Allyson Ames Shares Three of Her Vegetarian Favorites in Las Vegas

Sin City is home to a lot of restaurants and bars, but there are tons of hidden gems that the majority of Las Vegans aren't unearthing. To help guide us to these potential discoveries, we've enlisted some of our city's food players to share their recommendations for a weekly feature dubbed Dining Confidential. Know a chef who wants to share some top dining spots? The tipline is open.

Wonderland Bakery founder Allyson Ames bears a striking resemblance to Alice in Wonderland, which became pretty much the theme behind her bakery that expanded from Newport Beach, Calif., to Downtown Summerlin earlier this year. Ames began baking at the age of five and already has been named one of Ernst & Young LLP’s entrepreneurial winning women. Her treats are favorites of everyone from the White House to Whoopi Goldberg. The first Wonderland Bakery opened in Newport Beach in 2005 and the brand boasts seasonal locations throughout Southern California. The Las Vegas location marks the start of a national expansion for the company that will include additional stores along with licensed lifestyle merchandise. Here, the vegetarian shares three of her favorite places to get vegetable-based dishes in Las Vegas. "With our new location opening in the last few months, I am just starting to explore the Las Vegas food culture and I’m really enjoying myself," she says.

Which restaurants do you turn to when you’re not working?
The Blind Pig, India Palace and Olives at the Bellagio.

What dishes are most memorable?
At The Blind Pig, the Urth Burger. It’s a vegan burger with avocado, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and sprouts on a brioche roll. I love that it is made in-house and has a unique flavor, not like the boring garden burgers you see everywhere else.

At India Palace, I love the mixed vegetables. It is fresh assorted veggies simmered in ginger, tomatoes, turmeric and probably another 10 I am missing. They have lots of great spice. You also can't go wrong with the garlic naan.

Olives has been one of my favorites for years. I love all the delicious seasonal pasta and salad options here. If I had to pick just one it would be the butternut squash tortellini. It’s homemade pasta filled with butternut squash and topped with brown butter, amaretto cookies, fresh sage and parmesan cheese.

Why do you enjoy going there?
The Blind Pig has a nice mix of gastropub and lounge feel with private booths to relax and enjoy dinner and a drink after a long day at work.

India Palace has so many great vegetarian options. It's a bit of a hole in the wall, but a definite hidden treasure.

At Olives, I love sitting on the patio at the fountains. It's dinner and a show!