellagio’s
fountain show several times over.
Atlantic City
Resorts may look totally different, but owner Sun International
was wise enough to leave certain classics untouched—particularly
the beautiful Le Palais, the grande dame of Atlantic
City’s restaurants. With its crushed red velvet draperies,
flickering candles and marble columns, Le Palais would be
just as at home a few blocks from the Champs Elysses. Diners
can expect French and Continental fare here, perhaps terrine
of pheasant and foie gras or stuffed quail over apple coulis.
Dinner might be a braised half of Muscovy duck breast, or
a perfect rack of lamb noisette. All this and Kit Moran,
Atlantic City’s most popular chanteuse, who serenades
guests nightly. Heaven.
Best Seafood
Las
Vegas
Before he became known as “King of the Food Network,”
Chef Emeril Lagasse was here at the MGM Grand, expanding
his Big Easy restaurant empire into the desert. Emeril’s
New Orleans Fish House, the chef’s first venture
in Las Vegas, was a welcome addition to the food scene in
1994. Looking like an import from the French Quarter, with
wrought iron gates and vine-covered brick columns, the specialty
here is obviously fish, as evidenced by the large oyster
and fish bar that greets guests as they enter (a great spot
for lunch or a fast bite, by the way). Emeril stayed close
to Cajun tradition in developing the menu, featuring such
appetizers as fresh oysters, pan fried Louisiana crab cakes,
and his justifiably famous barbecued shrimp. Entreés
continue along a similar path: pan roasted Gulf snapper
on herbed new potatoes with tomato and fennel confit, steamed
mussels and kalamata olives is delicious, as is the andouille
crusted redfish served on a bed of creamy grits with an
oyster-artichoke cream sauce and fried spinach leaves. Hilda
(that’s Emeril’s mom, as any Food Network addict
knows) makes her appearance with Portuguese steamed clams
simmered with spicy chorizo sausage, garlic and onions.
This one definitely packs a Bam!
Atlantic City
For the fourth year in a row, William Fisk at Harrah’s
maintains its position as the top seafood restaurant in
Atlantic City. It’s no wonder—the menu is extremely
diverse, the restaurant is very casual, and the fish couldn’t
be any fresher. Start with any one of the clam appetizers
(this is the Jersey Shore, after all), and then dig into
sautéed striped bass, baked crab, broiled sea scallops
or the excellent pan-fried tilapia. Carnivores aren’t
forgotten—the menu also offers selections of pork,
surf and turf, and breast of capon.
Tunica
Cafe Sonoma at the Horseshoe isn’t exclusively
a seafood restaurant, but its clever preparations and fish
specialties nonetheless qualify it in the seafood category.
Just look at those lobster dishes, wood roasted and served
with a head of roasted garlic, baked and stuffed with seafood,
or served simply with drawn butter (for you purists). The
menu’s Asian flavors really shine in preparations like
ginger-steamed Chilean sea bass with fried cucumbers and
soy chive oil, soy-grilled tuna with wasabi mashed potatoes,
or even an oversized California roll. Recently, the restaurant
underwent a minor facelift, so its California artsy-airiness
has been made just a bit more artsy with the addition of
funky stained glass windows.
Gulf Coast
For an authentic taste of the Gulf Coast, look no further
than Brulo’s at Grand Casino Biloxi. This bistro-like
restaurant overlooking the water specializes in Cajun and
Creole preparations of seafood, including pan roasts and
steamed shellfish. Gumbo, etouffee, crawfish and giant Gulf
shrimp, all doused in Tabasco and served with red beans
and rice, is what this place is all about.
Reno
A 1,500-gallon saltwater aquarium-in-the-round dominates
and defines the Seafood Steakhouse at Atlantis, an
“Under the Sea” fantasy of black lights, oceanic
murals, rocky walls and suspended fish that hang from a
ceiling of blue waves. Combined, the decor suggests moonlight
on broken water. All the rest is done with mirrors, but
there’s no denying the quality of the service and food—from
flaming coconut prawns and “smooth as velvet”
pan roasts, to King Crab legs, Dover sole and grilled swordfish.
There’s a well-chosen wine list, too. Poseidon would
be proud.
Lake Tahoe
A casual, friendly atmosphere with hints of a New England
lobster shack is what you’ll find at the Seafood
Grotto at Harveys. Enjoy straightforward preparations
of all your favorite seafood dishes, from fish and chips
and scampi to cioppino and bouillabaisse. Or, try the popular
Pacific Clambake.
Native American
Designed in tandem with the earthy, glowing Al Dente Italian
Restaurant next door, Fox Harbor at Foxwoods celebrates
seafood with a swirling, watery design that is every bit
as lovely as Al Dente’s interior. The restaurant specializes
in local and regional preparations of seafood, with clams,
oysters, pot pies, chowders and casseroles taking center
stage. Meat eaters have plenty of options, but the daily
fresh fish menu is the way to go here. Sushi lovers will
also find plenty to cheer about; the tempura sushi roll
has to be tasted to be believed. Smoked fish is another
specialty, with no fewer than eight preparations on the
menu (smoked salmon lovers will adore the pastrami-smoked
variety).
Best Mexican
Las Vegas
Casino Player readers voted Tres Lobos at the Stardust
the “Best Mexican Restaurant” in Las Vegas for
the third year in a row, and it’s easy to see why.
The restaurant is bright and colorful, with a delightful
villa theme, and the menu is loaded down with burritos,
enchiladas, tacos, fajitas and chimichangas—food that’s
as much fun to say as it is to eat. Definitely a good choice
on the Strip when you’ve just got to have chips and
guacamole.
Atlantic
City
The Gold Rush Grill at Bally’s Wild Wild West
casino may not be completely authentic, but there simply
isn’t a lot of demand for South of the Border food
on the Boardwalk. That said, the Gold Rush is a great place
for BBQ ribs and chicken, sandwiches, burgers, and the best
margarita in town. You’ll also find Mexican dishes
on the menu, but this place is perhaps best defined as “Tex-Mex.”
Reno
On the Circus side of the promenade connecting Circus, Silver
Legacy and the Eldorado is Art Gecko’s Southwest
Grill, Reno’s most innovative take on Southwestern
and Mexican cuisine. The high-energy decor is raw and unfinished,
with low-hanging wooden beams and several television screens.
The cleverly designed bar serves all kinds of tequila, from
common varieties to the rare ones best sipped like cognac.
A fiery exhibition kitchen completes the spicy picture.
Lake Tahoe
For Mexican favorites in a Hacienda-like garden setting,
Casino Player readers choose El Vaquero at Harveys,
where they can select from a varied menu of traditional
and combination entrees. An adjacent lounge is a great place
to enjoy one (or more) of the restaurant’s signature
margaritas.
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