1. Table 10
   Emeril Lagasse's newest Las Vegas restaurant at Palazzo does what I've always felt his other restaurants aren't able to: provide taste-bud delighting food in a warm, casual environment at relatively affordable prices. The meal I had here was not only the best I had all year, it was one of the best I've had in my entire life. There have been some changes to the menu since my visit but I'm still confident that this is an experience not to be missed.

2. Strip House
   I'm still dreaming about the warm garlic bread sitting in a bed of gorgonzola fondue. If that doesn't make your stomach rumble then we have nothing more to talk about. But beyond the appetizers, the signature steaks and seafood at this Planet Hollywood restaurant are the best on The Strip and the cheeky bordello decor is a nice change of pace from the staid upscale design of most restaurants of this caliber. Not cheap, but totally worth it.

3. Austins
   This steakhouse at Texas Station has been on my Top 10 list every year since I first visited and its staying power really speaks not only to the quality of the food but the quality of the experience. Their steaks are probably the best in town and the prices, while not bargain basement, are certainly lower than what you'll pay for a similar, lesser meal on The Strip.

4. Capriotti's
   Whenever I drive to Las Vegas, my last stop before heading home is at Capriotti's where I get several of their delicious Italian subs to go. These are sandwiches the way they were meant to be!

5. Diablo's Cantina
   There aren't too many really good Mexican restaurants on The Strip (and few in the entire city, oddly), but Diablo's at Monte Carlo is not only "really good" it's downright great. Enormous portions, delicious flavors, a fun and festive environment, and enough flavored margaritas to make you forget about how much money you lost in the casino.

6. Hash House a Go Go
   Why in the world would you got to a warmed over breakfast buffet when you can get the wildly inventive concoctions here? From their signature hashes to their pizza sized pancakes to checkerboard sized waffles with bacon baked right in, the twisted farm food they serve will make you never look at breakfast the same way again.

7. Texas de Brazil
   It's all about the meat at this Brazilian steakhouse, where gaucho-clad servers roam the dining room slicing of hunks of more than a dozen finely grilled selections. It's sort of like a buffet only they bring the main courses to you over and over and over until you are slipping into a meat coma. That's a good thing, trust me.

8. M&M Soul Food
   My southern food cravings are very well fulfilled at this no-frills restaurant near The Strip, where the only question you need to ask yourself is "do I want gravy on that?" The answer, by the way, is yes. The fried chicken here is worthy of any Mississippi juke joint and their BBQ is heaven on earth.

9. Stratta
   Allesandro Stratta's latest venture at Wynn Las Vegas is simply magnificent, with fine Italian cuisine that is elegant and robustly flavorful without being intimidating or outrageously expensive. A true winner.

10. The Cupcakery
    What? Are you saying you can't make an entire meal out of cupcakes? Wuss. Well, then at least skip the high-priced desserts at whatever fancy place you are eating at and head here for what I consider to be among the best cupcakes I've ever tasted - and I've tasted a lot!

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1. Capriotti's
   You can get one of their large subs for about $11. Now some of you are saying, "$11 for a sandwich!" and to you I say, "have you seen these things?" Their large is 20" long, nearly two feet of the best Italian sub you can find just about anywhere, which is enough to easily feed two people. Amazing food and a bargain to boot!

2. Ming
   This small, simple Chinese restaurant at Imperial Palace serves up really good classic Asian cuisine at a fraction of the cost of what most Strip restaurants charge. The food is generously portioned and would be at home in places that charge twice as much. Pu pu platter. There, I said it.

3. Mediterranean Cafe & Market
   You don't have to be a fan of Greek food to really enjoy the sandwiches and salads at this family run business on Maryland Parkway. The menu is overflowing with fresh flavors and you'll get a full, satisfying meal for about what you'd pay for an appetizer at a Strip restaurant.

4. Memphis Championship Barbeque
   I am not one of those people who get into fights about which is the best, but I do love me some good BBQ and in Las Vegas it's hard to do any better than here at Memphis Championship. The fact that's its affordable is almost a bonus.

5. Komol
   Gourmet magazine once declared that the Thai food here was the best in all of North America. Heady praise indeed but totally valid for the seemingly endless menu of authentic creations, all bursting with flavor and all very reasonably priced.

6. Dick's Last Resort
   It takes a hearty sense of humor and a definite lack of inhibitions to really get into the swing of this raucous eatery at Excalibur but if you can handle the sometimes obnoxious goings-on, the food here is both better and cheaper than you'd expect. Terrific hamburgers if you're in the mood for one.

7. Bougainvillea Cafe
   Back in the day, a big chunk of hotel marquee space was taken up by the $4.99 prime rib and $5.99 steak and egg type specials at the 24 hour cafes most had. These days most of those places are gone or much more expensive but Terrible's still has one and this simple cafe serves very good diner food at rock bottom prices.

8. Triple 7 Brew Pub
   The

   re are lots of affordable dining options in Downtown Las Vegas at Main Street Station but this is probably my favorite - an authentic experience with micro-brewed beers and fine pub grub that won't break your budget.

9. Earl of Sandwich
   It is almost impossible to find a good, satisfying meal on The Strip for under $10 but you can do it here at this Planet Hollywood restaurant. The tasty sandwiches are not huge but are more than enough for sensible stomachs and with all of them under $6 you can stretch your dining dollars further.

10. Viva McDonald's
    So this place isn't officially open yet (that happens December 11), but it's a McDonald's so you know the food will taste like every other McDonald's in the world. The thing that sets it apart and makes it worth knowing about is the Sin City treatment, with a giant two-story facility full of LCD screens, LED lights, retro-cool decor, and what is being billed as the biggest McDonald's kitchen ever built. You've never experienced a Quarter Pounder like this before. It will be located on The Strip right next door to Circus Circus.

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1. Main Street Garden Court Buffet
   This all-you-can-eat extravaganza at Main Street Station has been on my list of favorites consistently for years, but reclaims the top spot this year primarily because of cost concerns. Not only is the food simply fantastic, but it'll cost you about half of what lesser buffets on The Strip will. That makes it tops in my book.

2. Buffet at Wynn
   And at the opposite end of the cost spectrum we have this sumptuous feast fit for a king. The food is sit-down restaurant quality (and better) and the garden themed dining room is a visual delight to boot. Expensive, but worth it.

3. Bally's Sterling Brunch
   Did I say opposite end of the cost spectrum for Wynn? Well, yes, but this one is even more expensive and yet the tuxedo clad waiters and endless gourmet dining options (lobster, caviar, etc.) make this seem like so much more than just a buffet.

4. Feast Buffet
   I'm condensing all of the Station Casinos Feast buffets into one entry here. Even though some are better than others (Red Rock and Santa Fe Station are probably my faves), all of them serve huge selections of terrific food at very affordable prices. Depending on where you happen to be, try the feasts at either of the aforementioned hotels or at Green Valley Ranch, Boulder Station, Aliante Station, Texas Station, Palace Station, or Sunset Station.

5. Cravings Buffet
   Awhile back, many of the older traditional buffets were redone as modern wonders, with interactive cooking stations, upscale food choices, and mod design cues. Cravings at The Mirage led the way and has remained a winner in the category by serving up some really good food in a delightful environment.

6. Flavors, the Buffet
   This buffet at Harrah's mostly won my heart with their chocolate fountain, but the selections and quality of the food they serve beyond the dessert station is notable, too.

7. Buffet at Bellagio
   Another very pricey buffet but another one that makes you feel like you're getting what you paid for with a vast horizon full of what could be accurately described as "fine food."

8. Le Village Buffet
   The French countryside setting is charming but its really the food that makes this buffet at Paris Las Vegas stand out. With everything from traditional American favorites to dishes with a Gallic twist, you're sure to find something here to make you say "ooh la la!"

9. Carnival World Buffet
   This is one of the most popular buffets in town, with lines that often stretch deep into the Rio Hotel casino, and it’s easy to see why. The food selection is almost intimidating (name a cuisine and they probably have it) and the prices, while certainly not cheap, are not out of line for what you're getting.

10. Spice Market Buffet
    Once the best buffet in town, its reputation has declined a bit due to some changes made when Planet Hollywood took over. Not to fear, though, because even though it may not be the best anymore it is still darned good and more than worthy to take a spot on this list.

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