World-Class Offerings to Explore
For serious foodies and shoppers, there is no doubt that Las Vegas provides a total experience. Both activities developed in the city as a natural outgrowth of its success as the entertainment capital of the world. Every luxury hotel offers first-class restaurants as well as a range of upscale boutiques and services. The most important chefs in the world are all represented here, including Alain Duscasse, Wolfgang Puck, Joel Robuchon, Bobby Flay, Michael Mina, Emeril Lagasse and Alex Stratta, to name just a few!

As a culinary capital, Las Vegas offers residents loads of entertainment options, but there are also many great neighborhood spots where home-cooked food is served and buffets are still available. In this chapter, you’ll learn about the variety of dining and shopping experiences that await you in Las Vegas. In no time you’ll discover your favorite haunts to share with friends and family alike and discover the true diversity the city has to offer.

Your first few months exploring the Las Vegas dining scene might resemble the excursions of the city’s thousands of daily visitors. Understandably, you will want to sample the marquee dining establishments on the Strip as well as the more famous names in downtown’s Fremont Street Experience. You won’t be disappointed, as these splashy venues offer amazing menus that can’t be found anywhere else. Here’s a quick look at some of the major points of interest at two very prominent restaurant districts.

Dining on The Strip
A good start in navigating the Las Vegas restaurant scene is to spend an evening at the Table 10, home to celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse. The restaurant, located in the Pallazo, is reminiscent of old-world New Orleans, the region that first fostered Mr. Lagasse’s talents. The atmosphere reflects a mix of fine dining elegance and casual comfort, dismissing any pretentions that come with the idea of a celebrity-operated restaurant. The menu brings together the best dishes of New American cuisine and reflects the Lagasse philosophy of using on the best ingredients in creating wonderful culinary creations.

L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand showcases the talents of Joël Robuchon in the form of the chef’s eponymous restaurant. His traditional French cuisine has made the Joël Robuchon restaurant a favorite of European food connoisseurs and casual tasters alike. The facility provides limited seating in order to create a more intimate, personal environment where every need is taken care of.

Chef Charlie Palmer has made a successful transfer from New York City to Las Vegas with his Aureole at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. Designed by industry heavyweight Adam Tihany, the restaurant is the culmination of world-class dining sophistication, with warm color hues welcoming visitors into an ethereal space marked by gorgeous floral arrangements and inhabited by live swans. Both the full-course options and a la carte menu offer exciting, deconstructed versions of American classics. Be sure to leave room for desert, each one a wonder of culinary ingenuity all its own.

Todd English has made the Bellagio his Las Vegas residence with Olives, a Mediterranean-influenced restaurant that evokes the upscale dining facilities of Manhattan. The menu reflects traditional Mediterranean fair with a personal Todd English twist, resulting in new ways to taste familiar dishes from this region of the world. Popular menu options include pastas, rotisserie dishes, brick oven-prepared pizzas and steaks.

THEhotel at Mandalay Bay houses one of the city’s unparalleled feats in restaurant design. Mix, internationally acclaimed chef Alain Ducasse’s first Las Vegas effort, is a sight to behold with a 15,000-piece “champagne bubble” chandelier serving as the restaurant’s visual centerpiece. Floor to ceiling glass walls allow guests to experience breathtaking views of the Strip and surrounding areas. The cuisine is classic American with a French glaze, complimented by exceptional beverage and desert options.

These are just some of the amazing restaurant options you will have at your constant disposal as a resident of Las Vegas. Even if you don’t visit these establishments and others as a newcomer to the city, at least you will be able to have some places in mind when entertaining visiting friends and family. For a more affordable Las Vegas dining experience that you can visit on a regular basis, try the hidden, and in some cases, forgotten, gems of the Fremont Street Experience.

Dining at The Fremont Street Experience
The dining facilities of the Fremont Street Experience offer personalized customer service, high entertainment value and world-class amenities at a fraction of the prices found on the Strip. During the evenings, the Las Vegas of yesteryear is brought to life by a blaze of neon lights and a symphony of live music that make the Freemont Street Experience the perfect backdrop for an affordable family night out.

If the iconic marquee of the Fremont Hotel & Casino doesn’t catch your attention, then the never ending feast at the Paradise Buffet & Café surely will. Enter the world of an exotic tropical garden as guests can enjoy a variety of food choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The diverse menu is accented with flavors from the tropics and the constantly changing food line-up offers several exciting themed nights, like Seafood Fantasy and Steak Night.

The Golden Nugget has several recognized dining options, including the Italian restaurant Grotto. The Sicilian-inspired décor provides a casual and relaxing ambience of reds and browns and highlights the zesty flavors of Grotto’s fish and chicken entrees and delicious antipasti selections. The restaurant’s pizza oven is open until midnight to satisfy the gourmet cravings of pizza connoisseurs throughout the entire day.

Red Sushi is Golden Nugget’s trendy Japanese food lounge, where guests can enjoy an assortment of cold and hot appetizers followed by their favorite pieces of nigiri and sashimi. Imported beer and Japanese sake complement Red Sushi’s flagship rolls and eastern entrees.

The 4 Queens Hotel & Casino is known for its grand scale, emphasized by the fact that it’s home to the world’s largest slot machine. However, 4 Queens also boasts several exciting restaurants that allow dining dinners to interact with the never resting pulse of the hotel and casino surrounding them.

Magnolia’s Veranda is 24-hour restaurant styled in the furnished of the turn of the 19th century. Serving favorites of American diners, from quarter pounder burgers to Philly steak sandwiches and all-beef hot dogs to spicy chicken clubs, guests can enjoy their favorite comfort food while observing the excitement of the casino floor below. Planners looking for a filling bargain should note that Magnolia’s Veranda is the birthplace of the $8.95 prime rib dinner, a popular selection served from four in the evening to midnight.

Hugo’s Cellar represents the 4 Queens’ high-end dining option. The restaurant is impeccably furnished to evoke the warm and rich atmosphere of older Las Vegas eating venues. A favorite appetizer is Hugo’s Hot Rock Specialty, consisting of beef, chicken, swordfish and shrimp tenderloins cooked right at the table on a granite slab. Guests are treated to complimentary chocolate-dipped fruit with whipped cream. Hugo’s Cellar is also known for its impressive dessert selection, including signature recipes assembled at the table. Dinner at Hugo’s is an interactive experience you won’t soon forget.

Dining Off The Strip
Now that you know the restaurants you might want to visit while you explore the city, it’s important to remember that as a resident, you’ll have access to exceptional dining facilities that are often passed up by the average tourist in favor of the glitz and glam of the above mentioned dining facilities. Most notably, off-strip restaurants offer a great store of untapped dining resources, including the field of ethnic cuisine. Here’s a brief look at some of the great choices you’ll soon discover and surely fall in love with.

For a mélange of different ethnic flavors all in one place, Paymon’s Mediterranean Café & Lounge offers the best selections of Greek, Italian, Middle Eastern, Persian and Indian cuisines. Paymon’s is independently owned, making its menu affordable and family-friendly.

Having access to a quick and economical deli is always a must and Las Vegas offers no shortage of top delis. Jason’s Deli is the franchise of choice when it comes to gourmet sandwiches and salads. With several locations throughout the city, you’ll never be more than a short drive away from a great tasting meal.

Komol Restaurant has gained a local following as the go-to place for authentic Thai cuisine. Over 40-years of family recipes now form the basis for one of the city’s tastiest menus. Komol is also notable for catering specifically to the needs of vegetarians, with most of their choices reflecting non-meat culinary traditions. Desserts also have a health-minded slant to them.

Osaka Japanese Bistro was Las Vegas’ first Japanese restaurant and has now developed into one of the city’s most loved dining venues. The chefs at Osaka boast a repertoire of more than 30 different kinds of appetizers and the restaurant has one of the largest selections of fresh fish in the entire city. Habachi tables lend authenticity to the surroundings, but what will truly spark your interest is the amazing food and carefree atmosphere.

For the best in comfort food, you’ll surely want to make Rosemary’s Restaurant a regular place to visit. Owned by a husband and wife duo and operated by a staff that’s like family, Rosemary’s eclectic menu draws from a variety of inspirations, including regional flavors from New Orleans, the Midwest and the Deep South. All of these American culinary bases are laced with the restaurant’s signature French styling, making for an irresistible menu that calls for many return visits.

Table 34 is a new American cuisine outlet tucked away from the hustle and bustle of inner city Las Vegas. Operated by a local star of the restaurant industry, Table 34 offers a continually changing menu according to the seasons and offers a wine selection that’s just as comprehensive as any that can be found at a fine dining establishment in the city. Table 34’s signature pizzas are favorites with the locals.

One of the most unique tasting experiences in Las Vegas can be found at Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine. Blending Asian and European culinary traditions into amazing one-of-a-kind appetizers and entrees has made Roy’s immensely popular with locals wanting to enjoy a high-end meal on a minimal budget. Traditional sushi and seafood are also available for order.

What’s New in Dining?
Dining has truly become an art form in recent years. Benchmark Hospitality International, which manages 30 award-winning hotels, resorts, conference centers and condominium resorts throughout the United States and in Japan, defines dining trends that are worth watching across the globe. Among the top dining and ingredient trends include:

• Seasonal Menus – Offering meals according to what is in season is new trend to watch. In fact, chefs are changing menus more often.
• Small Portions and Shareable Items – This falls in line with reduced budgets and restoring health to our lives. Look for creative appetizer menus and half glasses of wine.
• Using Promotions to Draw Diners – Fixed-price menus are in, providing customers with real value as well as taste. Happy hours will be promoted as owners hope customers will order many small plates instead of dinner.
• Comfort Food – In challenging times, people are turning back to old standbys, such as macaroni and cheese and spaghetti and meatballs. Look for mashed potato variations to warm the palate and feed the soul.
• Flat Iron Steak/Flank Steak – Due to its relatively low cost, this piece of beef will be popular. It cuts like a filet but tastes like New York Strip, notes one chef.

RETAIL
When Las Vegas hospitality marketers realized the benefits of establishing top-tier restaurants operated by star chefs, retailers were not far behind. Since then, many visitors to Las Vegas are more interested in shopping, not sightseeing! In fact, according to the 2007 Las Vegas Visitor Profile Study, more than half of the 39 million visitors to Las Vegas each year spent time shopping. Visitors spent an average of $114.50 per trip on shopping, the study reports, more than twice as much as on sightseeing and show tickets combined.

As a resident, you’re able to take advantage of so many great choices – from swank casino/resort boutiques, to malls, retail centers, major anchor stores, specialty stores and factory outlet malls – many of them providing great discounts. There is so much choice, it makes the yearly shopping pilgrimage to New York unnecessary!

New and Just Opened
The Esplanade at Encore has a selection of 11 boutiques, including Hermes and Chanel. Here Rock & Republic established its first retail boutique.

The Shoppes at The Palazzo offer more than 60 luxury boutiques, 20 of them making their Las Vegas debut. Admire and check out brands such as Chloe, Tory Burch, Christian Louboutin, Diane Von Furstenberg, Van Cleef & Arpels, Catherine Malandrino, Anya Hindmarch, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Jimmy Choo, Piaget, Burberry, Salvatore Ferragamo, Fendi, Bottega Veneta and Montblanc. Experience one of the most upscale retail destinations under one roof in the United States.

Check out the new Town Square Las Vegas, a shopping dining and entertainment destination located on the south end of Las Vegas Boulevard. With more than 150 retail stores and 12 restaurants, Town Square Las Vegas is an open-air center featuring 22 buildings detailing a collage of Old World and contemporary architectural styles. Here you’ll find Rave Motion Pictures, H&M, Abercrombie & Fitch, Juicy Couture, Lucky Brand Jeans, bebe and Robb & Stucky, among others.

— Neighborhood Malls
The Boulevard Mall: Considered one of the largest malls, it features retail mainstays, such as JC Penney, Dillard’s, Macy’s and Sears. The mall is located close to stand-alone retailers including Best Buy, Cost-Plus World Market and a number of discount clothing stores.

The Fashion Show: Located on the Strip, here you’ll find a lot of choices at this recently renovated center recently, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Dillard’s, Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s Home along with other extraordinary shops and restaurants. Living up to its name, Fashion Show includes an elevated runway for staging events such as fashion shows and special promotions. Finally, in the front is “The Cloud,” a 128-foot-high multimedia platform that shades the center’s Stripfront, 72,000-square-foot outdoor plaza.

The Galleria at Sunset: Henderson is home to this two-story mall with anchor retailers such as Dillard’s, Macy’s, JC Penney and Dick’s Sporting Goods. There are also specialty stores, including jewelry, electronics and gifts. The Galleria also has valet parking.

The Meadows Mall: The mall has two levels of specialty stores and five courtyards. Anchor stores include Dillard’s, Macy’s, J.C. Penney and Sears. Located on the west side of Las Vegas, the Mall provides its own downtown trolley that travels to and from the Downtown Transportation Center in less than eight minutes.

— Las Vegas Strip-Based Malls
Strip Shopping: If casino gambling doesn’t interest you, don’t let that stop you from enjoying the amazing shopping opportunities that exist in every upscale casino/resort on the Strip.

The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace: One of the earliest shopping venues to open was The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, which debuted boutiques such as Harry Winston, Ted Baker, Thomas Pink, Nanette Lepore and Vosges Haut Chocolats. There are now 160 boutiques and shops, including Kate Spade, Louis Vuitton, Escada, Gucci, Guess, Christian Dior, NikeTown, Fendi, Polo/Ralph Lauren and Hugo Boss. Among the restaurants are Wolfgang Puck’s Spago, Il Mulino, Sushi Roku and Boa Steakhouse.

The Grand Canal Shoppes, The Venetian: The Grand Canal Shoppes in The Venetian is a feast for the eyes. This indoor shopping area features an authentic reproduction of Venice’s Grand Canal (complete with gondolas) and a replica of St. Mark’s Square, which serves as the centerpiece of the mall area. Among the more than 70 shops, restaurants and attractions are Burberry, Jimmy Choo, Davidoff, In Celebration of Golf and Mikimoto, as well as restaurants such as the Delmonico Steakhouse, Lutèce and Pinot Brasserie.

Paris Las Vegas: Paris Las Vegas features upscale French retail shopping, located within the resort’s quaint Le Boulevard District. The interior buildings are covered with façades representative of real Parisian districts. Picturesque cobblestone streets and winding alleyways take guests on a European shopping spree. Le Boulevard features a wide array of authentic French boutiques, such as Le Cave, where you can sample premier French wines and private labels. Les Enfants, a purveyor of French children’s toys and games, Lunettes designer eyewear, Le Paradis fine jewelry and crystal and La Boutique by Yokohama de Paris can all be found here.

Mandalay Place: Mandalay Place is 100,000 square feet and connects Mandalay Bay and the Luxor via a 310-foot-long retail sky bridge. The 41 retailers include Urban Outfitters, The Art of Shaving, GF Ferre and the world’s first Nike Golf store. Las Vegas-based Elton’s men’s store has recently received some important accolades. The store was named 2008 Retailer of the Year by designer Mark Nason and is now the boutique of choice for Scott Kay jewelry in Las Vegas. Last summer, Elton’s was named 2008 Best Retailer of the Year for Best Contemporary Store in the United States by MR Magazine, the industry’s leading publication for men’s retail.

Via Bellagio: Bellagio is recognized as one of the most opulent, high-end resorts in the world. In keeping with Bellagio’s luxurious setting, Via Bellagio offers exquisite fashion and jewelry collections from Gucci, Hermès, Giorgio Armani, Prada, Chanel, Tiffany & Co. and Fred Leighton.

Wynn Las Vegas: Wynn Esplanade, which opened in April 2005, features the first Oscar de la Renta boutique fashion store and the first Jean Paul Gaultier designer store in the country. Among the big-name shops in the Wynn Esplanade are Manolo Blahnik, Cartier, Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior. Also among the top brands is the Penske-Wynn showroom, home to the hotel’s Ferrari-Maserati dealership.

— Outlet/Specialty Malls
The District at Green Valley Ranch: Located in Henderson, the District at Green Valley Ranch features a mix of nationally-known brands and unique shops and boutiques, including Ann Taylor Loft, Ben & Jerry’s, Chico’s, Coach, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Panera Bread, Pottery Barn, REI, The Cheesecake Factory, West Elm, Whole Foods Market, Williams-Sonoma and many others.

Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas: Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas is located 36 miles south of the Las Vegas Strip at Exit 1 of I-15 in Primm, Nevada. It is a showcase of the world’s best collection of designer manufacturers featuring discount prices, including Neiman Marcus Last Call Clearance Center, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Burberry Factory Outlet, Williams-Sonoma Marketplace, Banana Republic Factory Store, Old Navy Outlet, Escada Company Store, Coach Factory Store, Bally Outlet, St. John Company Store, Tod’s, Tommy Bahama, Kenneth Cole New York,BCBG Max Azria, Versace Company Store and more.

Town Square: This 100-acre open-air center includes an eclectic mix of retail and dining and features retailers including A|X Armani Exchange, Juicy Couture, Whole Foods Market, Steve Madden and MAC.

Las Vegas Outlet Center: The center includes more than 130 retailers including Tommy Kids, London Fog, Tommy Hilfiger, Jones New York and Le Gourmet Chef. For children, you’ll find Osh Kosh, Carter’s and Tommy Kids.

Las Vegas Premium Outlets: At this outlet mall in downtown Las Vegas, you’ll find 150 stores that include a mix of midrange and luxury retailers such Dolce & Gabbana, Guess?, Kenneth Cole, Ralph Lauren, Banana Republic and Levi Strauss. Also check out the many specialty retailers, such as Crabtree & Evelyn, The Paper Outlet and Viva Vegas Gifts.

Coming Soon
CityCenter is the most anticipated mega project in many years. Scheduled to open in late 2009.

The Shops at Summerlin Centre: When it debuts later in 2009, this center will house the first and only Crate & Barrel in Nevada, along with three renowned anchors – Nordstrom, Macy’s and Dillard’s. In addition, you’ll find more than 100 other retailers and more than 10 restaurants. The Shops at Summerlin Centre will be a premier lifestyle destination for all Las Vegas residents.

Tivoli Village at Queensridge: Tivoli Village at Queensridge, scheduled to open this year, will be a dynamic mixed-use development. Located in the Queensridge master-planned community, adjacent to Summerlin in Las Vegas, the $850 million, 29-acre development will offer a unique mix of retailers, renowned restaurants, Class “A” office space and world-class residences set in an environment rich with European architectural details. Tenants confirmed include Zeffirino, David Barton Gym, belle gray, BCBG MaxAzria, Grand Lux Café, Kidville and AG Jeans.