By Don Chareunsy
Bread
With butter? Yes, please. Just don’t fill up before the rest of dinner arrives. Standouts: The bread service at Twin Creeks at Silverton for its variety. The Steakhouse at Circus Circus because it includes pretzel rolls. Harlo in Downtown Summerlin because the Japanese milk bread is to die for.
Seafood
There are many steakhouses in Las Vegas that offer seafood towers, and they are outstanding. Standouts: Ocean Prime at 63 at Las Vegas Boulevard and Harmon, Top of the World at The Strat and Bavette’s Steakhouse at Park MGM. Try not to fill up on seafood before the steaks arrive.
Potatoes
Are we realizing that side dishes to steaks are a detriment in terms of not filling up early at dinner? One main culprit is the loaded baked potato. We’re not even addressing fries, mashed potatoes and other delicious and heavy iterations. Standouts: Nicco’s at Durango and Golden Steer on Sahara Avenue, home of “the largest baked potato” in Las Vegas, and of course they’re loaded up with cheese, sour cream, bacon bits and chives. OK, it would be tough to pass up the hash browns at STK in The Cosmopolitan.
Vegetables
We’re going to cheat a little here because you can get broccoli, corn and asparagus, especially asparagus, everywhere right now. Standouts: For a twist, order Phil’s Endive Salad at Phil’s Steakhouse at T.I., the portobello fries at Echo & Rig in Tivoli Village and The District at Green Valley Ranch and the burrata and roasted baby beets at Carversteak in Resorts World.
Macaroni and Cheese
Sure, it might be your child’s favorite meal, but the cheesy concoction has been elevated for years in steakhouses. Standouts: Fried lobster mac and cheese at Vic & Anthony’s at Golden Nugget, the Boursin mac and cheese gratin at Alder & Birch at The Orleans and truffle mac and cheese at Herbs & Rye on Sahara Avenue.
Desserts
Is there a steakhouse in Las Vegas that doesn’t have at least one good dessert? Unlikely, we say. Standouts: The chocolate cake at Papi Steak (OK, we wrote this partly because it rhymes) at Fontainebleau is fabulous. The cheesecake at Triple George Grill at Downtown Grand is one of the city’s best. And this is a sweet and savory treat, but the foie gras cotton candy at Bazaar Meat by Jose Andres at Sahara is decadence with a capital D.
Photo: Golden Nugget
