The 15 Biggest Independent Las Vegas Restaurants Based on Sales

Once again, Tao Asian Bistro at the Venetian is the No. 1 highest-grossing non-chain restaurant in the entire country, topping an impressive list of earners collated and expertly estimated by Restaurant Business magazine. The full chart of 100 includes 30 New York destinations and 15 in Las Vegas, with five restaurants in the Tao Group empire making the rundown.

Locally, Carnevino Italian Steakhouse is the priciest night out on the list, with an estimated average check of $180. While steakhouses take center stage among a list of expected names, Aria's casual, 24-hour Aria Cafe makes a surprise entry at No. 44, earning an estimated $16,860,000 in annual sales, with a $22 average check and serving 767,000 individual meals. The closest rival for sheer volume is Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, plating an estimated 276,000 meals.

Other familiar Las Vegas names making waves in other cities include the original New York branches of Carmine’s, Smith & Wollensky and Beauty & Essex. Manhattan’s Virgil’s Real Barbecue slotted in at number 85. Their Las Vegas expansion is still under construction at The Linq Promenade.

Three local restaurants have fallen out off the top 100, Craftsteak at the MGM Grand, Bartolotta Ristorante at the Venetian and Fix at the Bellagio.

1. Tao Asian Bistro

$47.9 million

Average check: $96

12. Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

$22.2 million

Average check: $78

17. Carnevino

$20.4 million

Average check: $180

18. Bazaar Meat by José Andrés

$20.1 million

Average check: $105

21. SW Steakhouse

$19.9 million

Average check: $130

29. Prime Steakhouse

$17.9 million

Average check: $155

31. Mon Ami Gabi

$17.4 million

Average check: $68

32. Spago

$17.4 million

Average check: $63

44. Aria Cafe

$16.8 million

Average check: $22

45. Lavo Italian Restaurant

$16.7 million

Average check: $114

51. Top of the World

$16 million

Average check: $95

73. Jean-Georges Steakhouse

$14.6 million

Average check: $120

76. Delmonico Steakhouse

$14.3 million

Average check: $88

84. N9NE Steakhouse

$13.7

Average check: $80

94. Cut

$13.1 million

Average check: $125