The Signature at MGM Grand Las Vegas’ Erica Randall. Credit: Erica Randall and The Signature at MGM Grand Las Vegas
From fine dining to comforting classics, Las Vegas’ excellent food scene covers it all. To help navigate through the overwhelming options, we turned to Erica Randall, concierge at The Signature at MGM Grand Las Vegas.
Not only has Randall worked at the Forbes Travel Guide Recommended hotel for six years, she’s lived in Vegas for 26 years and is passionate about food. Eat your way through her culinary guide the next time you’re in town.
Veranda. Credit: Four Seasons Hotels Limited
Best brunch
My favorite place to brunch is Veranda at Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas. Brunch hours are limited to the weekends from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., so I tell our guests to plan accordingly. Veranda is known for its contemporary American cuisine with a fine-dining buffet-style brunch, à la carte options, great alfresco dining area and an atmosphere reminiscent of Italy.
Best Italian on the Strip
I love Fiamma Italian Kitchen inside MGM Grand. For classic and contemporary Italian cuisine, you can’t go wrong there. The homemade pasta is exceptional, and the braised short rib just falls off the bone.
I also had some of the best calamari in my life at Fiamma. It comes with housemade marinara and a wonderful aioli. Fun fact: all staff members are taught by a genuine Italian chef. I met him personally!
Best fried chicken
This is at Streets of New York in Centennial Hills. It is far from the Strip, but worth the drive, trust me. This chicken isn’t just fried, it’s “broasted” — it is fried in a pressure cooker, which seals in the moisture and cooks it to perfection.
Best tableside guacamole dish
Hecho en Vegas has some of the best tableside guacamole, made to order.
Best dessert
One of my favorite desserts in MGM Grand is served at Hecho en Vegas. It is the strawberry — yes, strawberry — tres leches cake. It tastes the way you wish a strawberry shortcake would. It’s truly fantastic. I have gone there just for dessert.
Hakkasan Las Vegas. Credit: Hakkasan Group
Best Chinese food
I would recommend Hakkasan Las Vegas inside MGM Grand for the best Chinese food, specifically Cantonese cuisine. Its signature Hakka noodles are not to be missed. The crispy duck salad is one of my favorites, and I don’t even like duck. It has live music and a great ambiance. I have seen nothing like it in Las Vegas. It is a meal you’ll never forget.
7th and Carson. Credit: Erica Randall
Best salad
For that I recommend 7th and Carson, a locals’ favorite. It’s a salad with arugula, black pepper honey, and basil pesto with burrata cheese and either grilled pear or grilled peaches.
Best Italian steakhouse downtown
Andiamo at The D in Downtown Las Vegas. This is hands down the best pasta I have had. The dish I ate was the paglia e fieno, comprising of chicken, prosciutto, peas, white wine cream sauce, egg and spinach linguine, and parmigiano reggiano.
The pasta is made in house, and the service is fantastic.
Its pesto gnocchi is another phenomenal dish.
Best Nachos
Nacho Daddy. My personal favorite would be the Thai chicken nachos.
Best doughnuts on the Strip
Pinkbox. If you have the chocolate-covered cronut, you’ll never have a regular doughnut again.
Donut Bar Options. Credit: Erica Randall
Best doughnuts downtown
Donut Bar has large doughnuts that are all uniquely flavored, such as the Big Poppa Tart Donut [a yeast doughnut stuffed with a Pop Tart and topped with cake batter glaze, crumbled Pop Tarts and sprinkles]. My personal favorite is the strawberry doughnut sandwich. It tastes like a warm churro with cool whipped cream and fresh strawberries. It also has a French toast doughnut that makes for a great breakfast.
Dog Haus’ Sooo Cali Dog. Credit: Erica Randall
Best hot dog
Dog Haus’ Sooo Cali dog is amazing! The bun is a Hawaiian sweet roll, with arugula with basil aioli and crunchy onions.
Best view
Rivea and Skyfall Lounge at Delano Las Vegas. The balcony offers an unbeatable view of not only the Strip, but the entire Las Vegas Valley. I love going there as the sun is setting. It’s special to watch the transition of the sun going down and all the lights of the city come alive.
