Las Vegas City Guide

Carnevino

Las Vegas

Though Mario Batali is best known for his Italian creations, his venture at The Palazzo adds a whole new dimension to his repertoire. Taking from Tuscan chianina tradition, Batali celebrates beef at Carnevino, beginning with the giant statue of a bull at the entrance of the restaurant. The spacious room is understated but bustling, and has the vibe of a true Vegas steakhouse.

Fix

Las Vegas

Having established himself at Bellagio with Light, Caramel and Mist nightclubs, gifted entrepreneur Andrew Sasson has taken over the space that was Nectar and opened a club of his own---Fix. As hip as the clubs he previously ran, Fix has an urban-modern design with a wave-like ceiling and multi-level banquettes creating an intimate yet expansive setting. Specialty cocktails like berry martinis and pineapple mojitos are served at the massive bar and in its lounge area. Chef Brian Massie, who honed his skills with the N9NE Restaurant Group and Aureole Restaurant Group, offers a menu designed to showcase the best in classic American fare.

Le Cirque

Las Vegas

Sirio Maccioni and sons bring their elegant ambience from New York to the Strip in this handsome mahogany-paneled restaurant complete with a lush big top designed by talented Adam Tihany. The contemporary cuisine is sophisticated and attractive

Michael Mina

Las Vegas

With a Robert Rauschenberg on the wall and the team of Mark LoRusso and consulting chef Michael Mina in the kitchen, this elegant restaurant delivers among the very best cutting-edge cuisine on the Strip

Nobu

Las Vegas

Award-winning Nobuyuki Matsuhisa has replicated the décor and menu of his (and Drew Nieporent and Robert DeNiro’s) Nobu in New York’s trendy Tribeca. The superb sushi bar just inside the entrance seats 16. The dazzling 150-seat restaurant features bamboo pillars, wooden birch trees, a black river rock wall and a seaweed wall. Burnt ash tabletops appear to match the bamboo features, a black rock at each table setting to hold chopsticks seems to complement the black rock wall

Picasso

Las Vegas

Famed chef Julian Serrano gave up San Francisco to be chef at this restaurant where guests are surrounded by paintings---not reprints, but $50 million worth of the real thing---by Picasso. The room is posh and serene, with vaulted ceilings, glorious floral arrangements and elegantly dressed tables set comfortably apart. Since Picasso spent much of his life in the South of France and Spain, those are the influences Serrano follows

Strip House

Las Vegas

Stepping into Strip House, located on the mezzanine level of the glitzy and modern Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, we are immediately drawn to the vintage photographs smiling down demurely. The lush red room features black-and-white nude photographs of starlets from the '20s---tame by Vegas standards but risqué for those days. Just as sexy is executive chef John Schenk's menu, which comes from the original Strip House in New York. Starters are simple, yet sensual, such as the creamy and seductive lobster bisque, or the pungent appetizer of warm garlic bread with Gorgonzola fondue, a dish meant to be shared.

Switch

Las Vegas

Chef Marc Poidevin creates a post-modern steakhouse menu at Switch, offering everything from a braised rabbit fricassée to a 24-ounce porterhouse. But as if the artistry on the plate isn't enough, the décor literally morphs every 20 minutes, as the walls and ceiling move to create an entirely new atmosphere in the dining room. The menu offers starter options like the Switch crab cakes, or the ample Dungeness crab "French" cocktail

Valentino

Las Vegas

Expect Italian dishes that you might not find elsewhere, plus excellent versions of classics: The appetizers run from lobster salad to bacon-wrapped snails with white asparagus and soft polenta. The lasagna is made with duck, the risotto with fresh-water shrimp. Main courses include the likes of Sicilian-style swordfish rolls with couscous and lamb osso buco.

Wazuzu

Las Vegas

Chef Jet Tila shows the power of blending Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Singaporean and Thai specialties amidst the exciting décor at Wazuzu. Some 90,000 Swarovski crystals make up the 27-foot, three-dimensional ornamental dragon that dances across the wall, while 2,400 lights sparkle within the room.