Best restaurants

My favorite restaurants in Vegas…

Don Vito’s at South Point – delicious Italian, classy setting

Cheese ravioli at Don Vito South Point
Must try the Ravioli A la Vodka at Don Vito’s! Delicious!

Nove Italian at The Palms – great food & service, terrific Strip Views

Lobster ravioli at Novu Italian at the Palms in Las Vegas
Delicious lobster ravioli at Novu. The food is as good as the views!

Il Fornaio at New York, New York -interesting Italian menu, lively setting, and great people watching opportunities.

Tasty butternut squash raviloi at Il Fornaio in Las Vegas NV
Best butternut squash ravioli ever at Il Fornaio!

Bouchon – delicious French food, a lovely outdoor patio by the pool, amazing service, great espresso

Quiche at Bouchon at The Venetian
Love the homemade quiche at Bouchon!

Mon Ami Gabi – Great French food, terrific service, & the best outdoor patio!

Beautiful outdoor seating at Mon Ami Gabi in Las Vegas
Mon Ami Gabi has the most delicious French food plus a prime outdoor seating area for people watching on The Strip!

Grand Lux Cafe – Fun upscale chain which is open 24/7.

Delicious mashed potato rolls at Grand Lux Cafe at The Venetian
Mashed potato spring rolls – best app ever!

Looking to keep your dining expenses low?

Dining out is one of the biggest vacation expenses outside of lodging and airfare. While Vegas is home to some fantastic award winning restaurants, there are also some great budget friendly options scattered around. While you could save some money by visiting the fast food & standard chains, it is always fun to try out something new on vacation! Here are a few of the great bang for your buck restaurants.

Grand Lux Cafe – Delicious food from the people who started The Cheesecake Factory. It’s open 24 hours, the menu is huge, portions are huge, pricing is totally affordable for Vegas, and the mashed potato spring rolls are the best app ever! What else could you ask for?

Delicious mashed potato rolls at Grand Lux Cafe at The Venetian
Mashed potato spring rolls – best app ever!

The Palms Buffet – The best bang-for-your-buck buffet in Vegas. The food is comparable to most other mediocre buffets, only with the added advantage of a much cheaper price tag. The breakfast is one of the better values in Vegas. Great food, a short wait, and a huge variety for the price make a detour off The Strip worth it.

Breakfast spread at the Palms buffet in Vegas
Palms Buffet – a bit of everything for one low price. You will not find a better breakfast value!

Chipolte – My favorite (and basically the only) fast food chain I eat at. Huge portions at an affordable price and healthy ingredients (lots of veggies and beans, no GMOs) make it a winner for the healthy traveler with limited time.

The Egg & I – A great breakfast at a great price!

Hash House a Go Go – Found throughout Vegas in several casinos including the Linq and the Rio, Hash House is the perfect choice for any big eater with a small budget. Tasty dishes, fresh ingredients, and a great value in a pricey city make Hash House one of the number one breakfast choices.

Veggie Hash at Hash House a Go Go

White Castle – Who can resist those tasty fries, onion rings, sliders, and mozzarella sticks?! Best bad for you appetizers ever can be found at White Castle. If you are from the Midwest, you know what I am talking about. Indulge – you are in Sin City!

White Castle on the Vegas Strip
This White Castle opened on the Strip in Jan 2015. As it is the only location west of the Rocky Mountains, it as pretty darn popular at opening. So popular that they had to temporarily shut down to restock and give employees a much needed break!

Reservations are a must for popular restaurants

Popular trendy restaurants like Todd English’s Olives at the Bellagio, Top of the World at the Stratosphere, and The Eiffel Tower Restaurant, amongst many others, require reservations to avoid an unreasonable wait. It’s easy – just reserve your seats on Open Table. After acquiring so many points, you will receive a free gift card.

Views of The Strip from the Eiffel Tower Restaurant
You will definitely need a reservation to enjoy the stunning views from The Eiffel Tower Restaurant. Unlike some tourist restaurants, this one is actually worthy of the high price tag!

Don’t forget about free drinks at the casinos

It’s easy to forget that you can receive drinks if you are gambling at the casinos. And that is only if you are gambling. In recent years, cocktail waitresses will not even give out water if you are not gambling. Ridiculous if you ask me! Carry your own water bottle with you at all times!

Need a gluten free meal?

Back when I was following a gluten-free diet (which I no longer do due to the inconvenience and lack of health benefits), I used a great site known as Find Me Gluten Free. This handy website rates restaurants which offer gluten-free options. It is a valuable resource for anyone following the diet – one that will surely save you precious time. Who wants to spend their entire Vegas vacation scanning restaurant menus?

Gorgeous decor at The Buffet at the Wynn in Las Vegas, Nevada
The Wynn Buffet is the best option for those with dietary concerns. And the setting is gorgeous!

Most important of all!

Plan a day off after your trip!

When scheduling vacation time, be sure to add in an extra day for some much necessary R&R. Although exciting, a Vegas trip is also immensely exhausting. With the big adrenaline rush, sometimes you do not feel the fatigue setting in until the next day when you are back home. After a long flight or drive back & unpacking your suitcase,  you will really need a day off just to relax. It’s basically comparable to the feeling you get after a fun, yet exhausting Orlando theme park vacation. Basically, you are going to need a vacation from your Vegas Vacation!