BEST THAI
Chada Thai
Lotus of Siam may be the most awarded Thai in town, but Chada Thai is where you go if you want more esoteric regional specialties, more unique original dishes and a wine list that is on speed-dial for every master somm in town. 3400 S. Jones Blvd. #11A, 702-641-1345 chadavegas. com Mitchell Wilburn
BEST ITALIAN
B&B Ristorante In a city where restaurant trends come and go, B&B earns points for being a timeless white-tablecloth refuge. It also delivers an exquisite menu of rustic Italian fare using pristine seasonal ingredients: fresh burrata with grilled bread instead of mozzarella sticks; ravioli filled with tender beef cheeks in place of bland ricotta. An Italian-heavy wine list, impeccable service and life-changing olive-oil gelato make the meal an unforgettable experience. Venetian, 702-266-9977, bandbristorante.com DL
BEST MEXICAN Bonito Michoacan
One of the Valley’s OG Mexican restaurants, Bonito remains firmly entrenched among the best. All the standards are there, but the specialties are where it excels. Seek out the sarandeado — a slightly spicy, creamy sauce — or the garlicky mojo al ajo. Under no circumstances should you pass on the tableside guacamole. 3715 S. Decatur
M A D E LV : C H R I S T O P H E R S M I T H
Blvd., 702-257-6810, bonitomichoacanlasvegas.com JB
WAKEY, WAKEY!
BEST BREAKFAST
Della’s Kitchen
Skip the warmed-over bacon and stale waffles at the buffet and bring civility back to breakfast. This daylight hours-only
diner at the Delano provides impeccable comfort food and respite from noisy casinos. The blue crab Benedict is a statin’s worst nightmare, but worth the risk — you can chase it with a glass of the Mojave Burn (carrot, orange, ginger, cayenne) to negate any guilt. The Delano, 702-632-9444, delanolasvegas.com DL
BEG TO DIFFER! Along-
side more traditional breakfast fare, Bagel Café is a bastion of Yiddish delights, from an assortment of fresh daily bagels to crispy potato pancakes or fried matzo. And with breakfast served all day, you’ll never miss your favorites. 301 N. Buffalo Drive, 702-255-3444, thebagelcafelv.com JB
BEST PANCAKES Griddle Café
I’m sure the plain old buttermilk pancakes at the SLS’ breakfast, lunch and late-night spot are good. But who wants plain pancakes when you can get them stuffed with anything from brown sugar-baked bananas, walnuts and streusel (The Golden Ticket) to Godiva chocolate liqueur and crushed Butterfinger bars? There are 19 varieties in all. Meet the new breakfast of champions. SLS, 702-761-7613, slshotels.com Al Mancini
BEST BRUNCH Veranda Weekend Brunch
It’s an extravagant, allyou-can-nosh country club affair replete with faves like applewood sausage, eggs Benedict and French toast, complemented by fresh fruit, baked yummies, bagels and lox, a cooked-to-order omelette station and fresh mini-donuts. There are more formal, pricier weekend brunches, but this one strikes a stylish, relaxed balance. Four Seasons, 702-632-5000, fourseasons.com JPR
Best Comfort Food Made L.V.
Made L.V. American Tavern has a big snuggly appetizer hug waiting for you — whether it’s in the form of nachos layered with smoked ham hock or mac ’n’ cheese pillowed with burnt pork ends. Sharing comes easy at the Tivoli Village spot, from smoked onion dip and black truffle cheese fondue to garlic Parmesan fries served in a brown paper bag. 450 S. Rampart Blvd., #120, 702-722-2000, made-lv.com Greg Thilmont
IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS
BEST CONDIMENT
BEST APPETIZER
BEST BAR SNACK
What does the savory combination of vegetable consommé, whole butter and soy sauce get you? Only the most addictive condiment in town: the Zip Sauce at Joe Vicari’s Andiamo Italian Steakhouse. It’s creamy, with a hint of salinity, and it’s practically healthy, thanks to the vegetable consommé. It comes with the grilled portobello mushrooms but use it with everything. The D,
Salty and spicy, these addictive appetizers might get overlooked by the unsuspecting diner. But the best part of the chicken is admirably showcased alongside a lightly smoked honey dip. Rarely seen outside the South, so we can thank chef Kerry Simon for putting us back in touch with this savory snack. 124 S. Sixth St., 702-
Need an excuse to while away the hours sipping cocktails at the Container Park? Look no further than these tasty morsels at the park’s most sophisticated dining spot, which also offers a great balcony view of the performance stage. The sweet pecans, the bite of piquin chili peppers and the freshness of rosemary blend seamlessly to create the most addictive bar snack in town. Container Park,
Andiamo’s Zip Sauce
702-388-2220, thed.com/dining/andiamo-steakhouse JB
Chicken Skins at Carson Kitchen
473-9523, carsonkitchen. com JB
Spicy pecans at Perch
707 E. Fremont Street, 702854-1418, perchlvb.com AM
FEBRUARY 2015
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