As a follow up to this piece about different cuts of beef and steak doneness, our "Man About Town" in Las Vegas, Marc Meltzer, shares some of his thoughts on the best restaurants to go to in Vegas for a steak dinner.
There are great steakhouses all over Las Vegas that offer great cuts of beef and impeccable service. The only issue with some of these steakhouses is that you’ll pay for the quality. That’s not a bad thing necessarily, but the price points might impede some visitors from trying them out.
Las Vegas also has plenty of very good steakhouses. These might be a step down in quality from "great" but the difference isn't huge. These steakhouses might not meet the “best in class” category but they can offer very good steak and solid value.
Everyone is looking for a different experience when they visit Las Vegas. I don’t think I’ll visit a steakhouse that has a DJ but plenty of people enjoy that. I prefer a more traditional steakhouse experience. A night of steak, wine, and good friends doesn’t call for the added ambiance of a DJ. We can save the beats for later.
Since we all have different preferences, I try to offer variety when asked where to get a steak in Las Vegas. With that in mind, here are some of the best steakhouses in town.
Traditional Fine Dining
Las Vegas has some of the best high-end steakhouses in the country. I cut my chops (pun intended) on some of the best traditional steakhouses in New York. The decor of these restaurants isn’t over the top and the atmosphere is pretty mellow.
The selling point of these restaurants are the steaks themselves. The food is prepared and presented without flair. The steak sells itself in these restaurants. My favorite traditional steakhouses in Las Vegas include SW at Wynn and Delmonico at The Venetian. Both have understated decor but have excellent service and steak.
Modern Traditional Fine Dining
These steakhouses tend to have modern decor and a more adventurous menu than traditional steakhouses. The vibe is a bit more lively than traditional steakhouses but not too out of control. The traditional steakhouses often have an older crowd that looks down at other guests having too much fun.
I still recommend asking for a private room if you’re going to be a loud group, but here are some great options for a medium sized crew having fun looking for a great steak. Heritage Steak at The Mirage, Jean Georges at Aria, and CUT at The Palazzo have some great steaks in a more modern environment.
Between the decor and interesting menu options, this is probably my favorite type of steakhouse.
Old School
Many of the Vegas Strip casinos try to have a modern sensibility to their restaurants so you’ll usually have to venture elsewhere to find a good old school steakhouse. The Steakhouse at Circus Circus is as old school as you’ll find on the Vegas Strip. The steak is very good and a bargain compared to most other steakhouses in the area.
Golden Steer is just off the strip on Sahara and the epitome of old school Vegas. It feels like you’re walking into somewhere Frank, Sammy, and Dean used to eat. I haven’t been here in a couple of years and have heard mixed reviews on the steak recently. However, the service and atmosphere remain.
Downtown Las Vegas
Downtown Las Vegas wasn’t always known for having great steakhouses. That changed when Andiamo opened at The D and when Oscar’s opened at The Plaza. Both restaurants have very good steak and great service.
I wouldn’t say no to a night at either steakhouse but end up at Andiamo more often because most people I know enjoy gambling at The D right after a delicious meal.
Happy Hour Deals
Herbs and Rye on Sahara has had a 50 percent off steak Happy Hour for as long as I’ve lived in Las Vegas. The deal is between 5 and 7 p.m. and after midnight. The owners recently opened a steakhouse on Paradise (between the Hard Rock and Westgate) named Cleaver. The Happy Hour discount for steak is the same at the new restaurant but the sides are sold separately and will cost a few bucks more.
The steaks at both locations are very good but a notch below the high-end steakhouses in Las Vegas. Having said that, the value of the steak is fantastic. The menu at both restaurants was the inspiration for our previous article about different cuts of steak and cooking temperatures. LINK: https://www.covers.com/editorial/Article/4931c681-d314-11e8-a97c-0a73013d6078/What-cut-and-temperature-of-streak-is-your-perfect-pairing
Chain Restaurants
Chain restaurants are fairly low on the priority list when looking for a restaurant. My preferences don't mirror everyone. Plenty of people find comfort eating at a familiar restaurant. The Las Vegas location for Del Frisco’s is one of the best I’ve been to. Capital Grille at the Fashion Show Mall has great service in a relaxing location that’s a bit away from the action. This is a great location for a secret meeting. Seriously.
...But wait there’s more…
There are still more excellent steakhouses in Las Vegas that aren’t highlighted above. StripSteak at Mandalay Bay is one of my favorites. I’m told Craftsteak at MGM Grand is amazing but I rarely visit that casino. Bazaar Meat at SLS is fantastic and considered at a steakhouse but it’s so much more than a steakhouse. Echo & Rig in Summerlin is an excellent steakhouse that's also a butcher shop.
I know there are even more good steakhouses. Last night I visited Bavette's at Park MGM for the first time. The steak was fantastic and the decor is very traditional. There’s always somewhere to find a great steak in Las Vegas.
Marc Meltzer is our "Man About Town" in Las Vegas. You can follow him on Twitter @MeltzVegas.
