In Vegas, chefs are the stars of the Strip

By E.C. Gladstone

I’m still digesting (in every sense of the word) the amazing experience I had earlier this month at Vegas Uncork’d, the annual gourmet festival presented by Bon Appetit magazine here. Foodies, mark your calendar, because this is truly a unique event, where you not only get to sample the food of internationally revered chefs, but socialize and even cook with them (maybe even gamble)!

Uncork’d reminded me just how many star chefs we have in our Las Vegas hotels (“who isn’t here?” is the popular refrain) … so many that visitors often aren’t even aware of them all. That seemed like a good reason to attempt a comprehensive listing — and remind everyone that, since many of their restaurants are offering dining deals (and have casual outposts too), you can create your own food festival here anytime you want!

Keep in mind that some of these chefs are here more frequently than others (I’ve starred those for whom Las Vegas is home base), but no doubt those that only visit every few weeks trust their kitchens to the next rising stars…

French

• The ultimate masters of French cooking around the world, and here, everyone largely agrees are Joel Robuchon (The Mansion at MGM Grand) and Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace; an evening at either restaurant is not just a meal but an event.
  
• *Alessandro Stratta bends the genre, but lovingly, at his gorgeously appointed Alex (Wynn).
• The legendary Alain Ducasse presents his cuisine with a remarkable view at MIX, atop THEHotel, while Jean Joho also offers a view with his menu at Eiffel Tower Restaurant (Paris).

• Daniel Boulud’s Brasserie (Wynn) and Le Cirque at Bellagio (helmed by *Chef David Werly) are not to be missed.
• Both Thomas Keller and Hubert Keller (unrelated, though they ought to be!) have the classic Bouchon (Venetian) and romantic Fleur De Lys (Mandalay Bay) respectively.
• And one of our first gourmet chefs, *Andre Rochat, serves modernized classics at Andre’s (Monte Carlo) and Alize.

American & Steaks

• Of course, the French don’t own a trademark on fine dining: Bradley Ogden presents an ever changing arrayof homeland-inspired delights at his namesake (Caesars Palace), while Emeril Lagasse is represented at Table 10 (Palazzo) as well as Delmonico (Venetian) and his Fish House (MGM Grand), and Michael Mina’s Nobhill Tavern offers San Francisco treats (MGM Grand).
• Some of the best steaks anywhere are at Tom Colicchio’s Craftsteak (MGM Grand) — and since Top Chef is filming in Las Vegas now, expect to see him more often these days — not to mention Jean-George Vongerichten’sPrime (Bellagio) and *David Walzog’s SW Steakhouse (Wynn).
• And speaking of meat, though I’ve stayed away from mentioning most chef’s casual offshoots, BLT Burger (Mirage) is all we’ve got of Laurent Tourondel — and even if it’s fancy diner food, you won’t feel shortchanged.
• I can’t neglect to include whimsical David Burke’s spot in Venetian, or The Country Club (Wynn), now under the realm of respected chef *Carlos Guia.

Seafood

As much as it seems counter-intuitive (i.e. crazy) to expect great fish in the desert, the fact is, we have it.

• *Paul Bartolotta’s Ristorante di Mare (Wynn) offers unique catches from the waters around Italy.
  
• Rick Moonen’s RM Seafood (Mandalay Place) has some of the freshest seafood you can find anywhere.
• And Michael Mina Bellagio as well as his MGM Grand-based SeaBlue both get accolades.

Other Ethnicities

Vegas does have a way of finding the best of everything.

• The only Michelin two-star (yes, that’s a big deal) Chinese restaurant in the entire US is Chef *Richard Chen’s Wing Lei.
• There are many great sushi spots in Las Vegas hotels, but Marssa at Loews Lake Las Vegas is the only one where you can be served personally by Master Sushi Chef *Osamu Fujita.
• At Bellagio, Yellowtail’s *Akira Back is becoming a bigger deal every day. And many sushi chefs got their start at Chef Matsuhisa’s Nobu (Hard Rock Hotel).
• For Italian, James Beard awarded *Luciano Pellegrini’s Valentino (Venetian) is a must, unless Mario Batali’s B&B Ristorante (Venetian) or Carnevino (Palazzo) lure you their way.
• Celeb chef Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill offers haute Southwest dishes (Caesars Palace) while some of the finest Mexican anywhere is at Mandalay Bay’s Border Grill (Remember the Two Hot Tamales, Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger?) as well as Richard Sandoval’s Isla (TI).

Unique

Then there are those restaurants which can only be defined by their own terms, finding inspiration from throughout the world.

• Chief among these would have to be Charlie Trotter’s trancendent Restaurant Charlie (Palazzo) but few would be disappointed either by a meal from *Julian Serrano at Picasso, *Martin Heierling’s Sensi, Todd English’s Olives (all three, Bellagio) or Top Chef winner *Kerry Simon at Palms Place.
• Finally, I would be absolutely remiss not to mention two of our first fine dining destinations — both still very respected — Charlie Palmer’s Aureole (home of the wine angels, in Mandalay Bay) and Wolfgang Puck’s Spago (Forum Shops at Caesars Palace).

There are, of course, many more amazing rising chefs here that you haven’t heard of, too. Don’t be afraid to ask your concierge where he/she would dine!

Insider Tip: This has to be a first — on June 3, the Palazzo will host a farmer's market adjacent to the casino floor, to celebrate Chef Mario Batali's restaurants Carnevino, B&B and Enoteca San Marco all being certified "green." Afterward, you can join Mario and winemaker partner Joe Bastianich for a special prix fixe dinner at Carnevino…also notable, Aureole at Mandalay Bay is presenting a remarkablewine weekend June 12-14, hosted by Master Sommelier William Sherer.

More on Las Vegas dining:

• Top people-watching dining spots on the Las Vegas Strip
• Top 10 Las Vegas buffets
• Cheap eats on the Las Vegas Strip
  
• Las Vegas: Top 10 steakhouses on the Strip
• Top 5 breakfasts on the Las Vegas Strip
• Guide to celebrity-spotting at Las Vegas hotels, restaurants

Related Orbitz resources:

• Las Vegas hotels

A
contributing editor at VEGAS Magazine, E. C. Gladstone also interviews
top Strip entertainers, restauranteurs, moguls and behind-the-scenes
players for other local and national publications and websites. Like
many Las Vegans, he sleeps only when absolutely necessary.

Tagged: Las Vegas