Eating Las Vegas: The 50 Essential Restaurants 2013

It is no secret that in the last 10 years Las Vegas has become a culinary mecca to all-star celebrity chefs.  The 2013 edition of Eating Las Vegas: The 50 Essential Restaurants (Huntington Press, December, 2012) features the opinions of three of the city's food critics, John Curtas, Max Jacobson, and Al Mancini, who created a reference book that lists their agreed-upon "Essential 50" restaurants in Sin City.

The guide is much more than just a list of restaurants to enjoy. It also includes a 44-page specialty guide dedicated to "Additional Recommendations" that suggests places for everything from beer to buffets, Sunday brunch, and even sushi. The fiery "Vetoes" section pits the three critics against each other in literary a version of a free-for-all food fight.

"When we green-lit this project three years ago, I wasn't sure its realization was even a possibility, as we were dealing with three highly knowledgeable but incredibly strong-willed personalities," said publisher Anthony Curtis in a release. "But John [Curtas], Max [Jacobson], and Al [Mancini] have continued to deliver on their promise to seek out, and agree upon, Las Vegas' 50 essential restaurants."

The 2013 edition of Eating Las Vegas adds three newcomers to the top 10 list that includes two off-strip restaurants, Marché Bacchus French Bistro and Raku Japanese Charcoal Grill. The other newcomer is Piero Selvaggio's Valentino at The Venetian. Back from  2012 are Estiatorio Milos at The Cosmopolitan, Joël Robuchon and L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand, Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace, CUT at Palazzo, and Le Cirque and Picasso at Bellagio.

In addition to the top 10, the 2013 edition features 11 new restaurants including Bread & Butter, Comme Ça at The Cosmopolitan, Due Forni, Fleur at Mandalay Bay, Gordon Ramsay Steak at Paris, Kabuto, Le Thai, Mint Indian Bistro, miX at Mandalay Bay, Public House at The Venetian, and Sirio at Aria.

We have been watching this guide for years and it is one of the best sources about the Las Vegas dining scene that we have seen. It is a must for tourists and locals alike.