Eat: Recommended Restaurants

Hungry masses

By James P. Reza

Sure, it's nice to enjoy a romantic dinner in a place where the tables for two are secluded enough for a little hanky panky. But most of the time, it's you and a bunch of friends meeting to eat, drink and be yourselves. When you have a lot of people to feed and want to do it somewhere you'll feel comfortable, check out these eateries that excel at doing just that.

Battista's Hole in the Wall

4041 Audrie St.; 732-1424

$-$$; Casual/Smart Casual

A locally owned eatery from back in the day (the 1960s), Battista's has grown larger and serves a great many tourists thanks to its location, but old-school locals still enjoy it for its authentic Vegas flavor. Family friendly and noisy, this could be the archetype for the Buca di Beppo chain.

Buca di Beppo

412 E. Flamingo Road; 866-2867

7690 W. Flamingo Road; 363-6524

$; Casual-Smart Casual

Loud and fun, tables that are easily grouped, semi-private dining rooms seating 12 and a little too much "flair," this place was designed for family dinners or meetings--which, when you think about it, are the same thing. Decent southern Italian food served family style and a noise level so high you could argue your way into oblivion. Ah, flesh and blood.

Firefly Tapas Kitchen

3900 Paradise Road; 369-3971

$$; Smart Casual/Trendy

Mon Ami Gabi alumni 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.

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 at tables seating a dozen.

The Melting Pot

8704 W. Charleston Blvd.; 384-6358

$$-$$$; Smart Casual

With stylish mags like WallPaper boosting fondue and folks indulging at trendsetting retro-house parties as early as 1999, the fondue restaurant proved not far behind. This stylish nationwide chain is perfect for a (small or large) group of adventurous friends who harbor no fear of sharing. It's more expensive than you may think, and you'll need two to three hours to finish, but you'll enjoy every last dip.

Marrakech

3900 Paradise Road; 737-5611

$$; Smart Casual/Trendy

Considered by many to be too touristy to be taken seriously, the Moroccan Marrakech nevertheless takes itself very seriously. All diners are fed the same six-course meal (soup, salad plate, lamb and fowl; vegetarians should mention so at the time of reservation) while seated cross-legged on floor pillows and eyeing the talented belly dancers. We only wish they wouldn't try to usher us out so quickly.

Memphis Championship Barbecue

2250 E. Warm Springs Road; 260-6909

4379 Las Vegas Blvd. North; 644-0000

4949 N. Rancho Drive; 396-6223

$; Casual

Barbecue is a big deal down south, representing one of the few culinary arenas in which men willingly get their grill on, developing secret recipes that turn charring flesh into a militaristic science. This local low-key chain with a big following specializes in the national award winning dry-rub barbecue of chef-owner Mike Mills, who imports apple wood from Illinois to impart the signature flavor into baby back ribs, chicken, beef, hot links and chopped pork.

James P. Reza is the dining editor of the 2004 Zagat Survey: Las Vegas. Haven't seen your fave nosh joint listed? Tip him off at jpreza@cox.net.