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Strip malls may not be the most aesthetically pleasing dining locations, but in Las Vegas, they contain some of the best food in the city. Despite their lack of pizazz, strip malls also typically offer free parking — an increasingly rare commodity in Las Vegas — and the feeling that one is eating at a true locals’ spot, rather than a restaurant designed with tourism in mind.
In the Silverado Ranch area, strip mall dining often means a meal at Silverado Park Place. The expansive shopping center offers cuisines from across the country with options for vegetarians, gluten-free devotees and everyone else. Here are five restaurants to try at Silverado Park Place this weekend.
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Global cuisine and wine pairings
Boteco serves tapas, but diners can expect more than just Spanish cuisine. The restaurant focuses on shareable small plates with influences from around the world. Dishes range from seared octopus with sweet potato (Octopus Garden) to shrimp in Brazilian dende sauce (moqueca de Camarao). Artfully selected wines are available for pairings.
Boteco, 9550 S. Eastern Ave. #170; 702-790-2323
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Sweet or savory crepes
For a truly delightful Sunday brunch, Crepe Expectations offers sweet and savory crepes plus a selection of sparkling wine and mimosas. Diners can order the mimosa trio sampler and choose between options including lychee, cherry, and pomegranate. Crepe choices include pesto caprese, a sauteed shrimp and creme fraiche option, and a caramel apple variety.
Crepe Expectations, 9550 S. Eastern Ave. #180; 702-583-4939
Spicy seafood
Fans of the Hot N Juicy Crawfish in Chinatown will find the same Cajun-inspired fare at the Silverado Ranch location. The straightforward menu features spicy shrimp, snow crab, calamari, and of course, lots and lots of crawfish, which can be ordered by the pound with seasoning choices including garlic butter and lemon pepper. Dessert features chocolate brownies, battered, deep-fried, and dusted with powdered sugar
Hot N Juicy Crawfish, 9560 S. Eastern Ave.; 702-776-3030
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Gluten-free goodness
Going gluten-free used to mean skipping most baked goods. Thanks to bakeries like Gluten Zero, that’s no longer the case. The gluten-free spot serves everything from cinnamon rolls to cupcakes along with breads, pizza dough, and customized cakes.
Gluten Zero Bakery, 9500 S. Eastern Ave. #130; 702-767-3408
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An Indian lunch buffet
Las Vegas may be known for its extravagant casino buffets, but restaurants off-Strip offer some pretty memorable buffets of their own. At Taj Palace, diners can try a selection of Indian dishes each day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dinner is served a la carte with options including mint tikka chicken, goat vindaloo with potatoes, and vegetarian bhindi masala.
Taj Palace, 9530 S Eastern Ave #180, 702-685-0222
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