Thursday, January 20, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Mercury

Eat 100 (STRIP/PARADISE ROAD - OUTLYING AREAS)

STRIP/PARADISE ROAD

AJ's Steakhouse

4455 Paradise Road (Hard Rock); 693-5000

$$$$; Trendy/Jacket

A throwback to the heyday of Vegas steakhouses, AJ's comes across as a Rat Pack-era hangout for boys and the broads who love 'em. An oh-so-Hollywood crowd jams the bar, while diners sample delicious steaks and seafood as a piano player entertains. Why: Frank would have wanted you to.

Alizé

4321 W. Flamingo Road; 951-7000

Trendy/Black Tie; $$$-$$$$

Andre Rochat, proprietor of downtown's venerable Andre's, offers arguably the best nighttime view in Vegas, particularly from the tables along the east window. Doting service delivers a delish French menu (duck foie gras, braised veal shank and the like) and a pricey wine list. Why: Hipsters go French.

Aquaknox

3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South (Venetian); 414-3772

$$$-$$$$; Smart Casual/Trendy

Seafood is the Vegas cuisine du jour, and chef Tom Moloney oversees this contemporary showcase for his California-inspired dishes. A waterfall conceals a walk-in wine cellar, adding atmosphere to a trendy place already fat with the stuff. Why: Fresh fish is jet-setted in daily.

Aureole

3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South (Mandalay Bay); 632-7777

$$$$; Trendy/Jacket

Though design threatens to strip the food of its adoration, Aureole nevertheless overcomes the commanding Mission: Impossible steel-and-glass wine tower to serve excellent nouveau American cuisine. If you like wine with your foie gras and fancy yourself among the design elite, this is where you should sip. Why: Wine angels!

Bouchon

3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South (Venetian); 414-6200

$$$-$$$$; Smart Casual/Trendy

Thomas Keller's outpost of his Napa Valley fave is already on the radar of those seeking discreet ostentation. Rendered by the renowned Adam Tihany as old-school French bistro, Bouchon serves an upscale power breakfast every morning, plus classic bistro fare (pan seared, braised and roasted meats and fish) at dinner. Why: It's Bouchon, of course.

Bradley Ogden

3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South (Caesars Palace); 731-7413

$$$-$$$$; Smart Casual

San Francisco chef Bradley Ogden, a champion of high-end New American, works the grill nearly every day at this, his ninth eatery. This joint owns the attention of the power lunchers with its clubby atmosphere and closely attended menu showcasing fresh regional ingredients. Why: A celeb chef working his own kitchen.

Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba

3200 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 298-1211

$-$$$; Smart Causal/Trendy

This stylish Spanish tapas bar boasts a kinetic patio, a dark dining room, and a bustling bar sloshing several delicious varieties of refreshing sangria. Skip the entrees and share from dozens of hot (jalapeño shrimp, olive crusted halibut, fried green peppers) and cold (tortilla española, lobster cocktail) tapas. Why: The center Strip rules!

Charlie Palmer Steak

3960 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 632-5120

Trendy/Black Tie; $$$-$$$$

Escape Las Vegas on the Strip at this comfortably upscale surf and turf in the gaming-free Four Seasons, where Aureole's mastermind oversees some of the best cuts of prime in town. The entire experience--from the gracious valet to the attentive service to the expansive, airy dining areas--imparts country club elegance. Why: Get out of the casino.

Commander's Palace

3663 Las Vegas Blvd. South (Aladdin); 892-8272

$$$$; Trendy/Jacket

The place to enjoy the food that made the Big Easy so easy to live with. Crab salads and shrimp remoulade and veal chop and fresh fish...it ain't N'Awlins unless it is rich and packed with flavor, and the weekend jazz brunch proves it with pecan crusted catfish, beignets, Gulf shrimp sugarcane skewers and more. Why: Does Vegas deserve this place?

Cozymel's Coastal Mexican Grill

355 Hughes Center Drive; 732-4833

$$; Smart Casual/Trendy

With 15 locations, nine of them in the southern and midwestern U.S., you might think Cozymel's specializes in bland approximations of Mexican food. But if you focus on the seafood specialties (Yucatan Especial, Chilean Sea Bass), you'll be happy. Why: Fajitas and margaritas.

Crustacean

3663 Las Vegas Blvd. South (Aladdin); 650-0507

$$$; Smart Casual/Trendy

A hedonistic feast for the senses in an elaborately designed room festooned with semi-private opium beds as booths, elegant hardwoods, and more than a hint of French colonial Vietnamese decadence. The Euro-Asian food (delightful crab puffs, sake marinated halibut) meshes nicely with the atmosphere. Why: You have to see it to believe it.

Fiamma Trattoria

3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 891-7600

$$-$$$; Smart Casual/Trendy

SoHo restaurateur Stephen Hanson's MGM Grand flame is a sister to Manhattan's Fiamma Osteria. The ever-changing the menu sports Italian faves from pasta to surf 'n' turf (grilled swordfish, sea bass, ravioli), but save room for the freshly fried doughnut dessert. Why: Good bar scene, better food.

Firefly Tapas Kitchen

3900 Paradise Road; 369-3971

$$; Smart Casual/Trendy

Urban hipsters adore Mon Ami Gabi alumnus (chef) John Simmons and (manager) Ramon Triay's groovy tapas bar. Circle your friends and share from dozens of small plates such as tortilla española, shrimp tempura, ahi skewers, mushroom tarts and addictive parmesan fries. Why: One of the best values in the city, though service is spotty.

Fix

3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 693-7223

$$-$$$; Trendy

With a dark, edgy interior and an upscale American menu, Fix is the Bellagio equivalent of N9NE and Simon. The well-executed menu visits no new ground with its wood-fired surf 'n' turf; the surprises are the "Bobby Baldwin Burgers" (a plate of three Kobe sliders, costing nearly a Jackson), the "Forks" (smoked salmon and caviar poppers), and the freshly fried potato chips with blue cheese dressing. Why: Get your bling on.

Gaylord's

3700 W. Flamingo Road; 777-2277

$$$; Smart Casual

One of San Francisco's finest, and perhaps Sin City's first and only gourmet Indian eatery, launched last year in the unlikely Rio resort. Forget the idea that "ethnic" and "cheap" are typically tablemates; open your wallet and prepare to savor some of the best samosa, curry and kebabs you have ever tasted. Why: Gourmet Indian!

Golden Steer

308 W. Sahara Ave.; 384-4470

$$$; Smart Casual/Jacket

There are restaurants notorious for their discretion, both at the deep booths and in general. The Golden Steer, a meat lover's paradise, is just such a place: a dark, private steakhouse where much of what went down in the old days was discussed. Why: Looking for love or to be left alone? This is the place.

Hamada of Japan

365 E. Flamingo Road; 733-3005

$$$; Smart Casual/Trendy

There's standard dining room service here, but the fun (and the parade of beautiful people) can be found at the sushi bar or getting rowdy in the teppan room, where food is sliced, diced and sizzled before your eyes at tables seating a dozen. Why: Enjoy a worthy combination of Asian kitsch and style with the Maxim crowd.

House of Blues

3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South (Mandalay Bay); 632-7607

$$; Casual/Trendy

If hipness can be successfully exported across the gloriously unbuckled beef-eating belt of the U.S. of A., then this chain is the only one that has managed to do it reasonably well. On the premise of Louisiana food served in a voodoo-driven atmosphere, HOB combines a restaurant, bar, and concert hall into a vortex of cool. Why: Hotties and hamburgers.

Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South (Forum Shops); 792-9222

$$$-$$$$; Trendy/Jacket

Joe's successfully elicits the glamour of Rat Pack Vegas. Thankfully, the surf 'n' turf selections live up the numerous promises, with signature fresh stone crab, regional seafood specialties flown in daily (salmon, scallops, mahi mahi, king crab), and bone-in steaks that rival the city's best. Why: Incredible value, service and style.

Little Buddha

4321 W. Flamingo Road; 942-7778

$$-$$$; Smart Casual/Trendy

The Palms' version of Paris' notorious Buddha Bar is at once a cocktail lounge, sushi bar and fusion restaurant. Groovy electro-lounge music pulses in the foreground (Buddha sells its own soundtrack CDs) while the fashion-capable nosh tasty French-Asian fusion cuisine. Why: Good food, great scene.

Michael Mina's

3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 693-7223

$$$$; Trendy/Jacket

Seafood in the desert should not be this impressive. Formerly a branch of San Francisco's famed Aqua, Chef Mina split off and kept this his own. Sequestered in the Bellagio is the city's best (and priciest) fish joint, an almost conceited room where a lobster truffle gnocchi is really no big deal. Why: Sometimes, platinum is the only way to go.

Mon Ami Gabi

3655 Las Vegas Blvd. South (Paris); 946-4433

$$-$$$; Smart Casual/Trendy

Dining al fresco is clearly underserved in Vegas, for even the platinum prices don't keep people from using the tables at this French sidewalk cafe as dealmakers--just as on the real Champs Elysées. A steak fritte, a glass of wine...you are Bardot in waiting. Why: Service, food, style.

Mr. Lucky's

4455 Paradise Road (Hard Rock); 693-5592

$-$$; Casual/Trendy

This rocking joint modernizes the casino coffee shop and makes us wonder why it ever disappeared. 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. Why: 24-hour party, people.

N9NE Steakhouse

4321 W. Flamingo Road (Palms); 942-7777

$$$; Smart Casual/Trendy

Upscale modern in decor and futuristic in accouterments (plasma screens in the toilet?), N9NE's sexy lounge, where the beautiful thirtysomethings meet, eats a third of the space, while steak and seafood tables surround a round center bar. Why: Music, hotties, liquor...you get the idea.

Nobu

4455 Paradise Road; 693-5090

$$$$; Smart Casual/Trendy

Among global foodie cognoscenti, sex and sushi are symbiotic, so it makes perfect sense that Chef Nobu Matsuhisa would locate Nobu in the Hard Rock Hotel, the Vegas epicenter of the sexy and stylish. The food is a fusion of Asian and South American, the decor implies an updated cliched Japanese village. Why: Hey, is that De Niro?

Noodles

3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 693-8131

$$; Smart Casual

A relatively unknown modernist masterpiece tucked away in the Bellagio, Noodles serves delicious Pan-Asian comfort food until 3 a.m. every night. The room, designed by the internationally renowned Tony Chi, is a perfect backdrop for the parade of jet setting hipsters who frequent the joint. Why: Modernism still rings true for the faithful.

Nordstrom Marketplace Cafe

3200 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 784-1610

$-$$; Smart Casual

Hidden on the third level of Las Vegas's only Nordstrom, eating here feels like you're tucked away in a Manhattan department store. This semi-cafeteria style eatery offers tasty salads, sandwiches, pasta and pizza enjoyed in deep, comfortable booths decorated in dark woods. Why: Refreshingly urban, at once relaxed, moderately priced and urbane.

Piero's Italian Cuisine

355 Convention Center Drive; 369-2305

$$$$; Smart Casual/Trendy

Freddie Glusman's off-Strip hideaway is so Mob Vegas that he once joked that "the boys still come in here, but now the FBI follows them in." At least we think he was joking. Famous as much for its clientele as its specialties (osso buco, stone crab), Piero's attracts old-guard celebs and those who dress like them. Why: A holdover from the golden days.

Pink Taco

4455 Paradise Road (Hard Rock); 693-5000

$-$$; Smart Casual/Trendy

The Ÿber-sexy beachside taqueria in the Cabo of your dreams. Everyone--staff, sexpots, satyrs--looks to have been plucked from MTV, and the music volume boosts conversation to strip club levels. Unexpectedly, the Mexican menu (by chef Tacho Kneeland) is equally as appealing as the people. Why: Cheaper than spring break in Mexico.

Royal Star

3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South (Venetian); 414-1888

$$$$; Trendy/Black Tie

Kevin Wu's room is a beautiful, Asian-modern affair nicely complementing the delicious food. Bubbling tanks offer the freshest seafood in the desert, but even vegetarians will be surprised at the kitchen's creativity. Wanna try it without over-committing your pocketbook? Try the Dim Sum lunch. Why: Some of the city's best Asian.

SeaBlue

3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 891-3486

$$$; Smart Casual/Trendy

Chef Michael Mina's seafooder in the MGM Grand hooks the glitterati with its swirling aquarium, impressive water walls and fresh-daily seafood. Ocean specialties are grilled (over wood), baked (in clay) or simply served raw--much like the crowd of A-listers and hangers on who feed at the joint. Why: Lobster corndogs.

Simon Kitchen & Bar

4455 Paradise Road; 693-5000

$$$; Smart Casual/Trendy

At Kerry Simon's Hard Rock spot for the underdressed and overtressed, the lounge area is packed with pretty people on the weekends, while the comfort food trend launched years ago in New York and London makes old Vegas new again with super steaks, seafood and pasta. Why: Award-winning desserts melt in your wet, lip gloss-covered mouth.

Spago

3500 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 369-0360

$$$; Smart Casual

Puck popularized, if not invented, the unusual combinations that comprise California cuisine, and you'll enjoy everything from soups to pizza, pasta and homey American fusion while gawking at the glitterati and hoi polloi parading past. Why: The genesis of the Vegas dining renaissance, opened during the holiday season of 1992.

Sterling Sunday Brunch

3645 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 947-4661

$$$$; Smart Casual/Trendy

No buffet captures the experience of the Sunday brunches once held in the glorious tiered showrooms of Vegas past. However, Bally's Sterling Brunch--staged in an intimate room replete with ice sculptures and attentive, sharply attired staff--comes close. Gorge on gourmet so good you'll hardly believe you can get refills. Why: The quintessential brunch.

Todd English's Olives

3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 693-7223

$$-$$$; Smart Casual/Trendy

A recent remodel at this Bellagio stalwart reveals a snazzy Jeffrey Beers interior of wood and distressed leather reflecting the modern, clubby style so popular these days. Enjoy positively delicious wood-fired flatbreads, delightful salads, and a deep entree list of seabass, salmon and the like. Why: A patio view of the fountain show.

Verandah

3960 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 632-5000

$$-$$$; Smart Casual

On the Strip but a world away is the Four Seasons relaxing casual escape. Hardly a coffee shop, the Verandah is the most posh, sophisticated "house restaurant" of any hotel in Vegas, especially after its recent freshening. Snag a table for lunch and you'll nosh California style with smart, old money. Why: The unmatched Sunday brunch.

Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill

3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South (MGM Grand); 891-3000

$$-$$$; Smart Casual

While the menu here may read like Spago-lite to the Puck-less, we find a wonderful combination of Spago's traditions (wood-fired pesto shrimp pizza), Lupo's Italian influences (ricotta gnocchi) and some fresh new dishes (chargrilled salmon with cappellini, grilled Mediterranean chopped vegetable salad). Why: The kinetic energy, casual sophistication and worthy food make this a favored stop before a concert, show or night at the clubs.

SOUTHEAST

Bootlegger Bistro

7700 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 736-4939

$$; Casual/Smart Casual

Typically, this 24/7 bistro bustles with cooing couples and smartly dressed families, but at weekends it's a Who's Who of Old and Noveau Vegas enjoying live entertainment. At the swing shift, sit with the city's best servers and strippers in the lounge, sampling the satisfying Southern Italian selections. Why: Step into old-school Vegas.

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. 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. Why: A local success story.

Panevino Ristorante

246 Via Antonio; 222-2400

$$$; Smart Casual

Featuring an open dining room with an expansive curving wall of glass overlooking the Strip, a seemingly unending bar punctuated by a comfortable lounge around a blazing fire, and a delicious menu of upscale Italian comfort food, Panevino is a pleasant place to nosh the gnocchi. Why: It's all about the view.

SOUTHWEST

Habib's Persian Cuisine

4750 W. Sahara Ave.; 870-0860

$$; Smart Casual

One of the city's few upscale Middle Eastern restaurants, Habib's serves the expected borani, hummus, and kabobs, but also offers daily specials like Koresht Fesenjan (pomegranate-marinated chicken with crushed walnuts). An adjoining market features ingredients for your own home cooked version. Why: Tablecloths and tabouleh.

Hedary's

7365 W. Sahara Ave.; 873-9041

$-$$; Casual/Smart Casual

You'll find the all the expected tastes--falafel, hummus, tabuli, kibbi--plus some delicious lesser-known Lebanese specialties (stuffed bread, mqaniq). Ordering the tasting meze unleashes an seemingly unending flow of small plates to your table. Why: Middle Eastern food is easy to make, but not easy to make deliciously.

Jazzed Cafe & Vinoteca

8615 W. Sahara Ave.; 233-2859

$$-$$$; Smart Casual/Trendy

This bustling suburban bistro in The Lakes overflows with local soul, and top-notch northern Italian cuisine tempts an urbane clientele who enjoy being bathed in live jazz, local art and a lovingly tended wine list. Fresh banana crepes and Illy espresso finish any meal in style. Why: Nearly perfect hand-stirred-to-order risotto.

Lindo Michoacan

3715 S. Decatur Blvd.; 257-6810

2655 E. Desert Inn Road; 735-6828

$; Casual

Lindo Michoacan is like stepping into a restaurant in Mexico. Yes, you'll find the familiar concession of combination plates featuring tacos and enchiladas and the like, but there are also traditional specialties (seafood, roasted goat) that take this firmly into the realm of authenticity. Why: Considered by some to be the city's best Mexican restaurant.

Malibu Chan's

8125 W. Sahara Ave.; 312-4267

$$; Smart Casual/Trendy

A busy bar scene, late hours and an air of casual elegance make this fusion eatery a popular west end stop, particularly for happy hour. Though the service can be indifferent, the well-mixed cocktails, the food (everything from fresh sushi to Puckish pizza), and the delicious desserts usually make it worth the effort. Why: Californicated Asian fare, just the way we like it, dude.

Mayflower Cuisinier

4750 W. Sahara Ave.; 870-8432

$$$; Smart Casual

An unusual French-influenced upscale Chinese restaurant in a strip mall, Mayflower was one of the first undiscovered greats when it opened in 1991. An elegant atmosphere debunks the stereotype of low-rent Chinese, as does your final check, but fans say its worth it for the carefully tended fusion specialties. Why: Zagat says it's the best Chinese.

Nora's Cuisine

6020 W. Flamingo Road; 365-6713

$; Casual

First a pizzeria, then a small, full-menu, full-service restaurant. Sound familiar? Serving great food for better prices, Nora's has built a solid following thanks to the family's delicious pizza and traditional Italian recipes. Why: It's the little joint that could.

Pita Place

3429 S. Jones. Blvd.; 221-9955

$; Casual

Inexpensive and delicious, the Pita Place--located in a converted old-style Taco Bell--is considered one of the city's largely undiscovered gems. The unassuming joint serves delicious Middle Eastern salads, kabobs and falafel, and offers all of its food for take-out. Why: The kind of ethnic dining other cities sport in spades.

Prommares Thai Food

6362 W. Sahara Ave.; 221-9644

$; Casual

This tiny, family-run storefront does a great deal of take-out business, though that should not dissuade you from stopping in and grabbing one of the few small tables. The food is authentic Thai (though they will temper the hot peppers if you ask). Why: The Pad Thai noodles, vegetable curry, Thai iced tea and the prices.

Rosemary's

8125 W. Sahara Ave.; 869-2251

$$-$$$; Smart Casual

The upscale American bistro by former Emeril chefs Michael and Wendy Jordan that raised the bar for off-Strip dining. Rich New Orleans style infuses most of the choices, including BBQ Shrimp over Maytag Blue Cheese Slaw, White Peach & Prosciutto Salad, and parsnip and prosciutto scallops. Why: Five-star food at three-star prices.

Ruth's Chris Steak

3900 Paradise Road; 791-7011

4561 W. Flamingo Road; 248-7011

$$$; Smart Casual/Trendy

Carnivores jonesing for a late-night protein plate need look no further than this pair of upscale surf 'n' turf joints, two outposts of a New Orleans-based chain famous for its chunky slabs o' beef broiled at 1,800 degrees. Why: A little known option for those requiring the full monty dining experience as late as 3 a.m.

Sam Woo BBQ

4215 Spring Mountain Road; 368-7628

$$; Casual

Those who bemoan a strip mall calling itself "Chinatown" might forgive that conceit when they arrive to spy the fresh fowl strung in the window, just like San Francisco. Delicious won ton soup and barbecued flesh means this is a no veggie zone. Why: Though the service and atmosphere might charitably be called "authentic," so can the food--a good thing.

Tacos Mexico

3820 W. Sahara Ave.; 385-7673

$; Casual

Like something straight out of East L.A., Tacos Mexico specializes in the real thing: tacos that taste so different you may think you have died and gone to Mexico. Why fast food taco joints still exist is a mystery, for this place does them immeasurably better and almost as cheap. Why: Open late and always busy.

Viva Mercado's

6182 W. Flamingo Road; 871-8826

$-$$; Casual

The Mercado family long ago turned this strip mall spot into a Las Vegas fave. The massive menu (including a long Baja seafood selection) is always well-tended, making the food much better than almost any of the typical Mexican places. Why: A fairly long vegetarian specialty list.

UNIVERSITY DISTRICT

Al Basha

3969 S. Maryland Parkway; 699-7155

$; Casual

A small, casual storefront in the University District, Al Basha offers inexpensive and expected college-style fare of Greece, Lebanon, Persia. The falafel is considered by some to be superior to others in the neighborhood, but the kabobs--including a vegetable option--are the menu faves. Why: Good food isn't always pricey.

Capozzoli's

3333 Maryland Parkway; 731-5311

$-$$; Casual

Though serving a full menu of standard southern Italian food 24/7, the pizza is the main reason to visit Capozzoli's. Everyone has his favorite pie, and many consider this to be the place that serves it, on a medium, chewy crust. Why: The late-night entertainment sometimes includes post-show Strip entertainers.

Chipotle

4530 S. Maryland Parkway; 436-9177

10251 S. Eastern Ave.; 361-6438

¢; Casual

Fast, fresh food with an urban hipster/collegiate vibe. Tasty custom-made 20-ounce burritos, fresh tacos, and the trump card once held by the late Taco Cabana, beer and margaritas (soon), are the staples, but the authentic (hot!) salsas fuel the food here. Why: Slum with the undeclared undergrads.

Crown & Anchor British Pub

1350 E. Tropicana Ave.; 739-8676

$-$$; Casual

Oi, mate, get the footy on the telly an' bring me ah pint! A favorite of students, soccer fans, and Brit ex-pats, this mostly authentic pub serves up much of Britannia's "and" grub--bangers and mash, steak and kidney pie, fish and chips. Why: A great beer and cider list and a healthy dose of that workingman's Eurovibe the intellects love.

Metro Pizza

1395 E. Tropicana Ave.; 736-1955

4001 S. Decatur Blvd.; 362-7896

4178 Koval Lane; 312-5888

$; Casual

A local pizza joint that capitalized on its success and expanded, Metro remains the populist favorite--the one non-chain place where everyone knows you can get a good pizza or calzone. Crusts of varying thickness are available, but we prefer the extra thin, crispy crust of the basil-heavy Olde New York. Why: Chain pizza? Blech.

Paymon's Mediterranean Café

4147 S. Maryland Parkway; 731-6030

$-$$; Casual/Trendy

Shorts and suits share space at this University District classic, where Paymon Raouf has served tasty tabouleh and fab falafel for years. Lunch tables are prime real estate, dinner crowds pleasantly hip and articulate--unless you are in the lounge, where it seems anything goes over hookahs and hummus. Why: An elusive casual sophistication.

OUTLYING AREAS

Milo's Best Cellars

538 Nevada Highway; 293-9540

$-$$; Casual/Smart Casual

In the old downtown quarter of Boulder City, Milo's offers 23 wines by the glass, a longer list of beer and ale, and a retail wall of 100 bottles of wine under $10. A modest $10 corkage fee pops the top to enjoy your selection with the short but satisfying menu of salads, panini, and cheese and fruit plates--perfect foils to the vino. Why: Day trip!