Las Vegas : Where to Eat Off-Campus Places to Eat Chicago Joe’s – Locals call this the best-kept secret of Las Vegas. Chicago Joe’s is a mere and tiny brick house and any customer will feel as though they are being served dinner in their livingroom. In fact, Chicago Joe’s is a two-bedroom, 1940s style cottage and the most prominent item on the menu appears to be the pasta with eggplant sauce and other southern Italian favorites. FIX – The newest hotspot, this place could have been called “SEX” for its urban modern Costa Rican type environment and the sensual taste experience from its exotic menu. FIX is known for its seafood which has been featured in numerous newspapers, especially its dish “The Ultimate Shell FIX,” with Maine lobster, Tiger Prawns, Seasonal Crab, Market Oysters, and Clams. Grand Lux Café – Once UNLV students finish drinking and dancing strong all night long, they generally flee to this café located in The Venetian. Grand Lux Café is run by the same people who run the Cheesecake Factory and serves strawberry-covered Belgian waffles and pizza at midnight. It is considered the idea place for a quick midnight snack in an upscale dining room. Ghiradelli Soda Fountain – Desserts from San Franciso are served here, with treats such as the Alcatraz Rock, the Fog Horn, and the Cable Car. Mountains of ice cream, hot fudge, and dripping marshmallows with chocolate sauce are waiting to be devoured in this Victorian ice-cream parlor. Outside of the Ghiradelli Soda Fountain, resides a live singer on the Strip as well, usually of the country genre, and a carousel nearby. Life could not get much sweeter than this. Hamada of Japan – A secret known by most UNLV guys as the place to find gorgeous showgirls after work, Hamada of Japan is just off the Strip. The Hamada family owns 8 of these restaurants throughout Nevada with their Las Vegas location being their favorite. Almost any night of the week, college boys can be found eyeing the showgirls who come in after work as sushi is the after-show fuel for many. Most of the action in the Hamada of Japan can be found with the sushi and sake served at the bar or the elegant Teppan Room off to the side. Harry O’s Barbeque – Considered the “greasy spoon” of Las Vegas, do not even bother dolling yourself up to go to this joint. Harry himself creates the food here along with his family from backwoods hollow in Georgia and has created a secret recipe for rib and chicken sauce. Every day, Harry can be seen grilling away on spitfires in the parking lot just as he would do back at home. Corn on the cob, potato salad, and hot buttermilk biscuits are generally served as sides here. Marrakech Restaurant – From the looks of it, Marrakech Restaurant is located on a dumpy little strip mall and could easily be a major turn-off for many. But, do not be fooled as this restaurant has a comfortable, intimate Morrocan theme to it, complete with plush red couches and colorful wall paintings. Each meal also comes served with an exotic belly dancer for entertainment purposes, a hit among numerous. S’mores at N9NE Steakhouse – Anyone who lives in Los Vegas knows of this one-of-a-kind dessert house. Titled sometimes the “Coolest Dessert in the Desert,” this small place located by Lake Lostinnocence allows its customers to make their own s’mores along with ordering common desserts like the crème brulee, cheesecake, and chocolate mousse. Las Vegas children seem to remember this place best as adults, as it is a genuine dessert parlor after all with its icy-blue lighting, white leather seats, and neon blue tables. A tinge of elegance resides in this dessert place which makes it all the more attractive to college students too, especially to those who crave a rather romantic dessert after a date. Top of the World - Located more than 800 feet above Las Vegas in the Stratosphere Tower, the award-winning Top of the World Restaurant offers a dining experience like no other. Awarded "Best Gourmet Room" by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Top of the World features culinary delights served in an elegant atmosphere with unparalleled views of Las Vegas as the restaurant revolves 360 degrees in one hour and 20 minutes. Book & Bean at Lied Library – Within the Lied Library’s second floor, a small café with antique iron tables and crimson sofas offers food for students who get hungry as they research and read. The Book & Bean features gourmet sandwiches, premium salads, sensational desserts, and Seattle's Best Coffee and espresso-based beverages. Café a la Carte – Located in the Frank and Estella Beam Building, Café a la Carte is nothing short of the cliché sandwich shop for students to sit down and read or study at as they eat. Café a la Carte remains one of the lesser known UNLV dining places and is generally empty unless it is the lunch time. At lunch time, the older students know to come into Café a la Carte to avoid the lengthy lines at the dining commons. Hazel M. Wilson Dining Commons – Considered the ultimate dining experience at UNLV, it is a cafeteria-style service. With stations like “Soup n’ Salad,” “Pizzarette,” “Classic Casserettes,” “International,” “Classics Market,” and “the Grille with Selona Shakers,” it is an easy place to find due to the variety and the plentiful amount of students who trail into the dining common for any sort of taste in food they desire. Students pay around 5 to 8 dollars per meal, which is incredibly cheap compared to the off-campus restaurants thus some students prefer to eat their breakfast, lunch, and dinner here. Pepsi – Scattered around the school, the trailers of Pepsi sell hot dogs, ice cream sandwiches, and of course, their own product, Pepsi Cola in both diet and nondiet. Sidewalk Café - One of the major dining establishments on campus, this food service outlet serves the needs of the students on the northern end of campus. Pizza Hut and Burger King are available here. |