Planning a meeting in Las Vegas or attending a convention in Las Vegas and having to organize satellite events?
Diversify Your Las Vegas Dining Experiences
Even in the current precarious economy, new restaurants are hitting the Las Vegas scene to enhance your dining bliss. From steaks to sushi to barbecue and beer, brand-new concepts are lighting up the culinary world to expand visitors’ eating options even more. Several restaurants with successful locations elsewhere in the nation are making new homes in the city of lights and luck to offer epicurean experiences to a new set of savvy diners. Also, consider the advantages of holding a breakfast meeting.

35 Steaks & Martinis: It’s all in the numbers at the new steakhouse, 35 Steaks & Martinis, opened September 2011 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Las Vegas. Several dishes play on the 35 in the restaurant’s moniker, particularly the 35 Gimlet—made with Hendrick’s gin and cucumber essence—and the signature Tomahawk Steak—a 35-day aged, 35-oz prime steak. Add to this the restaurant’s extensive wine list that includes “Wines that Rock” labels, and it’s a way for Hard Rock Hotel guests to discover a blend of traditional steakhouse cuisine and drinks with clean, cutting-edge design. Rock-and-roll influences appear throughout the space in raw black-and-white photography. The bi-level main room features textured silver walls, split-faced marble and padded chocolate-colored columns under suspended chrome-plated chandeliers while the private dining area features pearl glass pendants and white shell sconces. 35 Steaks & Martinis is open Sunday–Thursday from 6–10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to midnight.

The Barrymore: Just opened Labor Day weekend 2011, The Barrymore restaurant in the Royal Resort Hotel and Casino is reminiscent of the small, intimate boutique hotel dining rooms absent lately from the Las Vegas landscape. Meant as a hip reinvention of classic Las Vegas, the décor features tufted booths, dark and cozy corners and a small, well-stocked bar. Its menu of new American fare was conceived by Executive Chef Anthony Meidenbauer and is executed by Chef Francisco Campa with desserts by Top Chef Just Desserts’ contestant Carlos Enriquez. This return to small scale—The Barrymore only seats 50 in its 1,400-square-foot space—may start a new Vegas trend of intimate, inviting places to linger and enjoy. The Barrymore, with its array of delicious dining selections, signature cocktails and a wine list featuring 50 selections under $50, is open daily from 8 a.m.–10 p.m.

Carlos’n Charlie’s: Opened in December 2011, the famed Mexican party atmosphere of Carlos’n Charlie’s—which first opened in Acapulco, Mexico, in 1970—set its sights on a new home at the Flamingo Las Vegas. In its location next to the Flamingo’s Race & Sports book, the 8,000-square-foot space will seat about 340 between its dining room, outdoor terrace and large bar. The menu features traditional Mexican favorites as well as American pub choices, and of course Carlos’n Charlie’s also offers an assortment of delightful libations, including margaritas, sangria and its signature Paloma, a tequila-based cocktail with grapefruit soda in a salt-rimmed glass.

Dom DeMarco’s Pizzeria & Bar
: Recently opened in late 2011, the new Las Vegas–area location of a landmark Brooklyn favorite, Di Fara Pizzeria, now graces the Western Unites States with its award-winning New York–style pizza.

Under its new name, Dom DeMarco’s Pizzeria & Bar, it is located in the Hualapai Commons in Summerlin and continues to offer the famous handcrafted mouthwatering pies. In business for 45 years in New York, this pizza haven hails from a town where pizza competition is like no other, which makes it no surprise that in-the-know New Yorkers happily stand in line for three hours to get a slice. So look out Las Vegas; there’s a new pizza in town.

Fogo de Chão: Mid-November 2011 welcomed the opening of Fogo de Chão®, an authentic Brazilian steakhouse, to the Hughes Center business park in Las Vegas. Fogo de Chão has been offering its signature experience of the gaucho way of preparing meat at successful locations all over the U.S. since 1997. Complimentary valet and self-parking is available at this newest location where the gaucho chefs still expertly grill each of the 15 different cuts of meat and offer continuous tableside carving service. Coupled with a gourmet salad bar, authentic Brazilian side dishes and an award-winning wine list, guests better come hungry and get ready for a fiesta of meat.

Jaleo: Following his three locations in the greater metropolitan area of Washington, DC, renowned chef José Andrés debuts another edition of his flagship restaurant at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas to supplement his existing Las Vegas presence at China Poblano and E Bar, a hotspot for the trendy molecular gastronomy. Spanish for “revelry,” Jaleo offers Las Vegas diners the authentic flavors of Spanish tapas and paella smoked in a custom, olive-wood fire pit at the rear of the dining room. His avant-garde cuisine matches the restaurant’s award-winning design that reflects the chef’s personality and sense of humor. Notable features include a bull in a Mexican wrestling mask and a “patio” area featuring wooden tables, tree-stump seats and a foosball table known as “José’s Table.” The restaurant is open daily at 5 p.m., closing on Sunday–Thursday at 11 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday at midnight.

Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer: Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd enters the culinary world with its new licensed barbecue joint at Excalibur. Opened in late fall 2011, Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer features the best down-home Texas-style barbecue on the Las Vegas Strip for breakfast, lunch and dinner, then becomes a late-night club with high-energy music and entertainment from cover bands and occasionally the legendary rockers themselves. The venue replaces Excalibur’s Sherwood Cafe and is modeled after “Hell House,” the ram-shackled tin structure where the band practiced in the early days. Band memorabilia covers the walls, and nightly the bar staff rocks the house with spontaneous sing-alongs to classic Lynyrd Skynyrd favorites. Beyond the barbecue, Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer offers an extensive whiskey and bourbon selection and shots from the Jack Daniels shot bar. The wide beer selection includes Texas favorites like Shiner Bock and Lone Star, and a frozen daiquiri bar provides alternatives as customers rock the night away.

Old Homestead Steakhouse
: Caesars Palace has replaced its Neros Steakhouse with a new location of one of New York City’s most historic restaurants, the Old Homestead Steakhouse. Originally opened in 1868 in New York, the new Las Vegas location opened in December 2011 and seats 250 in its full dining room, private dining room, lounge and bar. Guests can expect signature dishes from the restaurant’s New York City menu as well as new delights created just for the new location. More than 15,000 bottles of wine are housed on-site in the Old Homestead Steakhouse at Caesars for diners to pair with their amazing steaks.

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