The influx of celebrity chefs in Vegas has altered the culinary tradition of widespread cheap eats in Las Vegas. Long gone is the multitude of buffets and widespread options for fine dining on a dime. One Vegas mainstay has remained unscathed, and that is the abundance of 24-hour restaurants with great eats. I’ve explored a few late-night Vegas dining alternatives deemed the best value by people I spoke to and comprised a list of pretty great locales that never close.
The Venetian’s Grand Luxe Cafe
At Grand Luxe Cafe inside the Venetian, breakfast is always on the menu. The decor is inviting, and the place is huge. With abundant seating, there is never a long wait no matter the droves of people waiting for a sampling of the renowned pasta or revered breakfast fare.
On my visit, I went against the grain and opted for the avocado-chipotle burger. Paired with complimentary bread and a creamy mushroom soup in lieu of french fries, this was a massive offering of mouth-watering ingredients. The modest price of $13.95 leaves me with zero complaints given the food quality and overall dining experience. With better burger buys in the city, I cannot claim this to be one of the best hamburgers in Vegas, but it’s a contender for sure.
Earl of Sandwich at Planet Hollywood
Earl of Sandwich reviews were mixed when I surveyed friends. The sandwich quality was agreed upon to be excellent, but many complained of long waits and the uninviting location off the busy casino floor. I saw a band that night and slid into the casino in the early morning hours after too many Coronas. The wait was about 25 minutes. Apparently the word is out on this Vegas late-night dining locale because there were many around me holding their issued pagers waiting for their order to come up. With a vast menu of sandwiches beginning at $6, I can see why those looking for a cheap place to eat in Vegas fill the space.
I ordered the albacore tuna and swiss on their signature cibatta bread. The bread was soft and buttery and worth the wait. A fellow eager patron commented on the delay as we stood together. She informed me this is the norm regardless of the time of day and that there are superior gourmet sandwich shops in Vegas she frequents during normal hours. Overall, the quality for the price is impressive, but mostly because it’s affordable sustenance in the wee hours.
24-Hour Vegas Dining with a Side of History
The Peppermill Restaurant and Fireside Lounge opened in 1972 and boasts the status of being one of the few remaining stand-alone restaurants in Las Vegas. This swanky joint is a favorite of locals and regular visitors due to its longevity, inviting interior and expansive menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner all served 24 hours. The vintage decor is complemented by neon lights, because, well, one can never get enough neon in Vegas. The lounge is a sunken in room adorned with a centrally located fire pit surrounded by couch seating.
Some may describe the setting as kitschy, but in true Vegas form, the attention to detail is a trademark here from the impressive uniforms to bowls on every table housing colored sugar. Sure the mirrored ceiling tiles may be overkill, but I wasn’t complaining when I stopped in for drinks and dinner with a date. Elaborately embellished decor lends to the conversation if a date falls flat, so I will deem the Peppermill one of the best places to bring a date in Las Vegas. Incidentally, the Fireside Lounge was voted one of America’s ten best make-out bars by Nerve magazine. Just sayin’.
We enjoyed signature cocktails in the form of green tea martinis. Not bad and no surprise since Fireside Lounge is known for serving the best drinks in Las Vegas since they are all handmade. No mixes are used. We began with the pineapple boat fruit salad, a fruit lover’s Peppermill must. This colossal creation has enough fruit for a meal. A table of two sharing this creation, stacked about ten inches high, is simply too much food with the generous entrees that follow.
Without a doubt, the Peppermill is replete with Vegas glam making it a great restaurant in Las Vegas that celebrates the city’s flamboyant landscape. There’s a reason the place has appeared on film multiple times. It screams Vegas at every turn. The prices do reflect the food quality, so I stop short of calling this a real value, as it is a tad spendy. Ambiance and kitsch have a price tag, as evidenced by the $15.00 fruit salad. But I’ll be back. I aim to tackle one of their acclaimed 10-egg omelets.
The Las Vegas foodie scene is fast becoming one of my attractions to this city. Defining the best places to eat in Vegas is highly subjective, but I’m having a great time seeking out the foremost Sin City offerings.