LA / LV / THE GRAND CANYON

I'll be doing Los Angeles / Las Vegas / The Grand Canyon in the next few weeks.
In Los Angeles I'll need suggestions for breakfast, a romantic spot for Cocktails in the evening, and where the best Dodger Dogs are located at Dodger Stadium.
A place between Los Angeles and Las Vegas to eat on our drive.
In Las Vegas ..The Palms or the Luxor for a steak.
And, of course, a place to eat on the drive from Vegas, through southern Utah to the north rim of the Canyon and then around to the Southern Rim and the ride to Hoover Dam.
I've asked for a lot ... Hoping to get a few ideas .. Thanks

Rober

Be sure you get something to eat by Barstow. No much at all between there and Vegas, but IN Vegas may I suggest you get that steak at "Mon Ami Gabi" in Paris Las Vegas? Don't eat outside, as you will wait an hour for a table there and then have passers-by blow cigarette smoke into your faces. Inside is cool and infinitely quieter. They bill themselves as a "French steakhouse," but everything else we had was great. Ask what they can substitute for the steak frites, which are long on presentation and short on taste, and do ask for Stormy the waitress. Never tried the places you mentioned, but wasn't there a Palms steakhouse in Chicago that got laughed outta town?

St. George, Utah has all kinds of chains near the freeway (I-15), but go into town on St. George Boulevard west to Ancestor Square. The Painted Pony is suposedly the best restaurant in town, but we found it inconsistent, The Chinese restaurant downstairs is delicious and thrifty. Have dessert at Nielson's Frozen Custard, and avoid Iceberg, which was inedible. St. George is a good base for the North Rim, but I hope you also see Bryce and Zion canyons. Visit the NPS websites for all these parks to learn about "The Grand Staircase" that starts at Cedar Breaks above Bryce and culminates in the Grand. We enjoyed lunch in the dining room at the North Rim, but the dinner we had at the South Rim's El Tovar Dining Room was even better. Call for reservations there NOW, and follow their instructions for calling back the day before if they say they're booked.

The area of Utah and Arizona you pass between St. George, the North Rim and the South Rim is some of the most sparsely settled land in America, so make sure you have plenty, and I mean PLENTY of water and beverages, as well as snacks. Buy groceries--and water--at Smith's in St. George BEFORE you buy gas so you get a discount on what is already the lowest price in town. Gas in those little towns is much higher.

You must pass through police checkpoints before you drive across Hoover Dam, and tours of the generator plants seem to be allowed for some but not others, and on no rational basis. The total experience is like going through airport security again and again, and left a bad taste in my mouth.

I second everything Michael has recommended in his post, and add a bit.
In Barstow, Here are 3 possibles- At the Lenmore exit just "west" of Barstow (at the discount Shopping Malls) is a LARGE In-N-OUT, Then in town take the West Main St Exit, Tom's Burgers next to the "Railroad McDonalds" on West Main has great Burgers and tables inside and out for a good break stop. OR Peggy Sue's Retro Diner at the Yermo Exit about 6 miles further out the 15 towards Vegas.
If you miss all of those there is always Bun Boy in Baker. The Strawberry Pie is pretty good there.
Skipping over Vegas, Don't forget Mesquite, NV right at the AZ State Line. Good Casino Dining without the stress of the Vegas Crowds. Enjoy the ride up the Virgin River Gorge to St George. St George is a good base as said above. If you head up to Cedar Breaks, stop in Cedar City and enjoy a meal at the Market Grill on rt 56 west of the freeway. Another decent place with good food and reasonable prices.
Page Utah, at the Glen Canyon Dam location is a good place to stop, rest and see the Lake Powell area. Check their website for food choices.

Wow!! Thank you so much for the responses ... The Steakhouses I were referring to in Las Vegas were in The Palms Casino, I believe it is the "Nine Steakhouse" and in the Luxor, "The Luxor Steakhouse."
Again, thank you very much for the information and the update ob Hoover Dam.

Robert

As a former resident of Las Vegas, I have to suggest that the best steak value in town is at Circus Circus, although I haven't eaten at Paris, other than the breakfast buffet, which is one of the best in Vegas.

Nine at the Palms is excellent. Bring your wallet.

The Iceberg a Salt Lake City drive-in has recently opened outlets/franchises in St George and Cedar City, Utah. While I agree the food ain't so hot the thick, wonderful shakes and malts are more than worth a stop especially in that 100+ degrees desert town. My favorite is the almond fudge.

I hate to break it to you but there is no such thing as a good Dodger Dog. LA has been denied a hot dog heritage by this greedy baseball franchise. Residents and baseball fans alike it's time to revolt and demand a good stadium hot dog. 17 million residents deserve better!

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