Need funky places to eat in Vegas

Howdy

Can someone suggest any unusual/regional/untouristy/whacky (but sanitary) places for grub?

Oops, meant to end with 'thanks'.

Thanks

The Sundancer will be in Vegas on 10/28 for the NHRA races where we have two cars in the field. I hope they make the final 16.

I too am in search of places to eat that are out of the ordinary. I am aware of the king size buffets at the huge hotels. We are staying at the Monte Carlo and I am sure it is OK.

The place that intrigues me is downtown. If anyone has any thoughts on this area and I would like to stay in this area for roadfood. please advise. Thanks in advance.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

There's a pretty good bbq joint out towards the Air Force base. Actually, Paul, it's not all that far from the track. I can't think of the name, but if you don't know it, I'll track it down for you.

It's about 1/2 hour out of town but I always have to have a big breakfast once during the trip at Bonnie Springs Ranch. It's one of a vanishing breed of tourist destinations but not touristy like the fountains at the Bellagio.

http://www.bonniesprings.com/restaurant.html

For whacky, just head on over to the Liberace Museum.

A couple of places come immediately to mind. In N Out Burger for fresh burgers and fries. This place is a CA and NV institution. Have a fresh frozen custard at Luv-It Frozen Custard on Oakley, just east of Las Vegas Blvd (the strip). Visit little Ellis Island Casino at Flamingo and Koval just east of the Strip. This is a locals casino with a 24 hour $4.95 steak special that constantly leads the Las Vegas Advisor's Top Ten list. They might even be giving out $5 matchplay coupons if you ask when you pay the bill.

Midnight Chef -- check out this thread -- lots of great suggestions

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3863&whichpage=1&SearchTerms=vegas

Sundancer

The casinos downtown are fun and more "wild west" than the Strip. There is a carnival plaza along Fremont Street, as well as a stage for music. I didn't eat right on Fremont Street, but two places relatively close by are the Peppermill (great for breakfast) (see post in "Vegas" thread). Big Mama's rib shack is good too, which is far from the Strip, closer to downtown, but still needs a car.

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

The Sundancer will be in Vegas on 10/28 for the NHRA races where we have two cars in the field. I hope they make the final 16.

I too am in search of places to eat that are out of the ordinary. I am aware of the king size buffets at the huge hotels. We are staying at the Monte Carlo and I am sure it is OK.

The place that intrigues me is downtown. If anyone has any thoughts on this area and I would like to stay in this area for roadfood. please advise. Thanks in advance.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

quote:

Originally posted by Poverty Pete

There's a pretty good bbq joint out towards the Air Force base. Actually, Paul, it's not all that far from the track. I can't think of the name, but if you don't know it, I'll track it down for you.

Poverty, If you can recall the BBQ joint, please advise. That would be handy for us. Track food is OK but good BBQ is much better.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

It's called Memphis Championship BBQ, and the address is 4379 N. Las Vegas Blvd. In my opinion, it's not quite as good as its' name would lead you to believe, but it's good q.

There are 3 or 4 Memphis Championship BBQ's in town. I had lunch at the one on Warm Springs near the Airport in March. It's far and away better than any BBQ you'll find in the Baltimore area, but I don't think it would win any championships in Memphis. Still it beats a burger. It's a nicely done place and the portions were large.

My most enjoyable meal last week in Las Vegas was at a small casino off the Strip called Bourbon Street. Funky, homey place-------doesn't look like a lot of the bigger casinos. Good drink prices too. The highlight though was a steak and slipper lobster dinner for $7.77. Tasty and very reasonable! The Harley Davidson Cafe says they have the best BBQ in Las Vegas----but I don't know, did not get a chance to try it.

I googled where do the locals eat in Vegas and came up with these:
MEMPHIS CHAMPIONSHIP BARBEQUE-local, low key with big following
OMELET HOUSE- an old school favorite-longest breakfast menu in town 384-6868
LUV-IT FROZEN CUSTARD since 1973-made fresh daily on site
PAYMON'S MEDITERRANEAN CAFE 731-6030
FAT BURGERS
IN-AND-OUT for burgers
BOOTLEGGER BISTRO 24 Vegas Institution-Italian , mid-priced on weekends 50's era strip entertainers sing and dance...it's a who's who of old vegas (that sounds a but whacky, don't you think?)
This info may be too late-let us know how it goes.

LUV-IT frozen custard is great and well worth the visit. Close to Fremont St. old downtown ...

quote:

Originally posted by leslie1787

I googled where do the locals eat in Vegas and came up with these:
MEMPHIS CHAMPIONSHIP BARBEQUE-local, low key with big following
OMELET HOUSE- an old school favorite-longest breakfast menu in town 384-6868
LUV-IT FROZEN CUSTARD since 1973-made fresh daily on site
PAYMON'S MEDITERRANEAN CAFE 731-6030
FAT BURGERS
IN-AND-OUT for burgers
BOOTLEGGER BISTRO 24 Vegas Institution-Italian , mid-priced on weekends 50's era strip entertainers sing and dance...it's a who's who of old vegas (that sounds a but whacky, don't you think?)
This info may be too late-let us know how it goes.

Far Out! I'm going to Vegasafter the New Year. All this research, all these places to gocan't wait. Hope I find the time to gamble!

Sam's town has a very good buffet.

One of the best breakfasts in USA ... homey, not a tourist place, open for breakfast and lunch only (6a-2?).

NOT a place for 3am munchys.

The Hash House, about 4 or 5 miles off the strip on West Spring Meadow. Light as air hash. Say hi to Mary the owner.

Oh, one more: unbelevable Mexican: Casa Don Juan, just up from the Hilton on South Main.

BTW: The other best breakfast in USA is John O'Groats in LA.

On the corner of Sahara and the Strip, not too far from Downtown, Capriotti's sandwich shop is a wonderful place that has been there forever, with hugew and unusual sandwiches that are just wonderful; I think I already posted this somewhere, sorry if I'm repeating. Also, even though you already know about the buffets, if you're already Downtown, ask in the Golden Nugget if they still have the original bread pudding on the buffet. It was made using Steve Wynn's (the owner) motheer's recipe and was a real treat!

Capriotti's is right on Sahara about 100 yards west of Las Vegas Blvd. (the Strip) You can really only get there if you are turning from the Strip onto Sahara heading for the Interstate. There are other locations around town. Capriotti's originated in Wilmington DE, the Delaware Valley, where sub sandwiches are better than just about anywhere else.

The only drawback to Capriotti's in Las Vegas and all of their locations is that it is primarily a carry out. You might find one or two tables.

If you like Thai food, there's a really interesting place called Lotus of Siam at 953 East Sahara Ave. Went there a few years ago after my husband and I got tired of overblown Vegas menus and meals, and it was really good, very unique. Got written up in several places as the "best Thai on the continent." It's in a rather funky strip mall, so keep your eyes peeled for its storefront entry.

Try Aloha Specialties, on the second floor of the California Hotel & Casino. The Cal is located downtown, on Ogden Street, 1 block behind Fremont. Great Hawaiian "plate lunch" style food. Try the BBQ Mix plate. It's the next best thing to being in Hawaii! javascript:insertsmilie('')
Big Smile

http://www.thecal.com/display.cfm?id=1075

A great place to eat on Freemont Street is The Bay City Diner in the Golden Gate Casino. They are a cross between a diner and a NY deli, and are known for their inexpensive shrimp cocktails.

http://www.goldengatecasino.net/index.cfm?Page=Dining

Even if you are not staying in downtown "old" Vegas, I highly recommend spending one evening on Freemont Street. I spent about three days/nights at the Golden Nugget a few years ago for a business concference, and we went to the Bay City several times for a good meal.

There was also a great chinese restaurant across the street from the Nugget in Binyons Horseshoe, but I think that Binyons has since closed and reopened with different managment and I don't know if that restaurant is still there.

One thing I am definitely going back for is the lunch at Commander's Palace, inside Paris Las Vegas. Monday thru Thursday, you can get lunch-----and with it, up to 4 Martinis @$.25 each....that's right, twenty five cents for a Martini. Lunches average around $11.00.......but I consider the combination of great food and libations a real bargain!

quote:

Originally posted by EdSails

One thing I am definitely going back for is the lunch at Commander's Palace, inside Paris Las Vegas. Monday thru Thursday, you can get lunch-----and with it, up to 4 Martinis @$.25 each....that's right, twenty five cents for a Martini. Lunches average around $11.00.......but I consider the combination of great food and libations a real bargain!

FYI...

Commander's Palace is located in the Aladdin and not the Paris.

In reference to funky places to eat please note that traffic in and around the strip is horendous. Thus, if you plan on eating off the strip beware that you will spend a good hunk of your trip in your car. One option would be the new monorail (if it is working) you can take it to the end of the line (the Sahara) and either cab it or take a bus to Fremont street. Please be aware that the area between the Sahara and Fremont is sketchy and therefore a cab may be a better option.

In reference to BBQ, one of the local LV papers wrote an article on Famous Daves that basically touted it as being some of the best BBQ in town. This leads me to beleive that BBQ is not a LV strongpoint and one may be better off staving off the craving for brisket and ribs.

I have been spent alot of time in LV in the past few years and the era of funky and whacky has past. IMO, one is better off patronizing some of the finer establishments that one can only find in LV. For example, Mon Ami Gabi in the Paris is an outstanding recreation of a French, the prices are incredibly fair for a strip establishment.

But if you truly are set on funky check out Batista's Hole in the Wall. It located almost directly behind the Flamingo and it is basically a red sauce Italian restaruant. The hook is that along with your meal comes all you can drink wine. The food isn't half bad, the prices are reasonable and the accordain player is very entertaining. It can get very crowded and noisy but it truly is a fun place.

After three days there all those casinos started looking the same!

Hi there

You didn't mention if you had a car or not. Las Vegas is an awesome place now for both inexpensive food, and haute cuisine. Many of the New York establishments now have opened up in Las Vegas.

I have to say though, don't limit yourself to only non touristy restaurants, as you can find some great food around town in Casinos, and inexpensively priced. All the natives use coupons from the newspapers or "touristy" magazines.

If you are craving a great breakfast- and awake at midnight- try the .99 special at the Orleans hotel- Steak and Eggs yet.

A really nice, homey Italian restaurant is called Anna Bella's on Sandhill. Incredibly friendly, with family members serving you. Do not go to Battistas-now there is an incredibly mediocre touristy joint. Chinese? try Ping Pang Pong in the middle of the Gold Coast. Not much atmosphere, but great Chinese food- and you will see many Asians eating here.

If you need a bunch of others... just let me know, as Las Vegas is my home away from home.

Verysleepy