Who's In, Who's Out of the 2013 Eating Las Vegas

Bouchon is out, out, out of Eating Las Vegas 2013: The 50 Essential Restaurants, the sometimes biting, oftentimes carefully thought out dining out guide put together by competing restaurant critics John Curtas, Max Jacobson and Al Mancini.

"If this veto was purely personal, it would be justified alone by the ice-cold breakfast I was served the last time I dined at Bouchon—and despite the fact I was sitting with John and Max at the time, and every member of the management team came out to kiss our asses beforehand. After all, if that's what I got served under those circumstances, what is the average diner getting? But that experience aside, I just feel Bouchon is dated and past its prime," Mancini says in the vetoes section, where each author explains a restaurant they wanted in the guide and another votes it off the island.

That said, the guidebook includes three new restaurants in the top 10, including Marche Bacchus, Raku and Valentino at the Venetian. Eleven restaurants made the list, including newcomers Bread & Butter, Gordon Ramsay Steak at Paris Las Vegas, Kabuto, Le Thai and Public House at the Venetian. Others who finally cracked the top 50 include Comme Ca at Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Due Forni, Fleur at Mandalay Bay, Mint Indian Bistro, Mix at Mandalay Bay and Sirio Ristorante at Aria.

With new restaurants in, that means old ones got the boot. Michael Mina at Bellagio, Twist by Pierre Gagnaire at Mandarin Oriental and BarMasa at Aria all dropped out of the top 10, while Aureole at Mandalay Bay, Bar+Bistro, Beijing Noodle No. 9 at Caesars Palace, Circo at Bellagio, DW Bistro, First Food & Bar at the Venetian, Los Antojos, M&M Soul Food Cafe, Sen of Japan and Settebello dropped out of the top 50 along with Bouchon. And only Bouchon landed in the vetoes section, suggesting things at the other 10 weren't up to par.

Other new vetoes in this edition include Cafe de Japon, Lakeside at Wynn Las Vegas, Los Molcajetes, Ri Ra Irish Pub at Mandalay Place, the Saturday Night Truck Stop (which isn't a restaurant) and the buffet Wicked Spoon at Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Also included, vetoes that still stand from years past and additional recommendations.
· Preview: Shake-ups, Surprises Among 50 Essential L.V. Restaurants [Vegas DeLuxe]
· All Coverage of Eating Las Vegas: The Essential 50 Restaurants [~ELV~]