One of my favourite places in Las Vegas has got to be Grand Lux Cafe. Located in the Venetian on the bottom floor, there are a couple reasons why I love this place. One, it’s open 24 hours. Two, I love the look of this place, it’s marble, it’s got pillars and it seems pretty fancy for a “cafe”. Three, the food. Obviously the food.
They have Fried Pickles here, isn’t that crazy? Anyway there is so much to choose from here and most of the dishes are done really well. The first time I ate at Grand Lux Cafe (way back) was actually the first time I ever had Ahi Tuna and I loved it so much, I just had to find it here – but at the time, it was hard to find something of that caliber here in Vancouver.
The portions are generous and the drinks are great, it is a bit more on the pricier side but definitely worth it!
Earl of Sandwich is my next stop, a delicious meal for about $6, you can’t go wrong. Earl of Sandwich is located in Planet Hollywood across from Hawaiian Tropic, nestled in the casino near one of the exits. They too are open 24 hours!! My favourite sandwiches are the Hawaiian BBQ and Italian. The portion sizes are big and made before your eyes.
Another place I love is Serendipity 3, which is an extension I guess of the famous Serendipity in New York (of which I love too!). Serendipity 3 is located within the Caesar Palace complex, kind of close to the entrance but in it’s own little building. You can see it on the strip though! I believe they open at 11am, I might be wrong.
Anyway, the food here is good, it’s not the best but I think it’s just the presentation and the whimsical factor that really sells me. The swirly decorations and brightly coloured walls really attributes to the cuteness factor of this restaurant. They have a foot long hot dog here ($14.50) – Its not really worth the price, but the way it is presented is kinda cool –
(All Photos copyright of Miss Lil Stamper)
The food is also cute, my burger was in a swirly bun. Like I said, mostly about aesthetics here!
And the main reason for eating here – Frozen Hot Chocolate. NOM! It took three of us to finish it – but we didn’t even finish it!
(Gastrofork & Miss Lil Stamper enjoying our frozen hoco! YUM!)
Cheesecake Factory which is located deep in the Forums in Caesar Palace (Past FAO Schwartz), just cuz the food is enormous and the cheesecakes are delicious.
Pink’s located in Planet Hollywood is another reincarnation (from LA), they have really delicious chili cheese dogs for under $5. You cannot go wrong!
All in all, Las Vegas is a foodie dream. There is definitely any and all types of cuisines here, but it depends on how much you’re willing to spend. There are some Pho and HK Style Cafes here but they start at about $12-14 for a bowl of Pho/Wonton you can get at home for less than $7.
That being said, I don’t think that you should avoid trying asian places on the strip, I think trying out the fusion places might be worth while. I’m a little weary about Japanese/sushi places here since you’re in the middle of the desert, but if done right, it’s not so bad.
You probably noticed I didn’t really mention any buffets, I think it’s hard to pinpoint one I can really recommend because everyone is so highly opinionated as to which buffets are best. But I have to say that Treasure Island/TI has the best dessert bar in their buffet: cotton candy, mini donuts, chocolate dipped strawberries, all kinds of cake and a make-your-own-sundae station? Yes please! …
Between drinking and the blistering sun, it’s also very important to keep well hydrated, especially this time of year in Las Vegas. It’s very easy to lose track of how long you’ve been under the sun and drinking alcohol actually dehydrates you further, so make sure you do drink lots of water and keep some on you. This is probably the best time to exercise the 7-8 cups of water a day rule! 😉
Bon voyage!!
