Eat: Recommended Restaurants

Spring break

By James P. Reza

Long before MTV paired up with the Palms for the now-infamous Las Vegas season of "The Real World," our city has been a destination for college students looking to have a wild weekend before nosing the books for one last push to summer. With UNLV--and just about every other university within driving distance--on spring break during late March and early April, Sin City's coed quotient is quite high. Here's where you might find 'em--if you're looking, that is.

Ah Sin

3655 Las Vegas Blvd. South ; 967-7999

$$-$$$; Smart Casual/Trendy

Following the lead of the famed Buddha Bar in Paris (the city), this new eatery in Paris (the resort) combines an energetic restaurant and sexy lounge (Risqué) into a nightlife draw that already attracts the young and restless. Ah Sin features multiple rooms showcasing delicious Pacific Rim/Asian cuisine (sushi, noodles, Korean barbecue) and an expansive dining patio with great views of the Bellagio fountains.

Bertolini's Authentic Trattoria

3500 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 735-4663

9500 W. Sahara Ave.; 869-1540

$$; Smart Casual

This smallish upscale chain, owned by Morton's Restaurant Group, exemplifies what a good chain restaurant should be by offering a consistent, high-value dining experience. Light, northern Italian pasta and risotto are complemented by tasty salads, wood-fired pizza, and signature desserts. Both locations have a decent bar scene as well, but we prefer the Forum Shops site for the people watching.

Firefly Tapas Kitchen

3900 Paradise Road; 369-3971

$$; Smart Casual/Trendy

Mon Ami Gabi alumnus John Simmons and Ramon Triay have addressed Las Vegas's previous lack of the popular tapas bar concept with this new late-night hangout. Sure, you can order from a full plate menu, but that is counterintuitive to the tapas experience. Instead, gather a group of friends and choose from dozens of small plates designed for sharing, such as tortilla española, beef skewers and artichoke toasts. Nosh until 3 a.m. daily.

Hamada of Japan

365 E. Flamingo Road; 733-3005

$$$; Smart Casual/Trendy

Dating to an era when Japanese teppan-yaki was a trendy fave, Hamada offers the perfect combination of kitsch and style. There's standard table service here, but the fun (and the parade of beautiful people) can be found at the sushi bar or the teppan room, where food is sliced, diced, and sizzled before your eyes.

Hookah Lounge

4147 S. Maryland Parkway; 731-6030

$-$$; Casual/Smart Casual

Before the local palate appreciated ethnic dining, Paymon Raouf was serving tasty tabouleh and fab falafel to the college crowd. As the city sophisticated, so went the Cafe, adding a Hookah Lounge and expanding the hours and menu. Dinner crowds are pleasantly hip and articulate, and even when the dining room is closed, an abbreviated menu is available in the lounge, which is open late every night except Sunday.

Little Buddha

4321 W. Flamingo Road; 942-7778

$$; Smart Casual/Trendy

Elevating the concept of scene restaurant to its apex, the Vegas version of Paris' notorious Buddha Bar is at once a cocktail lounge, sushi bar and restaurant. Groovy electronic lounge music pulses in the foreground (Buddha sells its own soundtrack CDs) while the fashion-capable nosh tasty French-Asian fusion cuisine.

Mr. Lucky's 24/7

4455 Paradise Road; 693-5592

$-$$; Casual/Trendy

A revisiting of the casino coffee shop, Mr. Lucky's modernizes the standard and makes us wonder why it ever disappeared. You can order pasta and pizza here, but why? With breakfast served 24 hours, the tastiest veggie burger in Vegas, and the unlisted steak-and-shrimp special (ask for it), there's nothing left but dessert and eye candy.

Pink Taco

4455 Paradise Road; 693-5000

$; Casual/Trendy

This is the źber-sexy beachside taqueria in the Cabo of your dreams. Everyone--staff, sexpots, satyrs--look to have been plucked from MTV, and the rock music volume boosts conversation to strip club levels, especially on weekends. Unexpectedly, the Mexican menu (by chef Tacho Kneeland) is equally as appealing as the people, with unusual items like chilaquiles emerging properly tasteful.

Simon Kitchen & Bar

4455 Paradise Road; 693-5000

$$$; Smart Casual/Trendy

The hot spot for the underdressed and overtressed, Kerry Simon's Palm Springs-style eatery is where beautiful design feeds the eye while good food satiates the palate. The comfort food trend launched years ago in New York and London makes old Vegas new again with super steaks, seafood and pasta. Meanwhile, signature desserts like freshly spun cotton candy melt in your wet, lip gloss-covered mouth.