Las Vegas: Where to Eat: Overview

For at least five years after Steve Wynn kicked off the fine-dining craze in Vegas by opening Picasso at Bellagio, it seemed that every famous chef in the world wanted in on the action. Such names as Michael Mina, Charlie Palmer, Emeril Lagasse, Bobby Flay and Thomas Keller began popping up in upscale casinos. The only problem was that many of the great chefs appeared for the openings and then were never seen again. In my opinion, with a few exceptions, the restaurants were poor facsimiles of the real places back home. All that has changed, once again thanks in large part to Wynn, who insisted that all the chefs at his new resort actually move to the city to oversee their kitchens. That directive echoed throughout Vegas, with a profound effect. Restaurants at Caesars Palace, Wynn, Bellagio and MGM have been praised by critics around the world, and deservedly so. You can still get a bad meal in Vegas, but now you can also dine outrageously well.