14 of the Biggest Independent U.S. Restaurants Based on Sales Call Las Vegas Home

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 estimated by Restaurant Business magazine. The full chart of 100 includes 30 New York destinations and 13 in Las Vegas, with seven 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 $182. While steakhouses take center stage among a list of expected names with eight making the list in Las Vegas, Aria’s casual, 24-hour Aria Cafe makes a surprise entry at No. 44, earning an estimated $16.8 million in annual sales, with a $24 average check and serving 700,000 individual meals. The closest rival for sheer volume is Mon Ami Gabi at Paris Las Vegas, plating an estimated 300,000 meals per year.

N9NE Steakhouse at the Palms made the list at No. 90 with $13.7 million in estimated sales. That restaurant closed in September. Spago at the Forum Shops at Caesars came in No. 74 with $14.5 million in estimated sales. That restaurant from Wolfgang Puck moves to the Bellagio next spring. Puck’s Cut at the Palazzo fell off the list this year.

1. Tao Las Vegas

$42,470,345 in sales

$90 average check

226,146 meals served

17. Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

$21,800,000 in sales

$85 average check

260,000 meals served

23. Carnevino Italian Steakhouse

$20,400,000 in sales

$182 average check

112,000 meals served

24. Bazaar Meat by José Andrés

$20,200,000 in sales

$105 average check

192,000 meals served

25. SW Steakhouse

$19,900,000 in sales

$130 average check

151,000 meals served

39. Mon Ami Gabi

$17,200,000 in sales

$66 average check

300,000 meals served

44. Aria Cafe

$16,800,000 in sales

$24 average check

700,000 meals served

45. Prime Steakhouse

$16,800,000 in sales

$158 average check

112,675 meals served

55. Lavo

$16,015,498 in sales

$85 average check

134,783 meals served

57. Top of the World

$16,000,000 in sales

$96 average check

173,000 meals served

75. Spago

$14,500,000 in sales

$75 average check

180,000 meals served

77. Jean Georges Steakhouse

$14,400,000 in sales

$110 average check

125,000 meals served

87. Delmonico Steakhouse

$13,800,000 in sales

$92 average check

150,000 meals served

90. N9NE Steakhouse

$13,700,000 in sales

$80 average check

170,000 meals served