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Whether your appetite leads you inside one of numerous casino resort restaurants or to a hidden gem off The Strip, there is an endless array of restaurants in Las Vegas to keep hunger at bay.

[Hamachi Crudo: Finger lime, yuzu, mint, smoked trout roe, avocado olive oil; Superfrico]

My culinary adventures led me from a relatively new 1970’s diner to a classy Italian spot well loved by locals and visitors alike. If you’re planning a trip to Vegas and are in need of a few recommendations, read on!

One of the more colourful dining spots on the Strip, Superfrico at The Cosmopolitan offers a well-rounded selection of salads, pastas, pizzas, steaks and seafood.

For true cheese lovers, order the live table-side Mozzarella, where a pound of fresh Belgioioso is pulled and stretched, then served up with marinated tomatoes, Puccia bread, salumi, olives and peppers.

Music, live performers, DJs, unique decor and lighting all combine for a great meal and night out on The Vegas Strip.

At the end of LINQ hotel off the casino floor is Diner Ross, a recent addition to the culinary scene. Walk up the grey graffiti-infused stairwell reminiscent of 70’s New York City and escape to a very cozy bar and restaurant, playing all your fave tunes of the era.

This gem of a dinner venue is worth seeking out, so make your way through the main area casino until you find the colourful entrance to Diner and DISCOSHOW.

[Negroni mocktail]

Here I enjoyed a Negroni mocktail followed by a tasty green salad with candied walnuts, strawberries, and feta, later sinking my teeth into their Delancey burger (a luscious combination of short rib and brisket with gooey Muenster cheese).

[Tomahawk steak]

Other notable dishes include a selection of steaks, charbroiled oysters, roasted bone marrow, filet tartare tacos, Steelhead trout, and mushroom steak tips.

[All toasted up and ready to devour: Marshmallow Inferno with cherries and crumble]

Bring your appetite! You’ll want to linger over their famous table-side toasted Marshmallow Inferno (there’s a giant brownie under all that gooey goodness!) before catching the 9 pm DISCOSHOW next door.

This 90-minute dance extravaganza packs in all the classic disco tunes. Wear your disco gear and boogie on down to DISCOSHOW, a must for disco lovers! Their team put on a high-energy show – prepare to DANCE!

[Crossroads Kitchen at Resorts World]

A plant-based, fine dining vegan restaurant in the heart of Vegas? Why yes! Crossroads Kitchen offers a wide range of healthy plant-based menu options.

Crossroads is located within the Resorts World complex, close enough to the casino action, yet away from the buzzing and ringing of machines, helmed by Executive Chef Scott Okazaki. It’s got a nice dark interior with lots of comfortable seating all around, with a bar at the center.

I enjoyed their plentiful, delicious, and inventive brunch service, together with a fruity mocktail. Crossroads Kitchen also serves up a good selection of cocktails, local and international beer (on tap and bottled), wines by the glass and spirits.

[Enjoying a Crossroads seasonal mocktail]

Caspian’s Lounge, Caesar’s Palace

For a low-lit, caviar and cocktails experience inside Caesar’s Palace, try Caspian’s Caviar Lounge and Speakeasy. Entry requires picking up the receiver of a Prohibition-era telephone, then waiting for the doors to open to this beautiful spot complete with nightly live music.

[White Sturgeon caviar served with waffles and a half-dozen oysters on the half shell]

It’s the perfect post-dinner spot to linger over a cocktail or glass of wine, join with friends to chill between the casino action, or simply enjoy the beautiful appetizers before a show (in my case, nearby Cirque du Soleil at Treasure Island, just a 15-minute walk from Caesar’s).

From classic caviar service (with accoutrements) to oysters on the half shell (served with caviar, of course!) to potato latkes, their menu pairs nicely with a range of classic cocktails (or mocktails), specialty libations, spirits, wine and bubbly.

Gino Ferraro launched Ferraro’s Ristorante in 1985, with son Nimmo Ferraro as executive chef. This popular family-owned restaurant is in the business of sharing the love of Italian cooking via their collection of family recipes.

The room is low-lit in the evening with built-in wine shelving bracketing a few table booths while their master wine collection is housed up front in a large case illuminated in red.

Tables are nicely spread out to avoid feeling crowded as diners filled the tables on a busy Sunday evening. The restaurant’s signature dish, Osso Bucco, is braised for three hours in a red wine reduction.

[Burrata con Prosciutto e Pistachio Pesto photo]

The top of my burrata dome is a delight to savour as the delicate flavour combines with the tight knotty texture, together with the dish’s crushed pistachios, lemon zest, and salty quality of the Parma Prosciutto.

[Pappardelle Mimmo]

Pappardelle Mimmo is an absolute delight and perfect for sharing. The gorgeous ribbons of al dente pappardelle noodles, together with jumbo scallops, pieces of lobster, with chopped asparagus in a sage and butter sauce was a hit with my tastebuds. Note that truffles and truffle oil are standard in this dish, however I opted for a non-truffle version.

[Costolette d’Agnello]

Ferraro’s current menu includes classics such as Prime Filet Mignon, Pollo Limone, Colorado Superior lamb chops, Bistecca Florentine, Branzino, Holland Dover Sole, handmade pastas plus sides. For a well-rounded experience, consider one of their tasting menus.

[Branzino]

Don’t miss the restaurant’s own Sicilian-sourced extra virgin olive oil at the table, perfect for dipping your focaccia into! And save room for their homemade gelato for a sweet ending. Upcoming events include a truffle dinner on December 14 and a Thanksgiving menu between November 10 and 13.

Mercato Della Pescheria, at St. Mark’s Square (inside the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian), is a delightful Italian eatery with a full range of classic dishes that has captured the attention of Thrillist, who ranked Mercato Della Pescheria as one of the 16 best Italian restaurants in Las Vegas.

The service, attention to detail, and food presentation are all top notch, the atmosphere is charming, and the drink selection is abundant.

Add to this a full range of Italian specialities (including charcoal-oven baked pizzas) and you’re in for a culinary treat at the Venetian. You can also build your own truffle burrata charcuterie board, or go for swordfish and shrimp, seafood stew, whole snapper, fully-loaded salads, or a pasta dish (there are 12 to choose from).

Mercato has a smaller sister restaurant in Miami, one of the first dining venues of Miami-based V&E Hospitality Group, who currently manage over 20 restaurants, from sushi to steakhouse, in both Southern Florida and Nevada.

[Half-dozen Chesapeake East coast oysters and Finto Spritz mocktail]

Their raw bar features both West and East coast oysters. While here, I opted for a half dozen Chesapeake oysters, with a light briny finish, farmed along the U.S. East coast, together with a lovely Aperol Spritz mocktail.

[Mocktail vs cocktail: Finto Spritz: Lyre’s Sparkling non-alcoholic, Lyre’s Spritz; Limoncello Drop with citrus vodka]

The Salmon Arrosto is a stunning presentation and is accompanied by corn purée, baby heirloom tomatoes, and edible flowers, while the Ravioli Al Salmone (all their pastas are made in-house) has a nice light sauce and is topped with chopped asparagus and freshly-shaved Parmigiano Reggiano.

Non-watermarked images courtesy of Ferraro’s Ristorante.