Steakhouses and Las Vegas seem to go hand in hand these days.  Las Vegas has truly become a carnivore’s delight.   But with at least 20 steak restaurants on the strip alone, how do you decide where to go?

There’s no easy answer because it all comes down to personal preferences.  After all, dining is such a subjective experience.  Everyone has their own opinion as to what makes a restaurant good or great. Is it just about food, or are price, presentation, service and ambiance also important to you?  To complicate matters further, how do you define good service? Some customers want to be in and out of the restaurant in an hour.  Any longer and the service is poor. Conversely, other patrons want to relax and enjoy the experience at a leisurely pace. There is no right or wrong.  We’d like to share with you our views, and while you may not agree with what we think, you may find our views interesting.

When we dine, we look for well prepared food with unobtrusive service.  For us, eating is a passion enjoyed at a relaxed pace.  The ambiance is very important.  So with that in mind, these are five steakhouses we really appreciate.  They may not be your favourites, and they may or may not make next years Michelin guide but they all know how to serve steak.

Prime Steakhouse

We have always cherished this restaurant at the Bellagio Hotel.  In our opinion, Prime Steakhouse has by far the best ambiance of any steakhouse in this review.  How can you go wrong when your table overlooks the Bellagio fountains?  The color combinations, chocolate brown and tiffany blue give the room a refined up-scale feel and contribute to the relaxed, comfortable vibe. Four star celebrity chef and restaurateur Jean-George Vongerichten has created a wonderful, somewhat conventional, steakhouse menu that features seafood and lamb in addition to the traditional cuts.  The lounge/bar area is small by Las Vegas standards, but seating in the main dining room is handled efficiently so you do not have to wait in the lounge for very long.  They offer a wonderful outdoor patio.

SW Steakhouse

SW Steakhouse, named for it’s owner, Steve Wynn, offers a choice location overlooking the waterfall and the “Lake of Dreams” at the “Wynn Resort”.  At first glance, SW offers the contemporary steakhouse feel.  It’s loud, fast and full of activity. The emphasis appears to be on food and getting it to you quickly.  But to me, this steakhouse really offers two different environments.  Yes, you have the action inside, but the outside tables overlooking the water present a much more relaxed, and some many say, romantic feel.  Chef David Walzog‘s menu showcases his take on all the traditional steakhouse fare, including a number of well prepared seafood specialities. The wine list is top quality with selections for all price points.

Charlie Palmer Steak

You could call it Charlie Palmer does steak.  A refined, clubby atmosphere is how we would define the look and feel of this fine steakhouse.  Located on the ground floor of the Four Seasons, it offers a quiet respite from the action at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino next door. Think “Men’s Club” but with a very, very good interior decorator and you’ll find the vibe. Chef Steve Blandino’s menu offers all the regular delights including an exceptional Bone-In Ribeye, but if you need a change of pace, try the Colorado Rack of Lamb.  The wine list really shines here, with an interesting selection of old worlds. Italy is well represented, with some exceptional Barolo’s and Brunello’s

The Range Steakhouse

Pleasantly surprised is how we would describe our first dining experience at Harrah’s signature restaurant.  Our thinking going in was – how good could this place be when your second dining choice at Harrah’s is Toby Keith’s “I Love This Bar and Grill”.  We were wrong. Our preconceived notions changed as soon as we entered the private elevator from the Casino Floor up to the Restaurant.  Entering this place, you feel like your stepping back into the glory days of Las Vegas.  Remember when men worn a jacket and tie, and the “Ladies” wore evening dresses?  Don’t get us wrong, the Range doesn’t have a dress code, and it isn’t that kind of place anyway.  It’s comfortable and relaxed.  It’s more that the design and mood of the room is appealing.  It may not offer the best steak or service on the strip, but they are both good, and the prices are reasonable. Who knows, perhaps you’ll find Frank and Dino sitting in the next booth.

Delmonico Steakhouse

Celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse opened Delmonico’s Steakhouse at the Venetian over twelve years ago now.  We remember being there that first year, and it was very difficult to get in the door even with a reservation.  Fine dining in Las Vegas was really taking off, and Emeril was a big star on the strip after coming off the success of his New Orleans Fish House at the MGM Grand.  Las Vegas has grown up a lot since then, and with it came a more sophisticated steakhouse scene, but Delmonico still remains close to the top of the list.  Why? Because it does “what it does” very well.  It serves quality steak and seafood with that patented Lagasse Creole influence.  In our opinion, they don’t do, or serve, anything particularly exceptional.  Delmonico is more about constantly good quality.  Guests know what to expect, and they love knowing they are going to have a good meal.  The décor is Tuscan, but we call it “minimalist Tuscan”, if such a thing exists. Deserts are “to die for”.  The wine list is creative, but we found it lacking at the lower price points.

Tell us about your favourite Las Vegas steakhouse.

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About Steve Thompson

Steve Thompson is Co-Founder of New Jetsetters with over 20 years experience writing about luxury travel. You might say Steve was “born” with the travel bug. Born in the western foothills of the legendary Black Forest in Germany, he spent the first 12 years of his life tagging along behind his parents as they explored Europe. His first memories are of exploring German castles, and his early childhood education consisted of navigating the Austrian Alps, and mastering equestrian skills at the small sea-side town of Maspalomas, along the Spanish coast. Find out more about Steve below:

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