Archive for the ‘Dining’ Category

 
When you were a kid, your summers probably consisted of day camp, family vacations and trips to your local ice cream shop. You would crawl up on the stool and announce to the lady behind the counter: “One chocolate milkshake, please!”

There’s something nostalgic and cheery about a thick, gloppy milkshake.

“Milkshakes put you in a good mood and they are something you would always share,” explains Daniel Lydia, general manager of Lagasse’s Stadium in Palazzo Las Vegas.

Although you might not want to share these milkshakes, indulging in them will make you feel like a kid again, even though you’re all grown up now. Additionally, July is National Ice Cream Month and there’s no better way to celebrate than to channel your inner youth and go for a cool, frosty treat.

Here are some of Vegas’ most decadent milkshakes and we promise, you won’t need any fries with these shakes.

Campfire Marshmallow at BLT Burger

Campfire marshmallow

Available at: BLT Burger in the Mirage
Why we love it: It’s not every day you get to sit around a campfire, working on your marshmallow roasting techniques, so it’s understandable if you’re a little rusty. Luckily, BLT Burger creates perfectly charred on the outside, soft and gooey on the inside marshmallows. Marshmallows of this caliber would certainly be a treat on their own, but add them to vanilla ice cream for the ultimate Campfire Marshmallow shake and now you’ve got something.
Price: $7

Cap’n Crunch

Available at: KGB in Harrah’s Las Vegas
Why we love it: Your favorite breakfast cereal with ice cold milk is tempting enough, but your favorite breakfast cereal and ice cream? Well, that’s just mind-blowing. The shake is made from a specially formulated ice cream made with Crunch milk (Cap’n Crunch and milk) and topped with whipped cream and Cap’n Crunch marshmallow treats. Add in one of rock ’n’ roll Chef Kerry Simon’s gourmet burgers and you’ve got the ultimate Vegas meal.
Price: $5

Mr. Lucky's chocolate shake

Old-fashioned chocolate

Available at: Mr. Lucky’s in Hard Rock Hotel
Why we love it: It’s rich, chocolatey and comes with plenty of whipped cream. Need we say more? The chocolate shake at Mr. Lucky’s isn’t anything out of the ordinary – it’s extraordinary.
Price: $4.50

BB Twinkie

Available at: Burger Bar in Mandalay Bay
Why we love it: The merging of a certain favorite packaged snack cake and vanilla ice cream is the perfect way to complete your meal at Burger Bar. We assume you’re going with the burger (of some sort) and choosing onion rings, sweet potato fries or french fries – each go great when dunked in this Twinkie blended milkshake. Don’t worry, we’ve tested them all several times.
Price: $8.75

Cake & Shake

Shake & Cookies at Lagasse's Stadium

Available at: Max Brenner in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace
Why we love it: From master chocolatier, Max Brenner, this tasty shake will be all the rage when Max Brenner, Chocolate by a Bald Man opens August 5. With vanilla crêpe flakes ice cream, rich chocolate cream and chocolate frappé, this shake is just the beginning. Just in case you don’t have enough chocolate, the shake comes with a shaker of extra chocolate sauce and a fluffy chocolate cake. Though it’s hard to overdose on chocolate, this one might put you over the edge.
Price: $13

Shake and cookies

Available at: Lagasse’s Stadium in Palazzo Las Vegas
Why we love it: Kudos to Chef Emeril Lagasse for getting this one right. Two fresh baked, warm chocolate chip cookies. Check. One, creamy coffee milkshake. Check. Dunk cookie in milkshake. Double check. This perfect summertime combination is great while watching the big game on one of the Stadium’s big screen TV’s.
Price: $7

Captain Crunch milkshake

Frrrozen Hot Chocolate

Available at: Serendipity 3 in Caesars Palace
Why we love it: The frrrozen hot chocolate is iconic in New York City’s Serendipity, but here in Las Vegas – these drinks fly off the restaurant menu and at the grab-n-go window. The frrrozen hot chocolate is made with a rich chocolate base and blended with crushed ice.
Price: $8 (for one person)

Bailey’s ice cream float

Available at: Society Cafe Encore in Encore Las Vegas
Why we love it: A Bailey’s float includes cream soda, coffee ice cream and Bailey’s Irish Cream. Though this grown-up milkshake is technically a float, the consistency is thick and creamy.
Price: $9

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Whether you’re just starting your day or need something to keep you going, the Las Vegas Strip is full of coffee shops to keep your Vegas vacation from coming to a sudden halt. While there’s plenty of chain locations and sit-down restaurants serving coffee, we thought we’d assemble some of our favorite locations to sit down and enjoy coffee, and perhaps a pastry or light meal, as if it were a treat to be enjoyed.

And if you’re worried about the summer heat, no worries – all of these locations offer iced coffee, so you can stay cool and caffeinated.

Café Belle Madeleine – Paris Las Vegas

Bonjour, delicious French sweets. While you’re at Café Belle Madeleine, you’ll also be able to get some Madeleine books and merchandise with your coffee (get it?

Now, this café’s drinks are all tasty, but the pastries are what makes this shop extraordinary. Just one taste of their pastries you’ll want to try out everything behind that display case. May we? Mais oui!

Planet Dailies – Planet Hollywood

Planet Dailies bills itself as “The Ultimate Coffee Shop” – a pretty big boast, but this Planet Hollywood eatery serves up more than just a fine cup of coffee.

This spot is less “café” and more coffee shop – and all delicious. Planet Dailies serves up some great breakfast eats, including more than a half-dozen eggs benedict variants. They’ve also got lunch, dinner and late-night selections for you to munch on. Their coffee, while low-frills compared to the rest of this list, is still fantastic.

Java Coast – Caesars Palace

Old-world-meets-new-world… that label just about sums up the Cypress Street Marketplace, the food court-esque enclave across from the Forum Shops, in which this coffee shop is located. Great location meets great taste here, ensuring that you’ll have access to something that’ll perk you up after that strenuous shopping spree.

The Cup – Crystals

Don’t miss out on a cup of joe while you’re at CityCenter. The Cup features a selection of specialty coffees, along with pastries, danishes and sandwiches. You know how a lot of mocha drinks are either powdery or overly-syrupy, ruining the experience? The Cup is one of the few places that does mocha right, but all their hot and iced drinks are delightful as well – you won’t pick up any of those imperfections that ruin an otherwise perfectly fine cup of coffee.

The pastries are fresh and the coffee is a treat: what’s not to like?

Espressamente illy – Palazzo

Espressamente illy brings the Italian café experience to Las Vegas, serving genuine illy coffee alongside delicious crepes, croissants, scones and gelato. If that isn’t enough to make your mouth water, you have to remember that illy is one of Italy’s top coffee brands and one that you won’t see often on the Strip – a flavorful fact that sets this café apart from all the rest.

Jean Philippe Pâtisserie – Bellagio

Coffee lovers who also happen to be chocolate lovers: skip all of the above and head directly to Jean Philippe Pâtisserie. You’ll find all the bakery and café essentials here: sandwiches, pastries, cake, etc – but the crowning achievement is the selection of mouth-watering chocolate. All the chocolate treats here have at least 65 chocolate mass, going all the way up to 97 percent for that rich flavor.

The selection of specialty coffees are just the icing on the cake (or would the icing on their selection of cakes be the icing on the cake?)

Jean Philippe Pâtisserie holds the official Guinness World Record for having the largest chocolate fountain in the world. The 26-foot 3 and 3/16-inch fountain circulates nearly two tons of melted dark, milk and white chocolate in front of the pâtisserie surrounded by 300-pound glass viewing panels.

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Whether you’re just starting your day or need something to keep you going, the Las Vegas Strip is full of coffee shops to keep your Vegas vacation from coming to a sudden halt. While there’s plenty of chain locations and sit-down restaurants serving coffee, we thought we’d assemble some of our favorite locations to sit down and enjoy coffee, and perhaps a pastry or light meal, as if it were a treat to be enjoyed.

And if you’re worried about the summer heat, no worries – all of these locations offer iced coffee, so you can stay cool and caffeinated.

Café Belle Madeleine – Paris Las Vegas

Bonjour, delicious French sweets. While you’re at Café Belle Madeleine, you’ll also be able to get some Madeleine books and merchandise with your coffee (get it?

Now, this café’s drinks are all tasty, but the pastries are what makes this shop extraordinary. Just one taste of their pastries you’ll want to try out everything behind that display case. May we? Mais oui!

Planet Dailies – Planet Hollywood

Planet Dailies bills itself as “The Ultimate Coffee Shop” – a pretty big boast, but this Planet Hollywood eatery serves up more than just a fine cup of coffee.

This spot is less “café” and more coffee shop – and all delicious. Planet Dailies serves up some great breakfast eats, including more than a half-dozen eggs benedict variants. They’ve also got lunch, dinner and late-night selections for you to munch on. Their coffee, while low-frills compared to the rest of this list, is still fantastic.

Java Coast – Caesars Palace

Old-world-meets-new-world… that label just about sums up the Cypress Street Marketplace, the food court-esque enclave across from the Forum Shops, in which this coffee shop is located. Great location meets great taste here, ensuring that you’ll have access to something that’ll perk you up after that strenuous shopping spree.

The Cup – Crystals

Don’t miss out on a cup of joe while you’re at CityCenter. The Cup features a selection of specialty coffees, along with pastries, danishes and sandwiches. You know how a lot of mocha drinks are either powdery or overly-syrupy, ruining the experience? The Cup is one of the few places that does mocha right, but all their hot and iced drinks are delightful as well – you won’t pick up any of those imperfections that ruin an otherwise perfectly fine cup of coffee.

The pastries are fresh and the coffee is a treat: what’s not to like?

Espressamente illy – Palazzo

Espressamente illy brings the Italian café experience to Las Vegas, serving genuine illy coffee alongside delicious crepes, croissants, scones and gelato. If that isn’t enough to make your mouth water, you have to remember that illy is one of Italy’s top coffee brands and one that you won’t see often on the Strip – a flavorful fact that sets this café apart from all the rest.

Jean Philippe Pâtisserie – Bellagio

Coffee lovers who also happen to be chocolate lovers: skip all of the above and head directly to Jean Philippe Pâtisserie. You’ll find all the bakery and café essentials here: sandwiches, pastries, cake, etc – but the crowning achievement is the selection of mouth-watering chocolate. All the chocolate treats here have at least 65 chocolate mass, going all the way up to 97 percent for that rich flavor.

The selection of specialty coffees are just the icing on the cake (or would the icing on their selection of cakes be the icing on the cake?)

Jean Philippe Pâtisserie holds the official Guinness World Record for having the largest chocolate fountain in the world. The 26-foot 3 and 3/16-inch fountain circulates nearly two tons of melted dark, milk and white chocolate in front of the pâtisserie surrounded by 300-pound glass viewing panels.

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Whether you’re just starting your day or need something to keep you going, the Las Vegas Strip is full of coffee shops to keep your Vegas vacation from coming to a sudden halt. While there’s plenty of chain locations and sit-down restaurants serving coffee, we thought we’d assemble some of our favorite locations to sit down and enjoy coffee, and perhaps a pastry or light meal, as if it were a treat to be enjoyed.

And if you’re worried about the summer heat, no worries – all of these locations offer iced coffee, so you can stay cool and caffeinated.

Café Belle Madeleine – Paris Las Vegas

Bonjour, delicious French sweets. While you’re at Café Belle Madeleine, you’ll also be able to get some Madeleine books and merchandise with your coffee (get it?

Now, this café’s drinks are all tasty, but the pastries are what makes this shop extraordinary. Just one taste of their pastries you’ll want to try out everything behind that display case. May we? Mais oui!

Planet Dailies – Planet Hollywood

Planet Dailies bills itself as “The Ultimate Coffee Shop” – a pretty big boast, but this Planet Hollywood eatery serves up more than just a fine cup of coffee.

This spot is less “café” and more coffee shop – and all delicious. Planet Dailies serves up some great breakfast eats, including more than a half-dozen eggs benedict variants. They’ve also got lunch, dinner and late-night selections for you to munch on. Their coffee, while low-frills compared to the rest of this list, is still fantastic.

Java Coast – Caesars Palace

Old-world-meets-new-world… that label just about sums up the Cypress Street Marketplace, the food court-esque enclave across from the Forum Shops, in which this coffee shop is located. Great location meets great taste here, ensuring that you’ll have access to something that’ll perk you up after that strenuous shopping spree.

The Cup – Crystals

Don’t miss out on a cup of joe while you’re at CityCenter. The Cup features a selection of specialty coffees, along with pastries, danishes and sandwiches. You know how a lot of mocha drinks are either powdery or overly-syrupy, ruining the experience? The Cup is one of the few places that does mocha right, but all their hot and iced drinks are delightful as well – you won’t pick up any of those imperfections that ruin an otherwise perfectly fine cup of coffee.

The pastries are fresh and the coffee is a treat: what’s not to like?

Espressamente illy – Palazzo

Espressamente illy brings the Italian café experience to Las Vegas, serving genuine illy coffee alongside delicious crepes, croissants, scones and gelato. If that isn’t enough to make your mouth water, you have to remember that illy is one of Italy’s top coffee brands and one that you won’t see often on the Strip – a flavorful fact that sets this café apart from all the rest.

Jean Philippe Pâtisserie – Bellagio

Coffee lovers who also happen to be chocolate lovers: skip all of the above and head directly to Jean Philippe Pâtisserie. You’ll find all the bakery and café essentials here: sandwiches, pastries, cake, etc – but the crowning achievement is the selection of mouth-watering chocolate. All the chocolate treats here have at least 65 chocolate mass, going all the way up to 97 percent for that rich flavor.

The selection of specialty coffees are just the icing on the cake (or would the icing on their selection of cakes be the icing on the cake?)

Jean Philippe Pâtisserie holds the official Guinness World Record for having the largest chocolate fountain in the world. The 26-foot 3 and 3/16-inch fountain circulates nearly two tons of melted dark, milk and white chocolate in front of the pâtisserie surrounded by 300-pound glass viewing panels.

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Whether you’re just starting your day or need something to keep you going, the Las Vegas Strip is full of coffee shops to keep your Vegas vacation from coming to a sudden halt. While there’s plenty of chain locations and sit-down restaurants serving coffee, we thought we’d assemble some of our favorite locations to sit down and enjoy coffee, and perhaps a pastry or light meal, as if it were a treat to be enjoyed.

And if you’re worried about the summer heat, no worries – all of these locations offer iced coffee, so you can stay cool and caffeinated.

Café Belle Madeleine – Paris Las Vegas

Bonjour, delicious French sweets. While you’re at Café Belle Madeleine, you’ll also be able to get some Madeleine books and merchandise with your coffee (get it?

Now, this café’s drinks are all tasty, but the pastries are what makes this shop extraordinary. Just one taste of their pastries you’ll want to try out everything behind that display case. May we? Mais oui!

Planet Dailies – Planet Hollywood

Planet Dailies bills itself as “The Ultimate Coffee Shop” – a pretty big boast, but this Planet Hollywood eatery serves up more than just a fine cup of coffee.

This spot is less “café” and more coffee shop – and all delicious. Planet Dailies serves up some great breakfast eats, including more than a half-dozen eggs benedict variants. They’ve also got lunch, dinner and late-night selections for you to munch on. Their coffee, while low-frills compared to the rest of this list, is still fantastic.

Java Coast – Caesars Palace

Old-world-meets-new-world… that label just about sums up the Cypress Street Marketplace, the food court-esque enclave across from the Forum Shops, in which this coffee shop is located. Great location meets great taste here, ensuring that you’ll have access to something that’ll perk you up after that strenuous shopping spree.

The Cup – Crystals

Don’t miss out on a cup of joe while you’re at CityCenter. The Cup features a selection of specialty coffees, along with pastries, danishes and sandwiches. You know how a lot of mocha drinks are either powdery or overly-syrupy, ruining the experience? The Cup is one of the few places that does mocha right, but all their hot and iced drinks are delightful as well – you won’t pick up any of those imperfections that ruin an otherwise perfectly fine cup of coffee.

The pastries are fresh and the coffee is a treat: what’s not to like?

Espressamente illy – Palazzo

Espressamente illy brings the Italian café experience to Las Vegas, serving genuine illy coffee alongside delicious crepes, croissants, scones and gelato. If that isn’t enough to make your mouth water, you have to remember that illy is one of Italy’s top coffee brands and one that you won’t see often on the Strip – a flavorful fact that sets this café apart from all the rest.

Jean Philippe Pâtisserie – Bellagio

Coffee lovers who also happen to be chocolate lovers: skip all of the above and head directly to Jean Philippe Pâtisserie. You’ll find all the bakery and café essentials here: sandwiches, pastries, cake, etc – but the crowning achievement is the selection of mouth-watering chocolate. All the chocolate treats here have at least 65 chocolate mass, going all the way up to 97 percent for that rich flavor.

The selection of specialty coffees are just the icing on the cake (or would the icing on their selection of cakes be the icing on the cake?)

Jean Philippe Pâtisserie holds the official Guinness World Record for having the largest chocolate fountain in the world. The 26-foot 3 and 3/16-inch fountain circulates nearly two tons of melted dark, milk and white chocolate in front of the pâtisserie surrounded by 300-pound glass viewing panels.

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Whether you’re just starting your day or need something to keep you going, the Las Vegas Strip is full of coffee shops to keep your Vegas vacation from coming to a sudden halt. While there’s plenty of chain locations and sit-down restaurants serving coffee, we thought we’d assemble some of our favorite locations to sit down and enjoy coffee, and perhaps a pastry or light meal, as if it were a treat to be enjoyed.

And if you’re worried about the summer heat, no worries – all of these locations offer iced coffee, so you can stay cool and caffeinated.

Café Belle Madeleine – Paris Las Vegas

Bonjour, delicious French sweets. While you’re at Café Belle Madeleine, you’ll also be able to get some Madeleine books and merchandise with your coffee (get it?

Now, this café’s drinks are all tasty, but the pastries are what makes this shop extraordinary. Just one taste of their pastries you’ll want to try out everything behind that display case. May we? Mais oui!

Planet Dailies – Planet Hollywood

Planet Dailies bills itself as “The Ultimate Coffee Shop” – a pretty big boast, but this Planet Hollywood eatery serves up more than just a fine cup of coffee.

This spot is less “café” and more coffee shop – and all delicious. Planet Dailies serves up some great breakfast eats, including more than a half-dozen eggs benedict variants. They’ve also got lunch, dinner and late-night selections for you to munch on. Their coffee, while low-frills compared to the rest of this list, is still fantastic.

Java Coast – Caesars Palace

Old-world-meets-new-world… that label just about sums up the Cypress Street Marketplace, the food court-esque enclave across from the Forum Shops, in which this coffee shop is located. Great location meets great taste here, ensuring that you’ll have access to something that’ll perk you up after that strenuous shopping spree.

The Cup – Crystals

Don’t miss out on a cup of joe while you’re at CityCenter. The Cup features a selection of specialty coffees, along with pastries, danishes and sandwiches. You know how a lot of mocha drinks are either powdery or overly-syrupy, ruining the experience? The Cup is one of the few places that does mocha right, but all their hot and iced drinks are delightful as well – you won’t pick up any of those imperfections that ruin an otherwise perfectly fine cup of coffee.

The pastries are fresh and the coffee is a treat: what’s not to like?

Espressamente illy – Palazzo

Espressamente illy brings the Italian café experience to Las Vegas, serving genuine illy coffee alongside delicious crepes, croissants, scones and gelato. If that isn’t enough to make your mouth water, you have to remember that illy is one of Italy’s top coffee brands and one that you won’t see often on the Strip – a flavorful fact that sets this café apart from all the rest.

Jean Philippe Pâtisserie – Bellagio

Coffee lovers who also happen to be chocolate lovers: skip all of the above and head directly to Jean Philippe Pâtisserie. You’ll find all the bakery and café essentials here: sandwiches, pastries, cake, etc – but the crowning achievement is the selection of mouth-watering chocolate. All the chocolate treats here have at least 65 chocolate mass, going all the way up to 97 percent for that rich flavor.

The selection of specialty coffees are just the icing on the cake (or would the icing on their selection of cakes be the icing on the cake?)

Jean Philippe Pâtisserie holds the official Guinness World Record for having the largest chocolate fountain in the world. The 26-foot 3 and 3/16-inch fountain circulates nearly two tons of melted dark, milk and white chocolate in front of the pâtisserie surrounded by 300-pound glass viewing panels.

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It’s summer in Vegas and though it’s a tad warm in the daytime sun, dinner under the stars is perfect. I’ve found that many restaurants offer misters to keep you cool and the night air and gentle desert breeze is a great way to enjoy Vegas while dining on delicious cuisine.

Brio's fire pit lounge

Here are a few of my favorite restaurants that are perfect for outdoor dining.

Brio

Location: Town Square
Features: Brio has a great location in the heart of Town Square Las Vegas. The large outdoor patio offers views of shoppers passing by. There are dining tables and chairs as well as a lounge area with a fire pit, sofas and arm chairs. There is also an indoor / outdoor bar area. Take a break from shopping and enjoy a night out.
Open: Lunch, dinner, Sunday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. – midnight.

The Country Club

Location: Wynn Las Vegas
Features: The Country Club is known for its approachable American cuisine. Chef Carlos Guia offers a tempting menu of traditional American favorites, done right. But for a little ambiance, take your shrimp and grits and rack of lamb outside. The terrace at the Country Club overlooks the 18th hole and a grand-scale waterfall–so all you hear is tranquil whisps of falling water–with an occasional “fore!”
Open: Breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, hours vary.

The Country Club overlooking the waterfall at the 18th hole

Mon Ami Gabi

Location: Paris Las Vegas
Features: Perfect for people watching, Mon Ami Gabi offers a large outdoor patio right on the Las Vegas Strip. When I’ve tired of pointing and laughing at the, um, interesting (to say the least) things that pass me by, I’m also conveniently aligned across from the Bellagio Fountains where a choreographed musical fountain number takes place. If that weren’t enough, Chef Terry Lynch does a great job in the kitchen, dishing out some of the best trout with lemon butter caper sauce I’ve had in years.
Open: Weekday lunch, daily dinner and weekend brunch.

Hard Rock Cafe Las Vegas

Location: 3771 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Features: I enjoy the third floor patio, with great views of the Las Vegas Strip. It’s an intimate third floor getaway with plenty of space, good food and great music. I’ve often thought of renting it out for a private party–but Mick Jagger just won’t let me.
Open: Lunch and dinner, daily.

Bartolotta, Ristorante di Mare

Bartolotta, Ristorante di Mare

Location: Wynn Las Vegas
Features: In addition to the finest Mediterranean seafood possible (at least in the desert,) Chef Paul Bartolotta hit it out of the park with a series of ornate cabana-style tables around the secluded gazing ball pond. I had a chance to sit at one of these tables when I visited Bartolotta last month and they are fantastic for a small group or a romantic dinner for two.
Open: Dinner, nightly.

Morels French Steakhouse & Bistro

Location: Palazzo Las Vegas
Features: I like the patio at Morels because while I’m on the Las Vegas Strip, I am slightly elevated from the crowds walking by. There is also a great view of the Sirens of TI show. In terms of cuisine, it’s traditional French steakhouse food. Most importantly, fondue is on the menu–need I say more?
Open: Breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.

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By Nikki Neu
VEGAS.com

 Juicy. Plump. Perfect buns.

Surf & Turf burger at Burger Bar

We can’t get enough of burgers and apparently, neither can you. The popularity of burgers is climbing nationwide, with 95 percent of consumers eating burgers at least occasionally, according to the restaurant research and consulting firm Technomic.

In Vegas there has been an undeniable surge in burger offerings, from upscale restaurants like Bradley Ogden giving guests a highbrow route, to casual places like First Food & Bar, offering guests a $3 “Whimpy” burger for those latenight cravings. Entire restaurants are even created around the burger, like Burger Bar, celebrity chef Hubert Keller’s homage to the luscious finger food.

With such popularity and selection comes originality. Vegas has some of the most unique burgers that will ever tempt your tastebuds. From burgers stuffed with foie gras and short ribs to burgers made of donuts and cheesecake, Vegas has something for everyone.

Burgers are in high demand

There’s no doubt that burgers have been in high demand lately. The growth of popularity in burgers can be attributed to a few things.

The first is oh-so-Vegas. “Finger foods are more sexy,” says Sam DeMarco, executive chef of First Food & Bar. DeMarco should know — his mini burgers have been one of his signatures since 1994. More than 15 years later, they’re still as popular as ever at his Palazzo hotel eatery.

DeMarco also cites the downward economy and costly steak prices for the burger’s acclaim. Burgers give steaks a run for their money.

The $777 burger at Le Burger Brasserie

“In a world where steak is so expensive, burgers are the other red meat,” explains DeMarco.

Although First has an inexepensive “Whimpy” burger on their menu (an intoxicating fast food-like sandwiching of thin beef patties, smashable bun, ketchup, mustard, chopped onions, pickles and a secret sauce) burgers in Vegas are anything but ordinary.

Places like N9NE Steakhouse and Burger Bar offer Kobe beef burgers. Strip House, known for their mouth-watering steaks, also offers a gourmet burger alternative in their bar area. The burger is served with your choice of toppings and onion straws.

Alternatives to mainstream

With the burger’s growing prevalence, sometimes the patties don’t even include beef. The Mirage’s BLT Burger serves a lamb tandoori burger that captures all the traditional flavors of Indian cuisine including mint, cilantro, yogurt sauce and cucumber.

Many restaurants now also offer vegetable burgers like Lucille’s at The District at Green Valley Ranch and Le Burger Brasserie at Paris Las Vegas.

Salmon, chicken and turkey burgers are other choices making a big splash on the scene at places like Burger Bar inside Mandalay Bay and Stripburger at the Fashion Show mall.

If you’re game, the spicy 666 Devil Burger at First Food & Bar is the perfect way to start or end your stay in Sin City. Not for the faint of heart, this burger is a devilishly delicious piling of Andouille sausage, jalapenos, pepperjack cheese and chipotle ketchup, served with firey fries. Luckily, it’s also served with a green goddess dip to tame the flames and your mouth. The spicy burger mixed with the cool flavor makes for one bodacious burger.

Extreme Burger at LBS: A Burger Joint

Bigger is Better

Perhaps in honor of Vegas’ obsession with excess, two Vegas restaurants decided to go above and beyond with their burger offerings. One gutsy burger to attempt this is the Challenge Burger from Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill, a 4.5-pound burger including a whopping two-pound patty.

“At Toby Keith’s we wanted a burger that made us stand out in the crowd,” says Executive Chef Kevin Knight.

The Extreme Burger at LBS: A Burger Joint at Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa is a piling of six half-pound beef patties topped with American cheese, bacon, Portobello mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, burger sauce, spicy mustard, mayo and ghost peppers, all atop a sweet egg bun served with one pound of french fries. If you finish it, it’s on the house.

The Elite

The “Surf & Turf” burger at Burger Bar boasts Black Angus beef, half a grilled lobster, grilled asparagus and a plain bun.

Of course, the burger’s slightly steeper price could also be attributed to the bottle of Dom Perignon Rose it’s served with. Savoring a burger with champagne? How divine.

Sticky Buns

Certainly you’ve had a regular burger, but if you’ve never had a dessert burger, you might need to change that on your next trip to Vegas.

The creamy cheesecake burger at Burger Bar consists of a sliced warm donut with cheesecake and carmelized pineapple. Another version is the chocolate burger that includes a warm donut, chocolate ganache, passion fruit, strawberry and mint. The delicious blend of fruits, chocolate and the donut earn this burger two thumbs up from people of all ages.

From savory sensations to sweet treats, Vegas’ burger scene is alive and thriving with some very unique findings. Much like the city’s other offerings, there’s something for everyone.

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It’s late, and you’ve been doing your civic duties here in Vegas – partying with your favorite people and dancing with your favorite DJ. Now it’s getting close to 1 a.m. and the roast chicken with steamed vegetables you had five hours ago is wearing off. You’re hungry, you’ve forgotten who Dr. Atkins is and you certainly don’t remember his diet.

Enter deep fried deliciousness.

Helado Frito at T & T

Most people crave fried foods at some point. Some people make a U-turn in heavy traffic when the fresh hot donut sign at Krispy Kreme lights up. Others utilize the eight-car-deep drive-thru at McDonald’s because they have to have french fries. As you read this article, somewhere in America there’s a man eating a bucket of chicken walking down the street because he couldn’t quite make it home.

“People will pull over for something fried at least once or twice a week, counting myself,” says Executive Chef of Tacos & Tequila Saul Ortiz. And Ortiz should know, some people’s “once or twice a week” is for his helado frito.

While it isn’t always the healthiest option on the menu, there’s no denying there’s something about eating a warm, batter-dredged Twinkie or taking a bite of a perfectly crisp tater tot.

“I think it’s comforting,” says General Manager of Khotan Robert Perry of fried foods.

From a practical perspective, frying is also a quick way to cook.

“It’s a fast method that brings out a lot of great flavors,” says Ortiz.

Flavor indeed. Here are some of the most unique, tasty and well-done fried foods in Vegas.

Deep fried Twinkie at Mermaids

Let them eat cake and ice cream

As if cake and donuts aren’t sinful enough, enter version 2.0 – the deep fried variety.

As a child, you might have eaten a Twinkie. The moist yellow sponge cake with creme filling is hard to resist when you’re eight years old. Fast forward 25 years and you’ve got deep fried Twinkies at Mermaids Casino. Not for the faint of heart, the Twinkie is skewered on a stick and dipped in thick batter. After a quick trip through the deep fryer, an outrageous amount of powdered sugar is dumped on top and a few chocolate sprinkles are added for decoration.

A more tasteful and less gloppy dessert can be found at STRATTA in the form of tender Nutella-stuffed beignets. The brain-child of Executive Pastry Chef Jenifer Fournier, these little bites of heaven are made with ricotta cheese and crushed amaretti cookies for extra flavor. After frying, the nutella is gingerly injected into the couture-like donut, thus making one amazing dessert. In addition to STRATTA, the talented Fournier also creates award-winning desserts at Alex, a Michelin two-star rated fine dining restaurant in Wynn Las Vegas.

Cake isn’t the only dessert to get deep fried in Vegas. You would think putting a 3-ounce scoop of vanilla ice cream into a vat of 350-degree oil and having it not melt would be problematic. But Ortiz and his brigade are masters of making helado frito. The ice cream goes into the freezer for at least three hours to ensure it gets nice and cold. Then it gets bathed in egg wash, rolled in crushed Corn Flakes and takes a trip back into the freezer before heading to the deep fryer.

Nutella Donuts at STRATTA

“Some people get amazed because the center is soft. It’s just like a scoop of ice cream and they ask ‘how do you do that?’” says Ortiz. He explains it’s all about reading temperature and making sure the ice cream is really frozen. This delicious version of fried ice cream can be found at Tacos & Tequila at Luxor.

Deep fried what?

Strange things go on in Vegas. Country Icon Garth Brooks comes out of retirement to play at Wynn Las Vegas. Fancy French restaurants are serving hamburgers (Or is that “le hamburger?”). Our mayor drinks martinis, even when it’s not 5 p.m. So, when Las Vegas chefs decided to start putting interesting items in the deep fryer, we didn’t bat an eye. You may have heard of deep fried catfish, perhaps in the bayous of New Orleans or among Southerners, as one of the ultimate comfort foods. And at Khotan in Treasure Island, you can enjoy a unique version of this Southern speciality.

At first, seeing the whole Catfish PA can be a little intimidating. The entire fish is presented butterflied on a large (more than a foot-long) white dish. Sink your teeth into the tender filet with audibly crispy exterior and your fears go away. Served with a citrus soy ponzu dipping sauce, the Catfish PA is one of the best versions of catfish in Vegas. A few unusual details: the whole catfish gets baked before it’s fried and there is no batter on the catfish at all. The process of baking, then frying the fish gives it a perfectly crispy exterior.

The idea of having a whole fish come to the table doesn’t always go over well with guests at first.

“I think they’re a little overwhelmed,” explains Perry when guests get a first look at the whole fish. “They are a little intimidated by it. I’ve had guests actually ask if they can turn the head facing another way. However, once they try it, it’s devoured.”

Old standbys done right

If it’s traditional favorites you crave, Vegas has ‘em. There are upscale takes on down home food and traditional dishes done, well, traditionally.

T-bones Chophouse at Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa is a steak house with style. The large dining room is simple and elegant with wood panel detailing and an illuminated marble bar – the perfect place to try T-bones’ tater tots. An upscale take on kid-friendly favorites, these aren’t your average tots. The recipe calls for a savory pâte à choux dough (a sweet version is usually used in profiteroles) to be combined with a smooth potato puree. The mixture is then piped onto a sheet pan, cut into segments and deep fried so the exterior is crispy golden brown and the interior is soft and fluffy. Though it’s not currently on the menu, you can ask for your tots to be truffled, that is, a little truffle oil can be added to the finished tater tots for extra flavor.

Fish and Chips at J.C. Wooloughan's

It’s not easy doing classic food in traditional form, so when Executive Chef David Joy makes traditional beer battered fish-and-chips at J.C.Wooloughan’s Irish Pub at Rampart Casino, you have to give him props. He uses Killian Irish beer, granulated garlic, white pepper and paprika in his batter, just for starters. The end result is a perfectly crispy batter with tender cod filets inside.

On any given weekend, the pub serves upwards of 200 orders a night.

“They love it. Everybody I’ve ever sent that fish-and-chips to goes crazy over it,” says Kelle Holomalia, general manager of J.C. Wooloughan’s.

So crazy they made Tuesday nights all-you-can-eat fish-and-chips night.

“Tuesday nights are very busy here,” says Holomalia.

As for the best thing to complement the fish, Holomalia says, “Almost always beer. Almost always draft. Usually Harps or Guiness. Malt vinegar is definitely the condiment of choice.”

Fried foods have great flavor, texture and an intoxicating aroma when fresh out of the fryer. Try some of these fried foods next time you’re out late partying in Vegas and get hungry. They won’t disappoint.

See how Fish-and-Chips are made at J.C. Wooloughan’s: 
 

See how the Whole Catfish PA is made at Khotan:

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