Alan Alberts
Hotel: Epicenter Plaza
3763 Las Vegas Blvd. South
702-740-4421
Credit cards accepted: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate/Expensive
Cuisine type: Steakhouse, Surf and Turf
This casual steakhouse is the perfect place to roll up your sleeves and dig into a juicy porterhouse. Specialties include prime Angus steaks and jumbo lobsters, as well as crab cakes, veal, and lamb chops.

Alta Villa
Hotel: Flamingo Hilton
3555 Las Vegas Blvd. South
702-733-3434
Credit cards accepted: American Express, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Price range: Moderate
Cuisine type: Italian
Piazza faces the central dining room, helping to create the illusion of al fresco dining. House specialties include the minestrone soup and the oven-baked pizza. A meandering guitarist gives the restaurant an old-world flair. Reservations are required.

American Bistro and Wine Bar
7501 W. Lake Mead Blvd.
702-228-9463
Credit cards accepted: Ameri can Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Inexpensive
Cuisine type: American
Polished concrete floors and brick walls provide the restaurant with a relaxed, informal atmosphere. The wine selection is one of the finest in the area.

Andre's
401 South 6th St.
702-385-5016
Credit cards accepted: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: Continental, French
The country-French decor at this premier restaurant is charming yet elegant, and the food is first rate. The wine selection is among the best in the city. For something different, try the Maryland crab cakes with citrus beurre blanc or the rabbit loin with spinach fettuccini Dijon. The restaurant takes special requests if given 24-hour notice. Reservations are required.

Bacchanal
Hotel: Caesars Palace
3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South
702-731-7731
Credit cards accepted: American Express, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Very Expensive
Cuisine type: American
If Dionysus had designed his own restaurant it would probably look like this. Belly dancers gyrate next to the pool, while a "wine goddess" keeps your glass full and provides neck massages to male guests upon request at this Roman banquet. It is a little overpriced, but the food is remarkably good. Reservations are required.

Brown Derby
Hotel: MGM Grand
3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South
702-891-7300
Credit cards accepted: American Express, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: American
Designed in the style of a 1920s eatery, the Brown Derby is actually a replication of the famous Hollywood restaurant that catered to the film industry's elite. House specialties include the Mr. Derby beef Wellington and the rack of lamb for two. Reservations are recommended.

Buccaneer Bay Club
Hotel: Treasure Island
3300 Las Vegas Blvd. South
702-894-7111
Credit cards accepted: American Express, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate/Expensive
Cuisine type: Continental
The pyramid of fresh salmon is excellent, as are the oysters and lobster bisque. Though the atmosphere is informal, men will feel comfortable in a sport jacket. Reservations are accepted a week ahead of time.

Buzios
Hotel: Rio Hotel Suites
3700 West Flamingo Rd.
702-252-7697
Credit cards accepted: American Express, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate/Expensive
Cuisine type: Seafood
The Rio prides itself on serving some of the finest food in Las Vegas, and Buzios is no exception. The restaurant attracts locals as well as tourists, and the decor is remarkably tasteful, even by Las Vegas standards. The fresh oysters are great.

Cafe Nicolle
4760 W. Sahara Ave.
702-870-7675
Credit cards accepted: American Express, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Inexpensive/Moderate
Cuisine type: Continental
The lively atmosphere and cozy tables make Cafe Nicolle a hit. The outdoor cafe is open year round, with a cooling mist that keeps customers comfortable in the summer. The spinach pie and Atlantic salmon cakes are both excellent and reasonably priced. Reservations are recommended.

Chang
3055 Las Vegas Blvd. South, No. 13
303-731-3388
Credit cards accepted: American Express, Visa, MasterCard
Price range: Moderate/Expensive
Cuisine type: Chinese
Decorated with a lively assortment of Chinese art and artifacts, Chang does an admirable job of invoking the spirit of the Orient. While the restaurant offers all the usual fare, the dim-sum menu is terrific; particularly the Chinese crullers. The eggplant Szechuan is also outstanding. Reservations are recommended.

Coyote Cafe
Hotel: MGM Grand
3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South
702-891-7349
Credit cards accepted: American Express, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate
Cuisine type: Southwestern
While the atmosphere is nothing special--standard Southwestern decor, with plenty of paintings of beans, rice, and chilis--the food is surprisingly tasty. Those who like their food on the mild side are advised to tell their server. The sweet-corn soup is scrumptious, and the spicy crab cakes and Ahi tuna also live up to their billing. Desserts are some of the best on the Strip. Reservations are recommended.

Diamond Lil's
Sam's Town, Boulder Highway at Flamingo Rd.
702-456-7777
Credit cards accepted: American Express, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate
Cuisine type: American
The turn-of-the-century decor and faux gas lights warm the interior of Diamond Lil's. The prime rib and filet mignon are both outstanding. Reservations are recommended.

Drai's
Hotel: Barbary Coast Hotel
3595 Las Vegas Blvd. South
702-737-0555
Credit cards accepted: American Express, Visa, MasterCard
Price range: Moderate
Cuisine type: California, Continental
The setting here is both exotic and elegant, with soft, seductive lighting, filled bookcases on one wall, and original art scattered across the dining room. Victor Drai, the Los Angeles restaurateur, has long been setting the standard for Californian cuisine, and Drai's menu is filled with all kinds of regional delicacies. The Chilean sea bass has drawn rave reviews, as have the jumbo langoustine and the Lake Superior whitefish. While the restaurant is good for the entire family, parents should know that most of the paintings are nudes. Reservations are recommended.

Ferraro's Restaurant and Lounge
5900 W. Flamingo Rd.
702-364-5300
Credit cards accepted: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate
Cuisine type: Italian
Manila clams in tomato sauce and penne amatriciana are probably the best items on the menu, although the linguine portofino is close. Prices are more than affordable, while the Roman-style dining room and recessed lighting give Ferraro's an air of class and elegance. Reservations are required on weekends.

Garduno's Chili Packing Co.
Hotel: Fiesta Hotel
2400 North Rancho Dr.
702-631-7000
Credit cards accepted: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Inexpensive
Cuisine type: Mexican
The decor is classic Mexican, with lots of pastels and beautiful artifacts. House specialties include chili verde and the red snapper.

Habib's
4730 West Sahara Ave.
702-870-0860
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Inexpensive
Cuisine type: Persian
The great food and pleasant atmosphere more than make up for the minimal wine selection. House specialties include the chicken breast kabob, eggplant appetizer, and zereshk polo. The climate on the outdoor patio is controlled by a cooling overhead mist, which goes a long way towards making summer nights comfortable. Reservations are recommended.

Hugo's Cellar
Hotel: Four Queens Hotel
202 Fremont St.
702-385-4011
Credit cards accepted: American Express, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: American
This is one of downtown's best restaurants for American cuisine. The setting is intimate without being formal, and the cocktail lounge is especially relaxing. While the prices are a bit on the high side, some feel that the food is worth it. House specialties include the marinated swordfish and the rack of lamb Indonesian. Reservations are recommended.

Lillie Langtrey's
Hotel: Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino
129 Fremont St.
702-385-7111
Credit cards accepted: American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate
Cuisine type: Chinese
Lillie's offers just what you'd expect from a downtown restaurant: good food, family-style dinners, generous portions, and reasonable prices. The atmosphere is a cheerful and informal, and good seating is generally available. Although everything on the menu is sure to please your palate, Lillie's claim to fame is the great combination plate appetizer. Reservations are recommended.

Lotus of Siam
953 East Sahara Ave.
702-735-3033
Credit cards accepted: American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Inexpensive
Cuisine type: Thai
This is one of the simpler restaurants on the Strip. The decor is traditional Thai, basic but tasteful, and the atmosphere is peaceful. House specialties include the mee krob, the Thai rice-stick appetizers, and the pad Thai.

Mamounia
4632 South Maryland Parkway
702-597-0092
Credit cards accepted: American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Inexpensive
Cuisine type: Moroccan
With the low, upholstered benches and servers in native garb, Mamounia works to recall the atmosphere of a Moroccan eatery. The hummus is great, as is the kefta, shrimp scampi, and tabbouleh. While the atmosphere is casual, travelers with back problems may find the seating uncomfortable. Reservations are recommended.

Papyrus
Hotel: The Luxor
3900 Las Vegas Blvd. South
702-262-4000
Credit cards accepted: American Express, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate/Expensive
Cuisine type: Asian
The atmosphere is exotic, with suspended blowfish and grass-hut booths. While the shrimp and bay scallop chow mein is arguably the highlight of the menu, the Ahi tuna tartare and Paniola steak are also exceptionally good. In fact, the only drawback is the wine list, which is mediocre. The mandarin chocolate cake is great. Reservations are recommended.

Pasta Pirate
Hotel: California Hotel
12 East Ogden Ave.
702-385-1222
Credit cards accepted: American Express, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Inexpensive
Cuisine type: Seafood, Pasta
The Pasta Pirate is arguably the best dining value in the downtown area. While the atmosphere is a little campy (plenty of neon signs and suspended fishnets), the brick floor and open kitchen give the restaurant a cheerful, informal feel. The Alaskan king crab legs are the house specialty, though the lobster tails are a close second. Every entree comes with a complimentary glass of wine. Reservations are recommended.

Philips Supper House
4545 W. Sahara Ave.
702-873-5222
Credit cards accepted: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate
Cuisine type: American
The dining area in this cozy Victorian home is actually spread out over many smaller rooms, giving Philips a warm, intimate atmosphere often missing from larger restaurants. The food is typical meat-and-potatoes fare, with the black-Angus New York steak as the house specialty. Other favorites include the blackened scampi, steamed clams, and broiled lamb chops.

Redwood Bar and Grill
Hotel: California Hotel
12 Ogden Ave.
702-385-1222
Credit cards accepted: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Din ers Club, Discover
Price range: Inexpensive/Expensive
Cuisine type: American
The Redwood serves up great food at exceptionally low prices. While the prime rib is the restaurant's calling card, customers watching their waistlines will love the fresh fish and Caesar salad. The restaurant can get crowded at night, though seating is generally available in the early evening. Reservations are recommended.