Restaurant Road

Some of our readers have provided us with a list of restaurants and cafes that they have found appealing in the Las Vegas area. Some of these establishments I've been to, some I haven't. Here is what our readers have to report.

Put on your glamour duds and escape to the Pamplemousse, a French country restaurant in the heart of Las Vegas-A sophisticated dining experience. The menu is filled with original recipes that change nightly, making each visit a new and exciting adventure. The service is perfection so you won't notice the $100.00 missing from your wallet after this exquisite experience.

The Union Plaza's glass-domed restaurant looking down on the Fremont Gulch is another great dining experience. The glass rotunda provides a view 40 feet above the street level and overlooks the lights and beauty of Vegas's landmark strip. It's a nice way to spend a few relaxing hours. The menu includes steak and lobster and the wine list is very reasonable. They serve an excellent California Merlot. Tip the maitre'd for the best table in the house and you can still walk away with change from a $100 bill.

Try “Jeromes” for a San Francisco theme. sourdough bread is flown in daily from the best bakery in Frisco. It has a wide variety of dishes which include Pasta, fish, veal, and beef. It includes great deserts and specialty coffees. The prices range from $15-$55. Ask for Chris! He creates an excellent presentation!

For a unique Vegas fare, try the Palace Court at Caesar's Palace. The food and atmosphere is phenomenal! Jackets required for men. You must try appetizers...pate, caviar, escargot...

There are a number of tasty places to eat in Vegas. Z Tejas on Paradise Rd. just off of Twain, is great if you like interesting South-western cuisine.

Chin's in the Fashion Show Mall is good, but expensive for Chinese cuisine. The Cafe at Spago in the Forum shops at Caesar's Palace is reasonably priced and has similarly great food choices consistent with that of the original restaurant. Coyote Cafe recently opened at the MGM, has some good, reasonably priced choices. The beef Baron at the Flamingo is reasonably priced. They have great Prime Rib!

One reader wrote: “Bally's has perhaps the best buffet.”

Riviera's Kristopher has always provided a pleasing experience, (especially the lamb chops). La Salsa serves a surprisingly good paper-plate lunch and has a ambience that was not expected, but certainly enjoyed.

Wolfgang Pucks Cafe in the MGM Grand serves a menu that will cost you about $10.00 per person. It has a comfortable cafe-type atmosphere and overlooks the casino. It's a nice way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the gambling.

The Rio's Carnival World Buffet offers Brazilian, Chinese, Italian, Mexican, and American choices. It even offers an Amazon grille. It was voted the best buffet several years in a row.

The Palace Station Buffet offers a chef-staffed broiler section on the buffet where delicious offerings such as hamburgers, ribs, sausages, and Philly steak sandwiches are prepared to order. Don't forget the Mikado at the Mirage for a culinary special occasion.

Stop by Silverton for Good Old down home cooking. Their buffet is wonderful! Their cafe offers my favorite dish, A giant strawberry shortcake that covers a dinner plate, and only a dollar.

If you have children, Boulder station now has a play area with attendants where you can drop the kids, (even babies) so you can gamble for a couple of hours. There is also a 12-plex theatre where you can see the latest movies. One stop recreation for sure.

Been There....Done That

Don't ignore the Golden Nugget Buffet. It is one of my personal favorites!

There is a new Restaurant at the Luxor! You will dine in style in a buffet created in the basement of the Luxor. You will sit among the ruins of an ancient civilization in authentic-looking archaeological digs. What a treat for the eyes! And what a treasure for the pallet. It is, in my opinion, one of the best buffets in Las Vegas!

The Sky rise Restaurant, at Circus Circus, served a wonderful St. Patrick's Day special. We ordered corned beef and cabbage. It was served with an asparagus soup that was scrumptious. The baby carrots were the frozen variety. The meal included new red potatoes, ample slices of lean corned beef, and a heaping helping of cabbage. The rolls where whole wheat. For dessert we ordered strawberry shortcake. This was no small dessert, but not as large as the dessert served at Silverton Cafe. Remember that this is a restaurant that has a cafe atmosphere and serves simple, but delicious food. The meals run $10 to $15.00 per person. Our waitress was an older gal who called me “Honey” and “Sweety”, which I liked a lot. She made it seem like we were personal friends of hers.

The Pasta Palace at Boulder Station gives the illusion of dining outdoors. The beamed trellis stretches across the entire length of the restaurant with life-like artificial grape vines woven through the rough-hewn and Italian-carved beamed lattice work. The old brick and plaster walls are decorated with painted scenes ticked between false window arches, adding to the rich outdoor atmosphere. elegant table settings and a well balanced wine list top off this vibrant Italian experience with just the right flavor-and all before the food is served.

I won't spoil the surprise! Just let me say that no matter what you order, it will be served with a flare, be some of the most delicious food you've eaten, and served in more than ample amounts. So, don't fill up on the luscious breads they serve with the soup and salad. Both of our meals were more than we could eat.

In the Background I could hear a hint of authentic Italian music drifting about the room. As I watched the keno board for my favorite numbers, I sighed and relaxed into our seats, savoring the ambience that was so intoxicating.

Rio Beach Cafe at the Rio hotel and casino, delightful mix of Chinese, American, Mexican, Italian cuisine. We ordered a combination Chinese fare that was utterly delicious. The service was excellent.

The ambience that was created by the decor and the setting was enjoyable. An average meal will set you back a mere $10 to $15.

Leonardos at the MGM was a pretty good Italian restaurant. The decor is cheerful and bright, the food good, the prices average, and the service was pretty good too. It would be an excellent place to drop by while you are at the MGM.

And don't stop there! Vegas is a place to explore. You can discover a wide range of eating pleasures. Let us know how you like them!

There are at least five new casinos being built in Las Vegas. (More since this article was written), Some have just been finished while others are still in the building process. The Sands has closed to be torn down to make way for a new hotel/casino/convention center there. There are roller coasters atop giant towers that run on the outside of the building, and towering drop zones guaranteed to take your breath away. Las Vegas is fast becoming a amusement park for all ages.

The Cactus Needle Award

Goes to The Buffet at Circus Circus

Of all the restaurants and cafes we experienced, this had to be the worst. People were “herded” through winding lines only to be greeted by a buffet that was CHEAP, yes! (you get what you pay for!!!) It is probably the cheapest place in town to eat. The seating was so crowded you had to stand, eyeing tables like vultures, then dashing to a dirty table just so you could get a seat. Then you shoved the clutter to one side, hoping for someone to come along and clean the table. The food was not good. But, if cheap is all you're interested in, you got your money's worth. The decor was awful, unkempt, disheveled. A look that matched the “cattle drive” atmosphere, (head `em up, move `em out!)