Question of the Day - 24 April 2006

At long last, here are the results of the epic "must-eat" reader poll we ran last month. First and foremost, we'd like to thank everyone who took the time to participate. It was the most popular survey we've run to date. In fact, the responses, which came from as far afield as Australia, kept rolling in for some time afterwards, so it's taken us awhile to collate and categorize them all. It turned out to be such an enormous answer that we've actually split it in half -- tune in tomorrow for Part 2. Some of the divisions are a little arbitrary (do you file catfish at Chinois under "fish" or "Asian"?), but hopefully, it makes sense.

So finally, without further ado, here are your recommendations for favorite things to eat (and drink) in Las Vegas:

BUFFETS & BRUNCHES

• Several people picked Green Valley Ranch's Feast Around the World Buffet: "Driving in from California, it's only a slight detour to Henderson and we're usually starving. The price has gone up slightly –- breakfast is now $8.99 and lunch is $10.99, but well worth it. The selection and food quality is fantastic and the service is friendly."
• Wynn was another popular choice: "Even if you do not get comped and have to pay full price, it is well worth it. Huge Alaskan king crab legs, already split. Large shrimp, already peeled. Unique salads, excellent prime rib, lamb, mussels. Hardly any cheap filler dishes. Fantastic desserts, including bananas Foster."
• Aladdin's Spice Market Buffet –- an LVA Top Ten pick (see below) –- was also popular: "Tried a couple dozen buffets. Quality and selection here can't be beat. Fruit tarts are the bomb."
• "No question! The buffet at Main Street Station is the cheapest and best I've had in Las Vegas and well worth the trip from the Strip."
• "If you want a good cheap buffet in Vegas, you can't beat the Orleans. And you have to save room for either the orange or lemon bunt cake – they're the best I've ever had."
• The Sterling Brunch at Bally's ("you can't beat the special Bally's omelet") and Sunday brunch at Circus Circus ("not only do you get the entire buffet and made-to-order omelets, but you can also order a filet, salmon, lamb chops, etc., from the waiter") also received honorable mention, as did the buffets at the Rio and the Palms.

BREAKFAST

Many of the choices here were at buffets, but seeing as you singled out breakfast specially, we gave it a category of its own.

• The most popular choice for breakfast was the Paris buffet: "An awesome breakfast spread highlighted by the most spectacular crêpes ever! Recommended this to several of my friends and all have come back with raves about the best meal of their trip." And also: "A seafood omelet and made-to-order crêpes. I will make time for this one no matter how long or short the visit."
• Also popular was breakfast at Main Street Station buffet: "The omelet chef is very entertaining. The cinnamon rolls are fantastic. The room is open and bright. We use our LVA coupon, which makes it even better."
• "My favorite buffet is the Flamingo for breakfast. The spread is always terrific and lately they've turned it into a brunch buffet, which means they also have lots of lunch stuff, too. And if you're lucky enough to get a window table, you have a wonderful view of the huge fish, ducks, and swans swimming around outside."
• "My vote for the 'must-eat' meal in Las Vegas is my 'hangover-special' breakfast at the Stage Deli in the Forum Shops at Caesars. Instead of the usual corned-beef hash, they serve a pastrami hash with eggs. Combined with the potatoes, a toasted poppy-seed bagel with cream cheese, and a strong cup of coffee, this mini-feast has helped me recover from many an overindulgent night in Vegas!"
• "My favorite Las Vegas food is the steak & eggs breakfast at Arizona Charlie's. It’s been there for a long time and has never disappointed. Their Ham & Eggs is probably an even better bargain."

LVA TOP TEN PICKS & OTHER BARGAINS AND CHEAP EATS

Several of the LVA’s Top Ten items proved to popular choices. Here’s some of the feedback, together with some of your own suggestions for some of the bargain offers around town:

• "I agree with Anthony: The 99¢ shrimp cocktail at the Golden Gate gets my vote too!"
• "We never miss getting the 75¢ hot dog at the Gold Coast. The ladies who run the cart are delightful and there’s nothing better than sitting at the bar with your hot dog(s), a cool one, and playing video poker!"
• "Have to agree with the Ellis Island steak dinner. Fro the price you can’t go wrong, especially if you have a 2 for 1 coupon.
• "I vote for the Prime Rib Dinner at the California – it’s consistently delicious and is a real bargain with potato, vegetable, salad bar, and dessert for $6.95!"
• "There’s a special on the menu at the café at South Coast: It’s for a T-Bone or Prime Rib dinner for $9.99 and I’ve had both and both are excellent!"
• "Joey’s Bistro & Bar,, a block off the Strip at 105 E. Harmon, is my favorite must-eat. The excellent food and reasonable wine list is complimented by a magnificent view of the Strip and the mountains. It’s even better with 50% Happy Hour savings on drinks and appetizers."
• "Hard Rock’sGambler’s Special (with POV coupon).
• "Vegas Club’s late night steak and eggs special."
• "The Prime Rib special at the diner in the Golden Gate. The place is old school Vegas in a great location."
• "The Commander’s Palace lunch special at the Aladdin. Food you can’t get anywhere else in Vegas, a legendary restaurant name, and martinis for a quarter. Beat that!"
• "For a local’s place, we go to Jersey’s Bar & Grill on Decatur and Sahara. Every day they have a special (except, I think, the weekends) and they have a great frequent diner’s club. What my fiancé enjoys most is the fried mac n cheese!"
• "We always have the unadvertised T-bone steak dinner at the California. The house salad dressing is the best (I’ve asked for the recipe many times but they will not give it to me), the steak is tasty and large, and the dinner comes with the apple dumpling dessert, which is to die for. I believe the price is about $13 and worth every penny."

SNACKS, SIDES, AND LIGHT BITES

This section’s a smorgasbord of all kinds of good stuff.

• "Only in Paris, France, will you find a better French Onion Soup that at the St Louis Café in the Paris casino. It comes with a complimentary baguette (out of this world) and butter. Add a glass of your favorite wine and you have a light lunch/snack par excellence!"
• "Best basic burger is the burgers and baskets at the In and Out Burger (great root beer, too)." And also: "As a former Californian living in Texas, In & Out is a must make stop on every trip."
• "One of our must-eats are the "Holy Rings of Betazed" (better known as onion rings) from Quark’s Bar and Restaurant at the Las Vegas Hilton. They come piled high singly as a tall tower with three dripping sauces – delicious."
• Slice of pizza (thin crust) off the casino floor at the Venetian. Inexpensive and sooooo good!"
• "Pizza stand at Ellis Island. Remarkably good!
• "Gotta go with Luv-it Frozen Custard at 505 E. Oakey Blvd, a half block east of Las Vegas Blvd. Family-owned for 30 years, it’s a LV institution!"
• "Fat Burger."
• "Gelato either at Bellagio, Venetian, or now Wynn is a must-eat every time I visit Las Vegas."
• "Lunch: clam chowder in the bread bowl at Fulton’s Fish Pie in the Village Eateries at New York-New York."
• "The cheeseburger at McCormick and Schmick’s happy hour. Anywhere else it would be a great $6-$7 burger, but for $1.99 it’s phenomenal!"
• "We love the steak sandwich and pomme frites on the lunch menu at Mon Ami Gabi. We eat it every time we come to Las Vegas and it’s really worth the around 12 bucks it sells for, plus you get the view of the Bellagio fountains while eating it!"