Las Vegas Blog

New restaurants in Vegas sprout up seemingly every other week. Sin City knows how to keep it fresh, and while this used to be the city of the buffet, these days it's more of a fine-dining HUB than anything else. (Don't believe us? Just check out the most recent seasons of Top Chef or Hell's Kitchen for proof.)

With so many new restaurants in Las Vegas to choose from, it can be hard to separate the winners from the losers. So, Early Vegas took inventory to decide which recently-opened Las Vegas restaurants are worth your dime - and your time - on your upcoming Vegas vacation.

Here are some of the best new restaurants in Vegas...

Gordon Ramsay Steak

Gordon Ramsay has taken his talents to Sin City with a brand new steakhouse at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel. This new restaurant debuted in May to rave reviews, and the restaurant earned publicity in September when the newest Hell's Kitchen winner, Christina Wilson, took over as Head Chef at the brand new restaurant. In fact, Ramsay's restaurant opened so well that he's already signed a deal to open a second restaurant at Caesars Palace Las Vegas, set to open in late-2012.

Oscar's at the Plaza Hotel

Former Las Vegas mayor Oscar B. Goodman opened his Downtown steakhouse at the Plaza using the friendly motto, "My expectations aren't that high for my place... just the best food, the best service, the best ambiance and the best broads!" (Only in Las Vegas!)

As it turns out, Mr. Goodman has by most accounts backed up his statement. Overlooking the Fremont St. Experience, Oscar's not only offers a great steak selection, but it also has a diverse whiskey menu and beautiful dining companions so you never have to dine alone again! Alright, even if that last part is a little strange to us (albeit 100% true), we still recommend Oscar's for eating, boozing or schmoozing on your next Vegas vacation.

Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace

The Bacchanal Buffet is the best new buffet in Las Vegas, and puts an upscale spin on classic buffet dining in Sin City. With nine traditional and modern cuisine kitchens to choose from, as well as several hundred items for all three meals of the day (plus dessert), the Bacchanal Buffet opened in September after more than $17 million in renovations and upgrades. The early word on the Bacchanal Las Vegas is that it's well worth the (steep) price of admission (as much as $39.95 for dinner), though good luck getting into this Vegas buffet during rush hours. (6pm-8pm in particular.)

Culinary Dropout at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Continuing with the newest trend in Las Vegas dining, Culinary Dropout is a brand-new Gastropub at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino that's made a name for itself quickly. Known as much for their signature cocktails as they are their delicious eats, Culinary Dropout opened in August. Culinary Dropout is certainly going for the "chill" environment - the staff is friendly and they don't wear uniforms, the vibe is low-key and the food is fancy without being pretentious or terribly expensive. This huge new restaurant (6,000-sq. feet) has a giant patio for outdoor dining, and the early word is that the fried chicken is the money item on the menu.

Want more information on Las Vegas restaurants? Check out our guide to dining in Vegas!