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The Steakhouse Issue
We present to our wonderful readers The Steakhouse Issue, a special-edition Vegas Prime Magazine featuring more than 50 of our favorite steakhouses in Las Vegas. Thirty chophouses made it into print, and the full list is at VegasPrime.com.
Some of Vegas Prime Magazine’s favorite steakhouses?
Bavette’s Steakhouse at Park MGM, Bazaar Meat by Jose Andres at Sahara, Carversteak at Resorts World and The Steakhouse at Circus Circus are must-dines.
Scotch 80 Prime at Palms Casino Resort and Papi Steak at Fontainebleau are exceptional, too.
That’s Hot!
Vegas Prime Magazine Editor-in-Chief
Don Chareunsy’s top to-do picks while you’re in Las Vegas – in case steakhouses aren’t at the top of your list.
Side Dishes 12
You’re at a fabulous steakhouse with family and friends, and you know which meats to order. Side dishes? Seafood towers, baked potatoes and salads? We have suggestions.
Wine 18
Sommeliers and other wine experts offer their take on pairing steak and steak dishes with wine – and, yes, it doesn’t always have to be a red.
The Last Word 66
Vegas Prime Whispers: Celebrity and Las Vegas gossip and sightings. Ssshhh!
We’ll return to our regularly scheduled programming in the next issue of Vegas Prime Magazine.
ON THE COVER:
Jeffrey Fine at Harlo Steakhouse in Downtown Summerlin. Photo by Shane O’Neal.
JAMAL M. PARKER Publisher
DON CHAREUNSY Editor-in-Chief
ARTURO PERALTA Art Director
BRIANNA KOURETAS Senior Account Manager
DANIEL HOWARD Account Executive MICHAEL
Account Executive and Events
Editor's Letter
“What is a great steakhouse in town?” My concierge friends, who run Las Vegas, say this is one of the most common questions asked of them by the 800,000 weekly visitors to Sin City.
While Las Vegas has for a long time been deemed The Entertainment Capital of the World, it can be easily argued that we also are a Dining Capital of the World, a Sports Capital of the World – go, Aces, Raiders and Vegas Golden Knights! – and a Steakhouse Capital of the World. Welcome to our The Steakhouse Issue.
Since moving here in 2008, I’ve had the fortune of meeting many celebrity chefs. Gordon Ramsay was very nice and asked us about our Thanksgiving traditions. Giada de Laurentiis is a pint-sized
powerhouse with a big smile and endless charm. Jose Andres is a wonderful host with a matching sense of humor. Michael Mina, despite his numerous successful restaurants, is chill. Morimoto, Serrano, Puck, Chang, Tosi and Tila –I like and admire them all.
And local culinary movers and shakers – among them James Trees, Elizabeth Blau, Nicole Brisson, Jamie Tran, Devin Hashimoto, Mariena Mercer Boarini, Constantin Alexander, Gina Marinelli, John Church and many, many more – stand alongside the international star chefs in passion, creativity and skills. What a culinary industry and city!
Also in this issue of Vegas Prime Magazine beyond an extensive list of our favorite
steakhouses: a guide to wines to have with a steak dinner, musings on our favorite side dishes with a steak dinner, That’s Hot! (our tips for can’t-miss events while in Las Vegas) and The Last Word, which this issue includes Celine Dion, Daisy Ridley at “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and Brazilian soccer star Neymar.
Vegas Prime Magazine loves Las Vegas, so put a, ahem, steak in it, and stay for a spell. Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas – and enjoy your time in this Steakhouse Capital of the World. A little more horseradish and au jus, please!
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Vegas Prime Magazine
By Don Chareunsy Editor-in-Chief
THAT’S HOT!
MORRISSEY
From Morrissey: “Despite recent fiascoes, I will indeed be fully present in blood-soaked flesh at the House of Blues in Las Vegas on July 26 and 27. Having hung upside down for several months, I am now in good health – like an arrow fully drawn and waiting to be fired: Please fling me.” Also: Aug. 1-2: HouseofBlues.com
CHRIS TUCKER
After kicking off 2024 with back-toback sold-out performances in January, award-winning actor and comedian Chris Tucker (“Friday,” “Rush Hour,” “Air”) returns to Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas for two additional back-to-back shows this summer. July 19-20. WynnLasVegas.com
COLIN JOST
Writer, performer, author and “Saturday Night Live” star Colin Jost (“SNL” has wrapped its 49th season) is bringing “Colin Jost & Friends” to Resorts World. We’re hoping actress wife Scarlett Johansson is in the audience. We love charming Colin, too. July 20. RWLasVegas.com
Courtesy of AEG Presents Las Vegas/Chris Tucker
KEVIN HART
Comedian and actor Kevin Hart makes his return to Resorts World with his new phone-free show “Kevin Hart: Acting My Age.” Use of phones, smartwatches and accessories will not be permitted in the theater; devices will be secured and accessible in Yondr pouches. July 14. RWLasVegas.com
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
Vegas Prime Magazine has created lists of our favorites in Las Vegas, from burgers and doughnuts and dim sum to buffets and headliner shows and tacos. We want you to have the best experience while here, and that means eating well and playing well in The Entertainment Capital of the World. More: VegasPrime.com
MONSTER JAM
Don’t miss the debut of the new Sparkle Smash Monster Jam truck, and see Las Vegas local Devin Winfield compete in Velociraptor at Thomas & Mack Center at UNLV. We attended Monster Jam for the first time in Spokane a few years ago, and it was terrific – and loud! – family fun. July 26-28: MonsterJam.com
Courtesy of AEG Presents Las Vegas
STEAKHOUSE ISSUE
Feast your eyes on our favorite steakhouses in Las Vegas – more than 50 of them. Some have been around for decades (The Steakhouse at Circus Circus and Golden Steer on Sahara). Some rule Downtown Las Vegas (Vic & Anthony’s at Golden Nugget and Barry’s Downtown Prime at Circa).
Some are new steakhouses on the block (Papi Steak and Don’s Prime, both at Fontainebleau Las Vegas), some are next level and affiliated with celebrity chefs (Bazaar Meat by Jose Andres at Sahara, Gordon Ramsay Steak at Paris and StripSteak by Michael Mina).
And some are slaying off the
Las Vegas Strip: Harlo Steakhouse in Downtown Summerlin, Echo & Rig in Tivoli Village and The District at Green Valley Ranch, Hank’s at Green Valley Ranch Resort, T-Bones at Red Rock Resort – and so many more. Even a handful of chain steakhouses made our list because they’re that good.
Did we miss any steakhouses? Sadly, a few were omitted because there was no response from the steakhouses before our deadline.
What are your favorite Las Vegas steakhouses? Let us know at editorial @ vegasprime. com. Bon appetit!
DOWN TO A FINE ART
Jeffrey Fine puts his heart into everything he does with The Lev Restaurant Group
By Stacey Gualandi
Las Vegas entrepreneur Jeffrey Fine is many things: Financier. Founder. Father. Foodie?
“I think to call yourself a foodie, you need to be able to actually cook yourself,” Fine jokes. “I don’t think anybody would want to eat anything that I’ve made for them.”
That may be true, but this renowned restaurateur is doing, well, just fine.
As President and CEO of the Las Vegas-based The Lev Restaurant Group, Fine oversees and develops a diverse culinary collection that continues to expand eating experiences across the Las Vegas Valley.
Everything from Harlo Steakhouse and Al Solito Posto to La Strega and The Golden Tiki – and let’s not forget his latest eponymous venture, Fine Company – The Lev Group has got dining out down to a fine art.
“I very much believe in the future of what’s happening here, and this is my way of being part of the growth,” Fine says. “I’m a local. I grew up here, and I’ve been here for a long time.”
In fact, Fine is a third generation of Fines. Among numerous accomplishments, his father Mark is the godfather of Las Vegas master-planned communities, and like father, like son, he is following in his father’s footsteps
by successfully developing retail, real estate and gaming industries right in their own backyard.
“Our approach is to just stay here, close to home, in a place that we know well and where we can leverage our resources,” Fine says about carrying on the family tradition. “[But] if I could have been a professional baseball player, I would’ve done that. Ha!”
While Fine has no plans on leaving Las Vegas, he is a fierce proponent of getting out of town, especially to Maine in the summer.
“I like exploring, traveling and importing places that are doing well back here to Las Vegas,” Fine says. “Driving up and down the [Maine] coast, there’s lobster shacks, clam shacks, and just the whole experience of doing that inspired me, for instance, to bring a lobster roll business to Vegas.”
Founded in 2002, The Lev Group began as a way to “inspire, create, develop and operate world-class experiences for food and beverage concepts in the restaurant industry.” Their initial growth came down to being “opportunistic.”
“I think a lot of what we were doing in the beginning was more of ‘see an opportunity and then figure it out later,’ but I think we’ve gotten more strategic,” Fine says. Fine says the name Lev also has a special significance. It is the Hebrew word for “heart” and the name he gave his son Levin, who was born with Down Syndrome.
“He is the heart of our family, and at the time, we were just very inspired by him and the way the community came together and supported us. That’s why we named the company after him, in a nutshell.”
Anyone who knows the restaurant business says that to be a destination dining experience, like Harlo Steakhouse in Summerlin (the Snake River Farms Ribeye Cap is his go-to!), you have to put your heart into your work.
“The secret sauce is the people. End of story.”
While Fine says he’s had to kiss a lot of frogs along the way, he is a matchmaker of sorts when it comes to putting together a team at each of his new restaurants.
“You have to find a group of like-minded people who
are motivated by being on a team and creating success for everybody. Then the right things will start to happen,” Fine emphasizes.
As far as future plans, he admits that there are challenges right now.
“There’s disruption in the labor market. Not as many people are working in food and beverage as there used to be, and then on the technology side, there’s just the way people eat, order and dine. It’s different than it was not very long ago.”
But an optimistic The Lev Group has several projects on “the dry board.”
“I want to continue doing great things with great people and try to have some fun along the way,” Fine adds.
Of course, I couldn’t let him go without asking which of The Lev Group’s restaurants is his favorite.
“Oh, I can’t do that.”
But after a beat, he adds with a wink, “There is only one with my name on it.”
Check, please!
by
Photos
Shane O'Neil
HARLO STEAKHOUSE
AMBIENCE
The steakhouse by James Beard-nominated Gina Marinelli and The Lev Restaurant Group’s Jeffrey Fine is elegant and refined and with a beautiful bar and natural lighting. If you dined there when it was Andiron Steak & Sea, you won’t recognize the transformed steakhouse.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
The steaks include Kansas City New York strip, Wagyu tomahawk and Chateaubriand. Chef selections during a recent dinner: Hamachi taco, potato cake with lox and caviar, to-die-for Japanese milk bread, endive salad, spring pea pasta, ribeye and tallow potatoes.
PRO TIPS:
Want to feel like a VIP and have all eyes on you? The tomahawk and caviar service are presented on a wooden Harlo cart. Booyah! And you have Downtown Summerlin post-dinner to walk off the calories.
HarloSteak.com
AMBIENCE
The steakhouse at The Orleans with a traditional American vibe is a perfect pregame before watching the wonderful “Jersey Boys Vegas” or before or after an exciting West Coast Conference Championships game at The Orleans Arena. Go, Zags!
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
The New York steak, diver scallops and Chocolate Decadent Mess make for a great dinner alongside a glass of wine or a cocktail. The American fine-dining steakhouse also has a fireplace.
PRO TIPS
Again, make it a night out with Alder & Birch and “Jersey Boys Vegas.” You won’t regret it. And order an Old Fashioned with maple bacon, a salty and savory garnish for this all-time-favorite cocktail.
Orleans.BoydGaming.com
ALDER & BIRCH
ANDIAMO ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE
AMBIENCE
The OG steakhouse from Detroit is the definition of old school steakhouse and reminds of The Steakhouse at Circus Circus: elegant booth seating, warm and low-key environment and music and a focus on friendly customer service.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
The tomahawk, which is being highlighted everywhere right now in Summer 2024, the Grande Meatball (no relation to Ariana, as far as we know) and the lobster bisque. Don’t forget the fresh seafood selections, including oysters and scallops. And the Caesar salad – please keep reading.
PRO TIPS
Who doesn’t love tableside service? Andiamo’s special touches include personal attention for the Caesar salad. There can never be too many anchovies, so extra anchovies, please. And the side of pasta with entrees is always welcome.
TheD.com
AMBIENCE
Chef Barry S. Dakake, following his successes with N9NE Steakhouse and Scotch 80 Prime at Palms Casino Resort, oversees one of the most beautifully designed and hottest steakhouses in Downtown Las Vegas. Luxurious and opulent –and a celebrity hotspot.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
Barry’s Steak, Barry’s Tomahawk, bone-in ribeye, Campfire S’mores (a Barry signature and longtime customer favorite), lamb chops, potato gnocchi, steak tartare, surf and turf and a whole Maine lobster mac and cheese. Hungry yet?
PRO TIPS
Our first bone marrow shot was at Barry’s Downtown Prime, and it was a fun and sloppy mess. There’s a baked Alaska as a dessert option, and did we mention how stunning the steakhouse design is? CircaLasVegas.com
BARRY’S DOWNTOWN
BAVETTE'S STEAKHOUSE
AMBIENCE
The steakhouse transplant from Chicago is a sophisticated and sexy restaurant for prime meats, seafood towers and classic cocktails at Park MGM. Bavette’s Steakhouse is one of the best steakhouses in Las Vegas and a Vegas Prime Magazine favorite.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
The aforementioned seafood tower, crab cake, duck and goat cheese terrine, filet, ribeye, bone marrow, thick cut bacon, truffle macaroni and cheese, chocolate cream pie and Old Fashioneds. It’s time for a return to this gem, where I once caught a casino executive on a secret date!
PRO TIPS
Bavette’s Steakhouse is a great option for an early dinner before a concert at Park MGM or T-Mobile Arena. Fun fact: When Bavette’s opened in 2017, we were seated in a booth two away from then-Gov. Brian Sandoval and MGM Resorts head honcho Jim Murren. Power dinner!
AMBIENCE
The multiple James Beard Award recipient’s steakhouse is dark, hunter chic (with fun taxidermy) and a butcher’s paradise. Bazaar Meat is one of the best steakhouses in Las Vegas and a Vegas Prime Magazine favorite.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
Dare we say it’s impossible to order wrong at Bazaar Meat? Everything is that good. José’s Taco, featuring Ossetra caviar, caviar cone, modern and traditional olives, ribeye, suckling pig, lamb rack, chicharrons, beefsteak tomato tartare and beef tartare (the best in town?). The Ultimate Tasting and Jose’s Way Tasting are highly recommended dining options. Kudos, Executive Chef Frank Medina.
PRO TIPS
Even after all these years, the foie gras cotton candy still stands out for its uniqueness. The Consummé Cocktail, with warm beef consummé, is for the adventurous. And Sahara’s Food & Beverage VP Derek Morishita is one of the nicest execs in town. We know nice and exec doesn’t always go hand-in-hand.
BAZAAR MEAT BY JOSÉ ANDRÉS
CARVERSTEAK
AMBIENCE
Carversteak, by Sean Christie’s Carver Road Hospitality, is one of the best steakhouses in Las Vegas and a Vegas Prime Magazine favorite. The lounge, dining area and patio are modern, chic and sexy; Carversteak is the definition of a modern fine-dining steakhouse.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
Highlights include Piedmontese flat iron steak, filet mignon, 5 oz. Miyazaki Wagyu striploin, Australian Wagyu, Wagyu cheesesteak bites, lobster en croute, seared crab cake, steak tartare, big eye tuna tartare and caviar poppers. Fun fact: Resorts World former and current headliners Luke Bryan and Carrie Underwood dined at Carversteak. Britney Spears, too.
PRO TIPS
Carversteak offers special touches including a martini cart with the classic cocktail prepared tableside; a collection of beautiful steak knives for a customer to choose for dinner; and excellent customer service. Out the gate, Vegas Prime Magazine’s first dinner at Carversteak remains one of the best.
Credit: Anthony Mair
AMBIENCE
The upscale steakhouse in The Palazzo (even though the website is The Venetian) is a modern restaurant, but we consider it a classic because it’s helmed by OG celebrity Chef Wolfgang Puck. Cut is modern and sexy and hasn’t lost its touch in decades of serving top-notch steaks.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
Puck is synonymous with star restaurateurs with a culinary empire, and highlights at Cut include the filet, housemade steak, Wagyu sliders, chilled oysters, hand-cut prime steak tartare, banana cream pie and the Valrhona Chocolate Souffle.
PRO TIPS
Cut is one of the first steakhouses where we were presented with the uncooked cuts of meat. Gordon Ramsay Steak at Paris does the same thing, as do countless others. We like this practice; it adds a level of care, thought and interaction at a steakhouse.
VenetianLasVegas.com
WOLFGANG PUCK
CUT
Credit: Anthony Diaz
DON'S PRIME
AMBIENCE
This steakhouse at the new Fontainebleau Las Vegas is classic and sophisticated, and don’t be fooled by the elegant front-entrance lounge and dining room. There are multiple dining rooms, and they go far, far back.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
“I would suggest the Cross Creek Wagyu, an amazing 100% Wagyu grown in Colorado and exclusively served at Fontainebleau Las Vegas. It is one of the most memorable steaks you will ever eat!” says Don’s Prime Executive Chef Patrick Munster. We also enjoyed the truffle risotto, jumbo lump crab cake, seared Ora king salmon and sticky toffee pudding.
PRO TIPS
One cocktail is garnished with a little feather. We love this, along with the cart of high-end whiskey for cocktails. Fun fact: Sylvester Stallone walked right by us during the grand opening of FBLV on Dec. 13.
FontainebleauLasVegas.com
by
AMBIENCE
There are two locations of Sam Marvin’s reimagined classic California steakhouse in Las Vegas, the original in Tivoli Village and the second in The District at Green Valley Ranch in Henderson. Tivoli is two levels, while both locations have patios.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
The steaks on the menu are presented as a grid, and it’s cool even if, like yours truly, you don’t have a head for, er, science. The portobello fries are a must-order alongside the Creekstone Farms ribeye cap with shoestring onions, burger, pork belly burnt ends and butcherstrone soup with beef, lamb and pork.
PRO TIPS
When Marvin opened Echo & Rig in Tivoli, he called his steakhouse “affordable fine dining,” and it’s an apt description. We love that the sparkling water made in-house is complimentary. Sorry, Pellegrino.
Photo
Carlos Macias
EDGE STEAKHOUSE
AMBIENCE
Edge Steakhouse at Westgate is proof not to ignore steakhouses off the Las Vegas Strip, as the refined steakhouse serves Wagyu beef, seafood and high-end wines amid marble columns and chandeliers.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
Executive Chef Dante Garcia said he would consider all the following items as must-orders: grilled octopus, spicy shrimp, 20 oz. dry-aged ribeye, 12 oz. Australian Wagyu New York and 8 oz. lobster tail. Done! Classic side dishes include asparagus, Brussels sprouts and loaded baked potato.
PRO TIPS
Our dinner there under then-Executive Chef Steve Young (not the legendary NFL quarterback) was solid, and it’s nice to know he’s been promoted in the company.
Credit: Chris Wessling
AMBIENCE
The OG steakhouse on Sahara Avenue is a popular destination located in an assuming strip mall. The décor is Vintage Vegas inside the steakhouse, bar and lounge serving the basics: steak, seafood and wine.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
The 22-oz bone-in ribeye, porterhouse steak, twicebaked potato, Caesar salad prepared tableside, the “largest baked potato” in Las Vegas, oysters Rockefeller, Bananas Foster and Cherries Jubilee. Definitely some quintessential classic steakhouse dishes.
PRO TIPS
It’s a cool Vintage Vegas experience to be seated in one of the leather booths named for legends. On the night we dined at Golden Steer Steakhouse, our booth was next to Mario Andretti’s, and seated in that VIP booth? Mario Andretti.
GOLDEN STEER STEAKHOUSE
Credit: Chris Wessling
GORDON RAMSAY STEAK
AMBIENCE
The steakhouse by celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay is his best restaurant in Las Vegas, and the design is very British and train station, with red, white and blue everywhere, including in the employees’ stylish uniforms. The vibe: ultramodern and boisterous.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
Land & Sea Beef Wellington, diver scallops with roasted corn risotto, seafood tower, British-style onion soup, lamb chops, truffle fries, fish and chips, sticky toffee pudding and brown butter ice cream and even the Hell’s Kitchen burger.
PRO TIPS
Gordon Ramsay Steak is unsurprisingly not cheap; to this day, dinner for two there, in quadruple figures, is one of the most expensive steakhouse dinners we’ve ever had. When in Las Vegas … Caesars.com
AMBIENCE
Hello chandeliers, we love you! The name of this steakhouse at Green Valley Ranch Resort in Henderson is one of the best ones. Can you get more classic with fine steaks and martinis – shaken, not stirred, and extra dirty, extra olives? Absolutely one of the best restaurants in Henderson.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
The 24 oz. Cowboy Steak is a must-order. Yee-haw! As is the abundant seafood tower. Fresh! Additionally: the bison filet mignon, Wagyu steak and 32 oz. lobster tail, lamb chops, crab cakes, King Crab legs, spiced pear and Bananas Foster. Classic steakhouse dishes.
PRO TIPS
Hank’s Fine Steaks & Martinis is a popular spot for Happy Hour and date-night and special-occasion dinners, and its new neighbors include Bruce and Eric Bromberg’s Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill and Ortikia Mediterranean Grill, both opened this year.
GreenValleyRanch.com
HANK’S FINE STEAKS & MARTINIS
Credit: Hank’s Fine Steaks & Martinis
HERBS & RYE
AMBIENCE
Late-night hotspot Herbs & Rye on Sahara has long offered a Vintage Vegas vibe, the craftiest of cocktails and Happy Hour pricing on many of its steaks and menu offerings. This explains why Nectaly Mendoza’s joint is always busy, and customers breathed a sigh of relief when he opened Cleaver: Butchered Meats, Seafood and Classic Cocktails on Paradise.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
Nectaly’s ribeye, truffle mac and cheese, cacio e pepe, crème brulee, chop house salad, shrimp cocktail, beef tartare, carpaccio, doughnuts with butterscotch and white chocolate and the many fabulous craft cocktails.
PRO TIPS
Look for the writeup on Cleaver, which is more spacious and a favorite latenight hang, at VegasPrime. com, and double-check the Happy Hour specials at both locations. The new focus for Mendoza on Paradise next to Cleaver: MIddle Child is now open for business.
HerbsAndRye.com
AMBIENCE
Celebrity Chef Michael Mina’s upscale and glossy steakhouse, which serves wood-fired steaks, seafood and inventive Asian flavor-infused sides, received a facelift to the décor and menu at the start of 2023. The steakhouse is still as stellar as ever.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
Duck fat prime rib, caviar jelly doughnuts, Yorkshire pudding, truffle cornbread, crispy yellowfin tuna nigiri, Hamachi nori taco, Wagyu steak tartare, miso-glazed sea bass, Maine lobster toast, American Wagyu rib cap, New York and Japanese A5 Wagyu steaks, beignets and Orange Creamsicle.
PRO TIPS
The redesign of Mina’s steakhouse is reason enough to post up the bar for cocktails and enjoy the vibrant ambience. And, FWIW, Mina is one of the nicest celebrity chefs and has numerous restaurants in Las Vegas. MandalayBay.com
MICHAEL MINA'S STRIPSTEAK
NICCO’S PRIME CUTS & FRESH FISH
AMBIENCE
This new steakhouse at Durango Resort in Southwest Las Vegas represents the new casino resort’s vibe: indoor-outdoor spaces. The front lounge has a fireplace, and the back atrium/ patio dining area has a lot of natural light. Note: Nicco’s has televisions in the dining area.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
The tomahawk with hash browns, dry-age Mediterranean branzino (served on a cart tableside), New York steak, snow crab tempura, Dover sole, short ribs and a trio of cakes – 18-layer chocolate, key lime and butter toffee.
PRO TIPS
The New York steak is a standout, as are the short ribs (served in small bites as an appetizer) and 18-layer chocolate cake. In fact, the chocolate cake might be one of the best chocolate cakes ever. A decadent way to end dinner! DurangoResort.com
AMBIENCE
A rare chain steakhouse on Vegas Prime Magazine’s The Steakhouse Issue list, Ocean Prime, in the 63 building in between The Cosmopolitan and Aria, is an upscale restaurant known for its sophisticated decor, extensive wine list and classic steak and seafood offerings.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
The New York strip, Smoking Shellfish Tower, jumbo lump crab cake, shellfish Cobb salad, 16 oz. dry-aged Wagyu strip, branzino, baked lobster mac and cheese, loaded baked potato, warm butter cake, chocolate peanut butter pie, 10-layer carrot cake, the cocktails Hot & Dirty Martini and Berries & Bubbles), white truffle caviar deviled eggs, blackened salmon salad, brioche French toast and crab cake Benedict.
PRO TIPS
The patio/mezzanine/veranda at this location has one of the best views on the Las Vegas Strip and is home to a fabulous Sunday Jazz Brunch (with free valet parking). A former publicist for Ocean Prime said this location is by far the most beautiful in the company. High praise!
Ocean-Prime.com
OCEAN PRIME LAS VEGAS
ONE STEAKHOUSE
AMBIENCE
Michael and David Morton’s high-end and sleek steakhouse at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas also serves seafood and classic sides. One Steakhouse was previously MB Steakhouse, so menu items will be familiar.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
The signature dry-aged tomahawk steak is a must-order for groups. The 18-pound USDA prime tomahawk serves 10-12 guests, is carved tableside, must be ordered 72 hours in advance and is $1,500. Also: Domestic New York Strip Wagyu, Surf and Turf (8 oz. filet mignon and Maine lobster tail) and porterhouse.
PRO TIPS
Save room for dessert, if that’s possible at this standout steakhouse east of the Las Vegas Strip in the former Hard Rock Hotel, and order the Baked Alaska to end dinner on a sweet note.
Credit: Peter Harasty
AMBIENCE
Vibe and party dining aren’t for everyone, but Papi Steak, a transplant from Miami, at Fontainebleau Las Vegas could teach a masterclass. The high-energy staff is fully committed as customers celebrate special occasions such as birthday and bachelorette parties as if it were the end of the world.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
The upscale steakhouse is also up there in pricing, so throw caution to the wind because you’re clearly here to celebrate with the $1,000 steak with an infectious presentation, $500 Old Fitz Fashioned served in a Baccarat glass, caviar and additional high-end steaks and cocktails.
PRO TIPS
Get into the party vibe and spirit – we couldn’t help it with the happy faces of brides about to get married and husbands and wives turning another year older. The celebratory presentations occurred a lot on this particular Saturday. Otherwise, choose Don’s Prime, the more classic steakhouse across the casino.
PAPI STEAK
Credit: Papi Steak
PHIL'S STEAKHOUSE
AMBIENCE
The upscale-casual steakhouse – don’t we love this description, which is decidedly non-stuffy – at Treasure Island serves steaks, chops and seafood alongside vegetarian and vegan options.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
American Wagyu, 24 oz. short bone ribeye, Phil’s Endive Salad, black trout with fennel silk, foie gras and toast, roasted bone marrow, veal marsala and oysters Rockefeller. Don’t forget the handcrafted cocktails and wine.
PRO TIPS
Phil’s Steakhouse is named after T.I. owner and billionaire businessman Phil Ruffin. Oleksandra Spa & Salon at T.I. is perfect for a pre-dinner self-care and glam session. And make it a full day at T.I. with the wild weekend drag brunch at Senor Frog’s.
AMBIENCE
Scotch 80 Prime at Palms Casino Resort is an innovative and classic steakhouse – with an energetic vibe and warm and intimate indoor-outdoor design –offering wood-grilled prime, dry-aged steaks from the finest American ranchers and Japanese-certified Wagyu steaks.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
The many steaks, among them Kobe beef and the 40 oz. prime dry-aged longbone ribeye, Japanese butter bread, shrimp toast, chilled seafood tower, brie fondue, the classic and signature Maine lobster thermidor, caviar, scallop escargot and lobster bisque.
PRO TIPS
The celebrated Barry S. Dakake opened Scotch 80 Prime, and Marty Lopez, Scotch 80 Prime Executive Chef, is now leading the steakhouse and infusing his Filipino heritage into the flavors and offerings – it’s exciting and refreshing. Social Hour also is an excellent option at Scotch 80 Prime. Palms.com
SCOTCH 80 PRIME
Credit: Palms Casino Resort
STANTON SOCIAL PRIME
AMBIENCE
The steakhouse by Chef Chris Santos (Beauty & Essex at The Cosmopolitan, “Chopped”) and Tao Group Hospitality at Caesars Palace is modern, classy and sexy with an eclectic music selection.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
The 64 oz. Super Tomahawk is cognac flambéed tableside, includes sake-braised short ribs and bone marrow and is very Instagrammable and great for sharing. The Famous French Onion Soup Dumplings are creative and an OG menu item. The Smoked Butter Board is a fun presentation.
PRO TIPS
Don’t ignore the stellar cocktail program (especially the whiskey drinks) and Strawberry Blond Milkshake, peanut butter and chocolate cake and Movie Theater Sundae for dessert; they are perfect accompaniments for a stellar steak dinner.
Caesars.com
AMBIENCE
The Steakhouse at Circus Circus is a celebrated OG with red leather booth seating, old school fixtures, quiet and classic music and a meat locker at the front entryway. The Steakhouse, at 40 years old, is one of the best steakhouses in Las Vegas and a Vegas Prime Magazine favorite.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
We don’t say this lightly: The prime rib is one of the best out there – hickory-smoked, thick, juicy, flavorful and delicious. Bravo! And it was dinner two more times as leftovers. Also: ribeye, sirloin, Seafood Sensation, crab cakes and French onion soup.
PRO TIPS
Excellent server Chae has worked for The Steakhouse for nearly 40 years, the breadbasket includes pretzel rolls, and the cheesecake is from Brooklyn icon Junior’s Restaurant & Cheesecake. A salute to a legend and one of the best!
THE STEAKHOUSE
SW STEAKHOUSE
AMBIENCE
SW Steakhouse at Wynn Las Vegas is one of the city’s most elegant indoor-outdoor steakhouses and offers entrees for carnivores and vegans, plus an open view of the water show. Who else remembers the singing frog crooning “Friends in Low Places” by former Wynn headliner Garth Brooks?
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
Snake River Farms Gold Grade Steak, tomahawk steak, pepper-crusted Chateaubriand, jumbo bone marrow flambe, foie gras custard, king crab and artichoke gratin, butter poached Maine lobster and Rocky Road Sphere. Like the property itself, the restaurants and their menus are equally elegant.
PRO TIPS
SW Steakhouse has one of the stricter dress codes in the city, and the same can be said of Wynn and Encore’s other luxury restaurants. It’s worth a phone call to double-check. And one of the city’s best shows, “Awakening,” is on property.
AMBIENCE
Sometimes you need a steakhouse to be modern and airy and include a fireplace and patio seating, and the solid T-Bones Chophouse at Red Rock Resort in Summerlin checks all the boxes. Bonus points for using Chophouse instead of steakhouse in the name.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
The rare A5 Ribeye Kobe From Hyogo Prefecture (served by the ounce, and it melts in your mouth), USDA Prime T-Bone (great name), Piedmontese beef tartare prepared tableside (an uncommon occurrence), charred octopus, buttermilk fried chicken, warm toffee cake and peanut butter sundae.
PRO TIPS
Splurge on the rare meat dishes, and enjoy the solid cocktail program, as well: the cocktails Spa Treatment (with Hendrick’s Gin, St. Germain and more), Old Fashioned with WhistlePig Whiskey, Hendrick’s dirty martini and Fernet.
T-BONES CHOPHOUSE
Located across from Mystère Theatre.
under 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 18. 20% Off for Military & First Responders with Military I.D. 1/2 Price Games on Wednesdays!
TOM COLICCHIO’S
CRAFTSTEAK
AMBIENCE
Celebrity Chef Tom Colicchio's sophisticated steakhouse serves steaks, seafood, wine and spirits in MGM Grand’s bustling restaurant row alongside restaurants by Morimoto, Michael Mina, Jonas Brothers and more. Craftsteak checks all the boxes for a modern yet classic steakhouse.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
The 16 oz. New York strip, Parker Rolls with sea salt and clarified butter, cinnamon monkey bread, warm frisee salad, hand-cut beef tartare, diver scallops, creamy butter mashed potatoes, Maine lobster bisque and crème brulee.
PRO TIPS
We’re so happy the “Top Chef” personality and James Beard Award-winning chef has Craftsteak at MGM Grand as his celebrated Heritage Steakhouse at The Mirage closes with the casino resort this month (July). RIP, Heritage and The Mirage. MGMResorts.com
AMBIENCE
You’re paying for the panoramic vistas of this rotating new American steakhouse and restaurant on the 106th floor of The Strat, so does the ambience even matter? But ignoring the solid and varied menu would be wrong.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
Top of the World recently released its spring and summer menu, and it is superb and staggering, from steaks and seafood to sides, desserts and cocktails. Also: Surf and Turf, Fire & Ice Seafood Display, truffle and garlic parmesan fries, layered chocolate hazelnut cake and warm butter cake for two.
PRO TIPS
Reservations are required, but there are sometimes openings at the check-in desk before you take the elevator up 100+ floors. You do feel the restaurant physically moving, but it’s subtle. Also check out the bar and lounge way up there alongside the Top of the World.
TOP OF THE WORLD
Credit: Anthony Mair
TRIPLE GEORGE GRILL
AMBIENCE
Triple George Grill at Downtown Grand is a refined, San Francisco Bay Area–style steakhouse offering steak, seafood and cocktails with a cozy, old-school vibe. It’s a refreshing change from the over-the-top theatrics and loud vibe dining offered at other Las Vegas steakhouses.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
The 40 oz. porterhouse, Atlantic salmon, filet mignon, fish cioppino with a spicy broth, large meatballs with a spicy marinara sauce, clam chowder, the standout cheesecake and Smoked Black Forest Cake.
PRO TIPS
The Caesar salad is prepared tableside, with a minimum of two orders, and a secret ingredient is added. The server will tell you after you guess – and if you ask nicely. Use the valet at Downtown Grand (a short distance from Triple George Grill), and the steakhouse will validate parking.
AMBIENCE
A strong argument for dining south of the Las Vegas Strip just off I-15: The sleek Silverton steakhouse with natural accents serves steaks, seafood and bourbon tasting flights. Twin Creeks is a very charming and woodsy restaurant – it’s a gem.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
The Tomahawk for Two (please keep reading), which also includes asparagus and crab potato puree, the Wagyu burger, potato leek soup, Twin Creeks tableside chopped salad and desserts.
PRO TIPS
The Tomahawk for Two, already a deal at $190, is $130 on Tomahawk Tuesdays. What a discount for a quality menu item! And the bread service at the start of dinner is so varied and delicious, we nearly ate the entire basket and ruined our appetites for the tomahawk. Almost.
TWIN CREEKS STEAKHOUSE
VIC & ANTHONY’S
AMBIENCE
The steakhouse at Golden Nugget is one of the best in Downtown Las Vegas and in the overall city. The old school vibe, with modern touches, is elegant, cozy and perfect for date night and other special occasions.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
The upscale steakhouse serves steaks and seafood alongside classic salads and side dishes. Menu highlights include A5 Japanese Wagyu filet mignon, A5 Japanese Wagyu carpaccio, fried lobster mac and cheese, jumbo lump crab cake and the Chocolate Sphere (long before the other Sphere).
PRO TIPS
The wine list at Vic & Anthony’s, named after the Fertitta family’s patriarch and his brother, is extensive, with the restaurant group garnering awards from Wine Spectator. And don’t ignore the cocktail menu, with The Golden Nugget leading the way.
www.VegasPrime.com
If the 30 steakhouses in this issue of Vegas Prime Magazine weren’t enough, we have more than 20 more restaurants at VegasPrime.com. The steakhouses online include Bob Taylor’s Ranch House, Cornerstone Steakhouse at Gold Coast, Delmonico at The Venetian, Hugo’s Cellar at 4 Queens, Jean Georges Steakhouse at Aria, Prime at Bellagio, STK at The Cosmopolitan, Top of Binion’s at Binion’s, William B at Suncoast and more.
Complementing the main course
What to order alongside prime meats at Las Vegas steakhouses? So many side dishes, so little time
Bread
With butter? Yes, please. Just don’t fill up before the rest of dinner arrives.
Standouts: The bread service at Twin Creeks at Silverton for its variety. The Steakhouse at Circus Circus because it includes pretzel rolls. Harlo in Downtown Summerlin because the Japanese milk bread is to die for.
Seafood
There are many steakhouses in Las Vegas that offer seafood towers, and they are outstanding.
Standouts: Ocean Prime at 63 at Las Vegas Boulevard and Harmon, Top of the World at The Strat and Bavette’s Steakhouse at Park MGM. Try not to fill up on seafood before the steaks arrive.
Credit: MGM Resorts International
Potatoes
Are we realizing that side dishes to steaks are a detriment in terms of not filling up early at dinner? One main culprit is the loaded baked potato. We’re not even addressing fries, mashed potatoes and other delicious and heavy iterations.
Standouts: Nicco’s at Durango and Golden Steer on Sahara Avenue, home of “the largest baked potato” in Las Vegas, and of course they’re loaded up with cheese, sour cream, bacon bits and chives. OK, it would be tough to pass up the hash browns at STK in The Cosmopolitan.
Eugene Dela Cruz/Oneseven Agency
Vegetables
We’re going to cheat a little here because you can get broccoli, corn and asparagus, especially asparagus, everywhere right now.
Standouts: For a twist, order Phil’s Endive Salad at Phil’s Steakhouse at T.I., the portobello fries at Echo & Rig in Tivoli Village and The District at Green Valley Ranch and the burrata and roasted baby beets at Carversteak in Resorts World.
Macaroni and Cheese
Sure, it might be your child’s favorite meal, but the cheesy concoction has been elevated for years in steakhouses.
Standouts: Fried lobster mac and cheese at Vic & Anthony’s at Golden Nugget, the Boursin mac and cheese gratin at Alder & Birch at The Orleans and truffle mac and cheese at Herbs & Rye on Sahara Avenue.
Desserts
Is there a steakhouse in Las Vegas that doesn’t have at least one good dessert? Unlikely, we say.
Standouts: The chocolate cake at Papi Steak (OK, we wrote this partly because it rhymes) at Fontainebleau is fabulous. The cheesecake at Triple George Gril at Downtown Grand is one of the city’s best. And this is a sweet and savory treat, but the foie gras cotton candy at Bazaar Meat by Jose Andres at Sahara is decadence with a capital D.
Credit: Golden Nugget
By Marisa Finetti
THE PERFECT MATCH
Steak & Wine
Pairing wine and steak is essential in your gastronomic journey. With various cuts and preparations, discover these steak-friendly red wines, but be open to more unconventional choices. The right wine can elevate your steak dining experience. When in doubt, ask your sommelier.
UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS
Pairing wine with steak is about balancing and complementing the flavors and
textures of both. Red wines are generally the best choice because their tannins help cut through the meat's richness. For example, flavors from grilled meat present the perfect opportunity to welcome a spice-driven, savory varietal like Northern Rhône Valley Syrah.
“The notes of pepper and sanguine character of a great Côte Rôtie and Saint-Joseph work wonders with a wood-fired grilled steak,” says Kester Masias,
VP of Wine & Beverage Operations, The Lev Restaurant Group.
Other wines to try with grilled meats are Garnacha or Priorat from Spain or Cannonau from Italy. Their flavors of rich, ripe red raspberries, orange zest and moderate tannins make these wines excellent choices.
“My particular favorites to recommend, no matter the cut, are Syrah blends from the Rhone Valley in France and Spanish Tempranillos because their blends will have enough complexity that everyone will find something to love about the pairing,” says Justin Tilley, wine director at One Steakhouse at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
“For me, steaks call for Italian reds with elevated or high tannins, and maybe with a little bit of age,” says Miklos Katona, director of wine at The Venetian. “A wine made from Nebbiolo, Sangiovese or Corvina grapes could be a life-changing experience.”
LEANER CUTS
Filet mignon, known for its tenderness rather than its strong beefy flavor, is well-suited for medium-bodied, fruit-driven red wines.
“I lean toward right bank Bordeaux, where Merlot displays these characteristics in the glass,” Masias says.
Tilley agrees with choosing wines from Bordeaux’s right bank for leaner cuts of steak. “More Merlot and Cabernet Franc over there! … Or a good Pinot Noir from Oregon or Sonoma.”
MARBLED CUTS
Steaks with rich marbling and intense flavor call for a wine with higher tannins. Masias recommends Brunello di Montalcino and Sagrantino di Montefalco from Italy. The boldness of the wine stands up to the richness of the steak, while the tannins help cut through the fat.
“For ribeye, the king of steak, I’d pair the king of the wines, Barolo,” Katona says.
DRY-AGED STEAK
During dry aging, moisture evaporates, concentrating the meat’s flavor, while natural enzymes break down the meat, resulting in a more tender texture. Dryaged steak pairs well with full-bodied red wines – that complement its rich, intense flavors – such as aged wines.
“More mature wines that readily show their secondary notes and earth tones make for a harmonious pairing with dry-aged steak,” Masias says.
“For aged steak, where there is less moisture content combined with sweet and funky flavors, I’d choose an Amarone della Valpolicella,” Katona says. The wine’s deep
fruit flavors, velvety texture and balanced acidity complement the steak’s savory and umami notes.
DIFFERENT STEAK PREPARATIONS
STEAK TARTARE
“A crisp Provençal rosé is my go-to,” Masias says. “Steak tartare calls for the flavors found in red wine while pairing with the structure of a white wine. Rosé hits both marks readily.”
A light-bodied red wine like Beaujolais is also an excellent match.
STEAK SANDWICH
A casual steak sandwich calls for a wine that can handle a variety of flavors and textures. “Steak sandwiches are fantastic with a humble cru Beaujolais,” Masias says. Slightly chilled, preferably.
EXPERIMENTING WITH UNCONVENTIONAL PAIRINGS
Don’t be afraid to experiment with unconventional choices. For example, a fizzy Lambrusco di Sorbara can be a delightful surprise with a rich, fatty steak. Its mildly sweet to-dry flavors contrast with the savory meat, and its effervescence wipes the palate clean.
Or try a chilled Grignolino or Freisa from Italy. These are crushable wines with a high tannic grip that add a bright lift to virtually any steak experience.
LAST WORD The
In honor of the late Robin Leach, Vegas Prime Magazine has reimagined his longtime Wicked Whispers & Racy Rumors as Vegas Prime Whispers – as a tip of the toque to the very-muchmissed colleague, mentor and friend.
Actress Daisy Ridley attended “RuPaul’s Drag Race Live” at Flamingo Las Vegas on June 16. The British actress (“Star Wars”) posed for photographs with The Pit Crew and The Queens, among them Asia O’Hara, Lawrence Chaney, Yara Sofia, Pangina Heals and Kahanna Montrese.
VEGAS PRIME WHISPERS
Which singer’s fingernails were so long, she couldn’t open her backyard barbecue, while a little later watching her try to eat a burger was a sight to behold. Diva! (And we live for it.)
Which Strip headliner is a total sweetheart and “straight as an arrow.” That sound you hear is many hearts breaking.
Was that Third Eye Blind frontman Stephan Jenkins at Papi Steak steps away from Bleau Live Theater shortly after his band’s concert ended?
Does one Strip headliner’s act include transphobia?
Why do some content creators think it’s OK to hold up a line at parties to spend five minutes taking individual photos? It’s not OK. Better yet, it’s OK to cut lines to record content? It’s not OK.
Which late beloved singer left a Grammy Award to her longtime publicist? Very touching.
As we created our Steakhouse Issue for Vegas Prime Magazine Issue #6, we said a sad farewell to Heritage Steakhouse, once affiliated with Tom Colicchio, as it shutters with the closing of The Mirage. So many steaks …
Email your Vegas Prime Whispers to editorial@vegasprime.com.
Superstar singer and longtime Las Vegas headliner Celine Dion attended Croatian cellist Hauser’s “Rebel With a Cello” concert at Wynn Las Vegas on June 22. Dion received a rousing standing ovation from the audience, and Hauser performed “My Heart Will Go On” as a tribute to the Canadian chanteuse and “Titanic” songstress.
Brazilian soccer star Neymar was spotted at Omnia Nightclub at Caesars Palace on June 25.
The Florida Panthers celebrated their NHL championship at Fuhu in Resorts World on June 27.
