Where Tom's Urban and Smashburger's Tom Ryan Dines 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 ly feature dubbed Dining Confidential. Know a chef who wants to share some top dining spots? The tipline is open.

You can blame Tom Ryan for stuffed crust pizza at Pizza Hut, McGriddles at McDonald’s and the steakhouse beef dip at Quizno’s. But now Ryan left his fast food days of creating the next big thing and runs Smashburger and Tom’s Urban, which opened at New York-New York at the end of last year. Here the Michigan State food science major with a Ph.D. in flavor and fragrance chemistry talks about some of his favorite dishes and restaurants in Las Vegas.

Which restaurants do you turn to when you’re not working?
When I am in Las Vegas, I enjoy dining at Todd English P.U.B. at the Shops at Crystals and Estiatorio Milos at the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas.

What dishes are most memorable?
There is nothing like fresh oysters and champagne ... it's my favorite at Todd English P.U.B.

At Milos, I crave the Greek salad and freshly prepared Dover sole in lemon butter.

Why do you enjoy going there?
Todd English P.U.B. is that great balance of great food and very casual atmosphere. Where else can you watch rugby and eat oysters and Champagne at the same time!

Estiatorio Milos just rocks for me … fresh fish market meets fine dining meets that great Greek hospitality … and a great wine list!