{"id":73,"date":"2009-05-07T10:45:35","date_gmt":"2009-05-07T15:45:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2009\/05\/top-people-watching-dining-spots-on-the-las-vegas-strip\/"},"modified":"2016-12-17T12:03:02","modified_gmt":"2016-12-17T18:03:02","slug":"top-people-watching-dining-spots-on-the-las-vegas-strip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2009\/05\/top-people-watching-dining-spots-on-the-las-vegas-strip\/","title":{"rendered":"Top people-watching dining spots on the Las Vegas Strip"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Mon-Ami-Gabi\"<\/a> <\/a>By E.C. Gladstone<\/em><\/p>\n

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It isn\u2019t one of the more promoted activities in Sin City, but take in the combination of sexy locals, celebrities aplenty, and visitors from around the globe, and the people watching at Las Vegas hotels<\/a><\/strong> has to be some of the best anywhere. Right now, while the weather\u2019s warm but not quite blistering, the best place to do that is at one of the Strip\u2019s many outdoor dining spots, most of which — along with the free entertainment — offer good quality at reasonable prices\u2026 Here are some of my favorites:<\/p>\n

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Mon Ami Gabi, Paris Las Vegas<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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In many respects, the Grand Mere of Stripside dining, Mon Ami Gabi remains the standard. After ten years, MAG remains well maintained, with a great staff and solid French brasserie food<\/strong>, but also a vegetarian sampler, several fish choices<\/strong> (even Skate), and over 10 different kinds of frites<\/strong>. A few weeks back I had a Steak Bordelaise<\/strong> at the bar that was, well, perfect. If you don\u2019t want to wait for the patio or pavilion, the extensive interior (modeled after an idealized Parisian bistro — but thankfully not overburdened by the clich\u00e9 Lautrec prints) is pleasantly romantic.<\/p>\n

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\"Las<\/a> Serendipity 3, Caesars Palace<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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The new kid on the block, S3 has been busy seemingly since the moment it opened. Truly a right place-right-time restaurant, the whimsical NYC transplant (the interior feels like an oversized Wonderland\/Wonka fantasy) is positioned in the Strip-side agora for prime people watching while you share one of their \u201cfamous\u201d Frrrozen Hot Chocolates<\/strong> or other cool creamy confections (including alcohol-laced milkshakes)\u2026 washed down with a huge sandwich, salad, short rib pot pie or big cone of fries<\/strong>. Your napkin ring may have a prize inside, so don\u2019t forget to look. <\/p>\n

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Lavo , Palazzo<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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With a change of chefs, the Mediterranean lounge\/club\/restaurant can now take more advantage of its prime patio<\/strong> with a creatively approachable new menu. The creatively classic southern Italian menu<\/strong> offers Kobe beef meatballs<\/strong>, a serious carbonara<\/strong> (and lots of other pastas), solid fish selections, steaks, some cleverly cooling signature cocktails, available as pitchers.<\/p>\n

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Social House, T.I.<\/a><\/strong><\/o:p><\/p>\n

One of the most serious and complete Japanese\/fusion restaurants on the Strip<\/strong>, Social House has full sushi, sashimi & sake selections, kobe beef and other creative tastes in a dramatic atmosphere.<\/p>\n

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Stripburger\/Caf\u00e9 Ba-Ba-Reeba (Fashion Show Mall)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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A value entry in the gourmet burger race, Stripburger has solid beef, turkey and veggie options<\/strong>, Summery drinks, and a hot fudge milkshake that will make you comatose<\/strong> (no, that\u2019s good!). The connected Ba-ba-Reeba is a Spanish tapas bar<\/strong>, which offers pintxos bites, as well as hot tapas, Serrano ham<\/strong>, paellas<\/strong>, sangrias<\/strong>, and a lot more.<\/p>\n

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\"Las<\/a> Other choices include Nine Fine Irishmen (New York, New York<\/a>)<\/strong> with a two-level patio and traditional Irish pub food<\/strong> (sheperd\u2019s pie, lamb stew, cod & chips, Irish breakfast)\u2026 Ra Sushi<\/strong> (full Japanese menu, and great Bento box lunch deals!) at Fashion Show\u2026 the Mexican bordertown flavored Diablo\u2019s Cantina (Monte Carlo<\/a>)<\/strong>\u2026 The modernized tiki bar Trader Vic\u2019s<\/strong>, with a particularly roomy patio, and Hawaiian Tropic Zone<\/strong>, which offers plenty of eye candy, with their American\/Asian menus (both at Planet Hollywood<\/a><\/strong>)\u2026 Margaritaville (Flamingo<\/a>)<\/strong>, home of the Cheeseburger in Paradise, perhaps the only Strip patio open for breakfast<\/strong> (7 a.m.!) also offering conch fritters and a big kids menu\u2026 and lastly, both Dal Toro<\/strong> (the restaurant\/lounge attached to the Lamborghini dealership), and the Palazzo Sportsbook<\/strong> have Strip-side patios too!<\/p>\n

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If drinking is your top priority, Christian Audigier (T.I.)<\/strong>, Pure (Caesars)<\/strong>, Tao (Venetian<\/a><\/strong>, and Rok Vegas (New York New York)<\/strong> all have view patios\u2026and if you want to gaze from a more air-conditioned environment, Joe\u2019s Stone Crab, Sushi Roku, and BOA Steakhouse<\/strong> (all Forum Shops at Caesars)<\/strong>, Capital Grille<\/strong>, Maggiano\u2019s<\/strong> and the Neiman Marcus caf\u00e9<\/strong> (all Fashion Show Mall)<\/strong> and The Range<\/strong> (Harrah\u2019s<\/a>)<\/strong> have good view seating. Here\u2019s looking at you! No, really \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

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Insider Tip<\/strong>: For a truly unique outdoor dining experience, visit Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare (Wynn<\/a>)<\/strong>, and congratulate chef Paul Bartolotta, who just won the James Beard Award for Best Chef Southwest<\/strong>. He will reward you in kind, I assure.<\/o:p><\/p>\n

More on Las Vegas dining<\/strong>:<\/p>\n