{"id":1468,"date":"2009-09-15T09:04:03","date_gmt":"2009-09-15T14:04:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/?p=1468"},"modified":"2016-12-17T01:45:11","modified_gmt":"2016-12-17T07:45:11","slug":"the-best-of-downtown-vegas-restaurants-and-bars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2009\/09\/the-best-of-downtown-vegas-restaurants-and-bars\/","title":{"rendered":"The best of downtown Vegas: Restaurants and bars"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Flame Steakhouse at El Cortez (Courtesy Kirvin Doak Communications)<\/p><\/div>\n

By E.C. Gladstone<\/em><\/p>\n

There are some people that say if you haven’t been to the downtown Las Vegas hotels<\/strong><\/a>, you haven’t really been to Las Vegas. Last week, I covered where to stay, entertainment and gambling around Fremont Street; this week, the best restaurants, bars and some secret tips.<\/p>\n

Restaurants & Bars<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dining in and around Fremont Street may look uninspiring on the surface, but there are many hidden gems within Las Vegas hotels there — some of them surprising values. I’ve had very good steaks, served with style at both El Cortez<\/a>‘s The Flame<\/strong> and Binion’s<\/a> Ranch.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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View from Binion's Ranch Steakhouse (Courtesy TLC Casino Enterprises)<\/p><\/div>\n

Binion’s Ranch also features a fantastic<\/strong> 24th floor view (and chicken-fried lobster)<\/strong>, while The Flame offers nice walleyed pike, great creamed corn, and other uncommon delights.<\/p>\n

The tuxedoed servers at Four Queens<\/strong><\/a>‘ venerated Hugo’s Cellar<\/strong> like to prepare things tableside, so for a fun date, try their Hot Rock appetizer and cherries jubilee<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

I’ve had surprisingly good wood oven pizza, meatballs and rotisserie chicken at GN<\/a>‘s The Grotto<\/strong>, and heard good things about Red sushi<\/strong> and Vic & Anthony’s<\/strong> there as well.<\/p>\n

Plaza<\/strong><\/a> has installed Firefly Tapas<\/strong> in its classic dome lounge (a must-see) and brought in the Omelet House chain, both local favorites, while Vegas Club<\/strong><\/a> has adopted pan-Italian Tinoco’s Kitchen<\/strong>, with a win-your-lobster claw game<\/strong> in front! The whimsically named Pasta Pirate (Californian) also gets some good notices…<\/p>\n

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Binions "famous" burger (Courtesy TLC Casino Enterprises)<\/p><\/div>\n

On the more casual side, you may doubt me, but the old-school Snack Bar on Binion’s casino floor really does serve great fresh-ground burgers<\/strong> and other house-made fare. At its price point, Main Street Station<\/a> has a respectable buffet<\/strong>, with nice concentrations on Southern and Hawaiian dishes (GN’s buffet is also fine, with omelets to order all day). Sister hotel the Californian<\/strong> (long a destination for islanders) has Hawaiian treats like sai min noodles and spam<\/strong> at its snack bars, Ethel’s fine chocolates, and a store filled with dozens of varieties of beef jerky and other dried snacks. And if you haven’t been decadent enough yet, the Nathan’s at Mermaids casino offers deep-fried Oreos and Twinkies<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Other beloved downtown dining destinations includeMamacita’s<\/strong> (Cuban) 611 Fremont, Casa Don Juan<\/a>, 1204 S. Main, and Dona Maria’s Tamales<\/a>, 910 Las Vegas Bl So. (both Mexican), Chicago Joe’s<\/a> (Italian) 820 S. 4th St, and Triple George Grill<\/a> (Classic American), 201 N. 3rd St.<\/p>\n

Thirsty? Main Street Station<\/strong> has an entire brew pub, 777, inside<\/strong> — though you can also find outposts of local Chicago Brewing Company at Four Queens and Binion’s (Benny’s Bullpen).<\/p>\n

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Freemont Street East (Courtesy: Las Vegas News Bureau)<\/p><\/div>\n

For those who think downtown Vegas is all kitsch and grime, an artists scene has brought some long-needed, big-city funky chic here, too. On East Fremont near the El Cortez, three different destination bars — Don’t Tell Mama, a cozy piano lounge; Beauty Bar, an alt-indie omnibus; and The Griffin, an attitude-free fireplace-lodge <\/strong>coexist side by side, while the Manhattan-esque Downtown Cocktail Room<\/strong> is just around the corner on LV Blvd.<\/p>\n

Go north two blocks from Fremont on Third Street (past some great restored vintage neon), and you’ll find the Chicago-ish sleek Sidebar and biker dive Hogs ‘N’ Heifers<\/strong> bookending the Triple George. You may also enjoy the Hennesey’s Tavern complex, including a no-fuss pub, LV Country Saloon (with a mechanical bull), Mickey Finn’s fish house, and upstairs tapas lounge<\/strong> with cool views and funky DJs.<\/p>\n

More notable knows<\/strong><\/p>\n