Get the burger at Allegiant Stadium

Bruce Kalman, creator of the Las Vegas Arts District’s SoulBelly BBQ, introduces a new burger concept to Allegiant Stadium. “It’s called Burgersmith by SoulBelly,” Kalman says of the stadium spot on the 100 Level across from section 128. “It’s just simple, inspired, delicious burgers with great ingredients. … two patties and New School American cheese. And then we have a pastrami burger and a barbecue burger.” Fans who want to try any of those must reserve in advance at SecretBurger.com. The burgers are $15 each, with $6 fries and $7 onion rings.

American

HONEY SALT

Proof that you can find stellar dining off the Strip lies in Honey Salt’s creative menus of upscale American fare, packed with options you won’t find in most neighborhood restaurants. They include cast iron branzino with shaved fennel, bacon-wrapped farmhouse meatloaf with tomato jam and the mighty kale salad. The brunch menu is also loaded with hits. Get a brookie (combination brownie and cookie) for dessert. 1031 S. Rampart Blvd.; 702.445.6100; honeysalt.com. $$

MAIN ST. PROVISIONS

As the Arts District has evolved into a top dining destination, Kim Owens (a native Cajun and a former executive at the Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse chain) has built Main St. Provisions into one of its most exciting restaurants. It’s a neighborhood spot where the menu is warm and welcoming, the staff knows all the regulars by name, and even first-time guests feel at home. The eclectic menu offers upscale comfort foods like crudo, Navajo fry bread, risotto and duck. But you’ll always find an excellent selection of carefully sourced steaks to round it out. 1214 S. Main St., Las Vegas; 702.457.0111; mainstprovisions.com. $$

Asian

LOTUS OF SIAM

Lotus of Siam, which earned praise for its locations in the Strip corridor over the past few decades, brings love to the ‘burbs with this stunning offshoot at Red Rock Resort. Can’t-miss dishes include Poo Pad Pong Karee, which is curry stir-fried Alaskan king crab legs with eggs and mixed vegetables and the probably world-famous garlic prawns, deep fried in the shell, with a crispy texture reminiscent of potato chips. 11011 W. Charleston Blvd.; 702.907.8888; lotusredrock.com. $$

NENE CONTEMPORARY JAPANESE BISTRO

Fine Japanese food in casually elegant surroundings comes to the suburbs in this palace of sushi, sashimi, robata dishes, bento bowls, soups, salads, entrees and vegan selections. Bluefin tuna, Scottish salmon, branzino and San Diego uni (sea urchin) are among the sushi items offered. The chef ventures beyond traditional Asian rice dishes with assorted risottos. 4165 S. Grand Canyon Dr.; 702.463.2700; nenesushilv.com. $$

BBQ

SOULBELLY BBQ

A centerpiece of the Las Vegas Arts District, Soulbelly offers some of the valley’s best BBQ in a honky-tony setting, with live music and a great bar. It’s the creation of celebrity chef Bruce Kalman (“Top Chef: Colorado,” “BBQ Brawl,” “Chopped,” “Hell’s Kitchen”), who was best known for his Italian cooking before relocating to Las Vegas. Soulbelly is his first restaurant to focus on the regional barbecue recipes he developed with his rock star buddy Dave Grohl, offering meats smoked directly in front of the Main Street restaurant along with a great collection of sides. 1327 S. Main St., Las Vegas; 702.482.4404; www.soulbellybbq.com. $$

Brunch

TOASTED GASTROBRUNCH

Are you looking for a bottomless mimosa brunch on a weekday? Chef Sami Ladeki has you covered. The owner of Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza chain shocked many when he converted the West Flamingo Road location into a Toasted Gastrobrunch. But the morning classics’ menu in traditional and innovative forms quickly won over locals. The booze program has something for everyone: signature cocktails, prosecco, wine, three Bloody Marys, eight coffees, three bellinis and five mimosas. And yes, bottomless options are available. 9516 W. Flamingo Rd.; 702.638.9500; toastedgastrobrunch.com. $$

Café/Deli

BRONZE CAFE

Fast casual meets healthy at Bronze Café, where the salads, sandwiches and sweets have secured a loyal following among locals throughout the valley. Focusing on “fit-friendly” eats, the menu features a sizable vegan section. But carnivores are not ignored, with options like the Bacon Chicken Chop salad and the What What sandwich, made with turkey, pepperoni, Arcadia greens, basil aioli, oregano vinaigrette, tomato and red onion. There’s an entire pastry case of all-vegan sweets—many of which are also gluten-free. 2380 N. Buffalo Dr.; 702.852.2830. $

Eclectic

ADA’S FOOD + WINE

The most experimental restaurant by superstar chef/restaurateur James Trees (Esther’s Kitchen, Al Solito Posto), Ada’s sometimes feels more like a workshop than a fixed concept. For now, Chef Jackson Stamper seems to be having fun mixing his takes on traditional Spanish tapas with unexpected comfort foods. Veteran sommelier Kat Thomas (Bellagio, Aria, The Mina Group, Sirio Maccioni) augments the choices with a list of lesser-known, reasonably priced wines. Tivoli Village, 401 S. Rampart Blvd.; 702.462.2795; adaslv.com. $$

D.W. BISTRO

A Las Vegas original, DW Bistro takes the innovative step of creating its culinary niche by combining the flavors of Jamaican cuisine and New Mexican regional food in a Parisian-style restaurant. Owner Bryce Krausman and founding Chef Dalton Wilson took this bold concept and named it DW, an acronym for “Dining With” that represents the restaurant and the brand. More than a decade later, the menu continues to evolve. DW’s weekend brunch is among the most popular off the Strip. The Gramercy, 9275 W. Russell Rd.; 702.527.5200; dwbistro.com. $$

EAT YOUR HEART OUT FOOD

Durango Hotel & Casino’s Eat Your Heart Out food hall blends quick and casual counters with full-service, sit-down mini restaurants. The former include new-to-market concepts like Irv’s Burgers, Uncle Paulie’s sub-style sandwiches (from L.A.), and New York’s Prince Street Pizza. Among the larger spaces, Philadelphia’s Marc Vetri offers his most casual Las Vegas concept with Fiorella Pasta Bar. At the same time, native Gene Villiatora provides a fresh take on Hawaii street food at Ai Pono Cafe. Shang Artisan Noodle, Yu-Or-Mi Sushi, Vesta Coffee and one of Station’s beloved Oyster Bars are also highlights. Durango Resort, 6915 S. Durango Dr., Las Vegas; 702.767.7777; durangoresort.com/eat-your-heart-out. $$

Italian

AL SOLITO POSTO

Chef James Trees’ Tivoli Village Italian spot differs from his Arts District restaurant, Esther’s Kitchen, in one main way: its focus. Where Esther’s has a West Coast energy, Al Solito Posto (“the usual place” in Italian) is a tribute to the East Coast Italian cuisine that dominated Las Vegas during the Rat Pack’s heyday. Here, Trees and his team prove that the classic red sauce dishes many of us grew up with (think chicken parm) deserve more respect than they receive at your local pizza place. Tivoli Village, 430 S. Rampart Blvd.; 702.463.6781; alsolito.com. $$

AMARI

Amari is much more than the resident Italian restaurant at UnCommons in the southwest valley. The focaccia bread and pizzas are made with the same exquisite dough, using a 25-year-old ancient grain starter that produces complexity in taste and texture. The menu features updated Italian classics, including a shrimp scampi reimagined as a pasta dish and a deconstructed chicken cacciatore. It all pairs well with wine, cocktails or the restaurant’s exceptional amaro selection. UnCommons, 6825 Tom Rodriguez St., Las Vegas. amarilv.com. $$

ANIMA BY EDO

Anima is the second restaurant by the team behind the award-winning Spanish restaurant EDO, which includes repeat James Beard Foundation Award nominee Chef Oscar Amador. While a few dishes cross over between restaurants, Anima has a distinct menu with stronger Italian and Mediterranean influences. Prices are a solid value for food of this caliber. Like EDO, Anima offers tasting menus. The kitchen team is gracious about working around any allergies or preferences. The Gramercy, 9205 W. Russell Road; 702.202.4291; animabyedo.com. $$$

LA STREGA

Chef Gina Marinelli gained her local fame on the Strip, running celebrity chef Scott Conant’s D.O.C.G. in The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. After leaving that position, she traveled to Italy’s Amalfi Coast. It’s those travels that inspire La Strega. There’s no chicken parm on this menu. Instead, you’ll find lots of seafood, light pasta, delicious pizzas, steaks, chops and game meats. Fun fact: The restaurant’s name is Italian for “The Witch.” 3555 S. Town Center Dr.; 702.722.2099; lastregalv.com. $$

OSTERIA FIORELLA

Chef Marc Vetri is a Philadelphia culinary legend who operates a brilliant fine-dining restaurant atop the Palms. Osteria Fiorella is more approachable, or as he puts it, “a little bit more red sauce-y.” You’ll find lasagna al forno, rigatoni with sausage ragu and bucatini pomodoro, amazing pizzas, and more exotic pasta like Swiss chard tortelli in a sage brown butter sauce. His devotion to quality ingredients and pristine execution, however, is consistent among all his restaurants. Red Rock Resort, 11011 W. Charleston Blvd.; 702.797.7777. redrockresort.com. $$

Mexican

BBQ MEXICANA

A casual sister concept to Border Grill at Mandalay Bay, celebrity chefs Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken’s BBQ Mexicana infuses U.S. barbecue with Mexican spice in a casual, quick-service setting. After years of serving local sports fans at T-Mobile Arena, Allegiant Stadium and the Las Vegas Ballpark (and conventioneers at Mandalay Bay), it now offers burritos, bowls, tacos and salads on Sunset Road. The smoked brisket burrito (aka the Burnt Ends Burrito) is a Las Vegas original created on a food truck that’s become an urban legend among local foodies. 8480 W. Sunset Rd. Ste. 200; 702.552.0111; bbqmexicana. com. $

Pizza

DOM DEMARCO’S PIZZERIA & WINE BAR

Dom DeMarco’s is a descendant of the famous Di Fara Pizza in Brooklyn, and its New York pedigree shows in its square Sicilian and round Brooklyn-style pies in the Queensridge/Peccole Ranch neighborhood. Pizza lovers can whet their appetites with eggplant pizzettes or the ever-popular garlic knots, while those who aren’t in the mood for pizza can choose from several pasta dishes. The covered (and heated) outdoor patio offers a great al fresco experience year-round. 9785 W. Charleston Blvd.; 702.570.7000; domdemarcos. com. $

Seafood

OTHER MAMA

Chef/owner Dan Krohmer, a Morimoto veteran, studied sushi in Japan before spending some time cooking for rock and pop superstars on the road. He knows his stuff when it comes to nigiri and sashimi. What’s more surprising is how amazing his other creations (seafood and otherwise) can be. Hush puppies with caviar, oysters Rockefeller with pork belly, and spicy tuna tartare with waffle fries are all jaw-dropping. 3655 S. Durango Dr.; 702.463.8382. othermama.com. $$$

Steak

ECHO & RIG

Chef Sam Marvin’s Tivoli Village spot offers a full-fledged butcher/restaurant combination. The butcher shop (with a glass meat locker on full display) shares the first-level space with the restaurant’s bar and lounge. The steakhouse upstairs offers an extensive list of small plates and plenty of steaks—including tri-tip, hanger, NY, ribeye cap, wagyu filet tenderloin, skirt and Spencer. Portion sizes are reasonable, allowing them to keep the prices reasonable. Tivoli Village, 440 S. Rampart Blvd.; 702.489.3525; echoandrig.com. $$$

HARLO STEAKHOUSE & BAR

Harlo is what you get when you take an indulgent, modern steakhouse from the Strip and transplant it into Downtown Summerlin. Chef Gina Marinelli (the creative force behind local Italian favorite La Strega) offers fantastic cuts of beef from around the country grilled over an open flame alongside pasta, side dishes and seafood. The caviar presentation is a sight, as the precious eggs are carefully weighed on a triple-beam scale. Downtown Summerlin, 1720 Festival Plaza Dr.; 702.333.0402; harlosteak.com. $$$$

T-BONES CHOPHOUSE

This modern American chophouse provides spectacular views, an expansive menu, handcrafted cocktails, an extensive wine list and stunning indoor and outdoor dining. T-Bones Chophouse features USDA Prime dry and wet-aged beef cuts, grass-fed bison and premium Japanese wagyu. Their seafood options include Alaskan king crab, Dover sole, branzino, crab cakes and Bigeye tuna. Round it out with sides such as spicy cream corn, fresh-cut French Fries or mouthwatering mac and cheese. Be sure to check out the happy hour menu. Red Rock Resort, 11011 W. Charleston Blvd.; 702.797.7777; redrockresort.com. $$$

Vietnamese

THE BLACK SHEEP

Long before Chef Jamie Tran captured the hearts of America on “Top Chef: Portland,” she almost single-handedly made the southwest a foodie destination for locals in the know. At The Black Sheep, she takes the Vietnamese comfort food recipes she learned from her parents and tweaks them with the French fine dining chops she picked up working for legends like Charlie Palmer and Daniel Boulud. 8680 Warm Springs Road, Las Vegas; 702.954.3998; blacksheepvegas.com. $$

Wine Bar

Wineaux

Decorated in white and beige with marble accents and bathed in natural light, Wineaux is a bright, open, modern space. Retail sales are a large portion of the business. But low welcoming couches lining a wall of windows lure wine lovers of all experience levels to open a bottle in the store (we counted over 40 priced below $50) or even just a glass. Chef Shawn McClain (Balla Italian Soul, Libertine Social) has created a beautiful menu of shareable seafood, flatbreads, spreads, and gourmet snacks. 6887 Helen Toland St., Las Vegas; 702.527.6009; wineauxlv.com; $$