Going above and beyond the norm is typical for Vegas, and these six restaurants are out-of-this-world good. Try them next time you’re in town!
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1. Once
Pronounced ‘oh-seh’, Once is the product of famed Peruvian Nikkei chef Ricardo Zarate. The name means “eleven” in Spanish and pays tribute to the fact that Zarate was the 11th child in his family.
The chef’s latest meals fuse Peruvian and Japanese dishes to create outcomes like oxtail bibimbap with black mint stew and bigeye tuna sashimi ceviche with black truffles. That’s just a small teaser of the elaborate and highly distinct meals you’ll experience at Once. Suffice it to say: Once is an adventurous food destination, not a place you go for a burger and fries.
In fact, the menu changes constantly, so coming back multiple times is encouraged. You may not see the same meal twice.
It just opened in March of 2018, but it’s frequently booked up, so you’ll want to reserve a table as far in advance as you can.
Once. Eater Vegas
2. Esther’s Kitchen
Widely acclaimed chef James Trees has created his own brand of fine Italian dining at Esther’s Kitchen in the Arts District of Las Vegas.
The selection of bread and pasta changes daily, and custom touches like having an in-house butcher and a self-maintained herb garden add to the personality and the flavor of the meals.
You can expect Italian staples like pizza, pasta, salad, and sandwiches in this quick lunch service style restaurant, and it certainly won’t break the bank with meal options under $15.
The restaurant is named after Trees’ late great aunt, who paid for his education and enabled him to pursue his dream of having his own restaurant. We think Esther’s Kitchen would make her proud!
3. North Italia
As soon as you set foot in North Italia, you’ll experience a modern, wood-styled aesthetic that makes for a very cool and comfortable atmosphere.
The food is no slouch either. There are multiple North Italia locations throughout the States, and each has a different menu. The Vegas menu offers items like prosciutto bruschetta with crescenza cheese and truffles. That’s just the tip of the iceberg in this Italian eatery, with handmade pizzas, extravagant salads, and delicious pasta also on offer.
If you have a hankering for pizza, we highly recommend The Pig Pizza. It’s loaded with Italian sausage, pepperoni with a spicy bite, and soppressata. You can thank us later!
Prices at North Italia are very reasonable. Expect to spend less than $20 on your main course.
4. Raku
You’ve probably had Japanese food before, but you’ll feel like you’ve truly had authentic Japanese food after eating at Raku.
This cozy grill house has incredible small plates with a taste profile that will have you savoring flavors like never before. Even chefs choose Raku for a meal when they’re not working at their own restaurants because they know the quality is off the charts.
Small plates like the Enoki mushroom wrapped with bacon and the apple marinated lamb chops are some of our favorites.
Besides the food, you can expect great service, late hours, and very affordable prices.
5. Eureka!
If you think American food is boring, think again. American is what’s on the menu at Eureka!, but they find a way to make each staple dish taste fresh and starkly different than usual.
Take the mac n’ cheese balls; it’s a concept that’s by no means new, but the beer cheese sauce and Fresno chilis add a pizzaz that we’ve never tasted before.
Between the legendary cowboy burger, bone marrow burger, and bourbon barrel cake, you’ll be leaving Eureka! with a full and satisfied stomach.
6. Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen
If you’re a fan of Hell’s Kitchen and Gordon Ramsay, you should plan a visit to his new restaurant right in front of Caesar’s Palace.
The 8,000 square feet restaurant is lavishly decorated, and the menu is laden with some of Ramsay’s favorite items such as beef Wellington and sticky toffee pudding.
It’s the world’s first restaurant of its kind, so it’s worth trying if for nothing else than the great views of the Strip and the feeling of being on a TV studio set.
Prices are fairly reasonable and extend from $10-25 for appetizers to $30-50 for your main course. Don’t expect to see Gordon Ramsay in the flesh, but fans owe it to themselves to check this concept restaurant out.
Las Vegas is flush with options when it comes to entertainment, activities, and dining, and it can feel a little overwhelming at times. The flashing lights and the abundance of options is what makes it so great and so challenging to choose at the same time. We hope we’ve made at least your dining choices a little easier, and we know that whichever of these restaurants you choose, you’ll have a great meal!
