So, you’re in Las Vegas for the weekend. You don’t have the time to explore the entire city. But you love food. You know you can get a free buffet pass. But you’re used to that. You want something different.
What should you do? Simple: spend your money on the best food services the city has to offer. It might mean living your hotel room to try something down the strip. But that’s the joy of Sin City. Las Vegas is about spending big for a night of lavishness.
If you have a small budget and still want to enjoy casino gaming, you really don’t have to leave your house. Stay at home and find the best new casinos online. You can play dozens of slots and table games at your convenience
In Las Vegas, experiencing a good night means spending big in the gaming rooms and in the restaurants. Below are some of the best food ideas to experience in Nevada that don’t include buffeting:
Visit a Food Court
Casinos have been trying to eliminate buffet services for a long time. They’ve been looking for replacements that can generate more money than buffets.
Food halls are an excellent idea. They sell food at a cheaper rate than Michelin-rated restaurants. And the food is much better in quality compared to street food. In other words, food courts are more upscale than many small restaurants, which makes them appealing to a lot of restaurants.
Ideally, many casinos can hire chefs and run their own restaurants. But this has not been a trend for a long time. Since the 1980s, most gambling operators have been renting out space to more popular service providers.
For example, they rent out their theaters to sports and entertainment organizations. And in doing so, they actually make more money. Now, they’re acting as landlords to restaurant chains that want to open branches inside their food halls.
In the Cosmopolitan, the food court has restaurants owned by Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, Bang Bar, and Lardo. Although the Cosmopolitan launched its food hall in 2018, most casinos introduced similar services post the pandemic.
Try Out a Gourmet Room
Before Las Vegas got littered with high-end restaurants, gourmet rooms were exclusive experiences for the rich. You had to be uber-wealthy or famous to book a reservation in a popular gourmet room.
The explanation is that gourmet restaurants take you away from the noise and distractions of the gaming floors. You experience delicious meals in a quiet, elegant space.
In the early days, French cuisines were the meal of choice for most gourmet chefs. With time, casinos expanded their offerings to include American, Asian, and South American delicacies.
Although most casinos on the Strip feature gourmet service, visit the tried and tested places. The Sultan’s Table—located at the Dunes Casino—started it all. It opened in 1961 with the idea of mimicking classic French meals.
The Regency Room, Candlelight Room, Le Gourmet Room, and Dome of the Sea are other top-rated experiences. The reason for visiting these places goes beyond the food. From the walls to the floors, everything is designed to provide a lavish experience.
Visit a Celebrity Chef Restaurant
Las Vegas is every celebrity chef’s favorite city. People spare no expenses to experience culinary works of art. Now, you can’t visit every restaurant owned by a celebrity chef.
Read online reviews to learn about different celebrity chefs. More importantly, check their cuisines to determine how you want to spend your money. Some famous names whose restaurants are worth checking out include:
- Gordon Ramsay
- Joel Robuchon
- Wolfgang Puck
- Emeril Lagasse
- David Chang
Gordon Ramsay needs no introduction. He’s the award-winning, passionate chef behind TV shows like Hell’s Kitchen and Chef Master. He opened his first Las Vegas restaurant in 2012. The most popular at the place is Ramsay’s trademark meal—Beef Wellington.
Joel Robuchon is known as the chef of the 20th century by food insiders. Here’s why. His restaurants around the world have 32 combined Michelin stars. Most chefs spend a lifetime chasing just one Michelin star. Robuchon offers his world-class cuisine at the MGM casino.
Wolfgang Puck, who originated from Austria, has six restaurants in the city. New Orleans’ native, Emeril Lagasse, has his famous Fish House restaurants at the MGM Grand. On the other hand, David Chang is located in the Cosmopolitan—he specializes in Korean and American delicacies.
Street Food
Celebrity chef restaurants can be expensive. If you don’t want to spend $200 for a meal, a good option is to try out street food. The beauty of street meals is that they offer a little bit of everything for cheap.
So, you love BBQ? Check out Blood Bros BBQ. It offers slow-cooked barbecues. But you’re not limited to beef. Try out their pulled pork or dusted Turkey breast for some nice alternatives.
If you’re into Italian, the Mozz Bar is worth trying out. It offers everything Italian, from chicken parmesan to Polenta. Thai Street Café is all about Asian delicacies while Nori Bar specializes in Japanese delicacies.
Like everything else in Las Vegas, make sure to ask for referrals before you spend your money. There are far too many street food vendors in the city. And you don’t want to waste your money on bland, stale, or unappetizing meals.
Your Turn
There you have it—some of the best buffet alternatives in Las Vegas. Some of the locations require prior reservations. So, keep that in mind. Also, budget accordingly to get a taste of different delicacies in the city without denting your wallet.
