Las Vegas - Top Chef/Iron Chef Restaurant recommendation

[Heinriche]

My friend and I are big fans of Top Chef and Iron Chef America and would love to go to a restaurant of one of these featured chefs while in Las Vegas (for those chefs that have restaurants here)

Does anyone have any recommendations?

Thank you!

[vegasvactioner]

Had the rossini burger at kellers burger bar, was amazing although pricey. I heard mixed reviews about border grill one from ELV eatting las vegas blog (was a judge on iron chef) was really good but I have not had myself. Heard good stuff about scarpetta(conant) pasta wise and all the stuff ive had at cosmo was good. Less pricey and ive MOSTLY had good meals at wolfgangs bar and grill in mgm (best bread basket ever if you dont count french butter at robuchons) only sad meal i had was steak sandwich when i wanted the kobe burger, the blue cheese chips are amazeballs tho. Have heard alot of bad things about craftsteak and mesa grill from this board. soo i recommend wolfgangs and burger bar from actual experience

Also kerry simon an iron chef judge has KGB in flamingo, another burger joint, but who can deny the burger craving. Ive heard loads of good things about, minus the fries not being too special. Although if u eat the rossini burger first you may be ruined.

Idk if you care but they also have the best thing i ever ate las vegas on the food network site which includes lotus of siam(which everyone will recommend) tao, and mesa grill shrimp'grits thing and some others.

[GourmetWednesday]

The meatloaf sandwich at 'wichcraft in MGM was a delicious lunch! Otherwise I agree that some of the places might not live up to the hype. Three or four years ago Border Grill seemed tired, and I haven't heard things have gotten back on track since then.

[julesrules4food]

Angelo Sosa from Top Chef just opened a new restaurant called Poppy Den in Tivoli Village in the Summerlin area. It's on Rampart between Charleston Blvd. and Lake Mead Blvd.
I haven't been yet but know some who have and said it was really good. Also, with it just opening I think the chance of his being there is pretty high.

[lv1964]

DOCG and Scarpetta are Scott Conant's place.
e and Jaleo are Jose Andreas.

But before Wolfgang came to town, the Original Las Vegas Top Chef was Andre Rochat. Both his places Alize at Palms and Andre's at Monte Carlo are excellent.

[Dave Feldman]

The OP was interested in IC and TC. If you add chopped, there are more places in the mix!

[baseballfan]

I have had good meals at Mesa Grill but be aware that Bobby Flay is rarely there. That being said, I do love their burger and we have always had really good service.

[Dave Feldman]

Is it important if the celebrity chef is present?

[Heinriche]

No, the chef definitely doesn't need to be there

[Dave Feldman]

I think the most obvious choices are Craftsteak (Tom Colicchio), Mario Batali (Carnevino, B&B Ristorante or less formally, Otto), Bobby Flay (Mesa Grill), Wolfgang Puck (Spago, Cut, or less formally, Bar & Grill), Rick Moonen (RM Seafood), Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken (Border Grill), and Hubert Keller (Fleur, and less formally, Burger Bar),.

I haven't been to all of the restaurants. The only time I've seen one of the chefs in his or her own restaurant is Bobby Flay, and I wasn't enthusiastic about the meal there (he was in the kitchen the whole time).

You could eat virtually around the clock at these places (say, brunch at Border Grill, lunch at Burger Bar, and dinner at B&B). What do others think?

[Heinriche]

Wow thanks so much!

[Dave Feldman]

I'm hesitant to make too many recommendations, because in many cases it's been a long time since I've been to the places. As an example, I'm a big fan of Colicchio's restaurants, for the most part, but it's been a few years since I've been to Craftsteak, and there have been some negative reports on Chowhound since I have been there. I like it more for the non-steak options.

[A5 KOBE]

The steak is so so but the apps and sides were amazing. I especially like the side of brentwood corn with herbs and the scallop app.