Best Appetizers in Vegas

[kastoney]

My husband and i are headed to Vegas next month. We "invented" the something called the appetizer crawl in New Orleans where we jump from restaurant to restaurant and have one (sometimes 2) appetizers and a drink at each before journeying on. We're looking forward to continuing the tradition in Vegas and are soliciting any opinions on the single greatest appetizer. We're staying on the strip, so we'd prefer to keep everything there. Thanks in advance for any advice.

[Steve Green]

Coming in late here, but the truffled mac & cheese at Stripsteak is one of the best appetizers we've had anywhere (technically, it was a side). Their duck fat fries trio, with 3 matching sauces, is no slouch either. The shallot-potato cake with scallion creme fraiche was also quite tasty (I had that one on a different visit).

That said, I don't know that I would announce our intentions next time if we came back for just appetizers -- when we told them that we just wanted appetizers/sides, they seated us in the bar, with its uncomfortable low-to-the-table seating. Also, we didn't really want drinks and when we asked for regular water (and I can understand their not being thrilled with that, being a bar and all...) they served us unfiltered Vegas tap water, which no locals in their right mind would drink. So since we didn't want booze, we ended up ordering bar cokes.

We saw a tower of tomato-dusted red onion rings go by that looked excellent, but that would have to wait for another time. The scalloped potatoes w/caramelized onions and shallots were good but not great. Definitely skip the crabcakes, though. Deepfried, fishy, and not all that crab-heavy.

Overall, an excellent appetizer/side selection. Good-sized portions; enough to share.

[Budser1228]

The blue cheese souffle at Bradley Ogden is wonderful and it comes as either a side dish or appetizer.

I also like the rock shrimp appetizer at FIX, but the Billy Baldwin Burgers are good too.

[kastoney]

Thanks for all the amazing suggestions. We're heading out in a few days and I can't wait to try some of these.

[Dave Feldman]

Please report back -- I'm curious about what you choose and how the evening went. I'd be especially interested in whether any place minds that you are eating appetizers only.

[climberdoc]

The "Colors of Caviar" at Guy Savoy was not only the best appetizer I've had, but up there with my favorite restaurant courses of all time. It was complex, thought provoking, beautiful to look at, and downright delicious. You'll pay for the pleasure though. It cost around $70.

[foodgimp]

You can get that Ala Carte? I had it as part of my 10 Course meal, and it was out of this world!

[cgervais45]

I do believe they serve it at the bubble bar ala carte!!

[climberdoc]

It was ala Carte when I dined there but now I see it listed only on the Prestige menu. I'm sure that if you're willing to shell out $70 on an appetizer with approximately 5-bites, they'd be happy to make it for you.

[ScottT]

Get off the strip and go to Lotus of Siam. Then order Nam Kao Tod, Crispy rice mixed with minced sour sausage, green onion, fresh chili, ginger, peanuts, and lime juice.. This is the best appetizer in Vegas- and it's cheap- $ 7.95.

[foodgimp]

Another off strip place would be Firefly near the Hardrock. It's a Tapas Bar, so just about everything qualifies as an App.

[elrushbo]

Nobhill at MGM has great apps, I love their Green Goddess Salad, and they have the best cocktails in Vegas, if you go you have to try the Mojito.

Also, Bradley Ogden at Caesars had the best soup I have ever had, a lobster corn chowder with bacon...wow, it was heavenly! They have nice bar/lounge seating if the restaurant is crowded.

[palmdoc1]

carpaccio @ olives

[ries27]

I would second the recommendation for the Beef Cheek Ravioli at B&B. I had it for the first time last week and thought it was wonderful. B&B gets knocked a lot here, but it truly was my best meal of the entire week I spent in Vegas.

[A5 KOBE]

Daniel Boulud Brasserie - PATE DE CAMPAGNE FORESTIERE

CUT - PRIME SIRLOIN STEAK TARTARE OR BONE MARROW FLAN

Mesa Grill - SHRIMP TAMALE

SW steakhouse - BLUEFIN TUNA AND YELLOWTAIL TARTARE

[QAW]

You may get many replies, because there are few better cities anywhere to do such a crawl these days. Consider the following, which comes with a nice "catch" -

BOUCHON
Seafood Petit Plateau

ENOTECA SAN MARCO
Acetai "Vinegar Maker's Salad"

RESTAURANT CHARLIE
Fried Spiced Globe Artichoke with Honey, Pine Nuts & Mint

CARNEVINO
Grilled Octopus, Potatoes, Puntarelle & Chilies

SUSHISAMBA
Sawagani (flash fried Japanese river crabs)

VALENTINO
Scallop Saltimbucca

CUT
Bone Marrow Flan, Mushroom Marmalade, Parsley Salad

B&B
Beef Cheek Ravioli with Black Truffles & Crushed Duck Liver

The "catch", of course, is that they are all under the same Palazzo/Venetian roof, and that none of the places are more than just a short stroll from the others. You could do similar in-house crawls at the Wynn/Encore, Caesar's Palace/Forum Shops, Bellaggio, MGM Grand or Mandalay Bay without ever leaving the properties.

(By the way, the above list are not necessarily the greatest at the properties listed, but show how a progressive crawl can be done in which each course adds a layer to the previous one.)

[Friend of Bill]

Great reply! I love the beef cheek ravioli. B&B has not gotten much love on this board of late, but I think it is a gem.

[vegasjlt]

Had a great meal at B&B recently. Just stick with the pastas, beef cheek ravioli, mint love letters, etc.

[sushilady]

Array of Oysters at Bouchon.

Andre's Signature Duck Foie Gras Nougatine with Honey Meringue and Raspberry Coulis ($24) at Andres

Bobby Baldwin Burgers ($21 Kobe Sliders-threesome of aged chedder, grilled onions, and spiced fried) at Fix at the Bellagio

Beef Carpaccio ($15 Crisp Roquefort polenta, shaved parmesan, cipollini onions) or the Lamb ($14 Creamed corn, natural lamb reduction, corn shoot salad) appetizers at Olives at the Bellagio