Wolfgang Puck, Nobu Matsuhisa, Emeril Lagassi
The Forum shops imported Las Vegas' first celebrity chef, with a branch of Wolfgang Puck's popular LA restaurant, Spago, and the dining scene in Sin City was forever changed. Not only does every single notable recent casino hotel have a celebrity chef of its own, they often have several: MGM Grand and Bellagio are packed to the rafters with famous names.Today it is no exaggeration to say that visitors to Las Vegas can experience a world of famous dining, choosing from the most famous chefs of New York, San Francisco, LA, Paris and Italy. No city on earth has more outposts of celebrated chefs, and even for the hungriest – and wealthiest — visitors, the choices can be overwhelming. Here are the Vegas offerings from some of the world's best culinary talents:
Joel Robuchon @ the Mansion: This is the most coveted table in Vegas, with just 56 seats, dinner only, and one seating per night. After all, it is hard to turn over tables when the 16-course chef's menu can stretch more than three hours. A meal here is an extraordinary experience, combining sublime service, setting, ingredients, presentation and above all, taste. At $275 per person, this indulgence ranks as the city's priciest prix-fixe, and the only other option is a slightly condensed 9-course version (702-891-7925).
Joel Robuchon @ the Mansion
Le caviar, a crispy soft boiled egg, flan of asparagus, thin couscous and oscetra caviar, are arranged at Joel Robuchon located inside the MGM Grand Resort and Hotel in Las Vegas. (Barry Sweet / Bloomberg News)
Nobu Matsuhisa: No Asian chef on earth is as famous as Matsuhisa, who lends his first name to the Nobus in New York. His Peruvian-Japanese fusion has been perhaps the most widely copied cuisine of recent years, and his signature rock shrimp tempura in cream sauce and miso infused black cod still make his Nobus in New York (he now has two) the city's hardest reservation. At Nobu at the Hard Rock Casino, you can either try his famed omakase chef's tasting menu or go a la carte, and accompany either with choices from a lengthy sake list. (702-693-5090)
Nobu @ The hard Rock Hotel
Bobby Flay:Besides his series of books on barbecue, including Boy Meets Grill. Vegas visitors can catch his buzz at Mesa Grill at Caesar's Palace, where he brings his upscale take on Southwestern cuisine. Offerings include such complex dishes as Coffee-Spice-Rubbed Rotisserie Filet Mignon with Wild Mushroom-Ancho Chile Sauce and Green Chile-Corn Pudding, or Sixteen-Spice Rotisserie Chicken with Caramelized Mango Sauce and Buttermilk-Chive Mashed Potatoes. (702-731-7731)
Crispy Squash Blossoms Filled with Ricotta Cheese, Corn, Basil, and
Yellow Habanero Sauce
Michael Mina: At Nobhill, also in MGM Grand, Mina offers a dish that has quickly become a Vegas institution, lobster pot pie (702-891-7337). Michael Mina at the Bellagio is the fanciest of his three restaurants, a seafood-centric fine dining experience showcasing his signature "trios," numerous dishes pairing three ingredients on a plate. (877-234-6358)
Lobster Pot Pie
